Pump Flange With Inclined Mounting Holes for Auxiliary Pump Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump stack configurations require machining and replacement of existing pumps for adding new pumps, leading to potential reliability issues due to lateral movement and uneven weight distribution, which can damage bearings and induce stress on the gearbox.
Innovation Solution
A pump design featuring a flange with inclined mounting holes and a bracket support system that allows for easy attachment of auxiliary pumps without machining, reducing lateral movement and evenly distributing the weight of the pump stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If retaining rods with springs and retaining clips are used to connect pumps in a back-to-back tandem configuration, then the pumps can be assembled without machining existing pumps, but the relative lateral movement of adjacent pumps due to vibrations may exert additional forces on the bearings and decrease reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The pump stack is divided into modular pump units that can be independently assembled and connected. Each pump can be separately manufactured and then connected to form a stack, allowing for easier assembly while maintaining structural integrity through proper connection design.
Solution Approach 2:
A connection structure with mounting flanges and mounting holes serves as an intermediary element between adjacent pumps. This mediator provides a stable connection point that reduces lateral movement and distributes vibrational forces, protecting the bearings while enabling easy assembly.
2Quantity of substance
If additional pumps are added to the pump stack to supply additional fluid, then the fluid supply capacity increases, but the weight of the pump stack increases and may require additional structural elements for mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting flange structure serves multiple functions: it connects adjacent pumps in the stack, provides mounting points for additional pumps, and distributes the weight load across the entire stack assembly. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional structural elements when adding pumps.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting holes are positioned on an axis inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the flange, creating a geometric arrangement that distributes weight and connection forces across multiple dimensions. This dimensional arrangement allows the same flange structure to support both the connection between pumps and the mounting of additional pumps.
3Device complexity
If the entire weight of the pump stack is supported by the fasteners connecting the first pump to the gearbox, then the connection is simplified, but additional stresses are induced on the gearbox and first pump which may decrease reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting flange structure merges the connection function with the weight support function. By integrating the mounting features into the flange that already connects pumps together, the structure simultaneously provides mechanical connection and distributes weight support across multiple connection points, reducing stress on any single component.
Data Source
AI summary
A pump is disclosed. The pump may have a housing connectable to a transmission of a machine adjacent a front end of the pump. The pump may also have a flange attached to the housing adjacent a rear end of the pump. The flange may have a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the flange, and a transverse axis extending along a width of the flange. The flange may also have a first mounting hole configured to connect an auxiliary pump to the flange. Further, the flange may have a second mounting hole configured to connect a bracket to the flange. The first mounting hole may be positioned on a first axis inclined at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the flange.