Universal Flange Lantern for Multi-Size Motor Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centrifugal pump designs face challenges in accommodating various electric motor sizes due to the need for multiple lantern geometries, leading to increased manufacturing and storage costs, as well as difficulties in motor replacement and maintenance, as the coupling between the pump motor and motor shaft requires precise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A lantern with a dual flange design featuring two concentric annular surfaces and a ring element allows for the connection of multiple electric motor sizes without changing the overall length, using the first annular surface for smaller motors and the second for larger motors, with reinforcing ribs providing stability and a ring element for additional adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different lantern geometries are used for each motor flange size, then the connection between pump housing and electric motor is ensured, but manufacturing and storage costs increase and motor replacement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lantern is designed with a universal flange structure that can accommodate multiple motor flange sizes through a single geometry. The flange includes a through-opening with two concentric annular surfaces (first and second annular faces) that can interface with different motor flange dimensions, eliminating the need for multiple lantern variants while maintaining reliable connections across various motor sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange is segmented into functional zones: the through-opening for motor shaft reception, the first annular surface for smaller motors, and the second annular surface for larger motors. This segmentation allows each zone to serve specific motor sizes while maintaining a unified lantern structure, reducing complexity without compromising connection reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a one-piece lantern design is used, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but adaptability to different motor sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The one-piece lantern incorporates a universal flange design with multiple concentric annular surfaces that provide adaptability to different motor sizes. This allows a single lantern geometry to serve multiple motor flange configurations, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving versatility across various motor dimensions without requiring multiple lantern variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange utilizes the radial dimension by creating concentric annular surfaces at different radii from the center. The first and second annular faces are arranged concentrically with the through-opening, allowing the lantern to interface with different motor flange sizes in the radial direction while maintaining a single axial structure, thus achieving adaptability without increasing manufacturing complexity.
3Length of moving object
If the overall length of the pump assembly is minimized, then space is saved, but accessibility of the connection plane between pump body and electric drive is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lantern structure nests the motor shaft through-opening within the overall assembly, allowing the motor to be positioned closely to the pump housing. The concentric annular surfaces are nested within the flange structure, enabling compact positioning while maintaining accessible connection planes for motor installation and maintenance without increasing the overall assembly length.
Data Source
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AI summary
The lantern has fastening flanges (9) fastening the lantern to motors (8, 8`, 8``, 8```, 8````), and including a passage opening for receiving a motor shaft (10) and an annular surface (2) limiting the passage opening. Another annular surface (1) is provided to concentrically surround the surface (2) and is arranged adjacent at the surface (2). The surface (1) is provided at a distance (21) opposite to the surface (2) towards a motor side in an axial direction, so that the flanges provide two parallel flange planes.