Built-In Double-Blower Air Pump Assembly to Reduce Airflow Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing built-in air pumps for inflatable products, such as air mattresses, face issues like complex construction leading to high costs and reliability problems, exposure to environmental contaminants, and significant airflow loss due to complicated air passages and components.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly with a double-blower system where a motor is positioned between two blowers, with separate intake and exhaust connections, housed within a protective net to minimize contamination and airflow obstruction, allowing efficient inflation and deflation with reduced leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single blower with shared air passages is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but airflow loss increases and inflation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is segmented into two independent blowers (first blower and second blower) with separate air passages. The first blower handles inflation through a first air inlet passage, while the second blower handles deflation through a second air outlet passage. This segmentation eliminates airflow interference and reduces energy loss by dedicating separate pathways for each function.
2Ease of operation
If vents are exposed to the environment during use, then accessibility is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second vents are nested within the pump housing structure rather than being fully exposed. The housing provides a protective enclosure that shields the vents from environmental contaminants like water and dirt while still allowing air passage. The vents are positioned and configured within the housing to maintain functionality while reducing contamination risk.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complicated air passages with multiple components are used, then functional versatility is improved, but manufacturing cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly achieves functional versatility through a modular design where the first blower and second blower are independently configured but integrated within a single housing. Each blower unit can perform its specific function (inflation or deflation) independently, providing adaptability for different operational requirements while maintaining a standardized manufacturing approach for each module.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective enclosure is added around the motor and blowers, then contamination resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective housing structure merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: it encloses and protects the motor and blowers from contaminants, provides structural support for mounting the blowers, and incorporates the air passages as integral parts of the housing walls. This consolidation reduces the need for separate protective components and simplifies the overall device structure.
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 double-blower system enhances airflow efficiency, reduces production and maintenance costs, and improves inflation speed and pressure, achieving rapid and efficient air compression with minimized airflow loss.
Implementation Method 1
the first blower is fluidly coupled to the air inlet and the second blower is fluidly coupled to the air outlet
Implementation Method 2
the second blower is fluidly coupled to the air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A pump assembly is provided for use with an inflatable product. The inflatable product has a chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet. The pump assembly has a pump unit that is positioned inside the chamber for inflating and deflating the chamber, the pump unit having a motor that is operatively coupled to a first blower and a second blower, with the first blower is fluidly coupled to the air inlet and the second blower is fluidly coupled to the air outlet. The chamber is inflated by intake of air through the air inlet to the first blower and then into the chamber, and the chamber is deflated by drawing air from the chamber to the second blower and then out of the chamber through the air outlet.