Pendulum Vane Pump Contact Path Design for Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automotive liquid pendulum vane pumps experience high mechanical wear due to transfer force peaks caused by a small contact sector between the rotor hub and pendulum vanes, leading to reduced reliability and lifetime.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a gear-free automotive liquid pendulum pump with a static housing, a rotatable rotor ring, and a non-shiftable rotor hub, featuring pendulum vanes with a large radial vane slot orientation and a contact path that increases the contact sector, ensuring continuous force transfer and reducing mechanical stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the contact sector between rotor hub and pendulum vanes is small, then the pump structure is simpler, but transfer force peaks cause high mechanical wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump structureVSAvoidmechanical wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contact path on the pendulum vane is extended in the radial dimension, transforming a potentially small arc-length contact into a long radial contact path. This dimensional extension ensures that even with a small contact sector angle, the total contact length remains sufficient to distribute forces and reduce wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the contact interface by providing a contact path that is radially extended and has a length of at least 1.5 times the radial distance between rotor hub and rotor ring. This parameter modification increases the contact sector effectiveness without requiring a larger angular sector.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the contact sector is increased, then mechanical wear is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical wearVSAvoidcontact path geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pendulum vane serves multiple functions: it separates pump chambers, transmits rotational force, and provides a long contact path for force distribution. The contact path geometry is integrated into the vane structure itself, avoiding the need for separate wear-reducing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact path is designed to ensure continuous force transfer from the rotor hub to the pendulum vane throughout the contact sector. The radial extension and sufficient length of the contact path maintain continuous engagement, preventing impact loads and ensuring smooth, continuous force transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 configuration enhances the average mechanical force transfer load on each vane, increasing the pump's reliability and lifetime while allowing for higher total rotational force transfer between the rotor hub and pendulum vanes, thereby minimizing high force peaks.

Implementation Method 1

The contact path is in contact with a contact nose within a contact sector to transfer a rotational force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The pendulum vanes separate the rotating pump chambers from each other and transmit a rotational force between the rotor hub and the rotor ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3586009B1Automotive liquid pendulum vane pump
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 PIERBURG PUMP TECH
  • EP3586009B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3586009B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention refers to an automotive liquid pendulum vane pump (10). Each pendulum vane (30) comprises: a circular pendulum head (32) defining a pendulum hinge (33) together with a corresponding circular undercut recess (70) at the rotor ring (16), a circular pendulum foot (34) arranged radially shiftable and pivotable in the corresponding vane slot (50), and a vane leg (35) connecting the pendulum head (32) and the pendulum foot (34). A contact slot wall (54) of the vane slot (50) is provided with a tangential contact nose (58) in the opening region of the vane slot (50). The pendulum vane (30) is provided with a contact path (36) with a contact path surface (36') being in contact with the contact nose (58) in a contact sector (CO). The radial inner end of the contact path surface (36') defines an inner tangential projection (40). The generally plane contact slot wall (54) is provided with a diving recess (56), and the tangential pendulum projection (40) temporarily dives into the diving recess (56).