Anti-backflow Plumbing Fitting with Air Gaps and Vanes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plumbing systems face challenges in preventing backflow of contaminated wastewater from drains to liquid discharge devices, which can cause damage and pose health risks.
Innovation Solution
A plumbing fitting with multiple air gaps and structural features that direct wastewater flow to a common outlet while preventing backflow, featuring an annular body with radially extending side wall air gaps, cup portions, and vanes to ensure contaminated liquid does not pass back to the discharge devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional plumbing fittings are used to connect liquid discharge devices to drains, then liquid flow is conducted efficiently, but backflow of contaminated wastewater can occur causing device damage and health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is segmented into multiple functional zones including an air gap chamber, flow direction vanes, and filtered drainage pathways. The air gap chamber is divided into sections with different functions (break chamber, filter chamber, drainage chamber) to systematically address backflow prevention through staged liquid separation and filtration
Solution Approach 2:
An air gap chamber serves as an intermediary barrier between the liquid discharge device and the drain system. This air gap acts as a physical mediator that prevents direct contact between discharged liquid and the drainage system, blocking backflow of contaminated water while allowing proper ventilation and pressure equalization
2Reliability
If backflow prevention mechanisms are added to plumbing fittings, then device protection is improved, but the complexity of the fitting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting integrates multiple functions into a single device: flow direction control through vanes, liquid separation in the air gap chamber, filtration through screens, and drainage. This multi-functional design provides comprehensive backflow prevention and device protection without requiring multiple separate components, thereby managing complexity while enhancing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting employs a nested structure where the air gap chamber is positioned within the fitting body, and filtration screens are nested within the air gap chamber. The vanes are integrated into the chamber walls, creating a compact nested arrangement that provides comprehensive protection functions within a unified structure
3Reliability
If air gaps are introduced in the liquid path through the fitting, then backflow is prevented, but the flow path complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap chamber creates a pressure equalization zone that balances pressures between the liquid discharge device and drain system. By establishing equipotential conditions in the air gap, the design prevents backflow without requiring complex active control mechanisms, allowing flow to proceed naturally when conditions are appropriate
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-backflow plumbing fitting (10) includes an annular body (12) which bounds an interior area (20). The body includes a body outlet (28) and a plurality of cup portions (40) each of which includes an inlet opening (46). An annular body side wall (22) includes at least one radially extending side wall air gap (36). Each cup portion further includes a pair of angularly disposed cup air gaps (54). An inlet end wall (30) includes a plurality of body flow inlets (52) which are each associated with a respective cup portion. Each body flow inlet underlies a respective cup portion and is elongated in aligned relation with each cup air gap, to enable liquid to flow from the respective inlet opening of a cup portion into the interior area. The inlet end wall is sloped and includes a plurality of drain holes (66, 68) therein. A plurality of vanes (60) extend in the interior area intermediate of immediately adjacent body flow inlets.