Vacuum Pump Lubrication Circuit for Upside-Down Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum pumps with high-speed rotors experience reduced service life when operated upside-down due to lubricant loss and contamination of the vacuum area, leading to increased wear and reduced operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a lubricant collection chamber between the roller bearing and flange, along with a lubricant storage chamber featuring a limiting mechanism to maintain a minimum lubricant quantity, and a lubricant pump design that ensures consistent lubrication independent of rotor speed, preventing lubricant loss and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vacuum pump is operated in upside-down orientation, then the vacuum pump can be attached in different orientations to accommodate various system configurations, but lubricant loss increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant circuit is segmented into distinct functional zones: a lubricant storage chamber, a lubricant collection chamber positioned below the roller bearing, and a lubricant pump. This segmentation allows the collection chamber to capture lubricant that would otherwise be lost during upside-down operation, while the storage chamber maintains a minimum lubricant level to prevent vacuum area contamination.
2Reliability
If the lubricant pump delivers lubricant continuously, then lubrication is maintained during rotor deceleration, but lubricant loss to the vacuum area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant collection chamber acts as an intermediary element between the lubricant pump and the vacuum area. It captures excess lubricant delivered during rotor deceleration and prevents it from entering the vacuum area, while still allowing the pump to maintain continuous lubrication delivery to the roller bearing.
3Loss of substance
If the lubricant storage chamber is completely emptied to reduce lubricant quantity, then lubricant losses are reduced, but the cooling effect and solid particle filtration are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting means is pre-configured in the lubricant storage chamber to maintain a minimum lubricant level before the pump operates. This preliminary action ensures that sufficient lubricant remains in the storage chamber to provide cooling and filter solid particles, while the collection chamber captures any lubricant that would otherwise be lost during operation.
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 extends the service life of the vacuum pump by preventing lubricant loss and contamination, ensuring continuous lubrication, and reducing wear, even in upside-down orientations, thereby enhancing operational reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The lubricant pump has a drive means, the design of which means that the delivery rate of the lubricant pump is independent of the speed of the rotor
Implementation Method 2
A lubricant collection chamber, which is provided in addition to the lubricant reservoir chamber and is arranged within the vacuum pump between the roller bearing and the flange, makes it possible to pump lubricant into the roller bearing until the rotor comes to a standstill. This lubricant is caught in the lubricant collection chamber and cannot get into the vacuum area
Implementation Method 3
there is always a minimum amount of lubricant in the lubricant storage chamber, which can cool down there
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A vacuum pump (1) has a flange (28), a rotor (2) and a lubrication circuit with a reservoir (3) and lubrication pump (4; 4') for the rotor bearing (5). A secondary lubrication reservoir (6) is located between the flange and bearing.