Whirlpool Spa Motor Pump Mounting Bolt System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing whirlpool spa motor pumps are difficult to disassemble for repair, prone to electrical shock due to water leakage, and have unstable mounting due to vibration, requiring disassembly of the bathtub for maintenance and lacking a drainage mechanism for leaked water.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a lower housing with an upper and lower flange, an impeller, slider rails, and a mounting bolt system that allows easy assembly and disassembly from the front, incorporates drain holes to prevent electrical shock, and slider feet for stable fixation, minimizing the size of the mounting hole and ensuring secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pump is mounted from the rear surface of the bathtub with screw-coupling, then the pump can be securely fixed, but the pump cannot be disassembled for repair without disassembling the bathtub

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure fixation of pumpVSAvoiddisassembly for repair

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure is divided into separate components: a mounting plate attached to the bathtub front surface and a mounting bolt that can be independently inserted and rotated. This segmentation allows the pump to be securely fixed while enabling easy disassembly by simply removing the mounting bolt without needing to disassemble the bathtub itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A mounting plate serves as an intermediary component between the bathtub and the pump. The mounting plate is attached to the front surface of the bathtub, and the mounting bolt passes through this plate to secure the pump. This intermediary structure provides secure fixation while allowing the pump to be easily removed by detaching the mounting plate or unscrewing the bolt.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If no drainage structure is provided in the pump, then the structure remains simple, but water leakage from mechanical seal causes electrical shock hazard

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of pump structureVSAvoidelectrical shock from water leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drain hole, which may seem like an additional complexity, actually prevents the harmful effect of electrical shock by providing a controlled path for water leakage. The drain hole converts the potential hazard of leaked water into a safe drainage path, allowing water to escape harmlessly without creating electrical shock risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If the coupling cap is turned to be fixed, then the pump can be mounted, but the coupling state is unstable and likely to loosen due to vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting operationVSAvoidstable coupling state

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bolt is designed with a dynamic locking mechanism that engages with the mounting plate. The bolt can be rotated to tighten and secure the pump, and its position can be adjusted to accommodate vibration. This dynamic design allows the mounting bolt to maintain stable coupling under vibrational conditions while remaining easy to operate during initial mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 easy installation and removal of the pump without disassembling the bathtub, prevents electrical shock through water drainage, and provides stable fixation to the bathtub, reducing manufacturing costs and improving user safety.

Implementation Method 1

a mounting bolt 24 provided to the upper and lower flanges 16a, 16b so as to be positioned at one side of the slider rail 23, a slider 25 fitted with the mounting bolt 24, and a slider holder 26 inserted into the slider 25 so as to be screw-coupled with the mounting bolt 24

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

an impeller 19 for rotating by a motor 17, which is provided to the lower housing 16, so as to generate suction force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

the pump may induce electrical shock... incorporates drain holes to prevent electrical shock

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity drainage: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10245210B2Whirlpool spa motor pump of whirlpool massage bathtub

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 J&A USA

AI summary

The present invention relates to a whirlpool bathtub, in which the mounting structure of a whirlpool spa motor pump is improved such that the attachment and detachment of the whirlpool spa motor pump can be conveniently carried out inside the bathtub. To this end, the present invention includes a lower housing having an upper flange and a lower flange, an impeller for rotating by a motor, which is provided to the lower housing, so as to generate suction force, an upper housing coupled to an upper portion of the lower housing by a coupling means and having a suction holes and a discharge holes, two or more slider rails vertically provided on the outside of the lower housing, a mounting bolt provided to the upper and lower flanges, so as to be positioned at one side of the slider rail, a slider fitted with the mounting bolt, and a slider holder inserted into the slider so as to be screw-coupled with the mounting bolt.