Removable Powered Pump Units for Manual Vacuum Cup Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery-powered vacuum cups are bulkier and awkward to handle, leading many auto glass technicians to prefer manually operated vacuum cups despite their inconvenience, and there is a need to convert existing manually operated vacuum cups to powered devices without changing their configuration.
Innovation Solution
A powered pump unit that can be removably inserted into the pump cylinder of a manually operated vacuum cup, comprising a pump unit housing, power source receiver, vacuum pump, and sealing arrangement, converting the device to a powered vacuum cup by using a power source to drive the vacuum pump and forming a seal within the pump cylinder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a battery-powered vacuum cup is used to maintain suction continuously, then the ability to maintain suction is improved, but the device becomes bulkier and awkward to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The powered pump unit is nested within the existing pump cylinder of the manually operated vacuum cup. The pump unit housing is received in the pump cylinder, and the piston is removed to expose the pump cylinder, allowing the powered components to occupy the same space without increasing external dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum cup device is divided into separable components: a removable powered pump unit and a manual pump cylinder. The pump unit housing can be removed from the pump cylinder, allowing users to switch between powered and manual operation modes by simply detaching the powered unit.
2Extent of automation
If a powered pump unit is inserted into the pump cylinder, then the device can be converted to powered operation, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump cylinder is designed to accommodate both manual operation and powered operation. The same pump cylinder can receive either a manual piston or a powered pump unit, making the device versatile and allowing users to switch between operation modes without requiring different cylinder designs.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing arrangement is introduced as an intermediary component between the powered pump unit and the pump cylinder. The sealing arrangement forms a seal with the pump cylinder when the pump unit housing is in the operating position, isolating the first portion of the pump cylinder from the remainder and enabling vacuum generation without compromising the existing cylinder structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the piston is removed to expose the pump cylinder for powered pump insertion, then the conversion to powered operation is enabled, but the device configuration changes
Solution Approach 1:
The device configuration is made dynamic rather than fixed. The pump cylinder can be in different states: with a manual piston inserted for manual operation, or with the powered pump unit inserted for powered operation. The removable piston and pump unit allow the configuration to change based on operational needs while maintaining the same basic device 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
Enables conversion of manually operated vacuum cups to powered devices without altering their configuration, allowing users to choose between powered and manual operation, reducing tooling costs and user adaptation, and maintaining familiarity with the device.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing arrangement is adapted to form a seal with the pump cylinder when the pump unit housing is in the operating position. This seal serves to isolate the first portion of the pump cylinder from a remainder of the pump cylinder.
Implementation Method 2
The pump drive is operatively connected to drive the vacuum pump to produce a vacuum at the vacuum port in response to power applied through a power source
Data Source
AI summary
A powered pump unit is adapted to operate with a vacuum cup device having a pump cylinder for a manually operated vacuum pump. The powered pump unit includes a pump unit housing, a power source receiver, a vacuum pump, a pump drive, and a sealing arrangement. The pump unit housing is adapted to be received in the pump cylinder in an operating position after the piston is removed from the pump cylinder. The power source receiver, vacuum pump, and pump drive are each mounted on the pump unit housing and at least one of them is at least partially located in the pump cylinder when the pump unit housing is in the operating position. The pump drive is operatively connected to drive the vacuum pump to produce a vacuum that is applied to the vacuum cup of the vacuum cup device.