Vacuum Pump Bearing Support with Cavitated Spring Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum pump support elements, such as those described in EP 2064448, exhibit low damping properties due to temperature changes and chemical influences, and poorly transfer radial movements of the rolling bearing outer ring, resulting in variable and inadequate friction behavior.
Innovation Solution
A support element with an inner and outer part connected via spring arms, where the spring arms have cavities filled with damping material, such as powder, to enhance deformation and damping properties, and are designed with segment or spiral arms covering a significant radial area for improved force absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring arms are made solid without cavities, then structural strength is maintained, but damping properties remain low
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arms are designed with cavities (porous structure) that are at least 5% of the spring arm volume. These cavities can be filled with damping material or remain as voids to enhance energy absorption. The porous/cavitated structure allows the spring arms to deform more effectively, improving damping properties while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the remaining solid material and strategic cavity placement.
2Reliability
If support element is made with simple ring structure, then manufacturing is easy, but damping properties are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The support element is segmented into multiple spring arms that connect the inner part to the outer part. Each spring arm can be independently designed with cavities for damping enhancement. This segmentation allows the complex damping function to be distributed across multiple simpler components, making the overall system more effective at damping while remaining manufacturable through standard processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring arms extend radially from the inner part to the outer part, creating a three-dimensional structure that provides damping in multiple directions (radial and axial forces). This dimensional approach allows the support element to absorb forces from various directions simultaneously, enhancing damping properties without requiring an overly complex multi-component assembly.
3Reliability
If damping material is not contained, then manufacturing is simpler, but damping material is lost during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The damping material is nested within enclosed cavities in the spring arms. The cavities are fully enclosed structures that contain the damping material (such as powder) during operation. This nesting approach prevents the damping material from being lost while allowing it to be effectively distributed throughout the spring arm structure for optimal damping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring arms incorporate enclosed porous cavities that can contain damping material. The enclosed nature of these cavities (achieved through manufacturing processes like 3D printing with internal cavity formation) prevents material loss while the porous/cavitated structure enhances damping. The enclosure is integrated into the spring arm design rather than being a separate component.
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 solution significantly improves damping properties, effectively absorbing axial and radial forces, maintaining consistent performance across temperature changes and chemical exposure, while preventing loss of damping material.
Implementation Method 1
To improve the damping properties, it is provided that the feather arms each have at least one cavity. This enables good deformation of the spring arms, so that the damping properties are improved.
Implementation Method 2
This enables good deformation of the spring arms, so that the damping properties are improved.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A vacuum pump has stator elements (12) in a pump housing (10). The stator elements (12) cooperate with rotor elements (16). The rotor elements (16) are borne by a rotor shaft (14), wherein the rotor shaft (14) is mounted in the pump housing (10) by means of bearing elements (20). The bearing element (20) is surrounded by a support element (26), wherein the support element (26) has an inner part (28), an outer part (30) and multiple resilient arms (32) connecting the inner part (28) to the outer part (30). The resilient arms (32) each have at least one cavity (36).