Cistern Assembly with Height-Adjustable Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cistern arrangements for flushing sanitary ware, particularly rimless toilet bowls, face challenges in adapting flushing flows to avoid overspray while ensuring adequate rinsing, due to varying cistern designs and lack of simplicity in adjusting flushing flow rates.

Innovation Solution

A cistern arrangement with a movable adjustment body integrated into the drain valve, allowing for adjustable passage geometry to modify flushing flow rates by moving the adjustment body into different positions, which can be done without removing it, enabling easy adjustment between test flushes to optimize flushing flow without altering the total volume of flushing water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the maximum flushing flow rate is increased to ensure adequate rinsing of sanitary ware and wastewater pipes, then the rinsing effectiveness is improved, but water splashing occurs especially in rimless toilets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverinsing effectivenessVSAvoidwater splashing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a movable adjusting body that can be positioned at different heights within the drain valve passage. This dynamic adjustment allows the flow cross-section to be varied, enabling the system to adapt the flushing flow rate to match the specific requirements of different sanitary ware (such as rimless vs. traditional toilets), thus preventing splashing while ensuring adequate rinsing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If different cisterns are provided with different fixed flushing flows to match various toilet bowls, then splashing is prevented, but the complexity of product variety and installation matching increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesplashing preventionVSAvoidcistern compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of manufacturing multiple fixed-flow cistern variants, the patent provides a single cistern design equipped with an adjustable flow control mechanism. The adjusting body can be manually positioned to create different flow cross-sections, allowing one cistern model to adapt to various toilet bowl types (rimless, traditional, different sizes), thereby eliminating the need for product variety while maintaining universal compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If flush flow restrictors are installed in the valve seat to reduce flushing flow, then splashing is reduced, but the adjustment process requires removing and reinstalling the flush valve which is complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflushing flow controlVSAvoidadjustment simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the flow control function from the flush valve mechanism by introducing an independent adjusting body that moves within the drain valve passage. This segmentation allows the flow control adjustment to be performed separately from the flush valve assembly, enabling simple height adjustment of the adjusting body without requiring removal or reinstallation of the flush valve, thus significantly simplifying the adjustment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the flushing flow is reduced to prevent splashing in rimless toilets, then overspray is minimized, but the adequacy of rinsing sanitary ware and wastewater pipes may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverspray reductionVSAvoidrinsing adequacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustable adjusting body enables dynamic optimization of the flushing flow characteristics. By precisely controlling the height and position of the adjusting body, the system can create an optimal balance between flow rate and flow pattern, reducing overspray and splashing while maintaining sufficient flow volume and pressure to ensure adequate rinsing of sanitary ware and wastewater pipes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution allows for simple and cost-effective adaptation of flushing flow rates to match different sanitary ware requirements, reducing overspray while ensuring effective rinsing, and can be retrofitted to conventional cisterns, enhancing installation flexibility and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

A cistern arrangement with a movable adjustment body integrated into the drain valve, allowing for adjustable passage geometry to modify flushing flow rates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow control through geometric modification:

Data Source

PatentEP3128089B1Cistern assembly with variable flow rate
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 MEPA PAULI UND MENDEN GMBH
  • EP3128089B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3128089B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3128089B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a cistern arrangement for flushing a sanitary ceramic, comprising a cistern (1) for receiving flush water, a flush valve (5) with a valve closure part (6) which, in a closed position, seals a bottom opening (4) watertight and, in an open position, is lifted from the valve seat (7) and releases the bottom opening (4), wherein, in the open position, a defined quantity of flush water flows from the cistern (1) through the bottom opening (4), and an adjusting device (8; 28; 38) with an adjusting element (9; 29; 39) for changing the flush flow of the defined quantity of flush water flowing from the cistern (1), wherein the adjusting element (9; 29; 39) is movably arranged within the cistern (1) and is adjustable to several outlet positions, wherein the adjusting element (9; 29; 39) is held height-adjustably on the flush valve (5), wherein the flush flow is controlled by the outlet position of the height-adjustable element. Adjusting body (9; 29;39) is dependent.;