Pump Overpressure Protection via Sliding Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric pumps in hydraulic systems are vulnerable to damage from sudden pressure variations known as hammering, which are not effectively mitigated by traditional expansion vessels due to space constraints, maintenance costs, and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A submersible or submerged electric pump device with a compact design featuring a main and secondary body forming a cylindrical cavity, a flow control element that slides between closed and open positions, and elastic means like a spring to manage pressure, allowing fluid connection between the delivery port and the environment to relieve overpressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If expansion vessels are used to protect against hammering, then pump protection against overpressures is improved, but space occupation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protection function into the pump body itself by creating a cavity within the pump housing that serves as the expansion chamber. The cavity is formed by the pump body and a cover plate, eliminating the need for separate external expansion vessels. This integration maintains protection functionality while drastically reducing space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The expansion cavity is nested within the pump structure, with the cavity housing containing the elastic membrane and compressible fluid. The protection mechanism is embedded inside the pump assembly, allowing the smaller cavity to be contained within the larger pump body, thus reducing overall space occupation while maintaining protection capabilities.
2Reliability
If expansion vessels with elastic membranes are used, then pump protection is improved, but maintenance costs increase due to membrane wear and rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple elastic membrane that can be easily replaced if it wears or ruptures. The membrane is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be quickly swapped out without requiring complex disassembly or specialized maintenance procedures, thereby reducing maintenance costs and improving ease of repair.
3Reliability
If traditional expansion vessels are used, then pump protection against hammering is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the expansion cavity directly into the pump body structure, the patent eliminates the need for separate external expansion vessels and complex piping connections. The protection mechanism becomes an inherent part of the pump assembly, simplifying both the overall device structure and the installation process.
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 device effectively compensates for instantaneous pressure increases, prevents destructive hammering phenomena, and is reliable, precise, and cost-effective with minimal space occupation, making it suitable for various electric pump installations.
Implementation Method 1
elastic means, in this case constituted by a spring (41), which act on said flow control element (30) in order to push said flow control element (30) toward said closed position
Implementation Method 2
When a threshold pressure value is exceeded, the thrust of said spring (41) is overcome and said flow control element (30) allows said delivery port (53) to be placed in fluidic connection with the environment in which said electric pump (50) is located, so that the water which has caused the overpressure escapes
Data Source
AI summary
A device (10) for protecting an electric pump against overpressures, which comprises a main body (11) which forms a cavity (12) with an axis of extension (100) which is substantially parallel to an axis of extension of the main body (11) and a flow control element (30) which can slide in the cavity (12) along the axis of extension (100) of the cavity between a closed position, in which the flow control element (30) affects an inlet (13) of the cavity (12) which can be connected fluidically to a delivery port (53) of an electric pump (50), and an open position, in which the flow control element (30) clears at least partially the inlet (13) so as to place it in fluidic connection with an outlet (14) of said cavity (12), elastic means (40) designed to push the flow control element (30) in response to the pressure that is present in the delivery port (53).