Vacuum Pump Flange Mounting with Rotating Slot Fastener
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mounting flanged vacuum pumps to vacuum systems is complicated due to the need for a substantially fluid-tight connection in confined spaces with limited access, making it challenging and ergonomically dangerous.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum pump design featuring an inlet flange with apertures for receiving protruding fixing elements, and a fastening mechanism with slots that can rotate between a mounting position and a sealing position, allowing the pump to be easily mounted and removed without needing to access each bolt individually.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bolt mounting is used to achieve fluid-tight connection, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to limited access and need to access each bolt individually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple bolt operations into a single integrated fastening mechanism. The fastening mechanism incorporates multiple bolts that can be tightened simultaneously through a single access point, merging what would otherwise require multiple separate operations into one unified action. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the reliability of individual bolt tightening while dramatically improving ease of operation through consolidation of the fastening process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fastening mechanism as an intermediary device between the pump and vacuum chamber. This mechanism serves as a mediator that provides centralized access to multiple bolts, allowing operators to tighten all fastening points through a single access point rather than reaching around the pump to access each bolt individually. The intermediary device maintains sealing reliability while eliminating the ergonomic challenges of conventional mounting.
2Strength
If multiple bolts are used to secure the pump, then connection strength is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple fastening points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent bolt fastening operations into a single integrated fastening mechanism. While multiple bolts are used to maintain connection strength, they are combined into one unified device that can be operated through a single access point. This reduces fastening complexity by eliminating the need to access and operate multiple separate bolts, while preserving the strength benefits of multiple fastening points.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support through multiple bolts, enables centralized access for tightening, and ensures fluid-tight sealing. By making the fastening mechanism multi-functional, the patent maintains connection strength without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same device structure accomplishes multiple objectives.
3Volume of moving object
If pump is mounted in confined space, then space utilization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to limited access for tightening bolts
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism acts as an intermediary that bridges the conflict between compact mounting and accessible maintenance. It allows the pump to be mounted in confined spaces while providing a centralized access point for tightening all bolts through a single location that is accessible even in tight spaces. This eliminates the need to reach around the pump to access individual bolts, resolving the accessibility problem while maintaining compact installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines all bolt access points into a single centralized location through the fastening mechanism. This merging of access points allows operators to tighten multiple bolts through one accessible position, making maintenance feasible even when the pump is mounted in confined spaces with limited access. The consolidation maintains space utilization while dramatically improving operational accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum pump comprises an inlet flange for connecting to a vacuum chamber, where the inlet flange comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving a plurality of protruding fixing elements extending from the vacuum chamber. The protruding fixing elements comprise an enlarged retaining portion at an end remote from the vacuum chamber and a fastener receiving portion having at least one radial dimension that is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the enlarged retaining portion. A fastening mechanism is provided that comprises a plurality of slots each extending from a same side of a plurality of apertures. The fastening mechanism is configured to be rotatable between a mounting position in which the apertures are aligned with the protruding fixing elements and a sealing position in which the slots are aligned with the protruding fixing elements.