Offset Dishwasher Pump Assembly for Under-Tub Removal Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
As tub size increases in dishwashers, the space beneath the tub shrinks, making it difficult or impossible to remove the sump, pump, and motor assembly from the interior side without moving the dishwasher, as existing designs lack sufficient space for installation or removal.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves positioning the motor and pump assembly with the center axis of the fluid inlet vertically closer to the tub bottom than the center axis of the motor shaft, allowing for installation or removal without moving the dishwasher, by creating a sufficient gap between the motor and the sump, facilitating the assembly's removal as a single unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If tub size is increased to provide more interior space, then the storage capacity is improved, but the space beneath the tub shrinks making it difficult or impossible to remove the sump, pump and motor assembly from the interior side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the motor assembly from a vertical arrangement (motor above pump) to an offset horizontal arrangement where the motor is positioned to the side of the pump. This dimensional change allows the assembly to be removed from the interior side of the tub even when tub size is increased, as the offset configuration creates sufficient clearance space for removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor is positioned asymmetrically relative to the pump, with the motor shaft axis offset from the pump inlet axis. This asymmetric arrangement creates unequal spacing between components, providing the necessary clearance for assembly removal from the interior side while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
2Ease of operation
If the motor and pump are positioned with sufficient gap for easy removal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to offset configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The motor and pump are merged into a single integrated assembly where the motor shaft is directly coupled to the pump impeller. This combination simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets, alignment mechanisms, or coupling devices that would otherwise be required to connect two separate components, thereby reducing device complexity despite the offset configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset motor-pump assembly is designed as a universal configuration that can be installed in various tub sizes and dishwasher models. The standardized offset arrangement serves multiple functions: it provides clearance for removal, maintains proper fluid flow paths, and accommodates different motor and pump size variations, thereby reducing the need for model-specific customization.
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher pump assembly according to one example embodiment includes a pump having a housing and a pumping chamber within the housing. The pumping chamber includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid inlet has a center axis. The assembly also includes a motor having a shaft operably coupled to the pump for rotating the pump. The shaft has a center axis that is offset from the center axis of the fluid inlet. Other embodiments, assemblies and methods are also disclosed.