Adjustable Toilet Flapper Valve Buoyancy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gravity-operated flush toilets face challenges in efficiently controlling the buoyancy of flapper valves, which affects the volume of water used during flushing and leads to water conservancy issues.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a toilet flapper valve assembly with a cone and an adjustment dial that allows for the regulation of flow through first and second ports, enabling adjustable buoyancy by varying the exposure of these ports to fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the flapper valve buoyancy is controlled by adjusting the size of an aperture in the ballast, then the buoyancy can be controlled, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast is divided into two separate components: a fixed cone-shaped ballast body and a rotatable adjustment dial. The adjustment dial contains multiple apertures arranged in circles, allowing selective alignment with the ballast body's single aperture. This segmentation enables buoyancy adjustment without complex internal structures within the ballast itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment dial is made rotatable relative to the ballast body, transforming a static aperture structure into a dynamic one. The dial can be rotated to different angular positions to align different apertures with the ballast body's aperture, providing adjustable buoyancy control through simple rotation rather than complex mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flapper valve buoyancy is controlled by adjusting the rate of water flow back into the ballast, then the buoyancy can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control function is segmented between two components: the ballast body with its single aperture and the adjustment dial with multiple apertures. By rotating the dial, different apertures are aligned with the ballast body's aperture, controlling water flow rate into the ballast and thereby adjusting buoyancy without complex internal flow control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment dial serves multiple functions: it controls water flow into the ballast, controls air flow out of the ballast, and provides buoyancy adjustment. The same rotatable component handles both fluid inflow and gas outflow control, reducing overall device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional flapper valves use a fixed ballast structure, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the water conservancy performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The ballast structure is transformed from fixed to adjustable through the rotatable adjustment dial. This dynamic adjustment allows optimization of water consumption during flushing by selecting appropriate aperture alignments, improving water conservancy performance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of basic rotational mechanics.
Solution Approach 2:
The buoyancy parameter of the flapper valve is made adjustable by changing the effective aperture size through rotation of the adjustment dial. This parameter change enables optimization of water flow and air escape rates, improving water conservancy performance without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
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
This design allows for precise adjustment of buoyancy, optimizing the amount of water used during each flush, thereby enhancing water conservation and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The buoyancy of a flapper valve is an important function because it determines how much or how little water is emptied from the tank upon flushing
Implementation Method 2
The buoyancy of the flapper valve is determined by how quickly air is allowed to escape from the ballast
Implementation Method 3
The first flow adjustment region includes a first flow region that that extends angularly about the axis of rotation. The first flow region has a first portion that increases in dimension when moving angularly in a first direction about the axis of rotation to vary a degree of exposure of the first port to fluid communication with the exterior of the cone
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet flapper valve assembly is provided. The flapper valve assembly has a flapper, cone and an adjustment dial. The adjustment dial controls the flow of water into and flow of air out of the cone. Adjustment of the adjustment dial relative to the cone simultaneously adjusts the flow of water into and air out of the cone.