Pump Rotor Housing Gap Control via Positioning Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vane pumps face challenges in achieving optimal performance due to the need for precise calculations and manufacturing processes to ensure the correct gap distance between the rotor and housing, which affects subchamber volume ratios and can lead to friction, interference, and air leakages, impacting torque and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method for manufacturing and assembling pumps that involves determining and adjusting the optimal gap distance between the rotor and housing in a tangency direction, using a rotor mock-up and sensing means to ensure accurate positioning, allowing for independent adjustment of the gap distance regardless of dimensional and geometrical tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotor is placed eccentrically with respect to the housing to maximize subchamber volume ratio, then the pump performance is improved, but the gap distance control becomes critical and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A positioning element is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotor and housing. This element has a first portion that contacts the rotor and a second portion that contacts the housing, thereby mediating the gap distance control. The positioning element allows precise gap adjustment without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on the rotor and housing themselves, resolving the contradiction between performance optimization and manufacturing feasibility.
2Reliability
If the gap distance between rotor and housing is reduced to minimize air leakages, then sealing performance is improved, but friction and risk of physical interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning element provides localized gap control at the critical tangency point where the rotor nearest approaches the housing. By concentrating precision positioning at this specific location rather than requiring uniform gap control everywhere, the system achieves reliable sealing where needed while maintaining adequate clearance elsewhere to prevent friction and interference.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional manufacturing processes are used with fixed tolerances, then production simplicity is maintained, but the ratio between maximum and minimum subchamber volumes cannot be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning element introduces adjustability into the previously fixed gap distance. The element can be positioned at different locations or oriented at different angles to vary the gap distance between rotor and housing. This dynamic adjustment capability allows optimization of the subchamber volume ratio while maintaining simple manufacturing processes, as the positioning element can be installed after basic component fabrication.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 1d~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing and assembling a pump (1), the method comprising the steps of providing a housing (2), providing a rotor (3) with a rotor axis (31) and determining an optimal distance (g_opt) between the housing and the rotor (3). The next step comprises varying the distance between the housing (2) and the rotor axis (31) in a tangency direction (d), so that the distance between the rotor (3) and the housing (2) is substantially equal to the optimal distance (g_opt). Finally, the last step comprises affixing the relative position between the housing (2) and the rotor axis (3).