Piston Pump Adjustable Flow via Bypass Conduit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional piston-type pumps displace the same volume of fluid with each stroke, lacking the ability to adjust fluid flow without altering the piston's stroke length.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an adjustment element with a plunger and displacement adjuster that allows for adjustable fluid flow through a secondary fluid flow path, enabling control over the effective flow without changing the piston's stroke, by using a hollow body portion with a passage and a bypass conduit to manage fluid communication between the chamber and the inlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional piston pump is used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the fluid flow cannot be adjusted without altering the piston stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The pump structure is segmented into multiple independent flow paths: a first fluid flow path through the piston chamber and a second fluid flow path through the bypass conduit. This segmentation allows independent control of fluid flow through each path, enabling adjustable effective flow without changing the piston stroke length.
Solution Approach 2:
A check valve is introduced as an intermediary component in the second fluid flow path to control fluid flow direction and prevent backflow. This intermediary element enables selective opening and closing of the bypass path, allowing adjustment of effective fluid flow while maintaining the simple piston mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the piston stroke is altered to adjust fluid flow, then the fluid flow is adjustable, but the operational simplicity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides dynamic fluid flow control through the adjustable positioning of the check valve rather than requiring dynamic changes to the piston stroke. The check valve can be positioned to allow full bypass flow, partial bypass flow, or no bypass flow, dynamically adjusting the effective fluid flow while the piston maintains its simple reciprocating motion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a bypass conduit is added to enable flow adjustment, then fluid flow becomes adjustable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass conduit is merged with the main pump body structure, and the check valve is integrated into the housing. This merging approach allows the additional flow control functionality to be achieved with minimal additional components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adjustable fluid flow capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A piston pump includes a main body having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber fluidly connected to form at least a portion of a first fluid flow path for receiving a flow of fluid therein. The pump also includes a second fluid flow path to provide fluid communication between the chamber and a point upstream of the inlet of the main body. A piston is disposed in the chamber of the main body and reciprocatingly moves therein to cause the flow of the fluid through at least one of the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path. An adjustment element is disposed in the main body and configured to adjust an effective flow of the fluid through the first fluid flow path.