Circulation Pump Control Housing Simultaneous Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control boxes for circulation pumps face challenges in providing a simplified and reliable connection for electrical power and information transmission, while ensuring IP protection against water and dust, due to complex interconnections and space constraints.

Innovation Solution

A control box design with connection and ground pins extending along an extension axis in the connection plane, accessible through a cover that can be moved between open and closed positions, and integrated with a standard connector, allowing simultaneous connection to a printed circuit board, thereby simplifying the connection process and enhancing protection against environmental factors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If an indirect connection with an interconnect component is used between the connector and the control board, then the connection is easier to implement and the control board does not need direct access, but the number of components increases thus increasing manufacturing cost and the risk of poor contact increases affecting reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of connection implementationVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the interconnect component with the control board housing, integrating the connection function directly into the housing structure. This eliminates the need for separate interconnect components while maintaining ease of connection implementation, and reduces the number of connection points to improve reliability by minimizing potential failure points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If a direct connection is made between the connector and the control board, then the number of components is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but the control unit requires specific access to the control board which complicates the housing design and raises concerns about watertightness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidhousing design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed to integrate the control board access function directly into its structure, allowing direct connection between the connector and control board without requiring separate access mechanisms. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling direct connection to reduce component count and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing provides localized access to the control board specifically at the connection area, rather than requiring general access to the entire control board. This localized access approach simplifies the overall housing design while enabling direct connection, and allows the rest of the housing to maintain its watertight integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If direct access to the control board is provided for connector connection, then the number of components is reduced, but it becomes difficult to guarantee the expected protection rating (IP X2D) against water droplet penetration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidprotection rating against water
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing provides localized access to the control board specifically at the connection area, rather than requiring general access to the entire control board. This localized access approach simplifies the overall housing design while enabling direct connection, and allows the rest of the housing to maintain its watertight integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a hinged cover is mounted on the control box to meet protection rating requirements, then the protection against water droplets is ensured, but a significant amount of space is required for opening the cover which is not suitable for confined installation environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection ratingVSAvoidspace required for cover operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing integrates the protection function directly into its structure, eliminating the need for separate hinged covers. The housing design itself provides the necessary protection rating while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for confined installation spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3331133B1Control housing with simultaneous connection for a circulation pump
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 WILO INTEC
  • EP3331133B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3331133B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3331133B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Control box (10) for a drive motor of a fluid circulation pump, comprising a drive motor control board (12) including at least one connection pin having a power portion for supplying power to the control board (12) and a transmission portion enabling the control board (12) to receive or transmit an information signal; and a ground pin suitable for connecting the drive motor to earth to form an electrical circuit with the power portion of the connection pin, wherein the connection and ground pins are suitable for being connected simultaneously to the same connector (16).