Additive Pump Sealing Collar With Drain Leak Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Additive pumps in heavy industries face challenges in containing hazardous substances from leaking around reciprocating or rotating shafts, which can contaminate the environment and require costly and complex multi-piece seal designs.
Innovation Solution
A sealed connection device with a collar and adapter system featuring radial seals and a drain mechanism to re-circulate additives back into the pump, preventing leaks and simplifying construction by using a single, robust member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multi-piece seal designs are used to prevent additive leaks around the shaft, then leak prevention is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple seal pieces into a single integrated seal assembly that interfaces with the pump head. This single seal assembly includes sealing surfaces and features that distribute and contain leaks internally, eliminating the need for multiple separate seal components while maintaining reliable leak prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves as an intermediary component between the pump and pump head, incorporating the seal assembly within its structure. This intermediary design allows the seal to be contained and supported by the adapter housing, providing robust leak containment without requiring complex multi-piece external sealing arrangements.
2Reliability
If radial seals are used to contain additive migration, then containment effectiveness is improved, but seal life is reduced due to wear and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the seal by providing clearance between the shaft and seal, and by incorporating a drain mechanism that allows controlled leakage. This prevents excessive pressure buildup and reduces wear on the radial seals, extending their operational life while maintaining containment effectiveness through the drain's leak collection and redirection.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single robust member design is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but seal reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall design uses a single adapter member, the seal assembly itself is segmented into functional zones: radial seals for shaft containment, sealing surfaces against the pump head, and a drain mechanism. This segmentation of sealing functions within a unified structure maintains reliability while simplifying manufacturing compared to multiple separate components.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the drain mechanism is added to re-circulate additives, then environmental contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain mechanism converts potential harmful leakage into a beneficial re-circulation system. Instead of allowing additives to escape to the environment, the drain collects leaked additives and redirects them back into the pump's operative plumbing, transforming a failure mode into a self-correcting feature that prevents contamination while maintaining system operation.
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
Effectively contains additives within the pump, reducing manufacturing costs and prolonging seal life while aligning with environmental regulations by eliminating unnecessary parts and providing a direct seal with the pump head.
Implementation Method 1
A collar with a pair of radial seals, typically face seals or lip seals, may reside in the adapter. This collar is configured to contain additive that migrates past, for example, one of the radial seal.
Implementation Method 2
A drain may allow the additive to re-circulate back into operative plumbing of the pump station, thus avoiding leaks that could potentially contaminate areas around the injection station.
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed connection device configured to connect a pump head with a pump on an additive pump. The sealed connection device may comprise an adapter and a sealing collar that inserts into the adapter. The sealing collar may comprise a body with a bore forming open ends, a shoulder disposed between the open ends, an annular detent adjacent the shoulder, annular grooves, one being disposed on the shoulder two others found on either side of the shoulder, and o-rings disposed in the annular grooves. The pump may couple with a first side of the adapter, the pump comprising a shaft that inserts in the bore of the sealing collar. The pump head may insert into a second side of the adapter so as to contact one of o-rings on the sealing collar.