Integrated Vacuum Pump Control With Cylindrical Water Barrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vacuum pumps and control apparatuses face issues with water droplet infiltration due to integration, leading to increased costs from sealing materials and difficulty in maintenance, especially during separation for maintenance tasks.

Innovation Solution

A vacuum pump design with a cylindrical portion protruding from the control apparatus chassis, exceeding the gap height, and a detachable cover for the relay chamber, along with a detachable plate and lid, prevents water droplet infiltration without using sealing materials, facilitating easy separation and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a watertight sealing material is disposed between the control apparatus casing and base portion to prevent water infiltration, then water droplet infiltration is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater droplet infiltrationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sealing function from the gap between the base portion and control apparatus, relocating it to the cylindrical portion that protrudes into the gap. This allows water droplets to be blocked at a specific location without requiring sealing materials throughout the entire gap interface, eliminating the need for expensive sealing materials while maintaining water infiltration prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive watertight sealing materials with a simple metal cylindrical portion that serves the sealing function. This metal structure is part of the standard apparatus construction rather than an additional consumable sealing component, reducing manufacturing costs while achieving the same water protection function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Device complexity

If the control apparatus is integrated with the pump main body to omit external cables, then device complexity is reduced, but water droplet infiltration risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable connection structureVSAvoidwater droplet infiltration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the integrated structure by introducing a cylindrical portion that protrudes into the gap between the base portion and control apparatus. This segmentation creates a dedicated water blocking zone within the integrated structure, allowing the benefits of integration (reduced complexity) to be maintained while adding water protection capability through the segmented cylindrical barrier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of repair

If the control apparatus is separated from the pump main body for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but water droplet infiltration risk increases during separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidwater droplet infiltration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary protection by positioning the cylindrical portion to protrude into the gap before any separation or maintenance activities occur. This pre-positioned barrier ensures that even when the apparatus is separated for maintenance, water droplets are already blocked from infiltrating through the gap, maintaining protection during the vulnerable separation state

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12448976B2Vacuum pump and control apparatus of vacuum pump with water leakage prevention between the pump main body and control apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 EDWARDS JAPAN

AI summary

A vacuum pump in which a pump main body and a control apparatus that controls the pump main body are integrated with each other. The control apparatus includes a cylindrical portion which protrudes from a chassis of the control apparatus and inside which a cable that connects the pump main body and the control apparatus to each other is passed. A height of the cylindrical portion exceeds a height of a gap formed between a bottom portion of the pump main body and the chassis of the control apparatus.