Pump connecting member, pump assembly, and dishwasher

Abstract

Provided are a pump connecting member (100), a pump assembly provided with the pump connecting member (100), and a dishwasher provided with the pump assembly. The pump connecting member (100) comprises a main body (20) and a core body (30) embedded in the main body (20); the main body (20) is an elastic member; the rigidity of the core body (30) is greater than the rigidity of the main body (20); the main body (20) comprises a first connecting portion (21) and a second connecting portion (22) which are arranged at an angle to each other; the first connecting portion (21) is used for connecting a pump (200), and the second connecting portion (22) is used for connecting a target object. Thus, a shock-absorbing connection can be established between the pump (200) and a target object to be connected, preventing vibration generated by the pump (200) during running from being transmitted to other devices connected to the pump (200) and affecting the operation of other devices, and greatly reducing the generation of noise, improving user experience.

Description

Pump connections, pump assemblies, and dishwashers Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of dishwashers, and in particular to a pump assembly and a pump connector for a dishwasher. Background Art

[0002] With the development of technology and the improvement of living standards, dishwashers are becoming more and more popular among consumers. Dishwashers can automatically clean dishes such as bowls, chopsticks, plates, and dishes, which greatly reduces the workload of users, especially housewives, allowing them to have more time and energy to study or work and pursue a high-quality life.

[0003] Commercial dishwashers primarily clean dishes by using a water pump to drive water flow through a spray pattern. The water pump typically consists of a motor and an impeller driven by the motor. The impeller accelerates and pressurizes the water flow, spraying it onto the dishes to be cleaned, removing stains. However, during operation, the motor vibrates, which can be transmitted through connected components. This vibration not only affects the operation of other dishwasher components and even the entire machine, but also generates considerable noise, impacting the user experience.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, an object of the present application is to provide a pump connector, a pump assembly and a dishwasher that can effectively buffer motor vibration.

[0006] On the one hand, the present application provides a pump connector for connecting a pump to a target object, the pump connector including a main body and a core embedded in the main body, the main body is an elastic member, the stiffness of the core is greater than the stiffness of the main body, the main body includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion arranged at an angle to each other, the first connecting portion is used to connect the pump, and the second connecting portion is used to connect the target object.

[0007] On the other hand, the present application provides a pump assembly, comprising a pump and the above-mentioned pump connector, wherein the first connecting portion of the pump connector is connected to the pump.

[0008] On the other hand, the present application provides a dishwasher, comprising a sink bottom plate and the above-mentioned pump assembly, wherein the second connecting portion of the pump connector of the pump assembly is connected to the sink bottom plate.

[0009] Compared with the existing technology, the pump connector provided in this application integrates the elastic body and the hard core into one, wherein the hard core provides sufficient support strength for the pump, and the elastic body establishes a shock-absorbing connection between the pump and the target object to be connected, thereby preventing the vibration generated by the pump during operation from being transmitted to other devices connected to it and affecting the operation of other devices, while greatly reducing the generation of noise and improving the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a pump connector of the present application.

[0011] FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram of the pump connector shown in FIG. 1 .

[0012] FIG. 3 is a view of the pump connector shown in FIG. 2 from another angle.

[0013] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a pump assembly of the present application

[0014] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a dishwasher of the present application.

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] To facilitate understanding of the present application, a more comprehensive description of the present application will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings provide exemplary embodiments of the present application to provide a more accurate and thorough understanding of the technical solutions disclosed herein. However, it should be understood that the present application can be implemented in a variety of different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0017] The present application provides a pump connector for connecting a pump to a target object and achieving a flexible connection between the pump and the target object, thereby reducing or even preventing the transmission of pump vibration to the target object. Figures 1-3 show a specific embodiment of the pump connector of the present application. The pump connector 100 shown includes a main body 20 and a core 30 embedded in the main body 20, wherein the main body 20 is made of an elastic material such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or silicone rubber, which can effectively buffer the vibration of the pump; the core 30 is made of a hard material such as plastic, hard rubber, metal or wood, and its rigidity is much greater than that of the main body 20. It basically does not deform when subjected to force and can provide sufficient support for the pump.

[0018] Specifically, the main body 20 includes a first connecting portion 21 and a second connecting portion 22, which are arranged at an angle to each other, preferably perpendicular to each other. The first connecting portion 21 is used to connect to a pump, and the second connecting portion 22 is used to connect to a target object. Accordingly, the core 30 is generally L-shaped and includes a first supporting portion 31 and a second supporting portion 32, which are perpendicular to each other. The first supporting portion 31 extends into the first connecting portion 21, and the second supporting portion 32 extends into the second connecting portion 22. Preferably, the first supporting portion 31 is smaller than the first connecting portion 21, and the second supporting portion 32 is smaller than the second connecting portion 22. In this way, at least portions of the first and second connecting portions 21, 22 are elastic structures without the core 30, forming a shock-absorbing connection after connection with the pump or target object.

[0019] Preferably, the main body 20 is an integral structure, that is, the first connecting portion 21 and the second connecting portion 22 are integrally connected. Preferably, the core 30 is an integral structure, that is, the first supporting portion 31 and the second supporting portion 32 are integrally connected. Further preferably, the core 30 is placed in an injection mold after molding. During the process of injection molding the main body 20, the main body 20 wraps the core 30 therein so that the pump connector 100 as a whole is an integral and non-detachable structure, which can not only simplify the assembly of the main body 20 and the core 30, but also ensure the stability of the connection between the main body 20 and the core 30. After overmolding, the entire pump connector 100 is an integral and non-detachable structure, which provides sufficient support to the pump through the embedded hard core 30, and at the same time realizes a shock-absorbing connection between the pump and the target object through the external elastic main body 20.

[0020] In this embodiment, the first connecting portion 21 is roughly triangular in shape as a whole; the second connecting portion 22 extends vertically outward from one of the top corners of the first connecting portion 21, and is in the shape of a strip block as a whole. Preferably, the second connecting portion 22 is plugged into the target object, and accordingly, the target object is provided with an assembly hole plugged into the second connecting portion 22. A connecting component 23 is respectively provided at the other two top corners of the first connecting portion 21. In this embodiment, the connecting component 23 is a connecting hole. Fixing members, such as screws, rivets, etc., pass through the connecting holes to fix the first connecting portion 21 to the pump. Generally speaking, the connection points of the pump connector 100 of the present application with the pump and the target object are respectively at the three top corners of the triangular structure, which can have better connection stability.

[0021] The portion where the first connecting portion 21 is connected to the pump, that is, the two top corner portions of the first connecting portion 21 where the connecting component 23 is provided, are completely offset from the first support portion 31 of the core 30. In other words, the portion where the pump connector 100 of the present application is connected to the pump is a completely elastic structure, which can form a more effective shock-absorbing connection with the pump, thereby more effectively buffering the vibration of the pump during operation and the shaking during transportation, etc. Preferably, a perforation 24 is provided in the center of the first connecting portion 21 to further increase the elasticity of the first connecting portion 21. The perforation 24 can be single or multiple, and is provided around the first support portion 31 and is completely offset from the first support portion 31 in position, and basically does not affect the overall strength of the pump connector 100.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the end of the second connecting portion 22 distal from the first connecting portion 21, i.e., the outer end 25 of the second connecting portion 22, is wedge-shaped, facilitating insertion into the assembly hole of the target object. The second supporting portion 32 is offset from the wedge-shaped outer end 25, and is provided with hooks 33 on opposite sides of the second supporting portion 32 in the width direction. The hooks 33 extend through corresponding side surfaces of the second connecting portion 22 and protrude beyond the second connecting portion 22. Preferably, the hooks 33 are located near the end of the second connecting portion 22 that connects to the first connecting portion 21, allowing them to engage with the wall of the assembly hole of the target object, thereby increasing the stability of the connection between the second connecting portion 22 and the target object and preventing the second connecting portion 22 from detaching from the assembly hole due to vibration or shaking.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4 , the present application further provides a pump assembly including the aforementioned pump connector 100, wherein the first connecting portion 21 of the pump connector 100 is fixedly connected to the pump 200 via a fixing member 40. As shown in Figure 5 , the present application further provides a dishwasher including the aforementioned pump assembly, wherein the pump connector 100 connects the dishwasher's pump 200 to the wall of its sink chassis 300. The specific structures of the pump 200 and sink chassis 300 can be referenced to the prior art and are not described in detail here.

[0024] The housing 201 of the pump 200 can specifically be a housing corresponding to the position of its impeller, and is provided with two fixing parts 210 protruding along its axial direction toward the side of the motor 202, and each fixing part 210 is provided with a fixing hole. During assembly, the pump connector 100 of the present application is placed on the axial outer side of the housing 201 of the pump 200, specifically on the axial outer side of the housing near the position of its motor 202, and the connecting hole of the first connecting part 21 is aligned one by one with the fixing hole of the fixing part 210, and then the fixing part 40 is passed through the connecting hole and inserted into the fixing hole, and the first connecting part 21 and the pump 200 are fixed together to assemble into a pump assembly, and a shock-absorbing connection is formed between the pump connector 100 and the pump 200. In other embodiments, the connection method of the connecting part 23 and the fixing part 210 can also be a connection method such as a hook or a snap fixation.

[0025] Preferably, the housing 201 of the pump 200 is further provided with a protruding positioning portion 220. The positioning portion 220 can also be provided axially protruding from the housing 201 at the location corresponding to the impeller, preferably located between the two fixing portions 210. The positioning portion 220 axially abuts the center of the first connecting portion 21 to position the first connecting portion 21, facilitating assembly of the first connecting portion 21 with the pump 200. To avoid interference, the side surface 26 of the first connecting portion 21 facing the pump 200, corresponding to the location of the motor 202, is concave and curved to match the external structure of the pump 200, making the overall structure more compact after assembly.

[0026] The sink chassis 300 is typically located above the pump 200, with an assembly portion 310 formed at its bottom, and an assembly hole 320 formed in the assembly portion 310. Typically, the assembly hole 320 extends laterally, parallel to the axial direction of the pump 200. During assembly, the second connection portion 22 of the pump connector 100 of the present application is placed laterally, aligned with and plugged into the assembly hole 320 of the assembly portion 310, and the pump 200 is suspended below the sink chassis 300. During assembly, the first connection portion 21 can be connected to the fixed portion 210 of the pump 200 first, or the second connection portion 22 can be connected to the assembly portion 310 of the sink chassis 300 first.

[0027] The pump connector 100 of the present application integrates the elastic body 20 and the hard core 30 into one, which can effectively simplify the installation process and ensure the stability of the connection after installation. Through the pump connector 100 of the present application, a shock-absorbing connection can be established between the pump 200 and the target object to be connected, such as the sink chassis 300, etc., to prevent the vibration generated by the motor of the pump 200 during operation from being transmitted toward other devices connected thereto and affecting the operation of other devices or even the entire machine, while greatly reducing the generation of noise and improving the user experience. It should be understood that the pump connector 100 of the present application can also be applied to other devices that include pumps, and is not limited to use in dishwashers.

[0028] It should be noted that the above embodiments merely represent preferred implementations of the present application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the present application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art may, without departing from the spirit of the present application, make various modifications and improvements, such as combining different features from the various embodiments, and all of these modifications and improvements should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A pump connector for connecting a pump to a target object, characterized in that: The pump connector includes a main body and a core embedded in the main body, the main body is an elastic member, the rigidity of the core is greater than the rigidity of the main body, the main body includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion arranged at an angle to each other, the first connecting portion is used to connect the pump, and the second connecting portion is used to connect the target object.

2. The pump connection according to claim 1, characterized in that The core is an integral structure, comprising a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion arranged at an angle to each other, and the main body and the core are an overmolded structure.

3. The pump connection according to claim 2, characterized in that The first connecting portion is provided with a connecting component for connecting a pump, and the first supporting portion of the core body extends into the first connecting portion and is staggered with the connecting component.

4. The pump connection according to claim 3, characterized in that The first connecting portion is in a triangular block shape, the second connecting portion integrally extends outward from one of the vertex positions of the first connecting portion, and one connecting component is respectively provided at the other two vertex positions of the first connecting portion.

5. The pump connection according to claim 4, characterized in that A through hole is provided at the center of the first connecting portion, and the through hole is staggered with the core body.

6. The pump connection according to claim 2, characterized in that The second connecting portion is in the shape of a strip block, one end of which is vertically connected to the first connecting portion, and the other end is used for plugging and connecting with the target object, and the second supporting portion of the core body extends into the second connecting portion.

7. The pump connection according to claim 6, characterized in that The other end of the second connecting portion is wedge-shaped.

8. The pump connection according to claim 6, characterized in that A hook portion is protrudingly provided at one end of the core body connected to the first connecting portion, and the hook portion passes through a side surface of the second connecting portion and protrudes out of the second connecting portion.

9. A pump assembly comprising a pump, characterized in that: The pump assembly further comprises a pump connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a first connecting portion of the pump connector is connected to the pump.

10. The pump assembly of claim 9, wherein: The first connection portion is connected to the pump via a fixing member, and a side surface of the first connection portion facing the motor of the pump is a concave arc surface.

11. A dishwasher, comprising a sink chassis, characterized in that: The dishwasher further comprises a pump assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein a second connection portion of a pump connector of the pump assembly is connected to the sink bottom plate.

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