Pump Connection Assembly With Retained Union Nut for Adhesive-Free Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pump systems, particularly booster pump systems, face challenges in achieving watertight connections without the use of potentially harmful adhesives and require complex assembly processes with multiple components, leading to inefficiencies and potential loss of hydraulic components during transport and installation.

Innovation Solution

The pump system incorporates a design where hydraulic connection ports have a connecting pipe with a flange and union nut, forming an integral element, allowing for a secure, adhesive-free connection through welding, reducing the number of components and assembly time, and ensuring mechanical stability under high pressures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive is applied to threaded pipe connections to achieve watertightness, then connection tightness is improved, but health safety deteriorates due to potentially harmful substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection tightnessVSAvoidhealth safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the adhesive substance from the connection system entirely. Instead of using threaded pipe connections requiring adhesive, the patent employs flange connections with union nuts that achieve watertight sealing through mechanical means alone, eliminating harmful substances from the connection process while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesive) with a mechanical fastening system consisting of flanges and union nuts. The mechanical pressure and sealing surfaces of the flange connection provide watertight sealing without requiring any chemical substances, thus substituting chemical bonding with mechanical fastening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate components are used for hydraulic connections, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple separate components (threaded pipe, flange, sealing elements) into an integrated flange connection assembly where the flange is directly formed as part of the pump casing. This integration reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the adaptability and versatility of the connection system through standardized flange interfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If adhesive is used for hydraulic connections, then connection tightness is improved, but assembly time increases due to curing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection tightnessVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the adhesive curing process from the assembly sequence. By using mechanical flange connections with union nuts, the system eliminates the time-consuming adhesive application and curing steps, achieving connection tightness through immediate mechanical fastening without waiting for chemical curing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention skips the adhesive curing phase entirely by using a mechanical fastening system that provides immediate connection tightness. The union nut can be tightened to achieve watertight sealing without requiring any waiting period for adhesive to cure, thus rushing through the assembly process more efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

4Ease of operation

If union nut is detachable from connecting pipe, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential loss of components

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedetachabilityVSAvoidcomponent retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs a nested structure where the union nut is positioned within the space between the flange and the pump casing body. This nesting arrangement prevents the union nut from being detached or lost while still allowing for easy operation and assembly, as the union nut is naturally retained in its proper position by the surrounding structural elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 enables quick and secure connections without adhesives, reduces assembly time, and maintains mechanical stability at high pressures, while minimizing component loss and simplifying installation, thus improving the efficiency and reliability of the pump system.

Implementation Method 1

the connecting pipe is integrally connected to the pump casing by welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP3670927B1Pump unit and pump system
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 WILO SE
  • EP3670927B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3670927B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3670927B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Pump unit (10) for installation in a pump system (100), in particular a booster pump system, comprising a pump casing (11) with at least two hydraulic connection ports (20, 30), wherein at least one of the hydraulic connection ports (20, 30) comprises a connecting pipe (21, 31) which is integrally connected to the pump casing (11) and which has a flange (22, 32), wherein a union nut (23, 33) is held on the connecting pipe (21, 31) between the flange (22, 32) and the pump casing (11) so that the union nut (23, 33) is held back by the flange (22, 32).