Flexible Rubber Impeller Prevents Clogging in Water-Cooled Pumps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multifunctional pumps in the household water pump industry frequently clog due to foreign materials, leading to motor burnout and reduced service life, as the small clearance between the impeller and tank allows particles to get stuck, causing jamming.

Innovation Solution

An intelligent, clogging-free, water-cooled pump design featuring a flexible rubber conical impeller that bounces off hard particles and a double-channel conical diffuser with a bidirectional diverging channel to prevent accumulation, combined with an intelligent water level controller for automatic operation and motor cooling through the water cycle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the clearance between impeller and tank is designed very small, then the pump efficiency is improved, but the pump is easy to be jammed by particles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump efficiencyVSAvoidjaming resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The impeller is made of flexible rubber material instead of traditional hard materials. This flexibility allows the impeller to deform and bounce off hard particles that enter the pump, preventing jamming while maintaining the small clearance design for efficiency. The elastic deformation of the rubber impeller creates a protective effect against particle-induced failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The material property of the impeller is changed from rigid (plastic or casting) to flexible (rubber). This parameter change in material rigidity allows the impeller to dynamically adapt to particles in the flow, transforming the static clearance design into a dynamic system that can accommodate particles without jamming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the impeller and tank are made of hard material, then the structural strength is improved, but they are not able to bypass particles inside resulting in motor burning out

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidparticle bypass capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexibility of the rubber impeller converts what would normally be a harmful interaction (particles striking the impeller) into a beneficial outcome (particles bouncing off). The elastic collision between particles and the flexible impeller surface transforms potential damage into a protective mechanism that prevents jamming and motor burnout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If the pump operates without water cooling, then the device complexity is reduced, but the motor is prone to burning damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system complexityVSAvoidmotor protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The water in the sump serves multiple functions: it is the medium being pumped and simultaneously serves as the cooling agent for the motor. The water cycle that is necessary for pump operation also provides thermal management, eliminating the need for a separate cooling system. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while ensuring motor protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump system cools itself using its own working medium (water). The water that circulates through the pump for its primary function also flows through the motor cooling channels, providing self-cooling without requiring external cooling systems. The system uses its own operational resources to maintain thermal management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Prevents pump damage from clogging, extends service life by effectively expelling foreign particles and automatically managing water flow, ensuring the pump operates safely and efficiently.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible rubber conical impeller which can bounce off hard particles sucked inside

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

utilizing the own water cycle to cool motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS10900488B2Intelligent clogging-free water-cooled multifunctional pump

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 GP ENTERPRISES CO LTD

AI summary

An intelligent control clogging-free water-cooled multifunctional pump includes a housing, a water-through tank, a motor, an axial flow style cover plate, a flexible rubber conical impeller, a double-channel conical diffuser, a filter and an intelligent water level controller. The motor is placed inside the housing. The motor is provided with a control board. The water-through tank is placed under the housing. The flexible rubber conical impeller is coaxially connected to the motor. The axial flow style cover plate is placed at the bottom of the water-through tank. The double-channel conical diffuser is disposed under the cover plate and the conical pattern of the flexible rubber impeller is consistent with the conical pattern of the double-channel conical diffuser.