Adjustable Gutter Drain Hopper Socket Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming pool gutters with integrally formed PVC drains have a mismatch between the cover plate and the gutter surface, leading to inefficiencies in water flow and requiring costly and invasive methods for height adjustments during resurfacing, which can result in leaks and collateral damage.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable gutter drain with a hopper and drain tube system, where the hopper's angle and position can be adjusted to match the gutter's pitch, using a joint system with a convex bottom and socket configuration, allowing for flush installation without excavation, and utilizing PVC materials for durability and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional integrally formed PVC drains are used, then the drain structure is simple and cost-effective, but the cover plate does not match the gutter surface pitch, causing poor water flow and requiring excavation for height adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The drain is divided into separate components: a hopper with adjustable angle mechanism, a cover plate, and a drain tube. This segmentation allows the hopper angle to be independently adjusted to match the gutter pitch while maintaining the simplicity of the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper is designed with an adjustable angle mechanism that allows it to be positioned at different angles relative to the drain tube. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the hopper to match various gutter pitches, improving water flow efficiency without requiring excavation.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional drains are used, then installation is straightforward, but resurfacing requires excavation and complex repair procedures that risk leaks and collateral damage
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable angle mechanism includes features that allow for easy repositioning and adjustment of the hopper angle during resurfacing operations. This eliminates the need for excavation and complex repair procedures, reducing the risk of leaks and collateral damage while maintaining installation simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hopper angle is fixed in conventional drains, then manufacturing is simpler, but the drain cannot adapt to different gutter pitches, requiring invasive modification methods
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is designed with an adjustable angle mechanism that maintains relative construction simplicity while enabling adaptation to different gutter pitches. The mechanism allows the hopper to be positioned at various angles and secured, providing versatility without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A gutter drain includes a hopper with a convex bottom adjustably mated to a socket in the top of a drain tube. The socket is sized and shaped as a negative impression of the convex bottom, except that the depth of the socket is less than the depth of the convex bottom. A downtube from the drain tube is sized to fit into and mate with a vertical drain pipe. The hopper may be positioned and angled flush with a pitched surface of a gutter.