Sealed Rotor-to-Universal Joint Drive for Abrasive Pump Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Progressive cavity pumps used for viscous materials like thermal interface material face significant abrasive wear due to components like Aluminum Oxide, leading to frequent part replacement and increased operating costs, especially at the connection between the rotor and universal joint.
Innovation Solution
A sealed assembly for the progressive cavity pump featuring a universal joint with a torque input and socket, a screw rotor with a drive shaft, and a locking nut secured by o-rings to prevent abrasive material entry, allowing for easy assembly and replacement of individual components without requiring frequent disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pin connection is used to join the rotor cup to the universal joint shaft, then torque transmission is achieved, but abrasive material enters the pin holes causing erosion and connection failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pin connection entirely from the design. Instead of using a pin that passes through holes in the cup and shaft, the invention uses a drive shaft with a first contour that directly mates with a socket having a second contour, eliminating the need for pins and their associated holes that would allow abrasive material entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the connection function into a direct integrated interface between the drive shaft and socket. The mating contours create a unified connection structure that transmits torque while preventing abrasive material entry, combining the functions of torque transmission and sealing in a single integrated interface.
2Ease of repair
If the rotor and universal joint are assembled together as separate components, then ease of replacement is improved, but abrasive material still erodes the connection points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the vulnerable pin connection that allowed abrasive material entry while maintaining the separate component architecture. The direct contour-mating interface between drive shaft and socket removes the erosion pathway while preserving the ability to replace rotor and universal joint as separate units.
Solution Approach 2:
The mating contours act as an intermediary interface that prevents direct exposure of connection points to abrasive material. The interlocking geometry of the drive shaft contour and socket contour creates a sealed interface that mediates between the need for component separability and protection from abrasive wear.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional pin-and-hole connections are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but frequent replacement is required due to abrasive wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the contour-mating interface: torque transmission, mechanical connection, and protection from abrasive wear. This integrated approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically extending component service life by eliminating the pin-and-hole configuration that was vulnerable to erosion.
Data Source
AI summary
A progressive cavity pump includes a sealed drive between the rotor and universal joint. The universal joint includes a socket configured to receive a drive shaft of the rotor. A cover, such as a locking nut, is disposed over the connection between the rotor and universal joint. Seals are retained in place by the locking nut to prevent abrasive materials from entering into the interface between the rotor and the universal joint.