Magnetic Whirlpool Foot Bath Pump for Leak-Free Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pedicure chairs with conventional water circulation systems face issues of water leakage, difficulty in cleaning and sterilizing, leading to health concerns and customer anxiety due to mold and bacteria accumulation in the pipes.
Innovation Solution
A system with a housing containing an induction motor and combination pump, featuring a removable cap with inlet and outlet openings, allowing for easy cleaning and sterilization of the rotor and stator, which are magnetically retained, enabling quick replacement and maintenance to ensure customer safety and reduce preparation time between uses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional motor-driven shaft mounted fan is used for water circulation, then water circulation is achieved, but water leakage occurs around the shaft requiring maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical shaft-mounted fan system with a magnetically coupled motor system where the rotor is retained by magnetic fields rather than mechanical shafts. This eliminates the shaft seal problem that causes water leakage, as the magnetic coupling allows non-contact power transmission through the pump housing wall.
2Reliability
If a conventional pipe system is used for water circulation, then water circulation is achieved, but the pipe system accumulates dirt, mold and bacteria making it very difficult to clean and sterilize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pump into separable components - the rotor can be removed from the stator by overcoming magnetic retention forces. This segmentation allows the rotor to be extracted for thorough cleaning and sterilization, addressing the hygiene problem of conventional enclosed pump systems where contaminants accumulate.
3Ease of operation
If a magnetically retained rotor system is used, then easy cleaning and sterilization is achieved, but the magnetic field strength must be sufficient to retain the rotor during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses excessive magnetic field strength during normal operation to ensure the rotor is firmly retained against water forces. During cleaning, only partial magnetic force needs to be overcome by manual pulling, allowing easy removal despite the strong operating magnetic field. This partial action principle enables both secure operation and easy maintenance.
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 system effectively recirculates water, creating a whirlpool action, allows for rapid cleaning and sterilization, thereby enhancing customer safety and reducing health concerns by minimizing the time required for preparation between customers.
Implementation Method 1
an induction motor and combination pump mounted in a housing on the basin and having a removable cap... The induction motor and combination pump has a stator and further has a magnetically-retained rotor
Implementation Method 2
the rotor rotates drawing water through the water inlet and expelling the water radially against the wall around the inlet opening, the water circulating within the cap and being directed axially outwardly through at least one outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A whirlpool foot bath for a pedicure chair having a housing with a removable cap and a rotor and stator magnetic motor within the housing. Water in the bath is circulated through an inlet in the cap and out through at least one outlet in the cap. A method of use is described.