Pump Protection Unit Against Water Hammer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pumps are vulnerable to water hammer, which can cause damage and require expensive, bulky protection systems that need periodic maintenance, increasing overall dimensions and production costs.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a protection unit against water hammer within the pump structure, utilizing an annular body that absorbs pressure waves and distributes forces to prevent damage to the pumping unit, maintaining the pump's dimensions and eliminating the need for separate maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate protection devices (deformable chambers, check valves, expansion chambers) are added to protect against water hammer, then protection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against water hammerVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the protection unit directly into the pump structure, merging the protection function with the pump body. The protection unit includes a protection chamber formed within the pump housing that contains a deformable element, eliminating the need for separate external protection devices while maintaining water hammer protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump housing serves multiple functions: it contains the pumping mechanism and simultaneously houses the protection unit against water hammer. The protection chamber is formed within the existing pump structure, allowing the same component to fulfill both pumping and protection roles, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate protection devices are added to protect against water hammer, then protection effectiveness is improved, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against water hammerVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protection unit is integrated into the pump housing during manufacturing, combining two functions into one component. This eliminates the need to manufacture and assemble separate protection devices, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separate protection devices are added to protect against water hammer, then protection effectiveness is improved, but overall dimensions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against water hammerVSAvoidoverall dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protection chamber is nested within the pump housing, with the protection unit occupying space that is already part of the pump structure. The deformable element is contained within the protection chamber, creating a nested configuration that provides protection functionality without significantly increasing the external dimensions of the pump.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Reliability

If separate protection devices are added to protect against water hammer, then protection effectiveness is improved, but maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against water hammerVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The protection unit is integrated into the pump housing as a unified structure, eliminating separate protection devices that would require independent maintenance. The deformable element is contained within the protection chamber, and any maintenance can be performed as part of routine pump servicing, thereby reducing overall maintenance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 integrated protection unit effectively absorbs water hammer forces, reducing maintenance requirements and production costs while maintaining the pump's dimensions and improving operational conditions by distributing forces away from the pumping unit.

Implementation Method 1

an annular body (13) which is constrained between the cover (12) and the delivery head (5) so as to form a protection unit against water hammer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure wave absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the annular body (13) which is constrained between the cover (12) and the delivery head (5) so as to form a protection unit against water hammer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce distribution: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2921713B1Pump with a protection unit against water hammer
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 CALPEDA
  • EP2921713B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2921713B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2921713B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A pump (1) comprising: a pump body (2) having a suctioning mouth (3); a delivery head (5) connected to the pump body (2) and in which a delivery mouth (4) is obtained; a tubular jacket (7) arranged inside the pump body (2) and containing an electric motor (8) and a pumping unit (9); a cover (12) applied on the tubular jacket (7) and comprised between the delivery head (5) and the electric motor (8); an annular body (13) comprised between the cover (12) and the delivery head (5) to delimit a delivery chamber (15) communicating with the delivery mouth (4); a tubular interspace (14) defined between the pump body (2) and the tubular jacket (7) which places the suctioning mouth (3) in communication with the delivery mouth (4) through second flow ways (17) made in the annular body (13). In the annular body (13) there are first connection means (18) configured to axially constrain the annular body (13) and the cover (12) to each other and second connection means (19) configured to axially constrain the annular body (13) and the delivery head (5) to each other.