Piston Pump Guide Body for Seal Wear and Leakage Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Piston pumps experience reduced efficiency due to premature wear of seals caused by misalignment of pistons, leading to liquid leakage, especially when manufacturing or assembly inaccuracies result in transverse forces on the seals.

Innovation Solution

An intermediate body is introduced between the casing and the head, housing guide means such as guide sleeves to precisely guide pistons, ensuring alignment and reducing stress on sealing means, thereby minimizing leakage and extending the pump's duration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If pistons are housed in guide holes formed in the casing, then the structure is simple, but manufacturing inaccuracies cause misalignment leading to transverse forces on seals and rapid wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidseal durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediate body as a mediator component between the casing and the pump head. This intermediate body contains precisely machined guide holes that accurately guide the pistons, preventing misalignment and transverse forces on the seals. By inserting this intermediary component, the patent resolves the contradiction between structural simplicity and seal durability, as the intermediate body absorbs the manufacturing precision requirements while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If pistons are guided by seals in the head, then the structure is compact, but misalignment causes transverse forces that compromise sealing capacity and cause liquid leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidliquid leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate body serves as an intermediary guide structure that takes over the piston guidance function from the seals in the head. This prevents the seals from bearing transverse forces caused by misalignment, thereby maintaining their sealing capacity and preventing liquid leakage. The intermediate body's guide holes provide the necessary guidance while keeping the overall structure compact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If guide means are added to precisely guide pistons, then piston alignment improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiston alignment precisionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the pump structure by introducing a separate intermediate body component dedicated to piston guidance. This segmentation allows the guide holes to be precisely machined in the intermediate body without compromising the simplicity of the casing and head structures. The intermediate body acts as a specialized component that concentrates the precision guidance function, thereby achieving high piston alignment precision while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through functional segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 precision guidance of pistons reduces seal wear and leakage, enhancing the pumping device's efficiency and extending its operational lifespan by maintaining precise piston movement and evenly distributing stress on sealing elements.

Implementation Method 1

One or more seals are instead provided in the head, in contact with which the pistons move

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

One or more seals are instead provided in the head, in contact with which the pistons move

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3670904B1A pumping device
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 LEUCO
  • EP3670904B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3670904B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3670904B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pumping device (1) for processing a liquid comprises: - a plurality of pistons (3), each of which is slidable along a movement direction (A) in order to vary the volume of a corresponding chamber (7); - a casing (2) inside of which a driving device (4) is housed for moving each piston (3) of the plurality of pistons (3) along the movement direction (A); - a head (8) inside of which the chambers (7) are at least partially obtained; - a plurality of suction valves (11), each one of which is associated with a chamber (7) and is operable for enabling the liquid to enter the chamber (7); - a plurality of delivery valves (12), each one of which is associated with a chamber (7) and is operable for enabling the liquid to exit the chamber (7). Each suction valve (11) has an axis (X) arranged transversely with respect to a further axis (Y) of the delivery valve (12) associated with the same chamber (7). The pumping device further comprises an intermediate body (13) interposed between the casing (2) and the head (8). The intermediate body (13) is provided with guide means (19) for guiding each piston (3) along the movement direction (A).