Pump Container Assembly With Elastic Air Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump container assemblies fail to effectively compensate for volume increases due to fluid freezing and thermal expansions, leading to potential damage and operational issues, particularly at low temperatures, and do not adequately prevent fluid from entering the power transmission system.
Innovation Solution
A container assembly with an elastic element, such as silicone rubber, incorporating an air chamber to absorb volume expansions and pressure pulses, and a retention mechanism to ensure sealing and prevent fluid ingress into the power transmission system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid sealed container vessel is used to enclose pump components, then structural strength and sealing are improved, but the ability to compensate for fluid volume expansion during freezing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The container assembly is divided into a rigid container vessel for structural strength and a separate elastic element for volume compensation. The elastic element is positioned between the pump components and the container wall, creating functional segmentation that allows each component to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines rigid metal container vessel material with elastic element material (such as rubber or polymer) to create a composite structure. The rigid portion provides structural strength while the elastic portion provides volume compensation capability, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
2Reliability
If the container assembly is made rigid to maintain sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but excessive clearances due to thermal expansion cannot be compensated
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the rigid container structure and assigned to the elastic element. This allows the container vessel to remain rigid for structural integrity while the elastic element provides both sealing and thermal expansion compensation through its deformable nature.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic element's physical parameters (shape, volume) can change in response to thermal expansion, allowing the assembly to accommodate dimensional changes while maintaining sealing performance. The element deforms to absorb expansion forces without compromising the seal.
3Device complexity
If a magnetic drive system is used for power transmission, then mechanical sealing requirements are reduced, but fluid ingress into the power transmission system must still be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element acts as an intermediary barrier between the fluid environment and the power transmission system. It provides a protective interface that prevents fluid ingress while allowing the magnetic drive system to operate without direct fluid contact, maintaining reliability without adding complex sealing mechanisms.
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
The container assembly provides a compact, cost-effective solution that effectively compensates for fluid volume changes and pressure fluctuations, ensuring the integrity of the pump's internal mechanisms and preventing fluid from entering the power transmission system, thus maintaining efficient operation across varying temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
A container assembly with an elastic element, such as silicone rubber, incorporating an air chamber to absorb volume expansions and pressure pulses
Implementation Method 2
incorporating an air chamber to absorb volume expansions and pressure pulses
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A container assembly (10) for a pump is described, provided with at least one pumping group (12, 14, 16, 18) and with at least one system (20) for transmitting power to such pumping group (12, 14, 16, 18). The container assembly (10) comprises at least one elastic element (26) sealingly housed inside such container assembly (10) at a predefined internal wall (28) thereof. Inside the elastic element (26), at least one cavity (32) is obtained which defines a corresponding air chamber configured for damping the variations of volume and the expansion of the fluid contained inside the pump following a possible change of state of the fluid itself when subjected to temperatures lower than its freezing point.