Vertical Pump Double Seal Drain Space Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vertical pumps installed on water cooling tanks for machining tools experience fluid leakage due to high pressure, leading to workplace pollution and motor damage, as the existing shaft seals fail to prevent fluid from escaping and overflowing onto the factory floor.
Innovation Solution
A vertical pump structure featuring a pump casing with upper and lower annular flanges, a double shaft seal assembly, and a sealing cover, which creates a drain space to redirect leaked fluid back into the tank, preventing floor contamination and motor damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single shaft seal is used in the pump casing, then the structure is simple, but fluid leakage occurs due to high pressure causing workplace pollution and motor damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pump casing is segmented into multiple chambers by adding an intermediate annular flange between the upper and lower annular flanges. This creates separate sealing zones that can be independently sealed by upper and lower shaft seals, preventing high-pressure fluid from compromising a single seal and causing leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate annular flange is introduced as an intermediary element between the upper and lower annular flanges. This intermediate structure creates an additional sealing plane and allows the implementation of a multi-stage sealing system, where fluid leakage is contained at multiple intermediate barriers rather than relying on a single seal.
2Ease of operation
If the pump casing is mounted at the upper opening of the water cooling tank, then installation is convenient, but leaked fluid overflows onto the factory floor causing pollution and slip hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The drain hole, positioned below the upper opening level, converts the harmful effect of potential leakage into a beneficial drainage function. Any fluid that escapes the sealing system is automatically channeled through the drain hole back into the water cooling tank, transforming a potential pollution problem into a self-cleaning feature.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shaft seal is positioned at the upper opening level, then the sealing location is simple, but leaked fluid sprays upward damaging the motor fixed on the pump casing
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is extended from a single horizontal plane to multiple vertical levels by introducing the intermediate annular flange. This vertical dimensioning creates multiple sealing barriers at different heights, preventing upward spray of leaked fluid and protecting the motor positioned above the pump casing.
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 double sealing structure effectively prevents fluid leakage from the pump chamber, ensuring a clean workspace and protecting the motor by guiding any leaks back into the water cooling tank, thus addressing the pollution and damage issues associated with conventional pumps.
Implementation Method 1
an upper shaft seal is mounted between an inner surface of the upper mounting hole and the shaft, and seals a gap formed between the inner surface of the upper mounting hole and the shaft
Implementation Method 2
A position of the drain hole is lower than the position of the mounting opening of the water cooling tank
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A vertical pump structure is adapted to be mounted on a water cooling tank (A), and comprises a pump casing (10), an upper shaft seal (30), a shaft (40) and a lower shaft seal assembly (50). An upper annular flange (12) and a lower annular flange (13) are formed on an inner surface of the pump casing (10). A drain space (14) is formed between the two annular flanges, and communicates with an internal space of the water cooling tank (A). The shaft (40) is inserted through the two annular flanges. Two gaps, which are formed between the shaft (40) and the two annular flanges, are respectively sealed by the upper shaft seal (30) and the lower shaft seal assembly (50). Therefore, even if the lower shaft seal assembly (50) fails, the upper shaft seal (30) can still prevent leakage.