Pump Fastening Assembly With Centering and Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fastening methods for devices, such as pumps, are laborious and require tools, making them inefficient for quick and precise assembly, especially when dealing with heavy and bulky equipment that needs to absorb high operating forces and vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device with a centering pin and opening system, combined with damping elements and a manual clamping mechanism, allowing for tool-free alignment and secure attachment of two parts without mechanical overconstraint, enabling quick and precise assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional screw fastening methods are used, then reliable connection is achieved, but assembly time increases and tool requirement increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device is segmented into distinct functional components: a first part with damping element, a second part with recess, and a centering element. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, enabling quick assembly while maintaining reliable connection through the coordinated action of damping (for vibration absorption) and positive centering (for precise alignment).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The centering element acts as an intermediary between the first and second parts, providing precise alignment before final connection is made. This intermediary component ensures that the damping element is properly positioned in the recess, enabling reliable connection without requiring time-consuming manual alignment or additional tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional screw fastening methods are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device is designed to be self-aligning through the centering element that automatically guides the second part into the correct position relative to the first part. The damping element self-adjusts to accommodate minor misalignments, and the recess geometry ensures proper positioning without requiring external tools or complex alignment procedures, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If alignment precision is increased, then connection accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidfastening device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centering element is nested within the recess of the second part, creating a compact integrated structure. This nesting approach achieves precise alignment through the geometric relationship between the centering element and recess without requiring additional external alignment devices or complex multi-component systems, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while minimizing device complexity.

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

Facilitates rapid, precise, and tool-free assembly of devices, accommodating alignment variances and high operational forces, reducing assembly complexity and the need for tools.

Implementation Method 1

one or more damping elements (24) made of flexible material are attached to one of the two surface areas (21-1, 22-1), which come into contact with the other of the two surface areas when attached

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The compliant material can be plastic material. It can be elastically deformable plastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3620659B1Fastening device, pump, pump structure
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 PFEIFFER VACUUM GMBH
  • EP3620659B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3620659B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3620659B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A fastening device for attaching a device to a fixture has a device-side first part, which can be attached to or is attached to the device and has a first surface area facing the fixture, and a fixture-side second part, which can be attached to or is attached to the fixture and has a second surface area facing both the device and the first surface area. One of the two parts has at least one centering pin, and the other has at least one corresponding centering opening into which the centering pin can penetrate to align the two parts. One or more damping elements made of a flexible material are attached to one of the two surface areas, which come into contact with the other of the two surface areas when the device is fastened.Furthermore, a clamping element is provided for clamping the two parts together so that they are aligned and held pressed against each other.