Slurry Pump Protective Cover for Fragment Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Slurry pumps used in dredging operations face significant wear and risk of leakage due to abrasive materials and potential detonation of unexploded ordnance, leading to costly casing replacement and safety hazards from ejected fragments.
Innovation Solution
A slurry pump design featuring a protective cover made of flexible, woven fabric, such as para-aramid or polyethylene fibers, wrapped around the casing to absorb impact and minimize leakage, with attachment points at the suction inlet, outlet, and drive shaft side, allowing for assembly before transport and reducing weight and installation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a conventional protective box of solid plates is used around the pump, then protection against fragment ejection is provided, but the device occupies excessive space and has increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible protective cover made of woven fabric that wraps around the pump casing. This flexible membrane provides protection against fragment ejection while conforming closely to the pump's contours, minimizing the volume occupied by the protective enclosure compared to rigid plate structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover is designed to wrap around and envelope the pump casing, with the cover containing the pump within its protective membrane. This nested configuration allows the protective structure to closely follow the pump's shape, reducing wasted space while maintaining protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective box of solid plates is used around the pump, then protection against fragment ejection is provided, but the device weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible woven fabric cover provides protective function with minimal weight addition compared to solid plate constructions. The fabric's tensile strength and energy absorption characteristics provide adequate protection while maintaining low weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover utilizes composite woven fabric materials that combine strength and energy absorption properties with low density. This allows the protective structure to be both effective and lightweight.
3Reliability
If the pump is equipped with comprehensive protection means, then safety against leakage and fragment ejection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible protective cover provides a simple yet effective protective enclosure that can be assembled around the pump. The cover's ability to conform to the pump shape and provide protection through its material properties reduces the need for complex structural elements, fastening mechanisms, or assembly procedures.
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 protective cover extends the pump's operational life by preventing premature casing replacement and reducing the risk of environmental damage from leaks or fragment ejection, while maintaining a compact footprint and minimizing additional weight.
Implementation Method 1
a relatively small or no distance between the casing and the protective cover may improve the absorption characteristics of the impact of ejected fragments
Data Source
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AI summary
A slurry pump (1) for pumping a liquid and solid particle mixture comprises a casing (3) which accommodates a drivable impeller and includes a suction inlet (5) and an outlet (6), and protection means (2) for protecting the environment against leakage of liquid or ejection of fragments of the casing (3) in case of damage thereof. The protection means (2) comprises a protective cover (2) which is wrapped around the casing.