Detachable Pump Electronics Housing With Plug-Skirt Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps with plug-in connections face challenges due to manufacturing tolerances, making it difficult to align plug parts accurately and potentially causing damage or faulty connections, especially when replacing defective pump electronics.
Innovation Solution
A plug-in connection design featuring a plug skirt surrounding the first plug part, providing mechanical alignment and compensation for manufacturing tolerances, allowing easy assembly by non-specialist staff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a plug-in connection is used to allow separate replacement of electronics, then ease of repair is improved, but manufacturing tolerances cause misalignment and connection difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The plug skirt is pre-formed on the housing base to create a guiding structure before the plug parts are assembled. This preliminary structural feature automatically aligns the plug parts during insertion, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and ensuring proper connection without requiring high precision in the plug part positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug skirt acts as an intermediary element between the housing base and the plug parts. It provides a mechanical guide and alignment reference that mediates the connection process, allowing the plug parts to be properly positioned even when there are variations in manufacturing tolerances of the plug parts themselves.
2Ease of operation
If plug parts are made accessible from outside through openings, then ease of operation is improved, but alignment accuracy deteriorates due to tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The plug skirt provides self-aligning functionality during the connection process. As the housing parts are brought together, the plug skirt automatically guides the plug parts into correct alignment through its geometric relationship with the opening and the plug part, eliminating the need for external alignment tools or manual adjustment.
3Manufacturing precision
If the plug skirt projects beyond the plug part to provide guidance, then alignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug skirt is merged with the housing base as an integrated structural feature rather than a separate component. This combining of functions allows the alignment guidance to be provided through the existing housing structure, avoiding additional parts and minimizing the increase in device complexity while still achieving the alignment function.
Data Source
AI summary
A centrifugal pump includes a motor housing, a drive motor, and an electronics housing. The drive motor is mounted inside the motor housing. The electronics housing is fitted on the motor housing. The electrical connection between the drive motor and the electronics is established via a plug-in connection that includes a first plug in part. At least the first plug part is surrounded at least in sections by a plug skirt which is formed by a wall that encircles the first plug part and projects from a base for the housing. The wall projects beyond the first plug part and thereby forms a guide aid for a complementary second plug part when both housings are joined together.