Vehicle-Mounted Water Pump Assembly With Protected Adjustable Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted water pump assemblies are prone to damage from impacts and are inefficient in handling water streams with suspended particles, such as sand or grit, which can contaminate and foul the nozzle, leading to costly repairs and downtime, especially when used in golf course sand traps or bunkers.
Innovation Solution
A water pump assembly with a robust frame and U-shaped foot for impact protection, a pivotal member for adjustable nozzle trajectory, and a flexible conduit that flexes to change the water stream's direction, along with a nozzle support sleeve and bearing to prevent grit accumulation, allowing easy installation and operation in water-filled depressions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an oscillating impact type sprinkler is used as the nozzle to direct water streams, then the water stream trajectory can be controlled, but the device becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle system is segmented into a water pump, a simple directional nozzle, and a separate oscillating sprinkler mechanism. This segmentation allows the nozzle to be simple and durable while the sprinkler provides the oscillating motion for trajectory control, resolving the contradiction between operational capability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible conduit acts as an intermediary between the water pump outlet and the nozzle. This allows the nozzle to be positioned independently and connected to the pump via the flexible conduit, enabling simple nozzle design while maintaining trajectory control through the oscillating sprinkler mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the water pump is mounted exposed on the vehicle, then it is easy to position the pump, but the pump is vulnerable to damage from impacts with obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The water pump is mounted within a protective enclosure that cushions it against impacts with obstacles. This beforehand protection allows the pump to be positioned on the vehicle while being shielded from damage, resolving the contradiction between ease of positioning and reliability.
3Productivity
If the nozzle is exposed to water heavily laden with sand or grit, then the pump can effectively remove water from sand traps, but the sand and grit contaminate and foul the nozzle operation
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful sand and grit are extracted from the water stream by the flexible conduit and directed away from the nozzle. The nozzle receives relatively clean water while the contaminated water is channeled separately, resolving the contradiction between productivity in sand traps and nozzle reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible conduit acts as an intermediary that separates the water stream from sand and grit particles. It allows the pump to handle contaminated water while delivering cleaner water to the nozzle, preventing nozzle fouling while maintaining effective water removal from sand traps.
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 solution provides a durable, cost-effective, and efficient means to adjust the water stream trajectory and protect the pump from damage, enabling quick and effective water removal from depressions without contaminating the nozzle, thus reducing maintenance costs and ensuring rapid return to playable conditions on golf courses.
Implementation Method 1
Pivoting of the pivotal member on the frame about the substantially horizontal pivot axis flexes the conduit in a fore and aft direction to raise or lower the trajectory of the water stream being thrown from the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
A water pump is mounted on the frame for pumping water out of water filled depressions in the ground
Data Source
AI summary
A water pump assembly includes a frame having a mount for mounting the frame to a vehicle. A water pump is mounted within a bottom bowl on the frame and is substantially surround by an encircling U-shaped foot to protect the water pump from damage. A pivotal arch is carried on the frame and a water discharge nozzle is carried on the arch. A flexible conduit connects the nozzle to an outlet of the water pump. Pivoting of the arch flexes the conduit in a fore and aft direction to raise or lower the trajectory of the water stream being thrown from the nozzle. In addition, pivoting of the nozzle about a vertical axis on the arch laterally changes the direction of throw of the water stream by flexing or twisting the conduit in a side to side manner. The nozzle is carried on the arch using a nozzle support sleeve in which the nozzle is free to slide back and forth to accommodate changes in the orientation of the conduit.