Pet Water Dispenser Docking Design With Wireless Pump Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pet water dispensers face issues with electrical wire damage and maintenance difficulties due to direct connections and twisted wires, which can lead to short circuits and make it hard to separate and assemble the water tank.
Innovation Solution
A pet water dispenser design featuring a docking station for external power application and wireless communication devices to minimize electrical wire damage, with a wireless power transmitter and receiver aligned to prevent misalignment and external impact, allowing for easy maintenance and rotation of the water tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical wires are directly connected to the pump inside the water tank, then power can be supplied to the pump, but the wires are exposed to water causing electrical shock risk and wire damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a water tank portion and a base portion that are separable. The pump is located in the base portion rather than the water tank, so electrical wires connect components outside the water environment, eliminating water exposure risks while maintaining power supply functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A docking station serves as an intermediary between the base portion and water tank. It provides wireless power transmission to the pump via a power transmission unit, eliminating the need for direct electrical wire connections through or near the water tank, thus preventing water-induced electrical hazards.
2Reliability
If the water tank is directly connected to the base with fixed wiring, then power supply is established, but separation and assembly become difficult and maintenance is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank and base are designed as separable modules that can be easily detached and reattached. The docking station with magnetic attraction provides automatic alignment and connection, allowing users to easily separate the tank for cleaning and reassemble it without complex wiring manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Fixed electrical wiring is replaced with wireless power transmission through the docking station. The magnetic attraction mechanism automatically guides alignment during assembly, eliminating the need for manual wire routing and connection, thereby simplifying maintenance operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wires are twisted to accommodate movement, then flexibility is improved, but wire damage and short circuits increase
Solution Approach 1:
Mechanical wire connections are replaced with wireless power transmission. The power transmission unit in the docking station communicates with the pump via electromagnetic fields, allowing the water tank to rotate and move freely without any physical wire constraints or twisting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static wired connections to dynamic wireless power transmission. The water tank can rotate 360 degrees and move freely while the pump continues to receive power through the docking station's electromagnetic field, accommodating all movements without wire damage.
4Ease of operation
If the water tank rotates freely, then usability is improved, but wire tension and damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
Physical wire connections are replaced with wireless electromagnetic power transmission. The water tank can rotate freely without any mechanical constraints from wires, as power is transmitted through the docking station's electromagnetic field rather than physical conduits.
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 effectively prevents electrical shock and damage to the water tank, enhances durability by dispersing tension, and ensures stable power transmission without exposing wires to water, facilitating easy maintenance and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless power receiver configured to induce power in response to a magnetic flux generated from the wireless power transmitter
Implementation Method 2
a wireless power transmitter configured to selectively connect to the docking station to receive power from the docking station
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A liquid dispenser may include a tank having a bottom plate, an inner assembly detachably coupled to the tank and containing a pump, and a docking station provided below the bottom plate that receives external power. A wireless power receiver may be provided above the bottom plate and may be electrically connected to a wireless power transmitter provided below the bottom plate. A supply plate may coupled to a supply pipe that supplies liquid pumped from the pump, and liquid falling from the supply plate may be guided back to the tank via a liquid guide. The docking station may apply external power to the pump via the wireless power transmitter and receiver.