Volumetric Pump Gear Train for Speed Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing positive displacement pumps, such as vacuum pumps in motor vehicles, face issues with fixed rotation speed, high moment of inertia, and inflexible positioning, leading to inefficient power dissipation and space constraints.

Innovation Solution

A rotary positive displacement pump design featuring a gear train with cylindrical or bevel wheels having parallel or skew axes, allowing for adjustable gear ratios and flexible pump placement, utilizing a driven gear wheel and a driving gear wheel with helical or straight teeth to reduce or multiply rotation speed and optimize positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the pump rotor is made of metal with gear wheels made of metal, then the pump structure is strong and durable, but the moment of inertia is high resulting in high power dissipation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidpower dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining metal gear wheels with a non-metallic pump rotor (made of plastic or composite material). The metal gear wheels provide necessary structural strength and durability for the driving mechanism, while the non-metallic rotor reduces the overall moment of inertia and power dissipation. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by distributing material properties to different components based on their functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If the vacuum pump rotation speed is the same as the driving shaft speed, then the pump structure is simple, but the power dissipation is high and cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump structure complexityVSAvoidpower dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - a belt drive system - between the driving shaft and the pump rotor. This belt drive acts as a mediator that decouples the rotation speeds of the driving shaft and the pump rotor, allowing the rotor to rotate at an optimized speed that reduces power dissipation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The belt drive enables speed optimization without requiring complex internal gear mechanisms within the pump itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If the pump is located at a predetermined position corresponding to a predetermined angle between the engine and oil pump, then the integration is compact, but the positioning flexibility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump positioning spaceVSAvoidpump positioning flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the pump positioning adjustable rather than fixed. The pump can be positioned at different angular locations relative to the driving shaft through an adjustable mounting mechanism, allowing optimization of the angle between the driving shaft and pump rotor. This dynamic positioning capability enables the system to adapt to different installation requirements and optimize performance while maintaining compact integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 reduces power dissipation by adjusting rotation speed, enhances pump efficiency, and simplifies installation by allowing flexible positioning, resulting in a 40% reduction in power absorption and improved energy balance compared to traditional pumps.

Implementation Method 1

a gear train comprising a driving gear wheel (10a) fixedly connected with a driving shaft (10) and a driven gear wheel (11) fixedly connected with the rotor (12)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP3090183B1Volumetric pump and operating method thereof
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 VHIT SPA
  • EP3090183B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3090183B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3090183B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A positive displacement pump (13) comprises a pump body (15) defining a pump chamber (16) and a drive side (18), a rotor (12) configured to transfer fluid from at least one first environment to at least one second environment through at least one inlet for a suction duct (19) and at least one outlet for a discharge duct, a driven gear wheel (10a, 11) fixedly connected to said rotor (12) and a driving gear wheel (10a, 11) connectable to a drive member (10) and coupled with said driven wheel (10a, 11), said driven wheel being configured to rotate said rotor (12). The driving wheel (10a, 11) and the driven wheel (10a, 11) are placed one inside the other so as to allow achieving a reducing or a multiplying gear ratio. The invention also concerns a method of operating the pump.