Horizontally Split Screw Pump Housing Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screw pumps face high production and maintenance costs due to complex rotor adjustments and difficult manufacturing from cast steel, particularly with complicated shapes and double-walled sections.

Innovation Solution

A screw pump design with a multi-part housing featuring a flat dividing plane between the rotor and connection housing parts, allowing for easier assembly and maintenance, modular design, simplified production, and the use of special materials, with the suction-side and pressure-side connection elements integrated into a common connection housing part that can remain connected during maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pump housing is designed as a single complex piece with double-walled sections, then the structural integrity and sealing are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealingVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pump housing is divided into multiple separate parts (first housing part, second housing part, connection housing part) that can be manufactured independently using standard casting processes, then assembled together. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex double-walled sections while maintaining sealing through dedicated sealing surfaces and gaskets at the interfaces between parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If the rotors are mounted in a removable side wall for maintenance access, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the device complexity and adjustment requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessVSAvoidadjustment requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into a rotor-containing section and a connection section, with the connection housing part designed to be removable. This allows rotors to be accessed for maintenance while keeping the rotor support structure integrated and fixed, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection housing part containing the connection elements is extracted as a separate removable component. This allows maintenance personnel to access and service the rotors without removing the entire housing or performing complex adjustments, as the connection section can be independently removed or bypassed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the connection elements are integrated into the main housing, then the structural integrity is improved, but the ease of maintenance and modular design are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmaintenance convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The connection elements are placed in a separate connection housing part that is structurally integrated within the overall housing assembly but can be independently removed. This segmentation maintains structural integrity during operation while enabling convenient maintenance access by removing only the connection section rather than the entire housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection housing part serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the connection elements for piping integration, and acts as a maintenance access point. This multi-functionality allows it to be integrated into the housing structure while remaining a separate serviceable component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of manufacture

If a flat parting plane is used between housing parts, then the ease of manufacture and sealing are improved, but the design flexibility for complex internal geometries is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecasting simplicityVSAvoidinternal geometry complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into parts with flat parting planes that allow simple casting and assembly. Each housing part can be manufactured using standard casting processes without complex undercuts or double walls. The flat interfaces between parts provide simple sealing surfaces while the individual parts can still accommodate necessary internal geometries for rotor mounting and fluid flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3532729B2Horizontally split screw-spindle pump
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 KLAUS UNION
  • EP3532729B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3532729B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3532729B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a screw pump (1), in particular a double screw pump, comprising a multiple-piece housing (2, 7, 15, 21) and at least two coupled rotors (3, 3a) which form chambers with in each case at least one thread-shaped profile (4, 4a) which is configured at least in regions with helical channels (5, 5a) and with dividing walls (6, 6a) which delimit the channels (5, 5a), wherein the rotors (3, 3a) perform an opposed rotor rotation, and the dividing walls (6, 6a) engage into one another in a gearwheel-like manner, a running housing part (7), wherein the running housing part (7) encloses the rotors (3, 3a) without contact, wherein the rotors (3, 3a) form, with the running housing part (7), at least one conveying chamber (8, 8a) for the fluid to be conveyed, wherein the conveying chamber (8, 8a) migrates axially along the rotor axis (10, 10a) and conveys the fluid from a suction chamber (11) into a pressure chamber (12), a suction-side connector element (13) which is connected fluidically to the suction chamber (11), and a pressure-side connector element (14) which is connected fluidically to the pressure chamber (12), wherein the suction-side connector element (13) and the pressure-side connector element (14) are arranged on a connector housing part (15) of the multiple-piece housing (2, 7, 15, 21), wherein the housing (2, 7, 15, 21) has a planar dividing plane (16) which runs parallel to the rotor axes (10, 10a) between the running housing part (7) and the connector housing part (15).