Vane Pump Reverse Rotation Guide Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vane pumps face damage risks during reverse rotation due to insufficient fluid supply to discharge and back pressure ports, causing vanes to separate from the cam face, leading to potential collisions with side members and damage.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating groove-shaped notches in the side member with tip-end and base-end guide surfaces that extend from the discharge and back pressure ports, respectively, to push and guide the vanes back onto the sliding contact surface during reverse rotation, preventing collisions and damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vane pump is designed for forward rotation with discharge ports and back pressure ports opening in the sliding contact surface of the side member, then the pump operates efficiently in forward rotation, but the vanes separate from the cam face and may damage the side member during reverse rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside member damage preventionVSAvoidside member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide surfaces are provided in advance on the side member at the discharge port and back pressure port openings. These guide surfaces prepare the path for vanes before reverse rotation occurs, guiding the vanes back onto the sliding contact surface before they can cause damage to the side member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide surfaces act as an intermediary element between the vanes and the critical areas of the side member (discharge port and back pressure port openings). During reverse rotation, the guide surfaces mediate the interaction by providing a controlled path that prevents direct harmful contact between the vanes and the side member edges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If groove-shaped notches are added to the side member to provide guide surfaces, then the vanes are guided back onto the sliding contact surface during reverse rotation, but the manufacturing complexity of the side member increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevane guidance during reverse rotationVSAvoidside member manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The side member structure is segmented by adding groove-shaped notches that create distinct functional zones: the guide surfaces in the notches for vane guidance, and the regular sliding contact surface for normal operation. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function while maintaining the overall integrity of the side member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide surfaces are provided locally at specific positions on the side member - at the discharge port and back pressure port openings where vanes are most likely to cause damage during reverse rotation. This local quality approach ensures protection is provided exactly where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire side member structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 guide surfaces effectively prevent side member damage by ensuring the vanes are guided back onto the sliding contact surface during reverse rotation, maintaining pump integrity and preventing collisions with the discharge and back pressure ports.

Implementation Method 1

the tip-end-side guide surface being configured to push the tip end portions of the vanes upward and guides them toward the sliding contact surface of the side member when the rotor is rotated in a reverse rotation direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

the base-end-side guide surface being configured to push the base-end portions of the vanes upward and guide them toward the sliding contact surface of the side member as the rotor is rotated in a reverse rotation direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

The vanes are respectively pushed by the pressure in the back pressure chambers in the direction in which the vanes project out from the slits and are brought into sliding contact with the cam face

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11644031B2Vane pump with tip-end-side guide surfaces provided between inner and outer notches of the discharge port and base-end-side guide surface provided in the back pressure port

Publication Date: 2023.05.09 KYB CORP

AI summary

A vane pump includes: a rotor; vanes freely slidably received in the rotor; a cam ring having a cam face with which the vanes come into sliding contact; a side member having a sliding contact surface with which side surfaces of the rotor and the vanes come into sliding contact; pump chambers; and a discharge port configured to guide working fluid discharged from the pump chambers. The side member has a guide surface that is provided on an end portion side of the opening portion, the guide surface being configured to push the end portions of the vanes upward and guide them toward the sliding contact surface of the side member as the rotor is rotated in the reverse rotation direction.