Piston Pump Air Elimination for Viscous Colorants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing machines for fluid colorants face challenges such as wear, air entrapment, and reduced precision due to the chemico-physical properties of aggressive and viscous colorants, leading to issues with repeatability and maintenance in existing positive-displacement pumps.
Innovation Solution
A positive-displacement pump design featuring a piston-controlled pumping chamber with a three-way valve and a bellows-like piston skirt, allowing for air elimination and precise fluid handling, along with a compact and adaptable configuration for different fluid applications, using a single pump body with integral intake and discharge pipes and an optional adapter for reduced capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gear pumps are used to achieve high discharge volumes, then productivity is improved, but wear increases due to aggressive and corrosive colorants
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful interaction between gear teeth and aggressive colorants by replacing the gear mechanism with a piston-cylinder system. The piston moves within a cylinder to displace fluid, eliminating the meshing gears that are subject to wear from corrosive colorants, while maintaining high discharge volume capability through controlled piston movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a piston as an intermediary element between the drive mechanism and the fluid. This piston-cylinder arrangement acts as a mediator that transfers mechanical motion to fluid displacement without the direct gear-to-gear contact that causes wear, thereby protecting the system from aggressive colorant damage while preserving productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bellows are used in injection type pumps to define variable volume, then adaptability is improved, but colorant settles in folds reducing precision over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the bellows component entirely from the pump design. Instead of using bellows folds to define variable volume, the patent employs a piston moving within a cylindrical chamber, where the volume is defined by the piston position. This eliminates the folds where colorant would settle and compromise precision over time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a flexible bellows structure that expands and contracts to define volume, the invention inverts the approach by using a rigid cylindrical chamber with a moving piston. The volume variation is achieved by changing the piston position rather than changing the chamber shape, thereby eliminating the precision-degrading folds while maintaining adaptability.
3Device complexity
If single screw pumps are used for colorant discharge, then device complexity is reduced, but capacity is limited and speed restriction occurs due to heating
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the screw-mechanical system with a piston-cylinder mechanical system. The piston is driven by a motor through a connecting rod mechanism, substituting the continuous rotary screw motion with reciprocating piston motion. This substitution enables higher discharge capacity and speed while maintaining relatively simple device structure, as the piston system can operate at higher speeds without the heating issues that limit screw pumps.
4Measurement precision
If piston pumps with sliding seals are used, then discharge precision is improved, but tightness problems occur at sliding seals
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs disposable or easily replaceable sealing elements such as O-rings or seals that can be quickly replaced when worn. Rather than relying on permanent sliding seals that maintain tightness over long periods, the system uses simpler sealing solutions that ensure adequate tightness for the required precision but can be replaced periodically, trading long-term durability for initial precision and ease of maintenance.
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 solution provides high precision, repeatability, and long service life with reduced maintenance, enabling accurate dispensing of small quantities and versatile configurations for various colorant applications.
Implementation Method 1
A piston (5) is mounted for sliding in the pumping chamber (3) and is controlled so as to move back and forth in order to vary the volume thereof
Implementation Method 2
The outer skirt (7) of the piston (5) is in the form of a bellows
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A positive-displacement pump for fluid products, in particular paints, colorants and the like, comprises a pump body (2) in which there is formed a pumping chamber (3), in which a piston (5) is mounted for sliding and is controlled so as to advance and withdraw in order to vary the useful volume of the pumping chamber (3). The pumping chamber (3) is placed in communication with a pumping pipe (38) leading into an upper region (42) which is located at the highest location of the pumping chamber (3).