Liquid Pump Seal Compression for Maintenance-Free Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piston pumps require regular maintenance to tighten chevron seals due to wear, leading to potential leaks and increased compressed air needs, which is time-consuming and requires skilled personnel.
Innovation Solution
A self-tightening sealing device where the axial compression member, combined with the pressure of the liquid product, permanently compresses the chevron seals, eliminating the need for regular maintenance and ensuring leak-proof operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring washers are used to hold seals in compression, then the seals are compressed to prevent leakage, but when seal wear exceeds a threshold, the spring washers are no longer sufficient to maintain sufficient compression, requiring manual tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The compression member is designed to automatically adjust and maintain compression on the seals without requiring manual intervention. The member can self-adjust based on seal wear, ensuring continuous adequate compression while eliminating the need for periodic manual tightening operations
Solution Approach 2:
The compression member is made movable relative to the pump body, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and compression force in response to seal wear. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maintain reliable seal compression throughout the seals' service life without manual intervention
2Reliability
If chevron seals are tightened by compression to prevent leaks, then sealing performance is improved, but compressed air consumption increases from 0.3-0.4 bars to 1-1.5 bars
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the compression parameter from high compression (requiring 1-1.5 bars air) to optimal compression (0.3-0.4 bars air) by allowing the compression member to automatically adjust. This parameter optimization maintains seal integrity while significantly reducing compressed air consumption
3Reliability
If regular manual tightening of chevron seals is performed, then leakage is prevented, but time-consuming maintenance and skilled personnel intervention are required
Solution Approach 1:
The compression member automatically maintains seal compression without requiring manual tightening operations. This self-service mechanism eliminates time-consuming maintenance activities and removes the dependency on skilled personnel for seal maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The compression member provides continuous automatic adjustment of seal compression throughout operation, ensuring uninterrupted leak-free performance without periodic maintenance interruptions. This continuous action eliminates downtime associated with manual tightening
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 provides a maintenance-free sealing mechanism that maintains seal compression and prevents leaks, reducing the need for skilled intervention and compressed air usage.
Implementation Method 1
the axial compression member, interposed between a crown, included in the sealing device, and the wall integral with the pump body, in which the crown delimits, in part, a receiving housing intended to accommodate the axial compression member
Implementation Method 2
the pressure of the liquid product in the variable volume exerting on the ring a force parallel to the axis movement of the piston in the chamber, the ring compressing the stack of chevron seals under the effect of the force exerted by the liquid product
Implementation Method 3
a motor drives a piston rod in translation in a chamber of the pump, so as to cause the piston to slide in an alternating movement inside bedroom. The chamber and the piston thus delimit a variable volume which evolves cyclically between a minimum volume and a maximum volume
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
This liquid pump (4) comprises a body (15) internally defining a compression chamber (14), in which a piston is slidably mounted, and an external motor connected to the piston for its movement by a piston rod (18) passing through a wall (26) integral with the pump body via a passage (24) equipped with a sealing device (30) comprising a stack of seals (34) held axially clamped against the pump body (15). The sealing device (30) includes an axial compression member (38) interposed between a ring (39) included in the sealing device (30) and the wall (26) integral with the pump body (15).