Dishwasher Pump Cover Apertures and Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing appliance pumps, particularly in dishwashers, generate significant noise due to vibration transmission through rigid, flat covers, which amplify motor vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A pump cover with a planar panel featuring apertures covering between 55% to 75% of its surface area, combined with a viscoelastic damping treatment, is used to reduce vibration transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid, flat cover is used to protect pump components, then protection and structural integrity are improved, but vibration transmission and noise are amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a viscoelastic damping treatment on the inner surface of the pump cover, creating a flexible damping layer that absorbs vibrations. This flexible treatment allows the rigid cover to maintain its protective function while the viscoelastic layer dissipates vibrational energy, preventing vibration amplification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the cover by adding a viscoelastic damping treatment with specific loss factor properties. This modification alters the cover's vibrational characteristics, transforming it from a vibration-amplifying structure to a vibration-damping structure while maintaining protective coverage.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a solid, continuous cover is used for protection, then structural integrity is improved, but noise transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The viscoelastic damping treatment acts as a flexible film layer that disrupts noise transmission paths. This treatment maintains the cover's structural integrity while the viscoelastic material absorbs and dissipates acoustic energy, reducing noise transmission to the appliance exterior.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a thick, solid cover is used to reduce vibration, then vibration damping is improved, but manufacturing complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a thick solid cover, the patent applies a thin viscoelastic damping treatment layer on the inner surface of a standard-thickness cover. This approach achieves effective vibration damping through the viscoelastic properties of the treatment layer without increasing overall cover thickness or structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining the rigid cover material with a viscoelastic damping treatment layer. This composite approach leverages the strengths of both materials - the rigid cover provides structural integrity and protection, while the viscoelastic layer provides vibration damping - without requiring a complete redesign of the cover structure.
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 dampens vibrations, reducing noise and improving pump efficiency by minimizing sound transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a viscoelastic damping treatment is applied to a portion of the inner surface of the generally planar panel
Implementation Method 2
The solution effectively dampens vibrations, reducing noise and improving pump efficiency by minimizing sound transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher pump assembly includes a pump cover configured to reduce the amount of noise transmitted by the cover during operation of the pump. The radiating efficiency of the cover is reduced by reducing the solid percentage of the pump cover. In doing so, the geometry of the pump cover may be modified to inefficient at radiating noise.