Water Purification Cartridge Buffer for Water Hammer Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Water purifiers experience breakage of purification materials due to water hammer or high water pressure during switching from raw water to purified water discharge, and adhesion issues between the water purifier and cartridge occur due to long-term contact, making cartridge replacement difficult.
Innovation Solution
A water-purification cartridge design with a buffer portion upstream of the flow path switching valve, featuring flat surfaces perpendicular to the attachment direction, which absorbs water hammer and prevents adhesion by shifting the cartridge during switching, and a downstream cap with through holes and O-rings to prevent foreign substances from reaching the purification material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flow path switching valve is used to switch between raw water discharge and purified water discharge, then water purification function is improved, but water hammer or high water pressure occurs during switching which may lead to breakage of the purification material
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the flow path switching valve and the purification material. This buffer portion absorbs the water hammer and high water pressure generated during switching, preventing direct transmission of shock waves to the purification material and thus avoiding breakage while maintaining the purification function.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer portion is positioned upstream of the flow path switching valve and downstream of the purification material, creating a cushioning zone in advance. This allows the buffer to preemptively absorb water hammer and high water pressure before they can reach and damage the purification material during switching operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the water purifier and water-purification cartridge abut against each other for long period time, then stable operation is improved, but adhesion of attachment portions occurs making cartridge replacement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge support is designed with a movable structure that can shift in the attachment direction. During normal operation, the cartridge and support maintain stable contact. However, during replacement, the support can move to create separation, preventing adhesion and enabling easy cartridge removal while maintaining operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable cartridge support structure is designed to preemptively prevent adhesion by allowing controlled movement. Before adhesion can occur and make replacement difficult, the support can shift to maintain proper spacing or facilitate easy separation, thus counteracting the potential adhesion problem before it becomes problematic.
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
Prevents breakage of purification materials from water hammer and adhesion issues between the water purifier and cartridge, ensuring safe and easy replacement by effectively managing water pressure and shifting the cartridge to prevent attachment adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
a water hammer or high water pressure occurs and propagates upstream, which may lead to breakage of the purification material
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a water-purification cartridge to be replaceably accommodated in an accommodating portion of a water purifier. The cartridge includes activated carbon that removes impurities from water, forms, within the water purifier, a raw water flow path through which raw water flows downstream without passing through the activated carbon and a water purification flow path through which raw water flows downstream while passing through the activated carbon, and further includes a buffer portion that is disposed, within the water purifier, at a position upstream of flow path switching valves for selecting discharge from the raw water flow path or discharge from the water purification flow path and downstream of the activated carbon and that cuts off a water hammer propagating from the flow path switching valves to the activated carbon.