Hydraulic Pump Inlet Baffle for Flow Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard hydrostatic pump designs experience flow disruption and increased noise due to rapid de-compression, leading to reduced fluid flow and efficiency, as high-pressure fluid is released directly into the inlet manifold during the transition from pumping to suction phases, causing aeration and pressure ripples.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a baffle chamber that redirects de-compression fluid from the compressed piston chamber to the next piston in the suction cycle, preventing flow disruption and optimizing the use of de-compression flow within the pump assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If high pressure fluid is released directly into the inlet manifold during de-compression, then the pump can maintain simple structure, but flow disruption and noise increase occur
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet manifold is segmented into two separate chambers: a first chamber for receiving de-compression fluid from the pump barrel, and a second chamber for receiving suction fluid from the inlet port. This segmentation prevents direct mixing of high-velocity de-compression fluid with suction fluid, eliminating flow disruption and noise while maintaining relatively simple pump structure.
2Ease of operation
If de-compression fluid is allowed to mix with suction fluid in the inlet manifold, then the pump operation is simpler, but aeration and pressure ripples increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet manifold is divided into separate chambers that prevent mixing of de-compression fluid and suction fluid. The first chamber receives de-compression fluid through a decompression port, while the second chamber receives suction fluid through the inlet port. This segmentation ensures stable inlet fluid conditions and prevents aeration while keeping the pump easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
A baffle structure acts as an intermediary element between the first and second chambers of the inlet manifold. This baffle prevents direct interaction between de-compression fluid and suction fluid, ensuring that the suction fluid remains uncontaminated while allowing the de-compression fluid to be safely discharged into the first chamber.
3Device complexity
If the de-compression flow is directed against the suction flow direction, then the pump design is simpler, but the amount of fluid that can flow into the suction piston chamber is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet manifold is segmented into separate chambers for de-compression fluid and suction fluid. This segmentation allows the suction fluid to flow uninterrupted into the suction piston chamber without being disrupted by de-compression flow, maximizing fluid flow rate while maintaining simple flow path design.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle structure serves as an intermediary that separates the flow paths of de-compression fluid and suction fluid. This ensures that suction fluid can enter the suction piston chamber at full flow rate without being blocked or disrupted by the opposing de-compression flow.
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
This solution enhances self-priming speed, reduces noise, and improves volumetric efficiency by minimizing flow disruption and pressure ripples, while maintaining pump reliability and output power without increasing weight, cost, or pump envelope.
Implementation Method 1
the baffle chamber redirects de-compression fluid from the compressed piston chamber to the next piston in the suction cycle
Implementation Method 2
the decompression port is fluidly connected to the baffle chamber of the port cover, the baffle chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet port
Data Source
AI summary
An inlet baffle chamber (40) is provided in the port cover (26) of a piston pump. The inlet baffle chamber (26) fluidly connects a compressed piston chamber to an adjacent lower pressure piston chamber while the lower pressure piston chamber is in the suction cycle and separately receiving fluid from an inlet manifold (38) of the port cover (26). Instead of de-compressing high pressure fluid directly to pump's inlet (36) as in prior art pumps, the inlet baffle chamber (40) directs fluid to the next piston that is already in the suction cycle.