Volumetric Piston Pump Lubrication Conduit for Gasket Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Volumetric piston pumps face issues with the low-pressure gasket overheating and wear due to lack of lubrication, leading to increased maintenance needs and potential air pocket accumulation causing cavitation, which degrades the seal and erodes piston surfaces.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a lubrication conduit that connects the delivery conduit with a collection chamber between the high-pressure and low-pressure gaskets, allowing fluid to recirculate and lubricate the low-pressure gasket, while also evacuating air pockets, thereby reducing wear and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the low-pressure gasket is positioned in the collection chamber, then it can collect leaks from the high-pressure gasket, but the low-pressure gasket cannot be easily lubricated and overheats

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidgasket temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a lubrication conduit as an intermediary element that delivers lubricating fluid from the delivery conduit to the collection chamber. This mediator enables the low-pressure gasket to receive lubrication without changing its position or compromising the sealing function. The lubricating fluid acts as a bridge between the high-pressure delivery system and the low-pressure collection chamber, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and thermal management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of substance

If the chamber interposed between the high-pressure gasket and the low-pressure gasket is constantly emptied due to depression in the intake conduit, then leaks are collected, but the low-pressure gasket overheat and wear the sealing lip

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid leak collectionVSAvoidgasket service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by introducing lubricating fluid into the collection chamber before the low-pressure gasket can overheat and wear. The lubrication is delivered in advance through the lubrication conduit, preparing the sealing surface with a protective film before contact occurs. This preventive measure extends the service life of the gasket while maintaining the leak collection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If air pockets accumulate in the upper part of the chamber, then they are difficult to evacuate, but they cause erosion of piston surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechamber structureVSAvoidcavitation erosion
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pneumatic and hydraulic principles by introducing a flow of lubricating fluid through the collection chamber. This fluid flow creates a washing effect that actively removes air pockets from the chamber, preventing cavitation erosion of the piston surfaces. The hydraulic flow serves as a cleaning mechanism that maintains the chamber free of harmful air accumulations without increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

4Device complexity

If the low-pressure gasket operates without lubrication, then the structure remains simple, but it tends to overheat and wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication systemVSAvoidsealing durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by utilizing the pump's own delivery fluid as the lubricating medium. The lubrication system does not require an external lubricant supply or complex additional mechanisms - instead, it taps into the existing high-pressure delivery conduit and redirects a portion of the pumped fluid through the lubrication conduit to the collection chamber. This self-service approach provides reliable lubrication while maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution improves the lubrication and cooling of the low-pressure gasket, decreases maintenance, and prevents cavitation, extending the lifespan of the pump and reducing the risk of seal failure.

Implementation Method 1

a lubrication conduit that connects the delivery conduit, for example downstream of a one-way delivery valve arranged in the delivery conduit, with the collection chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

a recirculation conduit that connects the collection chamber with the intake conduit, for example upstream of a one-way intake valve arranged in the intake conduit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid circulation:

Implementation Method 3

a first gasket fixed to the casing inside the cylinder and coaxially inserted on the piston; a second gasket fixed to the casing inside the cylinder and coaxially inserted on the piston in distal position from the compression chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

Each compression chamber is connected to the intake conduit through a respective one-way intake valve and to the delivery manifold through a respective one-way delivery valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOne-way flow control: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP3578811B1Volumetric piston pump
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 ANNOVI REVERBERI
  • EP3578811B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3578811B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3578811B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A volumetric piston pump (10) that comprises: - a casing (20) equipped with a cylinder (21) defining a compression chamber (22) communicating with an intake conduit (23,25) and a delivery conduit (24,27); - a reciprocating piston (30) slidable inside the cylinder (21) and delimiting the compression chamber (22); - a first gasket (60) fixed to the casing (20) inside the cylinder (21) and coaxially inserted on the reciprocating piston (30); - a second gasket (61) fixed to the casing (20) inside the cylinder (21) and coaxially inserted on the reciprocating piston (30) in distal position from the compression chamber (22) with respect to the first gasket (60); - a collection chamber (65) interposed and axially delimited between the first gasket (60) and the second gasket (61); - a recirculation conduit (70) that connects the collection chamber (65) with the intake conduit (23,25); and - a lubrication conduit (80) that connects the delivery conduit (24,27) with the collection chamber (65).