The present application claims priority of DE 10 2014 102 390.0, filed Feb. 25, 2014, the priority of this application is hereby claimed and this application is incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a screw spindle pump having a housing in which a drive spindle and at least one running spindle having profile assemblies which engage inside each other are received, the free end of the drive spindle and the end portion of the running spindle being supported on a plate which is arranged transversely in the housing.
Screw spindle pumps of this type are used, for example, as fuel pumps. DE 41 23 384 A1 discloses a fuel conveying unit having a housing in which an electric motor is arranged. The shaft of the electric motor is connected to a drive spindle in a rotationally secure manner, but the transmission of force of the motor to the drive spindle can also be introduced by means of a coupling element (see DE 43 08 755 A1). As a result of the rotation of the motor or the drive spindle, the running spindle is caused to rotate, As a result of the profile assemblies which are also referred to as conveying profiles and which are provided on the drive spindle and the running spindle(s), there are formed together with the housing displacement chambers through which a conveyed fluid is conveyed axially from the intake side to the pressure side. In the screw spindle pump known from DE 41 23 384 A1, the free end of the drive spindle and the end portion of the running spindle are axially supported on a plate which is referred to therein as a bearing face. The fluid conveyed flows past the bearing face at both sides.
Although this fuel pump has been found to be advantageous for many decades, it has been found that, under specific conditions, depending on component tolerances and pressure relationships, an undesirable movement of the spindles may occur. This movement is undefined or irregular; it primarily involves crossing of the spindles. This crossing results in the longitudinal axes of the at least two spindles not being arranged in a precisely parallel manner but instead forming an angle with each other, Therefore, the longitudinal axes of the at least two spindles can also be displaced or crossed with respect to a notional plane in which both longitudinal axes are ideally located, one spindle protruding from one side of the notional plane and the other spindle from the opposing side of the notional plane. This spindle movement which may be observed leads to disadvantageous effects. On the one hand, the profile gaps increase, primarily at the intake side of the screw spindle pump, whereby the leakage of the pump increases. This occurs in particular at elevated medium temperatures, which leads to impaired heat conveying behaviour. The increase of the profile gaps also leads, on the other hand, to a reduction of the degree of efficiency. In addition, the undefined movement of the spindles brings about increased suction pulsation which is also undesirable. The rolling line formed between the two or more spindles is influenced in a negative manner by friction effects, whereby the drive torque which has to be applied by the electric motor is increased. Furthermore, the undesirable wobble movement of the spindles also leads to increased wear.
An object of the invention is therefore to provide a screw spindle pump in which no wobble movement of the spindles occurs.
In order to achieve this object, in a screw spindle pump of the type mentioned in the introduction, there is provision according to the invention for the plate to have two faces which are inclined in opposing directions relative to each other and which form a V-shape and on which one of the spindles is supported, respectively.
The inclination of the faces provided according to the invention counteracts a crossing of the spindles. A highly precisely parallel orientation of the spindles is thus ensured, whereby the problems described are prevented. The inclined faces result in the end portions of the at least two spindles always being subjected to a force which is directed toward the other, whereby a wobble movement which occurs with conventional spindle screw pumps is prevented. At the end portion of the spindles, consequently, at least a small force acts in the transverse direction, whereby the spindles are retained at the ideal position,
With the screw spindle pump according to the invention, it is particularly preferable for the inclination of the faces to be selected in such a manner that the spindles are arranged parallel with each other during operation of the screw spindle pump. As a result of this parallel positioning, there is produced an optimum rolling line between the spindles, whereby the drive torque required is reduced.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention makes provision for the inclination angle between the inclined faces and the plate to be between 2° and 30°, a range between 2° and 12° being preferred. As already mentioned, the faces are inclined with respect to each other in such a manner that the spindles are subjected to a force component, which presses or moves the spindles against each other. If the plate with the two faces which are inclined in opposing directions with respect to each other is viewed from the side, it has a V-shape.
According to the invention, it is particularly preferred for both inclined faces to have the same angle of inclination. The angle of inclination is in this instance determined taking into account the medium to be conveyed and other parameters, such as pressure, rotation speed and viscosity, in such a manner that the spindles during operation are positioned parallel with each other and perpendicularly relative to the plate.
There are thereby produced a whole series of positive effects on the screw spindle pump according to the invention. The optimum orientation of the drive spindle and the running spindle leads to a reduction of the leakage. The degree of efficiency increases compared with conventional screw spindle pumps. Furthermore, the undesirable suction pulsation decreases. Another positive effect is the improved heat conveying behaviour of the pump.
In the screw spindle pump according to the invention, it is preferable for both inclined faces to have the same angle of inclination.
It has been found to be quite particularly advantageous for the first inclined face to be inclined with respect to a longitudinal side of the plate and the second inclined face to be inclined with respect to the opposing longitudinal side of the plate. Consequently, each face is inclined twice, on the one hand, the two faces are inclined with respect to each other in opposing directions so that the V-shape is produced and, in addition, each face is inclined with respect to a longitudinal side of the plate, the two faces being inclined in opposing directions. The reason for this is the consideration that the ends of the spindles have two degrees of freedom since they can move on the upper side of the plate. As a result of the dual inclination of the two faces as provided for according to the invention, the wobble movement or crossing of the spindles which would otherwise occur can be practically completely prevented.
The mentioned inclination with respect to a longitudinal side of the plate may be from 2° to 30°, and it is preferably between 2° and 12°. With the screw spindle pump according to the invention, it is preferable for the inclination of the faces forming the V-shape to be of the same magnitude as the inclination of the two faces with respect to a longitudinal side. However, there are also conceivable embodiments in which the V-shaped inclination has a different angle of inclination from the inclination with respect to the longitudinal side.
For technical production reasons, there may be provision for a groove to be provided between the two inclined faces. As a result of the provision of this groove, the production of the plate with the inclined faces is simplified since each inclined face can then be produced by means of a milling method.
It is also within the context of the invention for the free end of the drive spindle and/or the end portion of the running spindle to have a tapered tip whose angle of taper is smaller than the inclination angle between the inclined faces and the plate. It is thereby ensured that the ends of the spindles can always move on the plate,
In the context of the invention, there may be provision for the plate to be constructed as a feather key. Optionally, a standard feather key may be provided with the inclined faces by means of a milling method.
The screw spindle pump according to the invention may also be constructed in such a manner that it has a drive spindle and two running spindles which are arranged at opposing sides. With such a configuration, correspondingly inclined faces are provided at least for the two running spindles.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
In the drawing:
FIG.10 shows an embodiment in which a drive spindle and a running spindle have tapered ends.
The free end of the drive spindle 7 and the end portion of the running spindle 8 are supported on a plate 12 which is arranged in the housing 6 transversely relative to the spindles. At both sides of the plate 12, there is provided a free space which is delimited by the housing 6 so that the fluid can flow in through these free spaces.
In
While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2014 102 390 | Feb 2014 | DE | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20150240810 A1 | Aug 2015 | US |