Bathtub Overflow Fitting with Integrated Drinking Water Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bathtub overflow fittings do not adequately protect drinking water quality from contamination by backflow, particularly failing to meet DIN EN 1717 standards, especially in categories 3 and 5, due to the lack of effective prevention of negative pressure-induced backflow of contaminated water.
Innovation Solution
The design features an overflow body with a deflection channel positioned above the bathtub edge, separating the inlet and overflow channels, and includes a ventilation opening above the bathtub edge to prevent backflow, eliminating the need for a separate pipe interrupter and ensuring safe drinking water protection without moving parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate pipe interrupter is installed to protect drinking water from backflow, then drinking water protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pipe interrupter function directly into the overflow fitting structure. The overflow fitting integrates the aerator and ventilation opening that prevent backflow, eliminating the need for a separate pipe interrupter component while maintaining drinking water protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The overflow fitting is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as the overflow structure, incorporates the pipe interrupter function through integrated aeration, provides ventilation to prevent negative pressure, and maintains drinking water protection. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If the inlet channel is positioned below the overflow opening, then water flow separation is improved, but the risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aerator as an intermediary element in the inlet channel. The aerator mixes air with the incoming water flow, creating aeration that prevents direct contact between the inlet water and potential contaminants in the overflow channel, while still allowing the inlet channel to be positioned below the overflow opening for proper water flow separation.
3Device complexity
If the overflow fitting is designed with integrated inlet and overflow channels, then device complexity is reduced, but drinking water protection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the internal flow paths within the integrated overflow fitting. The inlet channel and overflow channel are separated into distinct flow paths, with the inlet channel leading to the aerator and the overflow channel providing a separate drainage path. This segmentation maintains drinking water protection while keeping the overall device as a single integrated unit.
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
This configuration effectively prevents fresh water from flowing into the drain, maintaining drinking water quality by ensuring an undisturbed water jet pattern and providing enhanced hygiene and aesthetic features, such as a detachable cover for easy cleaning and thermal insulation.
Implementation Method 1
By automatically aerating, they prevent the creation of negative pressure in the drinking water installation and thus prevent pool water from flowing back
Implementation Method 2
By automatically aerating, they prevent the creation of negative pressure in the drinking water installation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an inlet and overflow fitting for bathtubs with an overflow body (2) that can be fixed to a through-opening in a bathtub wall, which has a water connection and an overflow channel (5) opening at an overflow opening (12), an actuating element (8) for opening and closing a drain valve of the bathtub (7), wherein the overflow body (2) has a bearing section (2.1) for receiving a drive shaft or drive rod that can be actuated by the actuating element (8) and a fastening element (9) that can be fixed to the bearing section (2.1) is arranged between the actuating element (8) and the overflow body (2), and a water transfer channel (10) extending from the overflow body (2) into the bathtub (7).In order for such an inlet and overflow fitting (1) to offer reliable drinking water protection with a simple design, so that the requirements of the standard DIN EN 1717 are met at least up to category 4, the invention proposes that the water transfer channel (10) be provided with a deflection channel (10.4) running above the bathtub rim (7.1), which defines a horizontal flow section that lies above the bathtub rim (7.1) when the inlet and overflow fitting (1) is installed, wherein the deflection channel (10.4) is provided with at least one inlet channel (10.5) which opens below the overflow opening (12), so that the inlet and overflow are separated from each other, and wherein the inlet channel (10.5) has a ventilation opening (10.7) arranged above the bathtub rim (7.1).