Rolling Diaphragm Pump Eliminates Motor and Ball Screw
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost of rolling diaphragm pumps are increased due to the need for an electric motor and ball screw to convert rotational motion into linear motion, especially when higher discharge amounts are required.
Innovation Solution
A rolling diaphragm pump design that eliminates the need for an electric motor and ball screw by using a piston with a sliding, closely-contacted, and connection portion formed as a single member, where the piston reciprocates due to deformation of a flexible connecting portion of the rolling diaphragm, changing the volume of the pump chamber to suck and discharge fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an electric motor and ball screw are used to convert rotational motion into linear motion for piston reciprocation, then the pump can achieve controlled fluid discharge, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the electric motor and ball screw components from the pump system. Instead of using these complex motion conversion mechanisms, the invention employs a directly actuated piston that reciprocates within the cylinder, eliminating the need for rotational-to-linear motion conversion while maintaining fluid discharge control through the diaphragm's flexible sealing action
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system is designed to utilize the inherent flexibility and sealing properties of the diaphragm itself to control fluid flow. The diaphragm's ability to deform and seal creates the pumping action without requiring external motor-driven mechanisms, allowing the system to serve itself through the elastic properties of the diaphragm material
2Productivity
If the size of the electric motor is increased to obtain required load for higher discharge amount, then the pump capacity increases, but the cost of the pump is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex motor assemblies with simpler, more cost-effective components. The piston and diaphragm assembly uses readily manufacturable materials and simple geometries that can be produced at lower cost, even for higher discharge capacities, avoiding the need for large, expensive motors
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple connection means and locking portions are used to connect sliding portion and closely-contacted portion, then the piston structure can be assembled, but distortion occurs during reciprocation due to concentrated load on locking portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sliding portion and closely-contacted portion into a single integrally formed piston component. This unification eliminates the need for separate connection means and locking portions, distributing mechanical loads continuously throughout the integrated structure rather than concentrating them at discrete connection points, thereby preventing distortion during reciprocation
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 simplifies the pump design, inhibits cost increase, and prevents distortion and sealing performance degradation, allowing for efficient fluid handling without the need for additional connection means or locking portions.
Implementation Method 1
the volume of the interior of the pump chamber is changed by deformation of the connecting portion due to reciprocation of the piston
Implementation Method 2
a flexible connecting portion connecting the movable portion and the fixed portion to each other; a pump chamber defined by the rolling diaphragm at one side in the axial direction within the housing and into and from which a transport fluid is sucked and discharged by changing a volume of an interior of the pump chamber by deformation of the connecting portion due to reciprocation of the piston
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling diaphragm pump that can inhibit an increase in cost with a simple configuration is provided. A rolling diaphragm pump 1 includes: a housing 2; a piston 3 disposed so as to be slidable relative to an inner peripheral surface of the housing 2 and reciprocatable in an axial direction; a rolling diaphragm 4 having a movable portion 41 disposed at one end portion in the axial direction of the piston 3 and reciprocatable together with the piston 3, a fixed portion 42 fixed to the housing 2, and a flexible connecting portion 43 connecting the movable portion 41 and the fixed portion 42 to each other; a pump chamber 5 defined by the rolling diaphragm 4 at one side in the axial direction within the housing 2 and into and from which a transport fluid is sucked and discharged by changing a volume of an interior of the pump chamber 5 by deformation of the connecting portion 43 due to reciprocation of the piston 3; and a working fluid chamber 6 defined by another end portion in the axial direction of the piston 3 at another side in the axial direction within the housing 2 and into and from which a working fluid is supplied and discharged, thereby causing the piston 3 to reciprocate.