In-wall Cistern with Discharge Line for Quiet Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking water installations face challenges in maintaining hygienic water quality due to the proliferation of microorganisms like legionella, especially in heated water systems, and conventional flushing methods are noisy and inefficient, leading to high water consumption.
Innovation Solution
A cistern design with a water discharge line that directly drains water from the valve assembly into the overflow pipe for hygienic flushing, allowing for efficient and quiet flushing regardless of the water level, incorporating a mixing unit for variable temperature control and a controller that manages the flushing based on temperature and time intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional flushing methods are used, then the cistern can be flushed, but the flushing process is noisy and consumes high amounts of water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate discharge line for waste water that bypasses the standard flushing path. This intermediary discharge path allows waste water to be quietly redirected to a drainage system without requiring loud, high-volume flushing, thus resolving the contradiction between quiet operation and effective flushing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the water flow paths into separate lines: one for fresh water intake and another for waste water discharge. This segmentation allows independent control of each flow, enabling quiet discharge of waste water without the need for high-volume flushing, thereby reducing both noise and water consumption while maintaining flushing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the cistern is flushed to maintain hygiene, then water quality is improved, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separate discharge line acts as an intermediary that enables hygienic flushing without requiring large volumes of water. By providing a dedicated path for waste water removal, the system can maintain water quality through targeted flushing rather than high-volume refilling, thus preserving drinking water quality while minimizing water loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of flushing by using the separate discharge line to enable low-volume, targeted flushing. This parameter change allows the system to achieve hygienic flushing效果 with reduced water consumption compared to conventional high-volume flushing methods.
3Ease of operation
If heated drinking water is provided, then comfort is improved, but microbial proliferation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic flushing through the separate discharge line to prevent microbial proliferation in heated water systems. By periodically removing stagnant water through the intermediary discharge path, the system maintains water quality and prevents legionella growth while still providing heated water for user comfort when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The separate discharge line serves as an intermediary that enables periodic removal of heated water to prevent microbial growth. This intermediary path allows the system to maintain heated water for comfort while periodically flushing to eliminate stagnation and prevent legionella proliferation.
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 design ensures hygienic flushing with reduced water consumption, prevents overfilling, and maintains drinking water quality by allowing for temperature-adjusted flushing, thus minimizing microbial growth and noise during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor for measuring the water temperature in the water intake line and/or for detecting a withdrawal of drinking water from the water intake line, wherein the sensor generates a sensor signal proportional to the measured water temperature
Implementation Method 2
a valve assembly for letting in drinking water present in the water intake line, with a water discharge line for discharging the drinking water let in by the valve assembly
Implementation Method 3
the water discharge line is designed in such manner that it drains the drinking water let in by the valve assembly directly into the overflow pipe
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cistern, in particular an in-wall cistern, for a toilet or urinal, with a drain valve which has a closure body which can be lifted from a closed position into a flushing position. The closure body is designed as an overflow pipe and has a seal which rests tightly on a valve seat in the closed position, with at least one water intake line, with a valve assembly for letting in drinking water present in the water intake line, with a water discharge line for discharging the drinking water let in by the valve assembly, and with a controller which generates a control signal for actuating the valve assembly as a function of a sensor signal and/or when a predefined time interval has been exceeded.