Compact Drain Auger Drum Layout for Dense Cable Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain augers have a drum with a space capacity much greater than the cable volume, leading to wasted space and affecting the dynamic balance, making them bulky and difficult to handle.
Innovation Solution
The drain auger design optimizes the drum's dimensions and cable configuration, ensuring a cable length to inner diameter ratio of at least 3.5:1, with a maximum coiling height of 7.5 cm and a compact overall length, featuring a stop structure to prevent cable popping out and an extended guide tube for improved maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the drum has a large space capacity to accommodate the cable, then the cable can be stored, but the drum volume increases and affects dynamic balance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the drum's inner diameter and cable length ratios. Specifically, it sets the inner diameter of the drum's inner bottom surface to be less than or equal to 14.5 cm and establishes that the ratio of cable length to the square of the inner diameter (L/D²) should be greater than or equal to 3.5. This parameter optimization allows the drum to accommodate the required cable length while minimizing the drum volume and maintaining dynamic balance.
2Quantity of substance
If the drum volume is increased to accommodate the cable, then the cable can be stored, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the overall device volume by controlling the drum dimensions and cable configuration parameters. It specifies that the maximum outer diameter of the drum should be less than or equal to 17 cm and the overall length should be less than or equal to 37 cm. These parameter constraints ensure that the device maintains a compact size while still accommodating the required cable length through optimized coiling arrangements.
3Quantity of substance
If the cable is coiled in the accommodation space, then the cable is stored compactly, but the coiling height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the coiling height parameter by optimizing the drum's inner diameter and the cable coiling arrangement. It specifies that when the cable length is 762 cm, the maximum coiling height should be less than or equal to 7.5 cm. This is achieved by setting appropriate parameters for the drum's inner diameter (≤14.5 cm) and ensuring the cable is coiled efficiently within the accommodation space, thereby maintaining compact storage with controlled height.
4Ease of operation
If the drum dimensions are reduced to improve handling, then the device is more maneuverable, but the cable storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by establishing optimal parameter ranges that balance handling maneuverability with cable storage capacity. It specifies the inner diameter of the drum's inner bottom surface should be less than or equal to 14.5 cm and the ratio L/D² should be greater than or equal to 3.5, which allows for compact, easy-to-handle dimensions while maintaining adequate storage. Additionally, it controls the overall length to be ≤37 cm and the drum's maximum outer diameter to be ≤17 cm, ensuring maneuverability is preserved.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic elements through the feeding mechanism and operating member that allow the device to adapt during operation. The feeding mechanism can feed or retract the cable dynamically, and the operating member can change the clamping state, enabling the device to maintain effectiveness despite compact dimensions. This dynamic capability compensates for the reduced storage space by allowing flexible cable management during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A drain auger includes a drum, a motor, and a cable. The drum forms an accommodation space. The motor drives the drum to rotate. The cable is at least partially stored in the accommodation space. The total length of the extended cable has a cable length L, the drum has an inner bottom surface forming the accommodation space, the diameter of the inner bottom surface is the first diameter D, and, when the cable length L and the first diameter D are both measured in centimeters, the ratio L/D2 of the cable length L to the square of the first diameter D is greater than or equal to 3.5.