Rotatable Front Cover Lubricant Pump Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lubricant pumps require significant upper space for filling due to hinged covers, risk of cover loss, and complex, time-consuming adjustments for fill level sensors, leading to inefficient assembly and potential contamination.

Innovation Solution

A lubricant pump design with a rotatably mounted cover on the front side of the reservoir, allowing for reduced upper space usage and a simplified, angled cover that acts as a drip tray, along with a holding element for easy vertical alignment and attachment of the fill level sensor, reducing assembly complexity and space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cover is fastened on the upper side of the reservoir with a hinge, then the cover can be easily opened and closed, but the space requirement in the upper area increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover opening and closingVSAvoidupper space requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is relocated from the upper side of the reservoir to the front side, changing the spatial dimension of attachment. This allows the cover to pivot forward instead of upward, dramatically reducing the vertical space requirement while maintaining ease of operation through the hinge mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the cover is provided as a screw element instead of being hinged, then the space requirement is reduced, but the risk of cover loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupper space requirementVSAvoidcover retention
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed with a hinge mechanism that allows dynamic opening and closing motion. The hinge provides a reliable connection that prevents cover loss while enabling easy access, combining the benefits of both hinged and screwed covers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the fill level sensor is arranged vertically in the bottom area of the reservoir, then correct measurement values are obtained, but complex adjustment and screwing is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefill level measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor adjustment and assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fill level sensor is pre-mounted on the pump housing in a fixed position. The pump housing is designed with integrated sensor mounting features that automatically provide the correct vertical orientation when the pump is installed, eliminating the need for complex field adjustment and screwing operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2884150B1Lubrication pump
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 SKF LUBRICATION SYST GERMANY
  • EP2884150B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2884150B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2884150B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7b

AI summary

The present invention relates to a lubricant pump (100) with a housing (102) comprising a reservoir (108) for lubricant and a pump housing section (104, 106) comprising a pump unit, in particular a piston pump device (1), wherein the pump unit is designed to supply a lubricant from the reservoir (108) to a lubricant outlet (52; 62; ) arranged on the housing (102).64) to promote, and wherein the reservoir (108) has a lubricant filling opening (112) and a lubricant outlet connected to the pump unit, wherein the lubricant filling opening (112) is arranged on a top side of the reservoir (108) and is covered with a lid (114), wherein the lid (114) is rotatably mounted on a front side of the reservoir (108) to cover the lubricant filling opening (112), and a lubricant pump as described above, in which a lubricant level sensor (68) is provided, which is attached to the pump unit by means of a retaining element (66) and projects from there into the reservoir (108).