Two-Piece Pump Oil Filter for Replaceable Moisture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pump assemblies face premature bearing failure due to contaminant accumulation in the bearing housing, which includes debris and moisture, leading to ineffective lubrication and reduced operational life.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece oil filter assembly for pumps, comprising a filter portion and a plug portion, where the filter portion is configured to filter contaminated oil and disperse filtered oil to lubricate the bearing assembly, and the plug portion directs contaminated oil to the filter portion, with moisture-absorbing beads to remove moisture from the oil, allowing for easy replacement of the filter portion while reusing the plug portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional permanent filter assembly is used, then the filter provides continuous lubrication, but the entire assembly must be replaced when the filter media becomes contaminated, increasing maintenance costs and waste
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is divided into three separable components: a reusable plug portion with adapter, a reusable O-ring seal, and a disposable filter portion. The plug portion remains in the bearing housing and is not contaminated by oil, while the filter portion becomes contaminated and is replaced. This segmentation allows only the contaminated filter portion to be discarded rather than the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables selective discarding of only the filter portion while recovering and reusing the plug portion and adapter. The plug portion with its adapter and O-ring seal remains in the bearing housing for subsequent filter replacements, reducing waste and maintenance costs while ensuring continuous lubrication through repeated filter changes.
2Device complexity
If the filter assembly is designed as a single integrated unit, then the structure is simple, but the entire assembly including non-contaminated parts must be replaced, increasing complexity of maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is segmented into a permanent plug portion and a replaceable filter portion that can be easily separated. The plug portion threads into the bearing housing and contains an adapter that receives the filter portion. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to simply unscrew the plug portion and replace the filter portion without affecting other components, greatly simplifying maintenance operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the filter portion is made from non-recyclable materials, then manufacturing is simpler, but environmental impact increases and disposal costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The filter portion is constructed from composite materials including a paper filter media surrounded by a plastic mesh structure. This composite construction maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling recyclability. The paper and plastic components can be separated and recycled through standard processes, reducing environmental impact and disposal costs compared to non-recyclable materials.
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
The solution effectively extends the operational life of pump assemblies by maintaining clean lubrication, reducing bearing wear, and addressing environmental concerns through cost-efficient and recyclable filter portion materials, while ensuring reliable lubrication and reduced maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a filter portion configured to filter contaminated oil received from the chamber through an oil path and disperse the filtered oil to the channel effective to lubricate the bearing assembly
Implementation Method 2
The filter assembly may further include a plurality of moisture absorbing beads inside the filter portion to remove moisture from the oil
Implementation Method 3
The pump assembly may also include an oil ring inside the chamber, the oil ring configured to rotate along with the shaft and throw the contaminated oil into the oil path
Implementation Method 4
disperse the filtered oil to the channel effective to lubricate the bearing assembly in the chamber when the shaft is rotated
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Technologies are generally described for a two-piece filter assembly for centrifugal pump assemblies. A filter portion optionally made from recyclable material may receive contaminated oil from the oil path, through the filter, and provide the filtered oil back to the sump. The filtered oil is then reclaimed by the oil ring from the sump to lubricate the bearings. The filter portion may be removable from the plug portion and the plug portion may be placed back onto the pump assembly with a new filter portion. In some examples, moisture absorbing beads are placed inside the filter portion to remove moisture from the filtered oil.