Animal Toilet Variable Opening Partition for Urine Flow, Grain Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional animal toilets face challenges in efficiently moving urine from an upper space to a lower space due to the need to restrict the size of through holes to prevent grains from passing through, which is constrained by varying grain particle diameters.
Innovation Solution
An animal toilet with a partition portion featuring a through hole with a variable opening area, adjustable based on grain particle diameter, allowing urine to smoothly flow from the upper to the lower space without grains passing through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the opening area of the through hole is enlarged to smoothly move urine from the upper space to the lower space, then urine flow is improved, but grains may pass through the through hole
Solution Approach 1:
The partition portion is designed with a movable structure that allows the opening area of the through hole to be dynamically adjusted. The partition can be positioned to open or close the through hole, enabling the system to adapt between urine flow mode (opening) and grain containment mode (closing), thus resolving the contradiction between urine flow efficiency and grain containment
Solution Approach 2:
The opening area of the through hole is made variable rather than fixed. By changing the opening area parameter from a fixed small value to an adjustable parameter, the system can optimize for urine flow when needed and prevent grain passage when the opening is closed, resolving the trade-off between productivity and reliability
2Reliability
If the through hole size is restricted to prevent grains from passing through, then grain containment is improved, but urine flow becomes blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The movable partition portion allows the through hole opening area to be dynamically changed from a restricted small size (for grain containment) to a larger size (for urine flow). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to prioritize grain containment when needed and urine flow efficiency when the partition is opened
Solution Approach 2:
The partition portion is segmented into movable parts that can independently adjust the opening area. This segmentation allows selective control over the through hole opening, enabling the system to optimize for either grain containment or urine flow depending on the operational requirement
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 enables efficient urine transfer from the upper to the lower space, accommodating various grain sizes, reducing grain entrapment, and minimizing odor generation by using water-repellent grains and a detachable partition portion.
Implementation Method 1
using water-repellent grains
Data Source
AI summary
An animal toilet includes a body portion, and a partition portion. The body portion has a bottom face part and a side face part, and is in a box shape. The partition portion has a through hole allowing urine to pass therethrough, and divides the inside of the body portion vertically. The opening area of the through hole is variable.