Shaft Circumferential Channel for Pump Fluid Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In power transmitting components with shaft-driven pumps, the spacing between spline teeth and feed conduits is often increased to avoid stress concentrations, leading to restricted fluid flow due to the geometry and orientation of the pump outlet, which compromises alignment and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A power transmitting component design featuring a shaft with a circumferential channel that fluidly couples the pump outlet to the feed conduit, eliminating the need for an undercut and allowing the feed conduit to be positioned closer to the spline teeth, thereby enhancing alignment and fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the feed conduit is spaced apart from the undercut to avoid stress concentrations, then the structural integrity is improved, but the alignment between the feed conduit and spline teeth deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful undercut feature from the shaft design and replaces it with a circumferential channel that performs the same clearance function without creating stress concentrations. The channel is positioned on the outer surface of the shaft rather than being formed by removing material between the spline teeth and feed conduit, thereby eliminating the need for spacing while maintaining both structural integrity and alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential channel acts as an intermediary feature that provides the necessary clearance between the spline teeth and the pump mount surface without requiring the feed conduit to be spaced apart. The channel serves as a mediating structure that fulfills the clearance requirement while allowing the feed conduit to be positioned optimally for alignment with the spline teeth.
2Device complexity
If the pump outlet geometry and shaft orientation are considered, then the pump design is simplified, but the fluid flow to the feed conduit is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a linear fluid path (pump outlet directly to feed conduit) to a circumferential flow path (pump outlet to circumferential channel to feed conduit). By utilizing the circumferential dimension of the shaft, the system accommodates various pump outlet geometries and shaft orientations while maintaining adequate fluid flow through the circumferential channel that distributes fluid around the shaft perimeter.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fluid flow path geometry from a direct connection to a circumferential distribution system. The circumferential channel provides multiple possible flow paths and entry points to the feed conduit, allowing the system to adapt to different pump outlet positions and orientations while maintaining sufficient fluid flow through alternative routes around the shaft.
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 design reduces the spacing between the feed conduit and spline teeth, improving alignment and ensuring unobstructed fluid flow from the pump outlet to the feed conduit, regardless of the shaft's orientation, thus enhancing the efficiency of fluid transmission and lubrication.
Implementation Method 1
a pump having a pump housing, a rotor and a pump outlet. The pump outlet is coupled in fluid communication with the channel
Data Source
AI summary
A power transmitting component having a first shaft and a pump. The first shaft has a longitudinal bore, a pump mount and a feed conduit. The pump mount has a circumferentially extending surface, a drive portion and a channel that extends circumferentially about the first shaft. The channel is disposed along a longitudinal axis of the first shaft between the drive portion and the circumferentially extending surface. The feed conduit intersects and fluidly couples the longitudinal bore and the channel. The pump has a pump housing, a first rotor and a pump outlet. The pump housing is mounted about the circumferentially extending surface and is disposed circumferentially about the channel. The first rotor is coupled to the drive portion for rotation therewith. The pump outlet is coupled in fluid communication with the channel.