Bathing Suction Fitting With Air Inlet for Entrapment Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bathing installations face safety issues due to strong vacuum creation when a person's body, hair, or clothing covers the suction fitting, and existing pumps may require additional suction sources to comply with new safety standards, which can be problematic in redesigning the plumbing system of small installations.
Innovation Solution
A suction fitting assembly with a pattern of holes or orifices that allows water entry while preventing larger objects from being sucked in, and an air tube that ingests air during blockages, reducing suction force and allowing easy removal of blockages by causing the pump to lose prime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a typical pump with conventional suction fittings is used, then the pump can create strong vacuum to draw water through the suction fitting, but this creates safety issues when a person's body, hair or clothing covers the suction fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The suction fitting is divided into multiple separate suction ports instead of a single large opening. This segmentation allows water to enter through multiple smaller openings, reducing the vacuum concentration at any single point and making it harder for bodies to be entrapped while maintaining overall water flow capability
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the suction fitting have different characteristics - the multiple suction ports are arranged to provide distributed water intake, while the internal geometry is designed to minimize vacuum concentration zones where bodies could become entrapped
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional suction sources are added to comply with safety standards, then body entrapment is prevented, but the plumbing system requires redesign which is problematic in small installations
Solution Approach 1:
The suction fitting is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously - it provides water intake for the pump while also incorporating safety features to prevent body entrapment. The multiple suction ports and internal geometry work together to both move water and prevent hazards, eliminating the need for separate safety devices or additional suction sources
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the suction fitting has a pattern of holes or orifices, then water can enter while larger objects like bodies cannot be sucked in, but the suction force may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The suction opening is segmented into multiple smaller holes or orifices arranged in a pattern. This segmentation allows water to enter through many small openings while preventing larger objects from being sucked in, as they cannot fit through the small openings. The distributed pattern maintains sufficient total flow area to compensate for the reduced size of individual openings
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 suction fitting assembly effectively reduces the suction force when blockages occur, allowing for easy removal of obstructions and maintaining pump operation without the need for additional suction sources, thus enhancing safety and compliance with regulatory standards without redesigning the plumbing system.
Implementation Method 1
The operation of the pump creates a vacuum, drawing water through the suction fitting to the pump
Implementation Method 2
an air tube that ingests air during blockages, reducing the suction force and allowing easy removal of blockages by causing the pump to lose prime
Data Source
AI summary
A suction fitting assembly for a bathing installation includes a cover with a pattern of orifices, a wall fitting, and an adapter structure. The wall fitting is configured for insertion through a hole in a wall of a bathing water receptacle, and may be secured in place with a locking nut. The cover is fastened to the wall fitting on the bather side of the wall. A suction adapter structure is connected to the wall fitting. A function of the suction adaptor structure is to admit air through an air tube from the atmosphere to the suction line during a blocked condition, rendering pump operation ineffective.