Stiffening Element Connects Pump Units for Rigid Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing metering devices for liquid or pasty products, particularly food products, face issues with stability and wear in the pump block region due to operational forces and torques, leading to early breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a stiffening unit with a stiffening element that includes a fluid line, connecting pump units in a substantially rigid manner, enhances stability and flexural rigidity within the pump block. This stiffening element is arranged on the side of the pump units facing away from the base element and/or pump discharge nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pump units are arranged on a base element without additional stiffening, then the structure remains simple, but the flexural rigidity and stability of the pump block deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pump block is segmented into multiple pump units that are individually connected to the base element through pump mounting elements, with additional stiffening elements connecting adjacent pump units. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain simplicity while improving rigidity through distributed connections.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into the stiffening elements: they serve as both structural connectors between pump units and as additional mounting references. The stiffening elements combine the functions of structural reinforcement and positional constraint in a single component.
2Reliability
If pump units are connected in a rigid manner, then the stability and service life improve, but the adaptability to different operational conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system combines rigid stiffening elements with movable pump mounting elements that allow controlled movement. This dynamic connection system maintains rigidity for stability while permitting necessary movement for adaptability to different operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the pump block have different connection characteristics: stiffening elements provide rigid connections between pump units, while pump mounting elements provide controlled movement capability. This local differentiation of connection quality allows simultaneous achievement of stability and adaptability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional stiffening elements are added to connect pump units, then the flexural rigidity improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening elements serve multiple functions: they connect adjacent pump units to each other, provide additional mounting references, and contribute to the overall structural rigidity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A metering device for a metering of liquid or pasty products, in particular food products, includes at least one frame unit (12) and a plurality of pump units (14) for conveying the liquid or pasty products, the pump units (14) being arranged, in particular fixed, on an, in particular plate-shaped, base element (16), in particular on a format plate, of the frame unit (12). The metering device includes at least one stiffening unit (18) having at least one stiffening element (22, 24) which has at least one fluid line (20, 38) and which connects the pump units (14) to one another in an at least substantially rigid manner, the stiffening element (22, 24) being arranged at the pump units (14) on a side of the pump units (14) that faces away from the base element (16) and/or from pump discharge nozzles (60) of the pump units (14).