Positive Displacement Pump Magnetic Circuit Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing positive-displacement pumps face inefficiencies due to air gaps in their magnetic circuits, which impede magnetic flux and reduce the pump's performance.

Innovation Solution

The pump design optimizes the magnetic circuit by using a magnetically conductive guide sleeve with through-openings, a stator, and an insulator sleeve to minimize parasitic air gaps, ensuring efficient magnetic flux transfer and guidance of the magnet armature, while a compression spring provides the restoring force, and the guide sleeve is adjustable to optimize stroke distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a conventional magnetic circuit is used in the pump, then the structure is simple, but air gaps impede magnetic flux and reduce pump efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic flux efficiencyVSAvoidmagnetic circuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces magnetically conductive intermediaries (magnetic bridge elements, conductive guide sleeve, stator) between magnetic components to eliminate air gaps. These intermediary elements provide continuous magnetic flux paths, preventing flux interruption and improving magnetic circuit efficiency without requiring direct contact between all magnetic components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide sleeve with integrated conductive sections is nested within the magnetic circuit structure, with the magnet armature moving inside it. This nested configuration allows the conductive guide sleeve to simultaneously serve as a structural guide and a magnetic flux conductor, eliminating air gaps between the magnet armature and surrounding magnetic components while maintaining a compact design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Loss of energy

If the guide sleeve is made entirely of magnetically conductive material, then magnetic flux efficiency is improved, but guidance of the magnet armature becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic flux efficiencyVSAvoidmagnet armature guidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide sleeve is designed with locally differentiated properties: sections made of magnetically conductive material to guide magnetic flux, and sections made of magnetically non-conductive material to provide frictionless guidance for the magnet armature. This local quality differentiation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The guide sleeve is segmented into multiple sections with different magnetic properties along its length. The conductive sections are positioned where magnetic flux conduction is needed, while non-conductive sections are positioned where armature guidance is needed. This segmentation allows the single guide sleeve component to fulfill multiple functional requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the stroke distance is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the pump cannot be optimized for different delivery rates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery rateVSAvoidadjustable mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump design incorporates adjustable components that allow the stroke distance and magnetic circuit configuration to be dynamically modified. The guide sleeve can be repositioned along the piston rod, and magnetic bridge elements can be adjusted, enabling the pump to adapt its delivery rate and performance characteristics to different operational requirements without requiring multiple fixed designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 configuration enhances the magnetic flux efficiency, reduces air gaps, and allows for adjustable stroke distance, increasing the pump's delivery rate and mechanical work conversion from electrical drive energy.

Implementation Method 1

a lifting drive which has a longitudinally displaceably guided magnet armature (8) which acts on the flat side of the pump diaphragm (7) facing away from the pump chamber (6) and which can be set into a suction stroke electromagnetically against a restoring force by means of a coil (9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetism: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

a coil of the electromagnet interacts with a magnetically conductive magnetic return element (10). On its opposite sides, this magnetic yoke element has through-openings (13, 14) which are aligned with one another and pass through a guide sleeve (15), in which the magnet armature (8) is displaceably guided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic flux conduction: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 3

which can be set into a suction stroke electromagnetically against a restoring force by means of a coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2617996B1Pressure pump
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 KNF FLODOS
  • EP2617996B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2617996B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2617996B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a positive displacement pump (1) with a pump head (3) in which (3) at least one pump chamber (6) is provided, with a pump diaphragm (7) associated with the at least one pump chamber (6), which (7) separates the pump chamber (6) from a lifting drive (see Fig. 1).