Pump Flanges With Rotatable Securing Ring For Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps face high production costs due to the use of expensive materials for flanges in contact with fluids and alignment challenges during assembly, as flanges are fixed and cannot be rotated for hole alignment with counterflanges.
Innovation Solution
The pump design features flanges with a fixed body and a separable, rotatably connected securing ring, utilizing a threaded joint for assembly and made of different materials (stainless steel for the flange body and carbon steel for the securing ring), allowing for easier alignment and reduced production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the flange and securing ring are made as a single-piece body, then the structural integrity is improved, but the production cost increases due to the use of expensive materials throughout
Solution Approach 1:
The flange assembly is divided into two separate components: the flange body (in contact with fluid) and the securing ring (not in contact with fluid). This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured from materials optimized for its specific function, reducing overall production cost while maintaining structural integrity through proper design of the connection interface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials are used for different parts of the flange assembly based on local requirements: the flange body uses expensive corrosion-resistant material where it contacts the fluid, while the securing ring uses cheaper material where corrosion resistance is not required. This local quality approach optimizes material selection for each specific functional zone.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the flange is fixed as a single body with the pump body, then the structural stability is improved, but the alignment difficulty increases during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The securing ring is designed to be rotatable relative to the flange body, transforming a static fixed structure into a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the securing ring to be rotated to align its holes with the counterflange holes during assembly, while still providing stable connection when assembled. The dynamic capability is maintained through a rotation mechanism that allows angular adjustment.
3Reliability
If the securing ring is made of expensive corrosion-resistant material, then the corrosion resistance is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Corrosion resistance is applied locally only where needed - the flange body that contacts the fluid is made of expensive corrosion-resistant material, while the securing ring that does not contact the fluid is made of cheaper material. This eliminates unnecessary expenditure on corrosion resistance for parts that don't require it.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing ring uses a cheaper material that would not be suitable for fluid contact, but is perfectly adequate for its non-contact function. This applies the principle of using the least expensive suitable material for each component based on its actual service conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3a
AI summary
The invention is a pump (1, 50) comprising: a pump body (2) in which there are a suction inlet (3) and a delivery outlet (4); a pumping unit (5) housed in the pump body (2) and configured to be connected to an electric motor (6) by means of a transmission shaft (7); a pair of flanges (8), one associated with the suction inlet (3) and one associated with the delivery outlet (4), each flange (8) comprising a flange body (10, 100) equipped with a front sealing surface (12) and a peripheral securing ring (14, 140) for connection to a corresponding counterflange. The securing ring (14, 140) is associated with the respective flange body (10, 100) by means of a threaded joint (16, 160) comprising a female thread (160a) which is located inside the securing ring (140) only for part (A1) of its thickness (A) and a male thread (160b) which is located outside the flange body (100) only for part (F1) of its thickness (F).