Heat Pump Base Module With Self-Positioning Refrigerant Pipes

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for assembling refrigerant pipes in heat pump devices require the use of soldering jigs, which increase production effort and costs, and can lead to inaccuracies and vibrations that reduce the device's service life due to the need for precise positioning and the risk of pipe deformation.

Innovation Solution

The use of pre-bent refrigerant pipes with positioning elements on the base module, such as ramps, centering ribs, and retaining clips, allows for precise and secure positioning without tools, ensuring accurate soldered connections and minimizing the need for soldering jigs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If soldering jigs are used for positioning refrigerant pipes, then positioning accuracy is improved, but assembly time and production effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerant pipe is pre-bent to the required contour shape before assembly, and positioning elements are pre-formed on the base module. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for soldering jigs during assembly, reducing assembly time while maintaining positioning accuracy through the pre-configured positioning elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning elements on the base module automatically guide and position the pre-bent refrigerant pipe during assembly without requiring external soldering jigs. The system serves itself by incorporating built-in positioning features that eliminate the need for separate positioning tools, thereby reducing assembly effort and time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual positioning of refrigerant pipes is performed, then flexibility in assembly is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Positioning elements act as intermediaries between the base module and the refrigerant pipe. These elements provide automatic guidance and positioning during assembly, ensuring precise positioning without requiring complex manual operations. The positioning elements mediate the assembly process by physically guiding the pipe into the correct position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If complex pipe contours are used to absorb vibrations, then vibration resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration resistanceVSAvoidpipe contour complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerant pipe is pre-bent to the required complex contour shape before assembly to absorb vibrations. This preliminary formation of the vibration-absorbing contour eliminates the need for complex positioning jigs during assembly, as the pipe's natural flexibility and pre-configured shape provide the necessary vibration resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The refrigerant pipe utilizes its inherent flexibility through pre-bending to create vibration-absorbing contours. The pipe's flexible nature allows it to absorb vibrations without requiring rigid complex structures, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving vibration resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of manufacture

If soldering jigs are removed from assembly, then production costs are reduced, but process reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidprocess reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning elements on the base module automatically ensure correct pipe positioning during assembly without requiring soldering jigs. This self-positioning capability maintains process reliability by eliminating human error associated with manual jig insertion and removal, while simultaneously reducing production costs through simplified assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical soldering jig system is replaced with integrated positioning elements formed directly on the base module. This substitution eliminates the need for separate positioning tools while maintaining positioning accuracy through the built-in positioning features, thereby reducing costs without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3015588B1Floor module for a heat pump device mounted in a housing of a domestic appliance

Publication Date: 2018.05.02 MIELE & CO KG

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a base module (1) for a heat pump device of a household appliance arranged in a housing, such as a tumble dryer, dishwasher or washer-dryer, in which a refrigerant pipe (2) with a pipe contour (3) is arranged, the pipe contour (3) being used for soldered connections ( 4, 5) is pre-bent on the components to be connected, such as a heat exchanger (6), a compressor or a filter drier (7) of the heat pump device. According to the invention, positioning elements (8, 9, 10) for the pipe contour (3) are provided on the base module (1), which ensure process-reliable integration for the soldered connections (4, 5) to be created for the refrigerant pipe (2) on the components (6 , 7) allow the heat pump device.