Oral Irrigator Pump Assembly With Integrated Piston-Rod Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral irrigator pump assemblies are difficult to assemble due to the need for multiple parts and separate fittings, which can lead to inelastic deformation of components and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The oral irrigator design features a connecting rod and piston with a rod cutout in the piston sidewall, allowing for easy insertion and secure coupling without external fasteners, along with an integrated pump and gear housing that reduces the number of parts and enhances assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional pump assemblies use multiple separate parts and external fasteners, then the components can be securely connected, but the assembly process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The piston is designed with an integrated rod cutout that directly receives the connecting rod, eliminating the need for separate fasteners or coupling mechanisms. This merging of the piston and connecting rod interface simplifies the assembly process while maintaining secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod cutout is designed as a specific geometric feature segmented into receiving portions that guide and secure the connecting rod in place, allowing for easy assembly without complex fastening mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate fittings are used to connect pump components, then the connections can be secure, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing is designed as an integrated structure that incorporates mounting features and connection points directly into the housing itself, eliminating the need for separate fittings and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining connection security.
3Productivity
If traditional pump assemblies use separate fittings and multiple components, then the design is flexible, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated piston design with built-in rod cutout and the pump housing with integrated mounting features reduce the number of assembly steps by eliminating the need to install separate fittings and fasteners, significantly reducing assembly time and improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various configurations for a pump for oral irrigators. In one embodiment, a pump is disclosed that includes a connecting rod and a piston. The piston includes a sidewall defining a piston cavity and a rod cutout defined in the sidewall where the rod cutout enables insertions of a portion of the connecting rod into the piston cavity, where after insertion the connecting rod extends from the piston cavity past a bottom edge of the sidewall.