Slanted Side-Channel Pump Interrupter for Gas Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum pump stages, particularly side channel pumps, require multiple stages and complex impellers to achieve sufficient pump performance, leading to increased manufacturing effort and inefficiencies in gas flow management, such as turbulence and noise generation.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum pump stage design featuring a rotor with axial sealing surfaces that widen into the side channel, where the interrupter's bevel at the inlet is deeper than the axial sealing surface, promoting a directed gas flow and forming a turbulent flow immediately after the inlet, mimicking a Laval nozzle effect for enhanced compression and pumping speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple stages and elaborate impellers are used to achieve sufficient pumping performance, then pumping performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform interrupter geometry with different bevel angles at the inlet and outlet. The inlet side has a bevel angle of 45° while the outlet side has a bevel angle of 15°, optimizing gas flow characteristics at each location independently to enhance pumping performance without requiring multiple stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes geometric parameters of the interrupter, specifically the bevel angles at inlet and outlet, to optimize gas flow directionality. By adjusting these angles, the patent achieves improved pumping performance and compression efficiency while maintaining a single-stage design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If multiple stages and elaborate impellers are used to achieve sufficient pumping performance, then pumping performance is improved, but manufacturing effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The interrupter features localized bevels at specific locations (inlet and outlet) rather than requiring complex impeller blade geometries throughout. This localized approach simplifies manufacturing compared to elaborate multi-stage impellers while achieving superior pumping performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex rotating impeller blades to achieve pumping performance, the patent inverts the approach by using a stationary interrupter with optimized bevel geometry to control gas flow and generate pumping action, significantly simplifying manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If conventional interrupter design is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but gas flow turbulence and noise generation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidgas flow turbulence
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The interrupter employs different bevel angles at different locations: a 45° bevel at the inlet to direct gas flow smoothly onto the rotor, and a 15° bevel at the outlet to minimize turbulence as gas exits. This localized optimization reduces noise and turbulence while maintaining device simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The beveled inlet geometry performs preliminary gas flow conditioning before the gas enters the pumping zone, directing it smoothly onto the rotor blades. This preliminary action prevents turbulence formation and reduces noise generation throughout the pumping process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 improves pump performance by optimizing gas flow directionality, reducing turbulence, and increasing compression efficiency, leading to enhanced pumping speed and reduced power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

forming a turbulent flow immediately after the inlet, mimicking a Laval nozzle effect for enhanced compression and pumping speed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaval nozzle effect: De Laval Nozzle

Implementation Method 2

a pumping effect is achieved by the interaction of the rotor section and the channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3088743B1Side-channel vacuum pump stage with a stripper that is slanted on the suction side
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 PFEIFFER VACUUM GMBH
  • EP3088743B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3088743B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3088743B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

The invention relates to a vacuum pumping stage of a threaded or side channel pump, which has a stator and at least one rotor, wherein at least one threaded groove is provided in the stator and/or in the rotor, or wherein at least one channel is provided in the stator, wherein the rotor immerses with a rotor section into the channel and a pumping effect is achieved by interaction of rotor section and channel.