Positive-Displacement Pump Vane Translation for Sausage Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing positive-displacement pumps for sausage processing suffer from residue accumulation between the rotor and stator, leading to contamination, overheating, and the need for time-consuming disassembly for residue removal, which affects the quality and efficiency of the sausage preparation process.

Innovation Solution

A positive-displacement pump design where the rotor rotates within a cylindrical jacket, and vanes translate longitudinally along the axis, preventing residue accumulation and allowing for easy removal of residues without disassembling the rotor, by using a stator with cam surfaces that facilitate the translation of vanes, ensuring efficient and contamination-free operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rotor rotates within an elliptic stator, then the pump achieves positive displacement and reliable operation, but mixture accumulates on the stator inner surface causing contamination and overheating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump operation reliabilityVSAvoidmixture accumulation and contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional configuration by making the rotor cylindrical and the stator elliptic, rather than the conventional elliptic rotor within circular stator. This inversion changes the clearance pattern and prevents mixture accumulation on the stator surface, eliminating contamination and overheating while maintaining positive displacement pumping action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dimensional change by using a cylindrical rotor instead of a planar or elliptic one, creating a three-dimensional clearance pattern between the cylindrical rotor surface and elliptic stator. This dimensional approach prevents mixture trapping and accumulation that occurs in traditional two-dimensional clearance designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the pump operates for extended periods, then productivity increases, but mixture residues accumulate requiring disassembly for cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing yieldVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent design allows the pump to be easily disassembled and reassembled by the operator without requiring specialized tools or extensive technical knowledge. The simplified construction with removable rotor and stator components enables quick self-service cleaning, reducing downtime while maintaining high productivity during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the vanes translate radially against spring bias, then the pump maintains reliable contact with the stator surface, but mixture is dragged and heated causing deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevane contact reliabilityVSAvoidmixture temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 prevents residue accumulation, maintains the quality of the mixture by avoiding overheating, and allows for quick and simple residue removal, enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the sausage processing operation.

Implementation Method 1

using a stator with cam surfaces that facilitate the translation of vanes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Data Source

PatentEP3480424B1Positive-displacement pump

Publication Date: 2020.06.24 BORGO ANTONIO

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Figure 3a~3c

AI summary

A positive-displacement pump (400) which comprises: a rotor (100) which comprises a substantially cylindrical-shaped main body (101) and is adapted to be made to rotate about a rotation axis (X) substantially coincident with its own longitudinal symmetry axis, wherein said main body (101) defines a plurality of housing seats (107), each of said housing seats (107) extending along both a first extension direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal symmetry axis and along a second direction radial and perpendicular to said first direction, said stator comprising a plurality of vanes, each of said vanes being housed in one of said corresponding housing seats (107), wherein said vanes are therefore brought in rotation during the rotation of said main body (101), wherein each of said vanes can translate alternatively in two opposite directions of translation along a direction substantially parallel to said rotation axis (X) of said main body (101).