Cistern Drain Valve Hydraulic Damping for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain valves for cisterns generate significant noise during flushing due to the impact of the closure body on the valve seat, and previous solutions requiring large installation spaces or complex damping elements are not optimal.
Innovation Solution
A compact drain valve design incorporating a hydraulic damping element that uses flushing water as a damping medium, featuring a damping surface and cavity within the valve housing, allowing for controlled movement of the closure body to reduce noise and impact force by delaying its contact with the valve seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a damping element is added to minimize flushing noise, then noise generation is reduced, but the installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element is integrated into the closure body itself, merging the damping function with the existing closure structure. This eliminates the need for separate damping components and reduces overall installation space while maintaining noise reduction effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element is nested within the closure body structure, placing the damping chamber inside the existing valve assembly. This nested arrangement allows the damping function to be incorporated without increasing the external dimensions of the drain valve.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex damping element is used to minimize noise, then noise generation is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element uses flushing water already present in the cistern as its damping medium, eliminating the need for separate damping fluids or complex adjustment mechanisms. The system serves itself by utilizing the existing water resource for noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element operates hydraulically using flushing water as the damping medium. The damping chamber is filled with water from the cistern, and the closure body moves through this fluid medium during closing, creating hydraulic damping that reduces noise without requiring complex mechanical components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If external damping elements are installed to reduce noise, then noise generation is reduced, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element continuously receives fresh flushing water from the cistern, which naturally refills and recharges the damping chamber during each flush cycle. This self-replenishing mechanism eliminates the need for manual maintenance or replacement of damping media.
Solution Approach 2:
The flushing water serves dual functions: it performs the primary flushing function and simultaneously acts as the damping medium in the damping chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate systems and components that would require maintenance.
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 solution effectively minimizes noise and impact force during flushing by using residual flushing water as a damping medium, reducing maintenance needs and allowing for adjustable damping, resulting in a more efficient and quieter operation.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic damping element which dampens the movement of the closure body from the flushing position to the closure position, so that the movement of the closure body can be delayed before contacting the valve seat
Implementation Method 2
The hydraulic damping element preferably uses flushing water, which is located in the cistern, as a damping medium
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The valve (1) has a closure body (5) provided in a valve housing (2) and moved from a closure position in which the closure body stays in fluid-tight contact with a valve seat (4), and a flush position in which the body is spaced apart from the seat. The body is moved from the flush position into the closure position after completion of flushing process. A hydraulic damping element (25) dampens movement of the body from the flush position into the closure position so that the movement of the body is decelerated before contacting the seat. The element uses flush water as a damping medium.