Vacuum Pump Stator Disk Partial Ring Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for manufacturing turbomolecular vacuum pump stator disks, such as cutting or wire EDM, are inaccurate, costly, and require complex equipment, making the process inefficient and prone to burr formation or deformation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves producing stator disks as two separate partial rings connected by a predetermined separation point, allowing for easy separation by hand or simple tools, independent of the blade structure production, which simplifies handling and assembly, and enables precise alignment and orientation of the partial rings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If manual cutting is used to separate stator disks into partial rings, then the stator disks can be divided into separate parts, but the process involves high levels of inaccuracy and the risk of undefined burr formation or deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling ease of partial ringsVSAvoidseparation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining separation points and pre-forming grooves or notches at these locations before the final separation step. This preparation ensures that when the actual separation occurs, it follows a predetermined accurate path, eliminating the inaccuracy and burr formation associated with manual cutting while still enabling easy separation into handleable partial rings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If wire erosion is used to separate stator disks, then separation can be achieved, but it requires complex devices and has high costs and throughput times

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation precisionVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the separation process into two distinct stages: first, defining separation points and forming grooves/notches using simple conventional tools during normal manufacturing; second, performing the actual separation at these pre-defined locations. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex wire erosion equipment while maintaining high separation precision through the predetermined separation paths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex wire erosion equipment with simple, conventional cutting tools that can be easily handled and replaced. The separation process uses basic grooving or notching operations that can be performed with standard machinery, dramatically reducing equipment complexity and cost while achieving the required precision through the predetermined separation design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If stator disks are separated into partial rings, then assembly is simplified, but additional work steps and complex devices are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidmanufacturing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by defining separation points and forming guiding grooves or notches during the main manufacturing process itself, rather than adding separate post-processing steps. This integration ensures that the separation can be quickly and easily performed at any time before assembly, simplifying handling and assembly operations without requiring additional complex equipment or significantly increasing manufacturing throughput time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3916235B1Method for producing a vacuum pump
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 PFEIFFER VACUUM TECH AG
  • EP3916235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3916235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3916235B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a vacuum pump, which comprises at least one annular stator disk configured to generate a pumping action in conjunction with a rotor, in particular at least one rotor disk, of the pump, wherein the stator disk comprises at least two separate partial rings; wherein in a first method step at least two stator disk partial rings are manufactured together such that the partial rings have at least one pump-active structure after the first method step and are integrally connected, wherein the connection between the partial rings has a locally reduced material thickness, so that the connection forms a predetermined separation point, and wherein the partial rings are separated at the predetermined separation point in a second method step, separate from the first.