Multiple Displacement Pump for Interchangeable Pneumatic and Electric Drives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multiple displacement pumps are inflexible and cannot be adapted to different usage environments, such as environments without compressed air or requiring explosion protection, limiting their applicability.
Innovation Solution
A multiple displacement pump design with a pump housing that allows for interchangeable pneumatic or electric drives through a force-fit and releasable connection of lifting rods to mechanical actuators, enabling easy adaptation to various drive types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a multiple displacement pump is designed with a fixed drive type (pneumatic or electric), then the pump structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but the pump cannot be adapted to different usage environments
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into modular components: a pump unit and a drive unit that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The drive unit can be exchanged between pneumatic and electric types without affecting the pump unit, enabling adaptability while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The pump unit is designed with universal interfaces and mounting structures that can accommodate different drive types. The connection elements and mounting arrangements are standardized to allow both pneumatic and electric drive units to be interchangeably mounted on the same pump unit, achieving multi-functionality
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lifting rod is permanently fixed to the connection element, then the connection is more stable and reliable, but the drive unit cannot be exchanged or adapted
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the lifting rod and connection element is designed to be dynamically changeable rather than permanently fixed. The connection elements incorporate mounting structures that allow the lifting rod to be securely attached during operation for reliable force transmission, yet easily detached and reattached to different drive units when adaptation is needed, balancing reliability with exchangeability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pump is designed for pneumatic drive only, then the structure is simpler, but the pump cannot be used in environments requiring explosion protection or without compressed air availability
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is segmented into a standardized pump unit and interchangeable drive units. This allows the pump unit to be manufactured once with universal interfaces, while separate pneumatic and electric drive units can be produced according to specific application requirements, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while enabling drive type flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting parameters and connection interface specifications are standardized across different drive types. By defining universal mounting dimensions, connection element geometries, and attachment mechanisms, the pump unit can be manufactured with fixed parameters that accommodate variable drive types, achieving manufacturing simplicity with adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement enables production of a multiple displacement pump designed to be activated either with a pneumatic or an electric drive from extensively similar parts or retrofitting of such a pump from one drive type to the other drive type with little effort. For this purpose, the displacer elements can be connected by way of a connection device that can be extended through a lid of the fluid chambers, so that optionally a mechanical actuator can be affixed, which can be connected to an electric drive or to a control valve.