Pump Assembly Rotor Can Centring and Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pump assemblies for house heating systems lack a compact design, particularly in the 5W to 3kW power range, with complex mounting mechanisms that complicate assembly and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A pump assembly with a rotor can flange having radial projections for centring within the pump housing, a bearing carrier flange for axial placement, and a securing member that secures the rotor can without additional fasteners, facilitating a compact and water-tight design with tapered projections for easy assembly and reduced mechanical resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If traditional mounting mechanisms are used to attach the rotor can to the pump housing, then the pump assembly can be assembled, but the design becomes less compact and assembly becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump assembly volumeVSAvoidmounting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor can flange is integrated directly into the rotor can structure, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets or additional fastening components. This merging of the mounting feature with the rotor can itself achieves compactness while simplifying the overall assembly structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor can flange with radial projections is inserted into a corresponding recess in the pump housing, creating a nested arrangement where the rotor can is housed within the pump housing structure. This nesting achieves compact design without requiring additional external mounting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If multiple fasteners are used to secure the rotor can to the pump housing, then the connection is secure, but the assembly requires more components and becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of fasteners
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the fastening function from separate fastener components and integrates it into the rotor can flange structure itself. The radial projections on the flange provide both mechanical support and centring functions, eliminating the need for additional fasteners while maintaining secure connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor can flange serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, centring alignment via radial projections, and secure attachment to the pump housing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate centring mechanisms and fasteners, reducing component count while maintaining reliability.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If the rotor can flange is inserted into the pump housing during assembly, then the pump can be assembled, but material may be scraped off and contaminate the system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidmaterial contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the potentially harmful scraping action into a beneficial sealing mechanism. The circumferential groove receives and contains any scraped material, preventing it from contaminating the pump interior while the interference fit ensures proper sealing and centring during assembly.

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

4Stability of the object's composition

If the rotor can is centred using traditional methods, then the alignment is achieved, but additional centring components are required increasing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotor can centringVSAvoidcentring mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor can flange features asymmetric radial projections that engage with corresponding features in the pump housing recess. This asymmetric geometry provides automatic self-centring during assembly, eliminating the need for separate centring components while ensuring precise alignment and stable positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3382207B1Pump assembly
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 GRUNDFOS HLDG
  • EP3382207B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3382207B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3382207B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a pump assembly (1) comprising an impeller (12) with a rotor axis (R), a pump housing (11) accommodating the impeller (12), a drive motor with a stator (14) and a rotor (51) for driving the impeller (12), a rotor can (57) accommodating the rotor (51), and a stator housing (13) accommodating the stator (14), wherein the rotor can (57) comprises a rotor can flange (63) having a lateral rotor can flange face (87) fitting within a peripheral wall (69) of the pump housing (11), wherein the lateral rotor can flange face (87) has at least three radial projections (91) abutting against the peripheral wall (69) of the pump housing (11) and centring the rotor can (57) with respect to the peripheral wall (69) of the pump housing (11).