Drainage Pump Suction Pipe Concave Surface Residual Water

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drainage pumps are unable to suction up all the drain water from a drain pan, leaving a residual amount that can lead to slime formation due to the gap required between the suction port and the drain pan.

Innovation Solution

The drainage pump incorporates a cylindrical suction pipe with a downward-facing suction port and an annular concave surface around the suction port, positioned at the lower end of the suction pipe, which increases the surface tension of the drain water, allowing it to be raised higher and reducing the residual water in the pan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gap is left between the suction port and the drain pan to prevent contact, then the suction port can be positioned higher, but the drainage pump cannot suction up all the drain water leaving residue in the pan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of slime formationVSAvoidamount of residual drain water
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a concave surface (curved surface) at the lower end of the suction pipe, replacing a flat surface. This concave surface increases the surface tension effect on the drain water, allowing the water to be raised higher along the curved surface and enabling the suction port to draw out more water from the drain pan, thereby reducing residual water while maintaining the gap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Quantity of substance

If the suction port is positioned closer to the drain pan to improve drainage, then more water can be suctioned up, but the gap must be maintained to prevent contact and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of drain water suctioned upVSAvoidprevention of contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The concave surface at the lower end of the suction pipe creates enhanced surface tension effects that allow water to climb higher along the curved surface. This enables the suction port to effectively reach lower into the drain pan and suction up more water while the physical gap between the suction port and drain pan is maintained, preventing contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Device complexity

If the suction pipe has a standard cylindrical shape, then the structure is simple, but the surface tension effect is insufficient to raise drain water to the suction port level

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of suction pipeVSAvoidsurface tension effect on drain water
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the standard cylindrical suction pipe by adding a concave surface at the lower end. This curved surface configuration enhances the surface tension effect on the drain water, allowing it to be raised higher along the curve. The modification is minimal and maintains the overall simple cylindrical structure while significantly improving the surface tension effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design effectively lowers the water surface position in the drain pan, reducing the amount of residual drain water and preventing slime formation, by utilizing the increased surface tension to raise the water level and facilitate more complete suction.

Implementation Method 1

surface tension raises drain water from its water surface to the lower end of the suction pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP4160022B1Drainage pump
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 FUJIKOKI CORP
  • EP4160022B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4160022B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4160022B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Object] To provide a drainage pump capable of reducing the amount of drain water remaining in a drain pan. [Solution] A drainage pump (1) includes a housing (10), an impeller (20) housed in the housing (10), and a motor (30) with a drive shaft (32) connected to the impeller (20). The housing (10) includes a suction pipe (12) in a cylindrical shape extending in an up-and-down direction. A suction port (12a) facing downward and a concave surface (12b) in an annular shape around the suction port (12a) are disposed at a lower end (12c) of the suction pipe (12).