Toilet Cistern Additive Dosing for Repeatable Flush Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for adding additives to flushing liquids in sanitary fixtures suffer from inconsistent and non-repeatable dosing, as the additives either dissolve too quickly or are not consistently released during the flushing process, affecting their effectiveness in preventing issues like limescale buildup and biofilm formation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a storage container connected to the filling valve of the sanitary fixture, where the additive is directly mixed with the flushing liquid, ensuring a consistent and controlled dosage by using a metering device that controls the flow of flushing liquid through the additive container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the additive is placed in tablet form in a storage tank with slots for rinsing liquid to pass through, then the additive can be dissolved by the rinsing liquid, but the dosage is not repeatable because varying amounts of additive dissolve depending on time elapsed between rinsing cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The additive is pre-positioned on a support structure at a specific location in the storage tank where it will be exposed to rinsing liquid at a predictable rate. The support structure is designed beforehand to control the dissolution process, ensuring consistent dosage across different rinsing cycles regardless of time elapsed.
Solution Approach 2:
The additive is placed in a specific localized area of the storage tank with controlled access to rinsing liquid through a support structure. This localized positioning ensures that only a consistent, controlled amount of additive dissolves with each rinsing cycle, improving dosage repeatability.
2Quantity of substance
If the additive is provided in rod form in a container arranged directly in the overflow pipe, then the additive only comes into contact with flushing fluid when a flush is initiated, but the dosage is not consistent because the surface area of the rod decreases randomly under the influence of flushing fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The additive rod is positioned in a specific location within the overflow pipe structure where it is exposed to controlled amounts of flushing fluid. The support structure ensures that only a consistent surface area of the rod is exposed to the fluid during each flush, maintaining dosage consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The additive rod is pre-positioned in the overflow pipe container before use. The support structure is designed in advance to control the exposure of the rod to flushing fluid, ensuring consistent dosage delivery with each flush cycle.
3Quantity of substance
If the additive container is placed in the overflow pipe, then the safety function of the overflow pipe is compromised by the container holding the additive
Solution Approach 1:
The additive container is nested within the overflow pipe structure in such a way that it does not obstruct the overflow function. The container is positioned and sized to fit within the available space while allowing water to flow freely around it, maintaining the safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
The additive container is placed in a specific localized area of the overflow pipe that does not interfere with the main overflow flow path. This strategic positioning allows the additive to be released into the flushing fluid while the overflow pipe maintains its safety function.
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 system provides a consistent and repeatable dosage of additives throughout the service life, allowing the additives to effectively treat the flushing liquid and the storage container, ensuring their intended functional effects are maintained during each rinsing cycle.
Implementation Method 1
the additive is consumed continuously, ensuring a consistent dosage because a constant flow of rinsing fluid is always passing by the additive
Implementation Method 2
a constant flow of rinsing fluid is always passing by the additive
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a system (10) comprising a storage container (12) for a flushing fluid of a sanitary fixture carrying flushing fluid and a dosing device (14) for dosing at least one additive to the flushing fluid. The system offers improvements in that the additive can first treat the entire flushing fluid in the storage container (12) and then subsequently, during the flushing process, also the sanitary fixture (not shown). The additive can be supplied to the dosing device (14) very easily and quickly. The dosage form of the additive has no influence on the overflow cross-section and does not obstruct the drain assembly (18). The dosage remains constant throughout the entire service life of the additive dosage form, i.e., it is repeatable, and a large number of flushes with the additive are possible before the dosage form of the additive needs to be replaced.