Ball Tap Valve Without Strainer for Rainwater Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ball taps used in rainwater storage systems frequently clog due to large foreign matter like leaves, leading to operational failures as the built-in strainers become clogged, especially when used with unfiltered rainwater.
Innovation Solution
A ball tap design without a built-in strainer, featuring a valving element with a contact projection and flange part that guides water flow to drainage ports, where the flange part is shaped to prevent foreign matter from adhering and allows air to mix with the water flow, enhancing the separation of foreign matter and preventing it from entering the valve seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a built-in strainer is used to prevent foreign matter from entering the valve seat, then the valve operation reliability is improved, but the strainer becomes clogged by large foreign matter such as leaves in rainwater, causing operational failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the strainer component from the valve system entirely. Instead of filtering foreign matter before it reaches the valve, the design allows foreign matter to pass through the valve opening and be discharged with the water flow, eliminating the clogging problem while maintaining valve operation reliability through the float-valve mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of foreign matter (which would clog a strainer) into a beneficial discharge mechanism. Foreign matter such as leaves is allowed to enter the valve chamber and is then expelled together with the water flow during valve operation, transforming the clogging problem into a self-cleaning feature
2Reliability
If the strainer is frequently cleaned to prevent clogging, then the operational failure is prevented, but the maintenance time and operational interruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system operates without requiring external maintenance for strainer cleaning. The design inherently prevents the maintenance issue by eliminating the strainer component that would require cleaning, allowing continuous operation without time loss for maintenance activities
3Extent of automation
If a float mechanism is used to control water level, then automatic water level control is achieved, but the float may be affected by large foreign matter such as leaves, causing control failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention positions the float mechanism in a vertical dimension above the valve chamber, separated from the horizontal flow path where foreign matter accumulates. The float controls the valve stem vertically, while foreign matter is discharged horizontally through the valve opening, preventing interference between the float mechanism and foreign matter
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 design ensures continuous operation by effectively discharging large foreign matter and preventing clogging, allowing the ball tap to function excellently with both clean and recycled wastewater without strainer maintenance, and maintaining water level control in rainwater storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
the left and right lower limit portions of the upper surface of the flange part are set so as to be positioned at the same heights as those of the lower end edges of drainage ports formed to expand on the left and right of the secondary side flow passage
Implementation Method 2
a ventilation passage communicating with the outside air is provided around the secondary side opening of the valve orifice so as to allow air to mix in a water flow that passes through the valve orifice
Implementation Method 3
the valving element includes a valve part provided with a contact projection part that can come into close contact with the valve seat when the valving element is closed
Implementation Method 4
a water level inside a water receiving tank is controlled by the balance between the buoyancy of the float and the water supply pressure
Data Source
AI summary
In a ball tap 1, a valving element 3 includes a valve part 10 provided with a contact projection part 9 that can come into close contact with a valve seat 7 when the valving element 3 is closed, and a flange part 11 having a circular ring shape in plan view which continues downward from the rim of the valve part 10 and is slidable like a piston in the secondary side flow passage 5, and the left and right half circumferences of the upper surface of the flange part 11 have bilaterally symmetrical shapes curved downward in arch shapes, and the left and right lower limit portions of the upper surface of the flange part are set so as to be positioned at the same heights as those of the lower end edges of drainage ports 8.