Condensate Pump Resilient Collar for Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Condensate pumps in air-conditioning systems often vibrate due to motor operation, causing noise and potentially leading to water damage from overflowing reservoirs, and existing solutions fail to adequately address noise reduction and filtration issues.
Innovation Solution
An anti-vibration arrangement using a resiliently deformable collar and outlet member to isolate the pump motor, combined with a filtration system featuring interdigitating fingers and a haptic feedback system that utilizes the pump motor for user feedback, reducing noise and preventing debris entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a reciprocating pump motor is mounted directly in the housing, then the pump structure is simple and compact, but the motor vibrations cause noise and rattling of wiring and conduits
Solution Approach 1:
A resilient collar is introduced as an intermediary element between the pump motor and the housing. This collar absorbs motor vibrations and prevents them from being transmitted to the housing and wiring, thereby reducing noise while maintaining the compact pump structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient collar serves as a pre-installed vibration cushioning element that absorbs motor vibrations before they can propagate to the housing. This beforehand cushioning prevents noise and rattling without requiring additional complex mounting structures.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the pump motor is isolated using vibration-absorbing materials, then noise and vibration are reduced, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient collar is implemented as a flexible thin-walled structure that provides vibration absorption without adding significant bulk or complexity. The collar's flexible material and streamlined design allow it to fit within the existing pump housing space while effectively isolating motor vibrations.
3Volume of moving object
If wiring bundles and conduits are placed inside the elbow housing, then the overall device size is minimized, but vibrations cause these components to rattle against the casing
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient collar acts as a mediator that isolates the wiring bundles and conduits from vibration-induced rattling. By absorbing motor vibrations, the collar prevents these components from contacting the housing casing, eliminating rattling noise while maintaining the compact integrated housing design.
4Volume of stationary object
If a small drip tray is used with a condensate pump, then the AC unit size is reduced, but the pump may not empty the reservoir quickly enough leading to overflow risks
Solution Approach 1:
A float-based feedback mechanism is implemented to monitor the condensate level in the reservoir. When the condensate reaches a predetermined level, the float activates the pump motor to pump out the condensate. This feedback control ensures reliable condensate removal and prevents overflow, allowing the use of a compact drip tray without compromising safety.
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 solution effectively reduces noise and vibration, prevents debris from entering the pump, and provides user feedback without additional componentry, enhancing the reliability and safety of condensate pump operation.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently deformable collar secured within the first opening having an aperture through which the pump motor inlet projects. The resiliently deformable collar comprises an outer portion secured to the housing, an inner portion to support the pump motor inlet and a connecting portion located between the outer portion and the inner portion, such that oscillations of the reciprocating pump motor cause the connecting portion to deform and allow the inner portion to move in reciprocating manner.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An anti-vibration arrangement for a condensate pump comprising a housing having a first opening; a pump motor contained within the housing having a pump motor inlet in fluid communication with a pump motor outlet; and a resiliently deformable collar secured within the first opening having an aperture through which the pump motor inlet projects. The resiliently deformable collar comprises an outer portion secured to the housing, an inner portion to support the pump motor inlet and a connecting portion located between the outer portion and the inner portion, such that oscillations of the pump motor cause the connecting portion to deform and allow the inner portion to move in reciprocating manner.