Two-Part Pump Shaft for Tool-Free Cleaning and Bearing Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps require significant effort for disassembly during cleaning and repairs due to complex structural connections and the risk of media contamination of bearings.
Innovation Solution
The pump shaft is designed with two interconnected shafts and a detachable closure, allowing easy disassembly by separating the lower shaft from the upper shaft, and a clamping mechanism ensures a secure seal between the bearing and pump housings without additional tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pump shaft is designed as a single integrated shaft, then the structural strength and rotational stability are improved, but the disassembly effort and time required for cleaning and repairs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pump shaft is divided into an upper shaft and a lower shaft that can be detached from each other. The upper shaft remains in the bearing housing while the lower shaft can be removed separately for cleaning and maintenance, significantly reducing disassembly effort while maintaining structural integrity during operation through their connected state
2Reliability
If the pump housing integrates bearing support function, then the overall structure is simplified, but the risk of media contamination reaching the bearings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a bearing housing and a pump housing that are detachably connected. The bearing housing contains the bearings and is sealed against media contamination, while the pump housing contains the impeller and medium. This separation allows the bearing housing to be protected from media while maintaining structural simplicity through detachable connection
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing support function is extracted from the pump housing and placed in a separate bearing housing. This extraction prevents media in the pump housing from contaminating the bearings in the bearing housing, while the detachable connection maintains overall structural simplicity
3Reliability
If the bearing housing and pump housing are tightly sealed together, then media containment is improved, but the disassembly effort for cleaning and repairs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between bearing housing and pump housing is made dynamic through detachable fastening elements that can be easily assembled and disassembled. During operation, the housings are tightly sealed to contain media, but during maintenance, the fastening elements can be quickly released to allow disassembly for cleaning and repairs
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
Facilitates easy disassembly and cleaning, prevents media contamination of bearings, and ensures reliable sealing, making the pump suitable for hygienic applications without additional tools.
Implementation Method 1
the interacting tapered clamping surfaces generate an axial force that presses the bearing housing and the pump housing axially against each other
Implementation Method 2
the seal between them is elastically compressed, thus achieving a perfect seal
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The pump has a pump shaft (5) that has a drive connection at one end and an impeller (24) at the other end. The pump shaft (5) is rotatably mounted by at least one bearing (9, 10) in a housing (2) that has at least one outlet (25) for the medium to be pumped. The pump shaft (5) is formed by an upper and a lower shaft (6, 7) that are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner via a releasable closure (22, 23).