Pump Return Passage Layout to Reduce Suction Turbulence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pump devices for internal combustion engines suffer from turbulence and increased suction resistance due to collisions between hydraulic oils returning from the discharge passage and those supplied from the suction passage, leading to inefficiencies and higher component counts, which increase costs.

Innovation Solution

The pump device incorporates a housing with a weir part and directional wall in the suction passage to divert the flow of suction fluid, preventing direct collision with return fluid, and features an on-off valve to control the return passage, reducing turbulence and pressure loss while simplifying the structure and reducing components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a flow regulating member is added to regulate the flow of returned hydraulic oil, then the flow regulation function is improved, but the number of components increases and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow regulation functionVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing integrates multiple functions: it contains the suction passage, discharge passage, and return passage, and incorporates the directional wall and weir part as integral structures. This merging of functions into a single housing component eliminates the need for separate flow regulating members, reducing component count while maintaining flow regulation capability through the directional wall geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing serves multiple purposes: it provides structural containment, defines flow paths through integrated passages, regulates flow direction via the directional wall, and controls flow distribution through the weir part. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated flow regulating components, reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If the return passage opens directly into the suction passage, then the structure is simplified, but turbulence and suction resistance increase due to flow collision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidturbulence and suction resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The directional wall acts as an intermediary structure between the return passage opening and the suction passage flow. It mediates the interaction by redirecting the returned hydraulic oil along the housing wall, preventing direct collision with the suction flow while maintaining the simple integrated structure without requiring separate flow regulation components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The directional wall utilizes the vertical dimension by extending from the bottom wall upward, creating a three-dimensional flow guidance structure. This vertical orientation allows the returned oil to flow along the wall surface in a different spatial dimension, avoiding direct collision with the horizontal suction flow while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 effectively suppresses turbulence and pressure loss, enhancing pump efficiency while minimizing the number of components and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

the housing includes a directional wall which directs a flow of a suction fluid sucked into the suction passage from the suction port to divert from a flow of a return fluid returned from the return passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow direction control:

Implementation Method 2

The pump element is accommodated in the housing and rotates around a predetermined axis to suck, pressurize, and discharge a fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational pumping:

Implementation Method 3

The on-off valve opens and closes the return passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectValve flow control: Valve

Implementation Method 4

The weir part may include an inclined surface forming an upward slope toward a downstream side to define the directional wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational flow: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11867177B2Pump device including return passage for returning fluid from discharge passage to suction passage

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 MIKUNI CORP

AI summary

A pump device includes a housing, a pump element, and an on-off valve. The housing includes a suction passage defining a suction port at an upstream end, a discharge passage defining a discharge port at a downstream end, and a return passage returning a part of a fluid flowing through the discharge passage to midway of the suction passage. The pump element is accommodated in the housing and rotates around a predetermined axis to suck, pressurize, and discharge a fluid. The on-off valve opens and closes the return passage. In the suction passage upstream of an opening at which the return passage is opened to the suction passage, the housing includes a directional wall which directs a flow of a suction fluid sucked into the suction passage from the suction port to divert from a flow of a return fluid returned from the return passage.