Pump Purge Valve Configuration for Airlock-Free Startup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid pumps used in hydraulic systems, such as brake accumulator charging systems, often encounter airlocks due to compressible fluids, leading to reduced efficiency and potential damage, especially when immediate startup is required.
Innovation Solution
A pump and purge valve configuration that includes a purging fluid pathway with a purge valve configured to remain open until triggering fluid pressure develops, allowing air to be ejected and preventing airlocks by ensuring fluid flow through the operational pathway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the pump operates immediately upon startup, then the system can begin functioning without delay, but airlocks may develop due to compressible fluids in the system
Solution Approach 1:
The purge valve is pre-configured in an open state before pump operation begins, allowing air and compressible fluids to be expelled from the system in advance. This preliminary purging action ensures that when the pump starts immediately, the fluid pathway is already clear of airlocks, resolving the contradiction between immediate startup and airlock prevention.
2Reliability
If the purge valve remains open to allow air evacuation, then airlocks are prevented, but fluid pressure may be lost during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The purge valve transitions from a static open/closed design to a dynamic state that responds to system conditions. The valve remains open when pressure is low (during startup and air purging) but automatically closes when sufficient fluid pressure develops, adapting its state to prevent both airlocks and pressure loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The purge valve incorporates a feedback mechanism that monitors fluid pressure in the system. When pressure reaches a predetermined threshold indicating that air has been purged and normal operation is established, the valve receives feedback to close automatically, maintaining both airlock prevention and pressure integrity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the pump continues to operate with air in the system, then the pump runs continuously, but efficiency drops and damage may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the pump to operate continuously (even through the air purging phase) but converts the potentially harmful air presence into a beneficial purging opportunity. The open purge valve directs air and compressible fluids away from the pump during operation, allowing continuous runtime without efficiency loss or damage from airlocks.
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 clears airlocks and reduces damage from cavitation erosion by ensuring the pump operates efficiently and safely, even under low pressures, by maintaining the purge valve open until sufficient fluid pressure is achieved, allowing for effective fluid flow and pressure generation.
Implementation Method 1
The purge valve may be configured to remain open unless a triggering fluid pressure develops in the pump mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A pump and purge valve configuration may include an inlet, an outlet arranged downstream of the inlet and defining a portion of an operational fluid pathway, and a pump mechanism arranged along the operational fluid pathway between the inlet and the outlet. The pump and purge valve configuration may also include a purging fluid pathway having a purge inlet in fluid communication with the operational fluid pathway at a point downstream of the pump. The purging fluid pathway may extend from the purge inlet to a relief point. The pump and purge valve configuration may also include a purge valve arranged along the purging fluid pathway. The purge valve may be configured to remain open unless a triggering fluid pressure develops in the pump mechanism.