Battery Bilge Pump with Integrated Strainer and Magnetic Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bilge pumps for recreational boats are heavy, require extensive installation time and drilling, have short battery life, and are costly, making them inconvenient and expensive to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, battery-operated bilge pump with an integrated strainer base and 5-6 AA batteries, using Velcro for easy installation and removal, eliminating the need for drilling and offering a wireless remote switch option, reducing installation time and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a standard 12 volt bilge pump with separate battery case is used, then the pump can provide sufficient power, but the weight increases to about five pounds and requires lead acid batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump motor, battery compartment, and housing into a single integrated unit. The 6-volt pump is mounted directly within the housing that also contains the battery compartment, eliminating the need for separate battery cases and heavy lead-acid batteries. This integration reduces overall weight while maintaining adequate pumping power for small watercraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the voltage parameter from 12 volts to 6 volts, which allows the use of lighter AA batteries instead of heavy lead-acid batteries. This parameter change enables significant weight reduction while still providing sufficient power for bilge pumping applications in small watercraft.
2Reliability
If thru-hull installation with drilled holes is used, then the pump can be permanently mounted, but installation time increases to 2-4 hours and requires complex wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical drilling and permanent mounting system with a magnetic mounting system. The housing contains a magnetic mounting plate that attaches to the metal surface of the watercraft without requiring any drilling, hole-making, or permanent fastening. This substitution dramatically reduces installation time from 2-4 hours to a simple matter of positioning and attaching the magnetic plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic mounting plate acts as an intermediary between the pump housing and the watercraft surface. It provides reliable mounting without requiring direct mechanical attachment through drilled holes, thus maintaining stability while avoiding complex installation procedures.
3Reliability
If the pump is permanently installed with screws or glue, then the mounting is secure, but the pump becomes difficult to remove for cleaning and battery replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic mounting system provides dynamic mounting that is secure during operation but easily releasible when needed. The magnetic force holds the pump firmly in place during pumping operations, yet allows quick removal by simply pulling against the magnetic attraction for cleaning or battery replacement. This dynamic characteristic resolves the contradiction between secure mounting and easy maintenance.
4Power
If a 12 volt pump with standard battery life is used, then the pump provides adequate power, but the battery life is only about 45 minutes on a single charge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter from 12 volts to 6 volts, which enables the use of multiple AA batteries instead of a single large lead-acid battery. This parameter change allows for extended battery life through the use of 5-6 AA batteries, providing approximately 3-4 hours of operation while maintaining sufficient pumping power for small watercraft applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A small lightweight battery operated remote switched bilge pump is provided weighing less than one pound for installing in a small watercraft, including a kayak, canoe, sailboat, row boat, dingy, featuring a bilge pump having a low voltage inline pump, a housing having a compartment with an integrated strainer base to receive the low voltage inline pump, and having a watertight compartment to receive lightweight batteries to power the bilge pump for about 1.5 hours, and a switch assembly to selectively operate on/off functionality of the bilge pump remotely; and a Velcro® arrangement to couple the bilge pump to a surface of the small watercraft to allow easy installation of the bilge pump in about 15 seconds to perform bilge pump functionality without drilling or making holes in the small watercraft, and to allow easy removal of the bilge pump for cleaning and battery replacement.