Bathtub Drain Valve With Pressure Feedback for Water-Level Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bathtub fill and drain systems are often asynchronous and specific to a particular design, requiring separate operation and installation, which can lead to inefficiencies and lack of user control over water level and temperature.
Innovation Solution
A drain system with a motor-controlled valve and pressure sensor that adjusts water flow based on sensed pressure and temperature, allowing coordinated filling and draining, adaptable to various bathtub designs, and compatible with overflow drains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If separate operation of fill and drain features is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate fill and drain operations into a coordinated system where the controller manages both functions through a unified control interface. The motor-controlled valve integrates water flow regulation with the drain system, allowing synchronized operation of filling and draining through a single user interface rather than separate manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor provides real-time feedback on water level conditions to the controller, which automatically adjusts valve operation to maintain desired water levels. This feedback mechanism enables automatic coordination between fill and drain operations, improving ease of operation while managing system complexity through intelligent control algorithms.
2Manufacturing precision
If specific installation requirements for particular bathtub designs are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drain system is designed with universal adaptability to accommodate various bathtub designs through adjustable mounting configurations and standardized connection interfaces. The motor-controlled valve and pressure sensor assembly can be installed in different positions and orientations to suit different bathtub geometries while maintaining precise water level control functionality across multiple applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable components that can be dynamically positioned during installation to match specific bathtub designs. The motorized valve mechanism allows flexible adjustment of water flow characteristics to optimize performance for different tub configurations, enabling both precision installation and broad adaptability.
3Device complexity
If manual operation of drain features is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to slower water drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical drain operation with an electric motor-controlled valve system. The motor provides automated control of water flow, enabling faster and more efficient drainage compared to manual operation. The motorized actuation allows precise control of valve opening to optimize drainage speed while maintaining manageable system complexity through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor-controlled valve can operate in periodic cycles, opening and closing at controlled intervals to optimize drainage efficiency. This periodic action enables rapid water removal while allowing the system to manage complexity through programmed control sequences rather than continuous high-speed operation.
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
Enables precise control of water level and temperature in bathtubs, accommodating different designs, and providing user-friendly, efficient, and adaptable filling and draining operations.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the valve and in fluid communication with the drain exit assembly... sensing, by a pressure sensor, a pressure associated with an inlet valve body
Implementation Method 2
the valve is operably coupled to a motor, wherein the motor is configured to change an operational state of the valve... changing, by a motor, an operational state of the valve responsive to the pressure sensor sensing the pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A drain system for controlling a water level in a bathtub includes a drain exit assembly coupled to an exit drain of the bathtub and configured to receive water exiting the bathtub, a valve fluidly coupled to the drain exit assembly and operably coupled to a motor, and a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the valve and in fluid communication with the drain exit assembly. The motor is configured to change the operational state of the valve based on a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor to control a water level within the bathtub.