Adjustable Drain for Live Well Waste Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional live well drain systems are ineffective in removing denser fish and organic waste from the bottom portion of the tank, leading to a toxic environment and potential health issues for the fish and bait due to the overflow drain design that only removes water from the top portion.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable drain system with a seal and circumferentially disposed drain holes that allow water to flow when open, enabling adjustable positioning to allow contents to pass through, effectively removing waste from the bottom portion without disrupting the water level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an overflow drain is used to remove water from the top portion of the live well, then water level control is achieved, but denser waste accumulates in the bottom portion
Solution Approach 1:
The drain system is segmented into multiple drainage paths: an upper overflow drain for water level control and a lower adjustable drain for waste removal. This segmentation allows different portions of the tank to be drained through different mechanisms, enabling simultaneous water level management and waste evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of only draining from the top (conventional approach), the invention adds a bottom drain that operates in reverse - draining from the lowest point of the tank. This inverted drainage approach allows denser waste to be removed by gravity flow from the bottom upward, complementing the top-down drainage of the overflow system.
2Productivity
If a bottom drain is added to remove waste, then waste removal efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom drain incorporates an adjustable body that can rotate or move between positions to dynamically control the drainage opening. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the user to open or close the drain as needed, providing flexibility in waste removal operations without requiring a permanently open complex valve system.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable body utilizes gravity and simple mechanical movement to control the drain opening. The design leverages the natural weight of the body and basic friction principles to maintain closed or open positions without requiring complex actuators, motors, or sophisticated control mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If the drain is opened to remove waste, then waste evacuation improves, but water level stability is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is segmented between two independent systems: the overflow drain that maintains water level through passive top-down drainage, and the adjustable bottom drain that removes waste through controlled bottom-up flow. This segmentation allows waste evacuation through the bottom drain without significantly impacting the water level control function of the overflow system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom drain is designed with localized drainage holes and an adjustable body that controls flow at a specific location. By concentrating the waste removal function at the bottom portion of the tank rather than opening a large general drainage system, the water level in the upper portions remains relatively stable while waste is evacuated from the bottom.
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 system ensures a healthier environment by removing denser waste from the bottom of the live well, preventing the buildup of toxic substances and maintaining water quality by allowing for controlled drainage without affecting the water level.
Implementation Method 1
a seal that couples with the body when the drain is in the closed position where water is not being drained, and that is spaced from the body when the drain is in the open position where water is being drained
Implementation Method 2
The drain can also include holes that allow water to flow into the drain when the drain is in the open position
Implementation Method 3
because fish and organic waste is typically denser than water, the water drained through the overflow hole at the top of the live well tank only removes a small portion of the waste and leaves the remaining waste in the bottom portion of the live well
Data Source
AI summary
A drain system having a body adjustably coupled to a drain. The body can be rotated along its threads and engage a seal in the drain to substantially prevent water from flowing out of the drain. When rotated the opposite direction, the body can be spaced from the seal and allow water to flow out of the drain. The drain can also include holes that allow water to flow into the drain when the body is rotated so as to be spaced from the seal.