Vane Gas Pump Slot Outlet Design for Lower Slide Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vane cell gas pumps suffer from increased wear and reduced pneumatic efficiency due to fluid short circuits and mechanical stress on slide elements, primarily caused by the design of circular fluid outlet openings that compromise flow resistance and leakage.

Innovation Solution

A vane cell gas pump design featuring an elongated slot-like fluid outlet opening aligned to be temporarily covered by slide elements, reducing mechanical stress and preventing short circuits, with a sealing sector between inlet and outlet openings to maintain low resistance and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If circular fluid outlet openings are used, then flow resistance is reduced, but fluid short circuits occur between adjacent pump compartments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow resistanceVSAvoidpneumatic efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid outlet opening is segmented into multiple separate openings (first fluid outlet opening and second fluid outlet opening) instead of using a single large circular opening. This segmentation allows each opening to be strategically positioned and sized to prevent short circuits while maintaining adequate flow capacity, resolving the contradiction between low flow resistance and prevention of fluid short circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If fluid outlet opening size is increased, then flow resistance decreases, but mechanical stress on slide elements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow resistanceVSAvoidmechanical stress on slide elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet sector is designed with specific local characteristics: multiple fluid outlet openings are positioned at locations where they do not create excessive pressure on slide elements. The first and second fluid outlet openings are arranged to distribute flow resistance reduction across different locations, allowing adequate flow while preventing concentration of mechanical stress on any single slide element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If slide element width is increased to cover fluid outlet opening, then short circuits are prevented, but wear on slide elements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveleakage preventionVSAvoidwear on slide elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the fluid outlet opening into multiple smaller openings, the required width of each slide element to cover them is reduced. This allows the slide elements to be narrower, thereby reducing their exposure to wear mechanisms while still maintaining effective sealing by covering the segmented openings during their rotational movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design minimizes wear on slide elements while maintaining high pneumatic efficiency by ensuring low resistance gas flow and preventing fluid short circuits, even at high speeds.

Implementation Method 1

When the pump rotor rotates, the slide elements move due to the centrifugal force acting on the slide elements such that their heads each rest against a peripheral wall of the pump chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3577342B1Vane gas pump
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 PIERBURG PUMP TECH
  • EP3577342B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3577342B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a vane gas pump for a compressible fluid, having a pump housing (20) that forms a pump chamber (22), in which a pump rotor (30) having at least one displaceable slide element (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) is rotatably mounted, wherein at least one fluid inlet opening (60) and at least one slot-like fluid outlet opening (52) are associated with the pump chamber (22), wherein the tangential width B1 of the at least one slide element (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) is at least equal to the tangential width B2 of the slot-like fluid outlet opening (52), such that the at least one slide element (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) temporarily covers the at least one fluid outlet opening (52) completely. By means of a vane gas pump (10) of this kind, the wear of the slide elements (32, 34, 36, 38, 40) is reduced, without increasing the pneumatic efficiency of the vane gas pump (10).