Bellows Plastic Elastic Member for Recyclable Pump Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pump assemblies with metal springs are costly and difficult to recycle due to the use of different materials, which complicates the recycling process and increases environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
An eco-friendly elastic member made from soft plastic materials like PEEK, POM, or PBT, with a bellows-type design and specific peak and valley structures, providing sufficient elastic force and integrated connection parts for easy injection molding and reduced material separation issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a metal spring is used in the pump assembly, then sufficient elastic force is provided, but manufacturing costs increase and recycling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to soft plastic (PEEK, POM, PBT, POE, or ethylene octene/butene copolymer), transforming the elastic member into a single-material plastic component that maintains sufficient elastic force while reducing manufacturing cost and improving recyclability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses specific soft plastic materials (PEEK, POM, PBT, POE, or ethylene octene/butene copolymer) that combine elastic properties with moldability, creating a material that can replace metal springs while enabling injection molding manufacturing and single-material construction
2Force
If a metal spring is used in the pump assembly, then elastic force is sufficient, but recycling difficulty increases due to material separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the elastic member with the pump assembly housing using injection molding, creating an integrated single-component structure that eliminates the need for material separation and simplifies recycling to a single plastic material stream
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses soft plastic materials that provide both elastic functionality and moldability, enabling the creation of a single-material component that can be easily recycled without separation from metal parts
3Ease of manufacture
If the elastic member is made from soft plastic materials, then manufacturing cost decreases and recyclability improves, but elastic force may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the plastic elastic member, including the configuration of peaks and valleys, thickness distribution, and overall dimensions, to maximize elastic force output from the soft plastic material while maintaining cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent selects specific soft plastic materials (PEEK, POM, PBT, POE, or ethylene octene/butene copolymer) that inherently provide sufficient elastic properties, combining material selection with geometric design to achieve required force levels
4Ease of manufacture
If the connection parts are integrally formed, then manufacturing simplicity increases, but structural complexity for injection molding is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the elastic member into functional zones (upper support, lower support, connection parts with peaks and valleys) that can be independently designed and optimized for injection molding while being formed as a single integrated component
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 elastic member offers a cost-effective, lightweight, and recyclable solution for pump assemblies, reducing manufacturing costs and environmental impact while maintaining sufficient elastic force and durability.
Implementation Method 1
each of the first and second connection parts comprising a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys repeatedly disposed in an outward direction, wherein the plurality of peaks and valleys are configured to be bent when the elastic member is pressurized
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3a
AI summary
An elastic member (100) for a pump assembly is provided. The elastic member (100) may include an upper support (110); a lower support (120) provided under the upper support (110); and a connection part (130) which connects the upper support (110) and the lower support (120), and in which peaks (131) and valleys (132) are repeatedly formed in an outward direction to be bent when the elastic member (100) is pressurized.