High-Pressure Piston Pump Sealing with Leak-Buffer Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Piston volumetric pumps face inefficiencies due to high-pressure gasket wear, leading to fluid leakage and premature degradation of low-pressure gaskets under pulsating loads, resulting in reduced pump durability and increased maintenance needs.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a delivery valve with a high-pressure gasket interposed between the valve body and cylinder jacket, and a low-pressure gasket between the cylinder head and jacket, with a low-pressure fluid supply chamber that collects fluid from the high-pressure gasket, reducing wear on the low-pressure gasket and enhancing mechanical robustness and compactness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a high-pressure gasket is placed between the cylinder and delivery valve body, then high-pressure sealing is improved, but the gasket wears out quickly due to pulsating loads causing fluid leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-pressure sealingVSAvoidgasket service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a fluid supply chamber as an intermediary element between the high-pressure gasket and the low-pressure gasket. This chamber collects high-pressure fluid that leaks from the high-pressure gasket and redirects it to the low-pressure side, preventing direct contact between the leaked fluid and the low-pressure gasket, thereby reducing wear on both gaskets while maintaining sealing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of high-pressure fluid leakage from the high-pressure gasket into a beneficial effect by directing this leaked fluid into the fluid supply chamber. The chamber then uses this fluid to maintain pressure balance and reduce wear on the low-pressure gasket, transforming what was previously a harmful leakage into a protective mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If a low-pressure gasket is placed between the cylinder and pump head, then low-pressure sealing is improved, but the gasket wears out quickly due to high-pressure fluid leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelow-pressure sealingVSAvoidlow-pressure gasket service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid supply chamber acts as a protective intermediary that intercepts high-pressure fluid before it can directly impact the low-pressure gasket. By channeling the leaked fluid through the chamber and its outlet duct, the system reduces the erosive effect on the low-pressure gasket while maintaining adequate sealing performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transforms the harmful high-pressure fluid leakage into a beneficial pressure balancing mechanism. The leaked fluid is redirected to the low-pressure side through the chamber, creating a pressure counterbalance that reduces the stress on the low-pressure gasket and extends its service life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If double gasket system is used in series, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidgasket system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid supply chamber serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a collection chamber for leaked high-pressure fluid, a pressure balancing mechanism, a wear reduction system for both gaskets, and a structural component integrating the high-pressure and low-pressure sides. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing complexity while maintaining high sealing reliability

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

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 extends the service life of the low-pressure gasket, reduces maintenance, and enhances the mechanical robustness and compactness of the pump, while maintaining efficient fluid delivery at high pressures.

Implementation Method 1

a high pressure gasket being interposed between the first portion of the valve body and an inner portion of the cylinder jacket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

a low pressure gasket between the cylinder head and the cylinder jacket, outside said cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

said valve body having a delivery duct of the fluid at high pressure and at least an inlet duct of the fluid at low pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow direction control:

Implementation Method 4

The pistons are kinematically connected to a drive shaft (eccentric) via a respective connecting rod-crank mechanism, which is designed to transform the rotary movement of the drive shaft into a linear alternative movement of the piston

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical motion conversion:

Implementation Method 5

An alternative piston is slidably accommodated inside each cylinder, which, together with the corresponding cylinder and head, defines a respective variable volume compression chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP4063653B1High-pressure piston volumetric pump
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 ANNOVI REVERBERI
  • EP4063653B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4063653B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4063653B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A piston volumetric pump which comprises: - a cylinder head provided with an inlet manifold of a fluid and a delivery manifold and a seat for accommodating a delivery valve, - a cylinder jacket wherein an alternative piston slides, which delimits a compression chamber along with a cylinder, - said delivery valve comprising a valve body which has a central portion accommodated in the seat and a first portion fitted inside the cylinder jacket, - a high pressure gasket being interposed between the first portion of the valve body and an inner portion of the cylinder jacket, and a low pressure gasket between the cylinder head and the cylinder jacket, outside the seat, - a chamber for supplying a low pressure fluid is delimited by at least an outer surface of the side wall of the central portion of the valve body, from at least an inner surface of the cavity and from a surface of the cylinder jacket, said supply chamber being in communication with the inlet duct of the low pressure fluid and with the inlet manifold.