Static Seal Structure for Hermetic Pump Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid pumping devices, such as Ventricular Assist Devices, face challenges in maintaining a hermetic seal without pressure loss due to complex geometry and the need for parallel assembly faces, which results in a bulky design and instability during assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A static seal structure for a fluid pump housing that includes a support structure with first and second sealing elements, allowing for a fluid flow path and independent sealing interfaces between the support structure and housing sections, eliminating the need for parallel assembly faces and enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional static seal structure with parallel assembly faces is used, then a hermetic seal can be achieved, but the pump housing becomes bulky and complex in geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The seal structure is divided into multiple independent sealing elements (first sealing element and second sealing element) positioned at different locations, allowing each to function independently without requiring parallel assembly faces across the entire housing
Solution Approach 2:
A support structure acts as an intermediary component that provides sealing surfaces for multiple sealing elements, enabling hermetic sealing without requiring the housing sections to have parallel assembly faces
2Reliability
If a traditional static seal structure with parallel assembly faces is used, then a hermetic seal can be achieved, but the design becomes complex and stability during assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented into multiple independent sealing elements rather than requiring a single complex parallel face interface, simplifying the overall assembly structure
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves multiple functions: providing sealing surfaces for both the first and second sealing elements, structural support for the pump chamber, and fluid transfer pathways, eliminating the need for separate parallel assembly faces
3Reliability
If a traditional static seal structure with parallel assembly faces is used, then a hermetic seal can be achieved, but pressure loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure as an intermediary provides optimized fluid transfer pathways (inlet bore and outlet bore) that maintain pressure while enabling sealing, avoiding the pressure losses associated with traditional parallel face seal geometries
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 solution provides a reliable hermetic seal without pressure loss, facilitates easier assembly and disassembly, and reduces the size of the pump housing, making it more suitable for implantable applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first sealing element and a second sealing element independent of each other, each forming a sealed interface between the support structure and the housing sections
Data Source
AI summary
A static seal structure for a pump housing includes a support structure, a first sealing element, and a second sealing element. The support structure circumscribes a pump chamber and includes a first sealing surface, an opposing second sealing surface, and a fluid transfer end interposed between the sealing surfaces. The support structure provides a fluid flow path running through the fluid transfer end and into the pump chamber via an inlet bore and from the pump chamber back through the fluid transfer end via an outlet bore. The first sealing element is disposed on the first sealing surface, and the second sealing element is disposed on the second sealing surface. The sealing elements are configured for forming sealing interfaces in the pump housing, establishing a static seal that isolates the pump chamber from an environment external to the fluid pump housing.