Drain Pump Shaft Shield Design to Prevent Lint Clogging in Dryers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accumulation of lint on lint filter assemblies in dryers can lead to air flow interruptions, increased power consumption, and potential blower fan failures, while the drain pump clogs due to foreign substances, causing operational issues and fire hazards.
Innovation Solution
A drain pump assembly with a design that includes a pump motor, impeller, and a pump case with a shaft shield part to prevent foreign substances from being wound around the impeller, combined with a lint filter cleaning device that uses cleaning water to remove lint and a flow guide rib to direct cleaning water efficiently, minimizing clogging and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is sprayed through nozzles to remove lint from the lint filter assembly, then lint removal efficiency is improved, but foreign substances may block the suction hole or be wound around the impeller causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
A screen is introduced as an intermediary component between the suction hole and the impeller. The screen captures foreign substances before they can reach the impeller, preventing clogging while allowing the drain pump to continue operating effectively after lint removal
Solution Approach 2:
The screen is designed to be automatically cleaned by the drain pump's suction flow. During normal operation, the suction flow passes through the screen, preventing foreign substances from accumulating and blocking the suction hole, thus maintaining self-cleaning functionality
2Productivity
If the drain pump operates continuously to drain cleaning water, then lint removal capability is improved, but foreign substances accumulate and cause clogging increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The screen extracts foreign substances from the water flow before they can reach the impeller. By removing these harmful substances, the pump operates more efficiently with reduced power consumption, as it doesn't need to overcome the resistance of clogged passages
3Reliability
If lint accumulates on the lint filter assembly, then filtration function is maintained, but air flow is interrupted increasing blower fan load and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic lint removal system enables continuous operation of the drying function. By periodically removing accumulated lint, the system maintains uninterrupted air flow through the lint filter assembly, preventing blower fan load increases and ensuring continuous useful action of the drying process
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 prevents foreign substances from blocking the drain pump, reducing power consumption and minimizing damage, while ensuring efficient lint removal and preventing fire hazards by maintaining airflow and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller including a hub, an impeller shaft extending from a center of the hub and connected to a rotation shaft of the pump motor, and a blade extending from an outer circumferential surface of the impeller shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a drain pump assembly. The drain pump assembly comprises : a pump motor; an impeller including: a hub; an impeller shaft extending from a center of the hub and connected to a rotation shaft of the pump motor; and a blade extending from an outer circumferential surface of the impeller shaft; a housing including: an impeller hole through which the impeller passes; and a space in which the pump motor is accommodated; and a pump case coupled to a bottom surface of the housing, the pump case having a suction hole for suctioning cleaning water, wherein the suction hole is defined in a position corresponding to the impeller, and wherein the pump case comprises a shaft shield part that extends from an edge of the suction hole in a central direction of the suction hole to cover a lower end of the impeller shaft.