Check Valve Segmented Housing Prevents Backflow Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-return valves are not optimized for easy installation and may allow contaminated liquid droplets to unintentionally spray back into the jet nozzle, potentially contaminating the water supply network, especially in applications like toilets and bathtubs where the risk of backflow is high.
Innovation Solution
A non-return valve design featuring a sleeve-shaped jet nozzle receptacle that can be easily inserted into a shell-shaped housing, with a cover to close the end face and prevent contamination, and includes ventilation openings and a guide wall for correct positioning, along with a flow rate regulator and backflow preventer to ensure effective operation under varying conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the jet nozzle is directly connected to the water supply network, then the installation is simple, but pathogenic germs can enter the drinking water supply network via the shut-off valve
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into separate components: a first valve body with inlet connection, a second valve body with outlet connection, and a shut-off valve housed within the first valve body. This segmentation allows the shut-off valve to be isolated from direct connection to the water supply network, preventing germ contamination while maintaining installation simplicity through modular assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The first valve body acts as an intermediary chamber that houses the shut-off valve and provides indirect connection to the water supply network. This intermediary structure prevents direct contact between the shut-off valve outlet and the water supply, blocking the transmission path for pathogenic germs while still allowing water flow control
2Productivity
If the spray nozzle is arranged at the edge of the toilet bowl, then the cleaning function is improved, but the nozzle opening becomes contaminated with dirty water or excrement parts
Solution Approach 1:
The shut-off valve is extracted from direct exposure to contaminated environments and housed within the protected first valve body. The outlet of the shut-off valve connects to the second valve body that leads to the spray nozzle, separating the contamination-prone spray function from the water supply connection, thus maintaining cleaning effectiveness while preventing contamination of the valve mechanism
3Ease of operation
If the bath tub inlet and outlet are combined in a bathtub opening on the bottom side, then water flows in without splashing and with little noise, but contaminated bath water can flow into the water supply network
Solution Approach 1:
The shut-off valve is positioned with its outlet facing upward toward the spray nozzle connection rather than downward into the bath. This inverted orientation prevents bath water from directly contacting the valve outlet, blocking the backflow path for contaminated water while maintaining the combined inlet/outlet configuration for splash-free operation
Data Source
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AI summary
The application relates to a backflow preventer (1) comprising a jet nozzle (4) connectable to an inlet (3) and a collection element (5) which is designed to capture the liquid jet coming from the jet nozzle (4) via a free jet path (6) and which is connectable to or connected with an outlet (7), as well as with a discharge outlet (8) arranged below the free jet path (6), which discharge outlet (8) is designed to discharge any portion of the liquid not captured by the collection element (5). The jet nozzle is arranged in a sleeve-shaped jet nozzle receptacle (50), which is connected to the collection element via at least one connecting web (51) to form an insertion element (52) that can be inserted into a shell-shaped housing (53). For this purpose, the housing has a longitudinal insertion opening (54) through which the insertion element (52) is inserted and releasably fixed in such a way that the insertion opening (54) forms the outlet.The sleeve-shaped jet nozzle receptacle (50) can be closed at its end face facing away from the jet nozzle (4) by means of a cover (55) which carries a connecting nipple (56) that can be connected to the inlet.