Vacuum Pump Stator with Resilient Outer Section
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional turbo-molecular vacuum pumps require multiple components, including a spring washer, which complicates manufacturing and can lead to mechanical tolerance issues and rattling of stator components during operation.
Innovation Solution
The use of resilient outer sections on stator components that apply a spring load between adjacent spacers, eliminating the need for a spring washer and improving component alignment and stability by utilizing the stator blades as spring members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring washer is used to hold stator components in place, then the stator components are secured during operation, but the number of components increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the spring washer component with the stator blade array by integrating a resilient outer section directly into the stator blades. This eliminates the separate spring washer component while maintaining the function of securing stator components in place during operation, thereby reducing the total number of components and simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The stator blade array is given multiple functions: it performs its primary function of interacting with rotor blades to compress gas, and simultaneously serves as a spring member through its resilient outer section to secure stator components in place. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate spring washer component.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used for stator assembly, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but mechanical tolerances deteriorate and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the resilient outer section directly into the stator blade array as a single component, the patent reduces the number of separate parts that need to be assembled. This improves mechanical tolerances by eliminating cumulative tolerance errors from multiple components while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through the integral resilient design.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional stator components are used without resilient sections, then manufacturing is simpler, but stator components rattle during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding a resilient outer section only to the outer portion of the stator blades, while the rest of the stator blade array maintains its conventional structure. This localized modification provides the necessary damping to prevent rattling during operation while keeping the overall manufacturing process relatively simple.
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
This solution reduces the number of pump components, enhances mechanical tolerances, and securely holds stator components in place during operation, preventing rattling and simplifying the assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the stator components has an outer section that is resilient and, as a result, this resilient outer section applies a spring load when under compression between adjacent spacers
Data Source
AI summary
Turbomolecular stator components include an array of stator blades, arranged to interact with pumped gases. Spacers are used to locate the stator blade array and couple the stator blade array to a housing. The stator components include an outer section that is resilient and arranged to cooperate with the spacers.