Oil Pump Inlet Dam for Reliable Startup Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed machinery with oil-free components faces challenges in lubrication due to the need for precise oil supply, and existing solutions that integrate the oil pump with the machine's motor can struggle with initial startup when the initial oil is evaporated, leading to poor suction power and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a dam in the inlet channel of the oil pump, positioned higher than the central axis of the shaft minus half the rotor's diameter, ensures a significant amount of oil remains, enhancing suction power at startup, and using a less volatile lubricant or grease helps maintain initial oil presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the oil pump is integrated directly onto the shaft of the motor, then the machine becomes more compact and cost-effective, but the oil pump is elevated high above the oil reservoir causing air evacuation issues at startup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a primer line that pre-fills the inlet channel and suction tube with oil before the pump starts operating. This preliminary oil filling occurs through the primer line connection to the outlet channel, ensuring the pump cavity is primed with oil before startup, thus eliminating air evacuation issues while maintaining the compact integrated design.
2Productivity
If a small amount of oil is applied to the oil pump during assembly, then suction power is optimized at startup, but the oil evaporates over time rendering the pump inoperative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by creating a continuous oil supply pathway through the primer line that remains connected to the outlet channel. This ensures that oil is continuously available to the pump cavity through the primer line, preventing evaporation issues and maintaining both immediate suction power and long-term reliability by constantly replenishing oil in the pump inlet area.
3Quantity of substance
If a siphon-like structure is provided in the inlet pipe to trap oil, then some oil remains in the inlet pipe, but the pump still needs to evacuate large amounts of air before oil can be sucked out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the primer line to pre-fill the pump cavity and inlet channel with oil before startup. Instead of relying on a siphon structure that requires air evacuation, the primer line directly delivers oil to the pump inlet area through the outlet channel connection, eliminating the need to evacuate large amounts of air and significantly reducing startup time while ensuring adequate oil retention.
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
This design ensures quick and smooth startup of the oil pump, preventing oil leakage and the need for additional sealing, while ensuring immediate lubrication and cooling of machine components, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the machine's operation.
Implementation Method 1
a dam is provided that is higher than the height of the central axis of the shaft of the oil pump minus the smallest diameter of the rotor of the oil pump divided by two
Implementation Method 2
the oil pump must first evacuate the air from the suction tube connecting it with the oil reservoir and subsequently must suck and pump the oil from the reservoir
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Machine provided with a machine element (2) and an oil pump (4) and a motor (3) to drive the machine element (2) and the oil pump (4), whereby the oil pump (4) is provided with a shaft (13) with a rotor (12), whereby the oil pump (4) is provided to pump oil from an oil reservoir (5) via an inlet channel (8) to nozzles that lead into the motor (3) and/or machine element (2) to lubricate and/or cool one or more bearings or other machine components, characterized in that in the inlet channel (8), near the oil pump (4) a dam (16) is provided that is higher than the height (A) of the central axis (18) of the shaft (13) of the oil pump (4) minus the smallest diameter (B) of the rotor (12) of the oil pump (4) divided by two.