Seal Bracket Assembly for Flood-Resistant Pump Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel oil pumping systems are vulnerable to flooding, as they expose the linkage and shafts between the pump and motor, allowing water to enter and damage the equipment, rendering them inoperable during flood conditions, and existing solutions lack effective retrofitting options for existing installations.
Innovation Solution
A seal bracket assembly with a coupling member that creates an air-tight seal between the pump and motor, incorporating a passage for the linkage and a drain port, along with an air tank for fluid communication, isolating the passage from the environment except for an outlet, which prevents water infiltration and allows for self-draining, enabling the system to operate during flooding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional long coupled or bracket configurations are used to couple pump and motor, then the linkage is accessible for maintenance, but water can enter the pump and motor via the shaft and damage the equipment during flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling bracket is segmented into a sealed enclosure that divides the internal space into separate compartments. Each compartment houses specific components (linkage, shafts) and is sealed to prevent water ingress, while still allowing maintenance access through designated openings in the enclosure walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed coupling bracket acts as an intermediary barrier between the external flood environment and the internal components. It provides a protected pathway for the linkage and shafts while preventing direct water contact, thus mediating between the need for component accessibility and flood protection.
2Reliability
If the pump and motor are sealed in a bulky enclosure to prevent water ingress, then flood resistance is improved, but the footprint and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling bracket, which traditionally only mechanically connects the pump and motor, is merged with an enclosed protective housing function. This integration allows the same structural component to serve both mechanical coupling and flood protection purposes, eliminating the need for separate bulky enclosures.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage and shafts are nested within the sealed coupling bracket enclosure, which itself is nested between the pump and motor assemblies. This nested arrangement protects internal components from water while maintaining a compact overall footprint, as the protective function is embedded within the existing mechanical structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard equipment is used without modification, then the system can be easily installed, but it cannot function in flood conditions and requires relocation during flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling bracket is designed with multi-functionality: it provides mechanical coupling between pump and motor, houses and protects the linkage and shafts from water, and includes integrated features for maintenance access and potential drainage. This universal design allows standard equipment to be installed using conventional methods while gaining flood resistance capabilities.
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 keeps pumping systems operational during flooding by preventing water ingress, allowing for easy maintenance and retrofitting of existing systems without relocating equipment, ensuring continued functionality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an air tank defining an air space of a predetermined volume therein... When the coupling member is sealingly engaged to both the pump and the source of rotary force the passage and the air space are isolated from the surrounding environment
Implementation Method 2
a drain port defined in the coupling member and extending between the passage and an outer surface of the coupling member... allowing for self-draining
Data Source
AI summary
A seal bracket assembly includes a coupling member having: a first end for sealingly engaging a pump; an opposite second end for sealingly engaging a source of rotary force; a passage defined therein which extends between the first and second ends which is structured to accommodate therein a linkage coupling an output shaft of the source of rotary force and an input shaft of the pump; and a drain port defined in the coupling member which extends between the passage and an outer surface of the coupling member. The assembly further includes an air tank which defines an air space of a predetermined volume therein and includes and an inlet, coupled to the drain port such that the passage and the air space are in fluid communication with each other, and an outlet, which is the only opening to the surrounding environment.