Mechanical Seal Circulation Pump With Pressure-Balanced Vanes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In the circulation pump mechanism of existing mechanical seal devices, the vane's projection movement is interfered with due to increased sealing liquid pressure, which can prevent the vane from projecting from the rotor's outer surface.
Innovation Solution
The mechanical seal device incorporates a communication flow path in the rotor that connects the space within the mounting groove of the vane to the pump chamber, allowing the sealing liquid to flow and cancel out pressure, thus allowing the vane to project freely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing liquid pressure in the pump chamber increases, then the sealing performance is improved, but the vane cannot project from the rotor due to pressure interference
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting groove space is segmented from the pump chamber through the communication flow path, allowing independent pressure control. The sealing liquid pressure in the pump chamber can be maintained for sealing while the mounting groove space pressure is balanced to allow vane projection movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication flow path acts as an intermediary between the pump chamber and mounting groove space, allowing pressure balancing while maintaining the sealing function. This intermediary pathway resolves the conflict between high sealing pressure and vane projection requirements.
2Force
If the vane retracts into the rotor, then the spring biasing force is reduced, but the vane projection is blocked by high sealing liquid pressure
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the mounting groove space from the pump chamber through the communication flow path, the pressure acting on the vane back surface is separated from the pump chamber pressure. This allows the spring biasing force to effectively push the vane outward without being counteracted by high sealing liquid pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to increase the spring force to overcome the sealing liquid pressure, the invention inverts the approach by equalizing the pressure on both sides of the vane through the communication flow path, eliminating the pressure differential that blocks vane projection.
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 solution effectively suppresses interference with the vane's projection movement, ensuring reliable operation even under increased sealing liquid pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the space on the deep side with respect to the vane in the mounting groove of the rotor communicates with the pump chamber demarcated on the leading side in the rotation direction of the rotor with respect to the tip of the vane, via the communication flow path. Therefore, the sealing liquid in the pump chamber flows into the space of the mounting groove via the communication flow path.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A circulation pump mechanism (30 of a mechanical seal device (1) includes a rotor (31) having mounting grooves (31c) formed therein, vanes (32) provided in the mounting grooves (31c) and configured to freely project and retract with respect to the rotor (31), a plurality of biasing members (33) provided in a space (S1) on a deep side with respect to the vane (32) in each mounting groove (31c) and configured to bias each vane (32) in a direction in which the vane (32) is caused to project, a housing (34) having an inner circumferential surface (35b) which is eccentric with respect to an outer circumferential surface (31b) of the rotor (31) and on which a tip (32a) of each vane (32) slides, a pump chamber (38) demarcated on a leading side in a rotation direction of the rotor (31) with respect to the tip (32a) of each vane (32) between the outer circumferential surface (31b) of the rotor (31) and the inner circumferential surface (35b) of the housing (34), and a communication flow path (45) formed in the rotor (31) and providing communication between a space (S1) of the mounting groove (c) and the pump chamber (38).