Single-Stroke Piston Pump Seal Ring for Precise Lubricant Refill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubrication systems for machinery face challenges in ensuring precise and efficient lubrication, as they often require small, measured amounts of grease or oil, and existing solutions do not effectively prevent wear or corrosion while allowing for refill without over-lubrication or under-lubrication.
Innovation Solution
A single-stroke pump design featuring a pump rod with a seal ring that moves between two positions, sealing during the forward stroke to prevent fluid leakage and opening a refill flow path during the return stroke to allow fluid from a reservoir to refill the pump chamber, thereby maintaining efficient lubrication cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the seal ring sealingly engages the pump rod during the forward stroke to prevent fluid leakage, then lubrication precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the movable seal ring mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The seal ring is designed to be movable along the pump rod, transitioning between a sealing position during the forward stroke and a retracted position during the return stroke. This dynamic positioning allows the seal ring to adapt its function based on the pump cycle phase, providing precise sealing when needed and enabling refill when required, thereby improving lubrication precision without requiring multiple separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The seal ring serves multiple functions within a single component: it acts as a sealing element during the forward stroke to prevent fluid leakage, and it functions as a flow path opening during the return stroke to allow refill. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, managing device complexity while maintaining precision
2Reliability
If the seal ring prevents fluid leakage during the forward stroke, then reliability is improved, but loss of substance increases due to restricted refill pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The seal ring operates in a periodic cycle, alternating between a sealing position during the forward stroke and a retracted position during the return stroke. This periodic action ensures that sealing and refill functions are both fulfilled at appropriate times, maintaining reliability while preventing substance loss through timely refill
Solution Approach 2:
The seal ring is positioned in advance to seal during the forward stroke, and the system is designed so that the seal ring automatically retracts during the return stroke to open the refill path. This preliminary positioning and automatic operation ensure that sealing occurs when needed for reliability, and refill occurs before the next pumping cycle to prevent substance loss
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 design ensures effective lubrication by maintaining a fluid-tight seal during the forward stroke and allowing for efficient refilling during the return stroke, reducing wear and corrosion while optimizing lubricant usage and extending the lifespan of machinery components.
Implementation Method 1
the seal ring and the transition portion decrease a volume in a pump chamber during a forward stroke of the pump rod
Implementation Method 2
the first end of the seal ring is disengaged from the transition portion such that a refill flowpath is opened through the bore during a return stroke of the pump rod
Data Source
AI summary
A piston for a single-stroke pump includes a pump rod, a seal ring extending about the pump rod and having a central bore, and a retaining device disposed on the pump rod and retaining the seal ring on the pump rod. In a forward stroke, the seal ring is in a first position whereby the seal ring sealingly engages the pump rod such that the seal ring and pump rod drive a fluid out of the pump chamber. When transitioning to a return stroke, the seal ring is maintained stationary relative to the pump cylinder until retaining device engages seal ring, such that seal ring is in a second position. With the seal ring in the second position, a flow path is opened between the seal ring and the pump rod, allowing fluid to flow into the pump chamber to prime the pump the next pump cycle.