Modular Bottom Module Adapters for Heat Pump Layout Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing base modules for household appliances, such as tumble dryers, are inflexible and require a complete redesign for each heat pump configuration, leading to a large inventory of specific modules and restricted design freedom.
Innovation Solution
A modular base design with separately manufactured adapter components that can be easily connected to form passages for the refrigerant circuit, allowing the module to be adapted to various heat pump configurations without the need for new modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complete base module is manufactured for each heat pump configuration, then the base module can be perfectly adapted to the specific heat pump design, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The base module is divided into a standardized base structure and separate adapter components. Each adapter component contains specific passages for refrigerant circuits and can be selectively attached to the base structure. This segmentation allows the same base module to accommodate different heat pump configurations by simply changing the adapter component, rather than manufacturing entirely different base modules for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The base module is designed with universal compatibility through a standardized interface that can accept different adapter components. The base structure itself remains unchanged and can serve multiple heat pump configurations, while the adapter components provide the specific adaptation needed for each heat pump type. This multi-functionality reduces the number of unique base module designs required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple complete base modules are manufactured for different heat pump configurations, then each configuration can be properly supported, but the storage and transportation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the base module into a reusable base structure and interchangeable adapter components, the inventory requirement shifts from storing multiple complete base modules to storing only the smaller adapter components. This significantly reduces the quantity of material that needs to be manufactured, stored, and transported while maintaining the ability to support different heat pump configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter components are designed to attach to the base structure, effectively nesting the adaptation functionality within the universal base module. This allows a single base module to 'contain' multiple configuration options through the attached adapters, reducing the need to manufacture and store multiple complete base module variants.
3Ease of manufacture
If the base module design is fixed for each configuration, then manufacturing is straightforward, but the ease of manufacture decreases when adapting to new heat pump configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of the base module into a standardized base and interchangeable adapters allows the base structure to be manufactured once in large quantities using optimized processes. When new heat pump configurations are introduced, only the adapter components need to be manufactured or modified, not the entire base module. This maintains manufacturing simplicity for the base while enabling easy adaptation to new configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The base structure is designed in advance with a universal interface that anticipates future adapter components. This preliminary design decision enables straightforward manufacturing of the base module while preserving the flexibility to add new adapter components for different heat pump configurations without requiring redesign of the base structure itself.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a bottom module (1) for retaining a heat pump of a domestic appliance for drying laundry, comprising at least one accommodating region (2) for at least partially accommodating at least one heat exchanger of the heat pump, at least one further accommodating region (3) for at least partially accommodating a compressor and/or a restrictor of the heat pump, and at least one wall (4) that at least partially separates the accommodating regions (2, 3) from each other, on which wall at least one feed-through (13) for feeding a pipeline of a refrigerant circuit of the heat pump through is arranged. In order to provide a bottom module (1) that can be adapted to the particular design of a heat pump in a simple manner, the wall (4) according to the invention is at least partially formed by at least one separate adapter component (8, 9, 10) having the feed-through (13), the at least one adapter component being connected to the rest of the bottom module (12).