Mushroom-Shaped Cap for Self-Priming Pump Recirculation Duct
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-priming centrifugal electric pumps experience performance reduction and noise issues when installed in an underhead configuration due to air aspiration and pressure variations, leading to unnecessary losses and recirculation of water.
Innovation Solution
A cap with a tubular body and a coaxially integrated mushroom-shaped element that divides into two portions with alternative axial positions, allowing engagement with the flow control element in both overhead and underhead installations, effectively closing the recirculation duct and reducing noise through elastomeric abutment linings and sealing rings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pump is installed in an underhead configuration, then the installation flexibility is improved, but useless losses and noise occur due to pressure variations causing flow control element movement
Solution Approach 1:
The cap acts as an intermediary element installed on the recirculation duct opening. It includes a mushroom-shaped element that serves as a mediator between the flow control element and the external environment, providing stable abutment surfaces that prevent excessive movement of the flow control element while maintaining the underhead installation configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pump is installed in an underhead configuration, then the installation flexibility is improved, but noise is generated due to flow control element movement against the shoulder or wall
Solution Approach 1:
The cap with mushroom-shaped element serves as an intermediary structure that provides dedicated abutment surfaces. This mediator prevents direct contact between the flow control element and the duct wall or shoulder, reducing impact noise while maintaining installation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the recirculation duct opening by adding the cap structure with its mushroom-shaped element. This modifies the interaction parameters between the flow control element and the duct, creating optimized abutment surfaces that reduce noise during operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cap enhances pump performance by preventing useless losses and noise in both installation configurations, maintaining the impeller assembly immersed in fluid and operating like a normal centrifugal pump in underhead setups, while being easy to manufacture and use.
Implementation Method 1
A spring is interposed between the head and the opening of the intake duct
Implementation Method 2
a head that is surrounded by an O-ring with which it is preset to abut against an adapted shoulder
Data Source
AI summary
A cap for cooperating with a flow control element of a valve for a self-priming electric pump, the valve being designed to open and close a recirculation duct for the passage of the recirculating fluid from the impeller assembly to an intake duct, the cap having a tubular body and, coaxially inside the latter, a mushroom-shaped element, which divides, with its head, the cap into a first portion and a second portion to be applied at an opening of the recirculation duct outward, respectively in the overhead and underhead installation of the self-priming electric pump, the axial space occupation of the head and of the stem of the mushroom-shaped element that is extended from the head toward the second portion defining two alternative axial positions of interaction with the flow control element of the valve in the overhead and underhead installation.