Water Pump Base Rotation for Clean and Dirty Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water pumps face challenges in efficiently handling both clean and dirty water due to the limitations of grid-like suction apertures, which can become clogged by foreign elements, and known solutions for adjusting the pump base are expensive, cumbersome, and unergonomic.
Innovation Solution
A water pump design featuring a pump body and base that can be rotated to stable positions allowing for clean and dirty water operations, utilizing positioning ribs and columns, protrusions and indents, and limiting protrusions and holes for ergonomic and tool-less switching between configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a grid-like suction aperture is used, then clean water can ingress into the water inlet, but dirty water containing foreign elements may clog the aperture over time
Solution Approach 1:
The pump base is made movable relative to the pump body through a rotational coupling mechanism with positioning ribs and columns. This allows the pump base to be dynamically adjusted between different positions (tucked away for clean water, extended for dirty water) to adapt to different operating conditions and prevent clogging.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pump base is moved away from the pump body to pump dirty water, then dirty water can seep into the water inlet more effectively, but known solutions are expensive, cumbersome, and unergonomic
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-contained within the pump structure, using the pump body's own rotational capability to move the pump base. The positioning ribs and columns provide automatic positioning without requiring external tools or complex adjustment procedures, making the system self-sufficient and easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational coupling mechanism serves multiple functions: it allows the pump base to be positioned for different water conditions (clean or dirty), provides stable support for the pump body, and enables easy adjustment without external tools. This multi-functionality reduces complexity and cost compared to separate adjustment mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pump base is moved away from the pump body, then more space is available for dirty water to seep in, but the pump base may become disengaged or unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning ribs on the pump body and corresponding positioning columns on the pump base act as intermediary elements that mediate the relationship between the two components. These features provide positive mechanical engagement that maintains stability while allowing the base to be positioned away from the body for dirty water operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A water pump (100) comprises a pump body (200) and a pump base (300) rotationally coupled to the pump body (200). The pump base (300) can be moved away and towards the pump body (200). The pump body (200) and the pump base (300) exhibit cooperating structures that allow the pump base (300) to stably rest in at least two relative positions when rotating the pump body (200) relative to the pump base (300). The water pump (100) is characterized in that either the pump body (200) has at least one positioning rib (222) and the pump base (300) has at least one cooperating positioning column (306) or vice versa; wherein rotation of the pump body (200) relative to the pump base (300) makes the at least one positioning rib (222) either rest on the positioning column (306) or next to the positioning column (306), and thereby allow for a different relative position of the pump body (200) and the pump base (300) respectively.