Sloped Kidney Ports in Hydrostatic Pump Barrel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrostatic pumps face limitations in achieving high self-priming speed and output power due to the filling capacity and spatial constraints, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity with multiple pump configurations.
Innovation Solution
The use of sloped kidney port surfaces in the pump barrel enhances fluid flow by leveraging pressure differentials, allowing for increased rotational speed and output power without increasing pump size or using multiple pump configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the speed of rotation of the pump barrel is increased to increase output flow, then output power increases, but filling capacity decreases due to decreased inlet pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the kidney ports by introducing sloped surfaces at specific angles (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the porting face. This modifies the flow path and pressure distribution, allowing the pump to maintain filling capacity at higher rotational speeds by optimizing the transition of fluid into the piston chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The sloped kidney port surfaces introduce curved flow paths that take advantage of centrifugal forces and pressure differentials. The curved geometry guides fluid flow more effectively into the piston chambers, improving filling capacity while allowing higher rotation speeds.
2Power
If a larger pump is employed to increase output power for a given self-priming speed, then output power increases, but spatial constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
By optimizing the parameters of the kidney port geometry (sloped angles, port dimensions), the patent enables a compact pump design to achieve higher output power. The sloped surfaces improve fluid flow efficiency, allowing the same pump size to deliver increased power output without requiring a larger physical dimensions.
3Power
If multiple pump configurations are employed to increase output power, then output power increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves increased output power within a single pump configuration by optimizing the kidney port parameters. The sloped surfaces improve fluid flow and allow higher rotation speeds, enabling one pump to replace multiple pumps and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining or increasing power output.
4Power
If the pump operates at higher speeds to increase output flow, then output power increases, but cavitation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The sloped kidney port surfaces create curved flow paths that utilize centrifugal forces to maintain positive pressure in the inlet regions. This curved geometry prevents pressure drops that would cause cavitation, allowing the pump to operate at higher speeds without reliability issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by designing the sloped port surfaces to leverage pressure differentials between the trailing and leading edges of the kidney ports. This hydraulic design maintains adequate inlet pressure even at high rotation speeds, preventing cavitation while enabling higher power output.
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
The sloped kidney port surfaces improve self-priming speed and output power by utilizing inertia and centrifugal forces, resulting in enhanced fluid flow and power output compared to conventional configurations, while maintaining a compact pump design.
Implementation Method 1
The sloped surfaces utilize the higher pressure at the trailing edge of the kidney port to push the fluid under an inertia force more easily into the piston chamber
Implementation Method 2
The sloped surfaces utilize the higher pressure at the trailing edge of the kidney port to push the fluid under an inertia force more easily into the piston chamber
Implementation Method 3
The sloped kidney port surfaces improve self-priming speed and output power by utilizing inertia and centrifugal forces
Data Source
AI summary
A pump barrel (70) for use in a hydrostatic pump assembly includes a barrel body (88) defining a plurality of piston bores (84) that receive a plurality of pistons moveable within the bores, and a porting face (74) that defines a plurality of ports (72) in fluid communication with the piston bores and providing fluid flow paths into and out from the barrel body. Each port (72) has a leading edge surface and a trailing edge surface relative to a direction of rotation of the pump barrel, said leading and trailing edge surfaces being oriented in a first direction (along line 6-6) at non-right angles relative to the porting face (74). Each port (72) has an inner edge surface (80) and an outer edge surface (82) relative to a radial direction of the pump barrel, said inner and outer edge surfaces (80,82) being oriented in a second direction (along line 9-9) comprising a tilt angle (90,92) relative to the porting face (74) that is different from the angles in the first direction. A hydrostatic pump assembly incorporating such a pump barrel (70) is also disclosed.