Heat Pump Water Heater Compressor Mounting for Drop Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat pump water heater appliances are prone to damage during transit due to impact or falling, with the compressor often detaching from its mounting, leading to costly repairs or replacements, as existing shipping accessories provide insufficient support.
Innovation Solution
A mounting assembly that secures the compressor to a plate within the casing using a post and fastener system, with a nut threaded onto the post to stabilize the compressor, preventing detachment during drops or tilts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a foam top panel is used to protect the heat pump water heater during shipping, then the top portion of the water heater is protected, but the compressor remains vulnerable to detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly is divided into separate components: a bracket that attaches to the water heater casing, a post that connects to the compressor foot, and a fastener system with nut and washer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the bracket provides structural attachment, the post provides compression, and the fastener secures the connection, collectively solving the compressor detachment problem
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly is pre-configured with the bracket, post, fastener, and washer in specific orientations before installation. The bracket is positioned to receive the compressor foot, the post is oriented to apply downward force, and the fastener is prepared for threading. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the water heater is subjected to shipping stresses, the compressor is already secured by the pre-positioned mounting components
2Reliability
If the compressor is securely mounted to prevent detachment, then reliability during transit is improved, but the mounting assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly is divided into separate components: a bracket that attaches to the water heater casing, a post that connects to the compressor foot, and a fastener system with nut and washer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the bracket provides structural attachment, the post provides compression, and the fastener secures the connection, collectively solving the compressor detachment problem
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly uses simple, inexpensive components such as a metal bracket, plastic or metal post, standard fastener, and washer. These components are designed to be straightforward and easy to manufacture, replacing the need for complex integrated mounting structures. The simplicity of each individual component offsets the increased number of parts
Data Source
AI summary
The present subject matter provides a heat pump water heater appliance with a mounting assembly for coupling a compressor to a plate within a casing of the heat pump water heater appliance. The mounting assembly includes a post that extends through a foot of the compressor and a fastener that extends through the bracket and the plate into the post in order to secure the bracket and the post together. A nut is threaded onto the post in order to secure the post and the foot of the compressor together.