Thrust Washer Recesses for Pump Leakage Oil Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pumps with thrust washers experience impaired functioning due to axial forces caused by leakage oil, which collects and acts on the shaft, leading to operational issues.

Innovation Solution

A pump design featuring a thrust washer with recesses in its edge region, allowing leakage oil to escape and connect with grooves in the plain bearing, combined with an anti-rotation device and a press-fit bushing, minimizes axial forces and ensures proper operation by facilitating the drainage of leakage oil and preventing rotation-induced wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a thrust washer is used to prevent axial displacement of the shaft, then axial locking is achieved, but leakage oil accumulates on the thrust washer causing harmful axial forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial positioning stabilityVSAvoidaxial forces from leakage oil
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The thrust washer is segmented with recesses in its edge region, dividing the continuous surface into zones that allow leakage oil to escape through the recesses rather than accumulating on the entire surface, thus reducing harmful axial forces while maintaining axial positioning stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recesses in the thrust washer act as intermediary channels that facilitate the escape of leakage oil, providing a path for the oil to leave the thrust washer area and preventing direct accumulation that would create harmful axial forces on the shaft

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the thrust washer is made solid without recesses, then structural integrity is maintained, but flow resistance for leakage oil increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrust washer structural integrityVSAvoidleakage oil flow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The thrust washer incorporates recesses that segment the solid structure into regions separated by thin walls, allowing leakage oil to pass through while the remaining solid material maintains sufficient structural integrity to perform the axial locking function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The thrust washer has different local properties: the main body remains solid to provide structural integrity and load-bearing capacity, while the edge region contains recesses to reduce flow resistance and enable leakage oil escape, combining both requirements in one component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If no anti-rotation device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the thrust washer rotates with the shaft causing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-rotation device complexityVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-rotation function is merged with the existing thrust washer component by adding pins that extend from the thrust washer into the plain bearing, creating a combined axial locking and anti-rotation element rather than adding a separate complex device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The thrust washer itself provides the anti-rotation function through integrated pins that engage with the plain bearing, making the thrust washer self-sufficient for both axial positioning and rotation prevention without requiring external anti-rotation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 design effectively reduces axial forces on the shaft, ensuring proper pump functioning by allowing leakage oil to escape and preventing rotation-induced damage, thus enhancing operational stability and reducing wear.

Implementation Method 1

at least one recess (23, 25) is provided in an edge region (26) of the thrust washer (1). The at least one recess (23, 25) reduces the flow resistance through the thrust washer (1) for leakage oil of the pump occurring there

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow resistance reduction:

Implementation Method 2

The anti-rotation device preferably comprises at least one pin (15, 17) which interacts with a recess (19, 21) in the plain bearing (9)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

a radial shaft sealing ring (40) arranged in the EPB (39) preventing leakage oil from escaping from the pump by means of a sealing lip (41) lying against the peripheral surface of the shaft (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentEP2153074B1Pump with stop disc
Publication Date: 2012.03.21 IXETIC BAD HOMBURG
  • EP2153074B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2153074B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a stop disc (1) for a shaft (7), in particular for use in pumps, said disc having at least one cut-out section (23, 25) in the edge region.