Self-Priming Shower Drain Pump with Venturi Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pumps are unsuitable for evacuating washing water from showers with lowered or walk-in showers, as they require high-power motors due to sinuous paths and turbulence, making them bulky, noisy, and inefficient for this specific application.
Innovation Solution
A self-priming pump with a venturi unit and electric motor arranged in a rectilinear, horizontal configuration, utilizing a rotor-stator assembly in an oil bath for reduced noise and power consumption, and a venturi block with an eccentric upper part to efficiently suck and pump water without direct communication between the inlet and venturi passage, allowing for low-power operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a conventional centrifugal pump is used to evacuate washing water from a shower with lowered tray or walk-in shower, then the pump can be placed above the shower tray level, but the pump requires high-power motors due to sinuous paths and turbulence, making it bulky and noisy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional pump configuration by placing the pump below the shower tray level instead of above it. This allows the use of a low-power motor (less than 500W) while effectively evacuating washing water, eliminating the need for high-power motors that create noise and bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a venturi unit with a suction channel that creates a suction effect to draw washing water into the pump. This hydraulic approach allows the pump to efficiently evacuate water with minimal motor power, reducing noise and size compared to conventional pumps.
2Productivity
If a conventional pump with sinuous paths is used, then the pump can handle water evacuation, but it creates turbulence and pressure drop requiring high-power motors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the water evacuation path into distinct functional zones: a venturi unit with a streamlined passage for efficient water intake, a suction channel for drawing water into the pump, and a discharge channel for efficient water ejection. This segmentation eliminates sinuous paths and reduces turbulence and pressure drop.
Solution Approach 2:
The venturi unit features a streamlined, curved passage design that minimizes turbulence and pressure drop. The smooth curvature of the water flow path allows efficient water evacuation with minimal energy loss, enabling the use of low-power motors.
3Power
If the venturi passage is aligned with the motor axis in a rectilinear configuration, then pressure drop is minimized and low-power operation is achieved, but the device requires precise alignment and compact design
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the venturi unit, suction channel, pump, and discharge channel into a single integrated assembly. This unified design simplifies alignment requirements while maintaining the rectilinear configuration that minimizes pressure drop and enables low-power operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The venturi unit features an asymmetric design with the suction channel positioned to create optimal flow patterns. This asymmetric configuration, combined with the rectilinear alignment, achieves efficient water evacuation with minimal pressure drop while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
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 provides efficient water evacuation with low noise and power consumption, suitable for domestic use, as it aligns the venturi passage with the motor axis, minimizing pressure drop and turbulence, thus enabling effective pumping of wastewater with reduced motor size and noise.
Implementation Method 1
The alignment of the axis around which the venturi passage is centered with the axis of the motor makes it possible to have a rectilinear, horizontal arrangement of the venturi block-motor assembly. The suction effect which is created at the outlet of the venturi passage is therefore particularly effective in sucking up the evacuation water arriving via the inlet of the venturi unit.
Implementation Method 2
The electric motor driving the pump comprises a rotor-stator assembly which is included in an oil bath contained in a sealed body, so as to homogenize the temperature distributions inside the sealed body. The operating noise of the motor is reduced.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A sanitary drainage device (1), in particular for the drainage of wash water from a shower (3-5), includes a self-priming pump driven by an electric motor. The entire electric motor and self-priming pump assembly is positioned substantially above the level of the shower tray floor.