Pump Impeller Elastomeric Coating to Reduce Wear from Foreign Objects
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Pump impellers in household appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, are prone to damage from objects carried in the fluid being pumped, leading to changes in geometry that affect pump performance and reduce operational reliability over the service life, while requiring a simple and inexpensive manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A pump impeller with impeller blades made from a solid plastic base material reinforced with glass fibers, coated with a permanently elastic jacket material for impact protection and sealing, which maintains the pump's performance and prevents wear from foreign objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pump impeller is made from a simple solid plastic structure, then the manufacturing cost is low and the structure is simple, but the impeller is damaged by objects in the fluid leading to geometry changes and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump impeller combines a rigid base material (polyoxymethylene or polypropylene reinforced with glass fibers) providing structural strength with an elastomeric coating material (Shore hardness 40-120) providing impact protection and sealing. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating both protective and structural functions into a single component that maintains reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric coating is applied selectively to specific regions of the impeller blades and housing that contact the fluid and objects, rather than coating the entire impeller. This localized application provides protection where needed while maintaining the overall structural integrity and minimizing added complexity.
2Strength
If the pump impeller uses a reinforced base material with elastomeric coating, then the protection against impacts and wear is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The base material is first molded with the impeller geometry, then the elastomeric coating is applied in a subsequent coating step. This sequential manufacturing approach allows each material to be optimized for its specific function while using standard manufacturing processes, avoiding the need for complex integrated manufacturing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the elastomeric coating is applied to the impeller blades, then the protection against foreign objects is improved, but the sealing function requires additional complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric coating performs multiple functions simultaneously: it cushions impacts from foreign objects, provides wear protection on blade surfaces, and creates sealing contact with the pump housing. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for separate sealing components while maintaining protection against harmful factors.
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 ensures constant pump performance and extended service life by protecting the impeller from wear and damage, maintaining the original pressure-flow rate ratio, and reducing noise and current spikes during operation.
Implementation Method 1
The jacket material can have a cushioning effect against objects striking the pump impeller
Implementation Method 2
The base material is at least partially coated with a permanently elastic jacket material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pump impeller (1) with impeller blades (2) for a household appliance, wherein the pump impeller (1) is formed from a base material, and wherein the base material is at least partially coated with a permanently elastic jacket material which is softer than the base material.