Pump Assembly Mounting System for Multi-Orientation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps, particularly air-driven diaphragm pumps, face challenges with secure and versatile mounting due to unbalanced accelerations during operation, requiring a solution that allows for stable and flexible orientation for efficient operation across various applications.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly featuring a base with a retainer, seat, and bracket system that includes locking pins and a fastener, allowing the pump to be securely mounted in multiple orientations through angularly spaced engagements, ensuring stability and versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pump is designed to operate in multiple orientations for versatility, then the adaptability is improved, but the stability during operation deteriorates due to unbalanced accelerations
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into multiple independent mounts positioned at different locations on the pump. Each mount can independently secure the pump in a specific orientation, allowing the pump to be stably mounted in multiple different orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) while maintaining stability in each orientation through dedicated engagement features.
2Reliability
If a secure mounting system is implemented to handle unbalanced accelerations, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system merges multiple functions into a single integrated base structure. The base combines multiple mounts, retainer, seat, bracket, and locking mechanism into one unified component that provides both security against unbalanced accelerations and versatility for multiple orientations, rather than using separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The base and mounting components are designed with universal engagement features that can accommodate the pump in multiple orientations. The retainer, seat, and bracket combination provides a universal mounting solution that handles both security (through positive locking) and versatility (through multiple engagement positions) simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mounts with angularly spaced engagements are provided for versatile mounting, then the adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagements on the pump are positioned at asymmetric angular intervals (e.g., 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) rather than symmetric distribution. This asymmetric arrangement allows the pump to be mounted in multiple orientations while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the engagements can be formed as integral parts of the pump housing during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting engagements are pre-formed as integral features of the pump housing during the pump manufacturing process, rather than requiring separate assembly steps. The retainer, seat, and bracket are designed to engage with these pre-formed features, eliminating the need for post-manufacturing modification or complex assembly operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A pump assembly includes a pump and a base. The pump has mounts located at multiple positions on the pump to effect different configurations of the assembly. Each mount includes two engagements spaced apart on the pump. The base has a retainer constructed to slidably engage one engagement and a seat constructed to support the other engagement. The seat has a socket with two holes extending into the base. A bracket includes a jaw engageable with the second engagement and two locking pins extending from the bracket for sliding engagement with the socket. The locking pins retain the bracket and jaw from moving away from the base. A fastener engages the bracket with the base so the two locking pins cannot slidably disengage the socket.