Centrifugal Pump Housing Flat Cover Impact Absorption

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal pumps used in abrasive and high-impact applications face challenges with heavy and costly steel or cast iron casings that are prone to rupture under pressure surges and lump material impacts, leading to material ejection and safety risks, while existing designs complicate impeller replacement and are inefficient due to deformation under overpressure.

Innovation Solution

A centrifugal pump design featuring a single-piece plastic cover part with reinforcement rings and a cup-shaped outer casing made from tough, yieldable materials to absorb impacts and maintain structural integrity, reducing weight and cost, and allowing for simpler impeller replacement by eliminating a separate inlet lid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a separate inlet cover is used to close the opening in the cover part, then the impeller can be replaced without removing the cover part, but the inlet cover complicates the structure and creates additional components that increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpeller replacementVSAvoidcover part structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet cover function is merged into the cover part itself by providing a closing surface that forms an integrated unit. The cover part includes a closing surface at its outlet end that can be closed by a closing element, eliminating the need for a separate inlet cover component while maintaining the ability to replace the impeller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If the cover part is made as a single integrated piece with the closing surface, then the structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the closing surface may deform under internal overpressure reducing sealing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover part manufacturingVSAvoidsealing action
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover part is constructed as a composite structure with a closing surface made of a material selected for its resistance to deformation under pressure. The closing surface may be made of a different material than the main body of the cover part, allowing optimization of each component for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity and sealing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If steel or cast iron is used for the outer casing to withstand abrasive materials, then the casing has high hardness and abrasion resistance, but it cannot yield well under impact forces from pressure surges or lumps of material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabrasion resistanceVSAvoidimpact force accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The material properties of the outer casing are optimized by selecting materials with appropriate yield strength and ductility characteristics. The casing is designed to yield controllably under impact loads from pressure surges or lumps of material, absorbing energy while maintaining structural integrity. This allows the casing to adapt to dynamic loading conditions while still providing protection against abrasive wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP1972788B1Centrifugal pump housing having a flat single cover part
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 IHC HOLLAND IE BV
  • EP1972788B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1972788B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1972788B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The above mentioned invention is related to a centrifugal pump, comprising an outer casing, an inner casing contained in the outer casing, an impeller rotatably supported within the inner casing, an outer casing inlet concentrically arranged with respect to the impeller as well as a tangential outlet, said outer casing comprising a cup shaped part as well as a cover part mounted onto the cup shaped part. The cover part comprises a single element which extends as a unity continuously between the cup shaped part and the outer casing inlet.