Pump Ball Joint Assembly Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid dispensing pumps face challenges with precise assembly and manufacturing tolerances, leading to sealing and piston wear issues due to angular offsets between the insert and actuation tube, which impair sealing and increase wear risks.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a ball joint between the insert and actuation tube facilitates assembly, centering, and self-alignment, ensuring uniform contact between bearing surfaces and improved piston support, enhancing sealing and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the insert and actuating tube are rigidly connected by press fitting, then the assembly is structurally stable, but manufacturing precision and assembly tolerance requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A ball joint is introduced as an intermediary connection element between the insert and actuating tube. This ball joint serves as a mediator that accommodates misalignment and tolerance variations while maintaining structural stability, eliminating the need for high-precision press fitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection type is changed from rigid press fitting to a ball joint mechanism that allows angular movement. This parameter change in connection flexibility enables the system to absorb tolerance variations without compromising structural integrity.
2Strength
If the insert and actuating tube are rigidly connected, then the connection is strong, but angular misalignment occurs causing sealing problems and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The ball joint introduces dynamic capability to the connection, allowing it to adapt its angular position during operation. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the piston remains properly aligned with the body bore throughout its stroke, maintaining sealing reliability while preserving connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint acts as an intermediary that decouples the rigid connection between insert and actuating tube from the piston-body alignment requirement, allowing independent optimization of both connection strength and sealing reliability.
3Reliability
If precise relative positioning is required for the insert and actuating tube, then sealing is improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ball joint serves as a self-aligning intermediary that automatically establishes proper positioning during assembly without requiring precision machining or complex alignment procedures, thereby improving sealing quality while simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint provides self-aligning and self-centering functionality during assembly, eliminating the need for external alignment tools or complex positioning procedures. The mechanism automatically achieves proper sealing geometry through its inherent mechanical properties.
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 pump's sealing, fluid distribution, and priming efficiency, allowing it to handle various fluid types, including viscous products, by ensuring better tightness and reduced wear on components.
Implementation Method 1
a ball joint is provided between the insert and the actuating tube. Thus, the ball joint facilitates the assembly and manufacturing of the insert and the actuating tube. Furthermore, it allows for centering and self-alignment between the insert and the actuating tube
Implementation Method 2
said nozzle being elastically returned towards the far position
Implementation Method 3
The piston and base comprise annular bearing surfaces adapted to come into mutual contact and form an exhaust valve that selectively closes the exhaust orifice
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5c
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The pump has a tubular body (1) extending along a central axis between a pair of ends (3, 4). An inlet valve selectively closes off an inlet orifice (6). A stem (20) moves axially inside the body between a far position and a near position relative to the inlet orifice. An annular piston (25) slides axially inside the body and on the stem. The piston and a base (30) comprise annular surfaces for providing mutual contact and forming a discharge valve (33) for selectively closing off the discharge orifice. A ball-and-socket joint is arranged between an insert (22) and an actuation tube (21).