Serial Grease Pump Layout to Prevent Air-Induced Stalling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Positive displacement rotary pumps struggle when pumping viscous fluids like grease, as air can be sucked into the pumping chamber, leading to pump stalling and reduced fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus consists of two serially connected positive displacement rotary pumps with an intermediate part that connects the outlet of the first pump to the inlet of the second pump, ensuring that air bubbles are removed from the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single positive displacement rotary pump is used to pump viscous fluid, then the pump structure is simple, but air can be sucked into the pumping chamber causing the pump to stall and reduce fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is divided into two separate positive displacement rotary pumps connected in series, with each pump handling the viscous fluid independently. This segmentation allows the first pump to draw fluid from the reservoir while the second pump receives fluid from the first pump, creating a staged pumping process that prevents air suction issues in a single pump system
2Ease of operation
If hydraulic oil is poured into the grease reservoir to re-establish suction functionality, then the pump suction function is improved, but the fluid purity is compromised by mixing oil with grease
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effect of air suction is eliminated by extracting the problematic single-pump configuration and replacing it with a two-pump series system. The first pump is positioned to draw fluid directly from the reservoir without air entrapment, while the second pump receives fluid from the first pump, thereby removing the air suction issue without needing to add hydraulic oil to the grease reservoir
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 prevents pump stalling by ensuring continuous fluid flow, as air bubbles introduced into one pump are removed by the other, maintaining efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum created by the rotation of the pump captures and draws in liquid
Implementation Method 2
Positive displacement rotary pumps are pumps that move fluid using the principles of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A grease pump unit fitting into a portable box includes a grease pump having first and second positive displacement rotary pumps (1, 2), each pump having a suction inlet (3, 4) and a discharge outlet (5, 6), where the inlet (3) of the first pump (1) is connectable to a reservoir by a connection (14) pipe or hose, the grease pump including an intermediate part (7) having an inlet (8), a first outlet (9) and a flow path (10), the first pump outlet (5) connected to the inlet (8) of the intermediate part and the outlet (9) thereof connected to the second pump inlet (4), thereby forcing fluid from the reservoir of fluid through the first pump (1), through the intermediate part (7) and through the second pump (2) to the outlet (6) of the second pump during operation. The unit may include a handle.