Pump Noise Attenuator With Resonant Cavities and Resilient Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump systems generate significant noise during operation, particularly in applications like vehicular seating systems, due to motor and pumping noise, which can be amplified by air bladders.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly configuration featuring a motor mount and seal design with resilient materials, along with resonant cavities and tortuous airflow paths to attenuate noise, including a first volume for high-frequency vibrations and a second volume for low-frequency vibrations, utilizing flexible seals and mounts to dampen vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional pump systems are used, then pumping function is achieved, but significant noise is generated during operation
Solution Approach 1:
A motor mount is introduced as an intermediary component between the motor and the pump body. The motor mount includes a resilient element that mediates the connection, absorbing vibrations and reducing noise transmission while maintaining the mechanical coupling needed for operation. This intermediary structure allows the pump to function normally while significantly reducing the harmful noise and vibration effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor mount changes the mechanical parameters of the system by introducing compliance and damping characteristics. The resilient element modifies the stiffness and damping parameters of the motor-pump connection, transforming the rigid connection into a compliant one that filters out high-frequency vibrations and reduces noise transmission to the pump body and surrounding structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If air bladders are used in pneumatic systems, then pneumatic function is achieved, but noise is amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful noise amplification effect is extracted and isolated from the main pneumatic system. By placing the resilient motor mount at the noise source (motor connection), the vibration and noise generation are decoupled from the air bladder system. This allows the air bladder to continue its pneumatic function while the noise amplification pathway is interrupted and dampened at its origin.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rigid motor mounting is used, then motor support is achieved, but vibration and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motor mount employs a composite structure combining rigid and resilient elements. The mount includes a resilient element (such as rubber or elastomer) integrated with rigid mounting surfaces, creating a composite structure that provides both mechanical support strength and vibration damping. This composite design maintains the necessary motor support strength while simultaneously reducing vibration and noise transmission.
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 reduces pump noise by minimizing vibration and airflow noise amplification, providing quieter operation without the need for additional noise-cancelling materials, thus enhancing user experience in applications like vehicle seats and massage chairs.
Implementation Method 1
a motor mount at least partially supporting the motor within the casing... The motor mount includes an outer axial wall, an inner axial wall, a radial wall extending between the outer axial wall and the inner axial wall
Implementation Method 2
resilient materials, along with resonant cavities and tortuous airflow paths to attenuate noise
Implementation Method 3
resonant cavities and tortuous airflow paths to attenuate noise, including a first volume for high-frequency vibrations and a second volume for low-frequency vibrations
Implementation Method 4
tortuous airflow paths to attenuate noise
Implementation Method 5
flexible seals and mounts to dampen vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A pump assembly includes a pump with a pump body having a discharge passage, a motor operable to drive the pump to discharge compressed air through the discharge passage, a casing at least partially surrounding the pump and the motor, and a motor mount at least partially supporting the motor within the casing, the motor mount including an outer axial wall, an inner axial wall, a radial wall extending between the outer axial wall and the inner axial wall, a first plurality of projections extending from the radial wall toward the motor, and a second plurality of projections extending from the radial wall away from the motor.