Reciprocating Pump Auxiliary O-Ring Sealing Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large reciprocating pumps experience leakage issues due to pressure oscillations, leading to poor sealing and leakage of liquids from O-rings, which is undesirable for toxic or expensive liquids.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an auxiliary O-ring between the connection surfaces of the manifolds and a relief path that recycles leaking liquid to regions under lower pressure, preventing external leakage and enhancing sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pump size is increased to achieve larger displacement, then the pumping capacity is improved, but the clearance of parts due to pressure oscillation increases leading to poor sealing action and liquid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into multiple O-rings (first O-ring, second O-ring, and auxiliary O-ring) positioned at different locations. The auxiliary O-ring is specifically added between the connection surfaces of the first and second manifolds to address leakage at connection points, while the primary O-rings seal the communicating tube connections. This segmentation allows each O-ring to address specific sealing needs without compromising the others.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary O-ring acts as an intermediary sealing element between the first and second manifolds at their connection surfaces. It mediates the sealing function at the critical connection point where pressure oscillation causes leakage, preventing liquid from escaping to the exterior while allowing the manifolds to remain connected for structural integrity.
2Productivity
If the manifold length is increased to accommodate larger pump size, then the pumping capacity is improved, but the displacement and clearance of parts due to pressure oscillation increases causing poor sealing action
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to improve sealing uniformly across the entire manifold system, the auxiliary O-ring is strategically placed only at the specific location where connection surfaces meet between the first and second manifolds. This local quality approach addresses the critical leakage point without requiring changes to the entire manifold structure or other sealing regions.
3Reliability
If additional O-rings and relief paths are added to prevent leakage, then the sealing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relief path enables a self-service mechanism where liquid that leaks past the first or second O-rings is automatically redirected back to the suction manifold through the auxiliary O-ring and relief path. This self-correcting system reduces leakage to the exterior without requiring external monitoring or intervention, and the relief path structure is integrated into the existing manifold design rather than adding completely separate components.
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 prevents liquid leakage to the exterior, maintaining the integrity of the pump and reducing the risk of environmental contamination and material loss.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary O-ring (24) disposed between a connection surface (13a) of the first manifold (4) and a connection surface (13b) of the second manifold (5) outside of the communicating tube (14) in the radial direction
Implementation Method 2
a relief path (25) configured to recycle liquid leaking from at least one of the first and second O-rings (15, 16) from upstream of the auxiliary O-ring (24) to regions (22, 23) in the manifolds under a lower pressure relative to the pumping chamber (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A reciprocating pump is provided that does not leak working liquid to the exterior. A communicating tube 14 extends over both a first manifold 4 and a second manifold 5 such that a reciprocating member 1 constitutes a part of a reciprocating cylinder 2. An auxiliary O-ring 24 is disposed on connection surfaces 13a and 13b of a first manifold 4 and a second manifold 5 outside of the communicating tube 14 in the radial direction so that liquid leaking from at least one of a first O-ring 15 between the first manifold 4 and the periphery of the communicating tube 14 and a second O-ring 16 between the second manifold 5 and the periphery of the communicating tube 14 toward the exterior is blocked.