Vacuum Pump Housing Assembly With Integrated Cooling Coil Press-Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of vacuum pumps, particularly turbomolecular pumps, is difficult due to the requirement of special tools and additional assembly steps, such as pressing with several tons of force, and subsequent replacement of cooling coils often causes damage, making it challenging to install and maintain cooling components efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of connecting elements to press a cooling component into a recess within the pump housing, ensuring a defined position and thermal coupling, with adjustable force to prevent damage during assembly, allowing for repeatable and non-destructive replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling coils are pressed into the pump housing using special pressing tools, then good thermal coupling is achieved, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the assembly of the housing section and the pressing of the cooling coil into a single integrated operation. The housing section is designed as a pre-assembled unit that is inserted into the pump housing, eliminating the need for separate pressing tools and steps. This merging of operations resolves the contradiction by achieving good thermal coupling through the integrated design without requiring complex external pressing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing section is pre-assembled with the cooling coil already positioned and secured before insertion into the pump housing. This preliminary assembly action allows the cooling coil to be properly installed with correct positioning and thermal contact, while the actual installation into the pump becomes a simpler operation that does not require specialized pressing tools at the final assembly stage.
2Reliability
If cooling coils are pressed in with high pressing force, then secure fixation is achieved, but replacement becomes destructive and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pump housing into a modular housing section that contains the cooling coil, which can be removed as a unit. This segmentation allows the cooling coil to be securely fixed within its section while enabling non-destructive replacement by removing the entire housing section. The modular design resolves the contradiction by maintaining secure fixation during operation while facilitating easy replacement when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a design that allows the fixation state to be dynamic - securely fixed during normal operation but easily releasable during maintenance. The housing section design enables the cooling coil to be firmly held in position during pumping operation, while allowing for simple removal when replacement is required, thus achieving both reliable fixation and ease of repair.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate pressing steps are used to install cooling components, then precise positioning is achieved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the positioning and securing of the cooling coil with the housing assembly operation itself. The cooling coil is positioned and fixed within the housing section as part of the pre-assembly process, and this entire section is then installed as one unit. This combination eliminates separate positioning and pressing steps, achieving precise positioning without increasing assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling coil positioning and securing operations are performed in advance during housing section pre-assembly, before the final installation into the pump. This preliminary action ensures precise positioning is achieved while the actual installation becomes a faster, simpler operation that does not require multiple separate steps at the final assembly stage.
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 method simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need for separate pressing tools and ensures good thermal coupling and reproducibility, enabling easy replacement of cooling components without damage, thus improving the assembly efficiency and maintenance of vacuum pumps.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling component is pressed into the recess, in particular by positive locking
Implementation Method 2
force, required on the one hand to fix the cooling component and on the other hand for good thermal coupling between the cooling component and the housing section
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for assembling a vacuum pump, in particular a turbomolecular pump, wherein the vacuum pump comprises a pumping system, a housing for receiving the pumping system and a cooling device, and wherein the housing comprises a housing section composed of a receiving part and a cover part, wherein the method comprises the following steps: positioning a cooling component of the cooling device in a recess of the receiving part or the cover part, and assembling the housing section by pressing the cover part and the receiving part together by means of one or more connecting means, wherein during the pressing together the cooling component is pressed into the recess, in particular in a form-fitting manner.