Cistern Flushing Height Regulation Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cistern flushing mechanisms face challenges in accurately regulating their height to match the cistern size, leading to potential involuntary adjustments and loss of regulation over time.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a conduit with facing extensions and a tightening part that allows axial retention and release, utilizing projections and grooves to lock the long part at the correct height, ensuring precise regulation and prevention of involuntary changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple height regulation mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of maintaining the regulated height deteriorates due to involuntary adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplexity of height regulation mechanismVSAvoidmaintenance of regulated height
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism is divided into distinct functional components: a regulation element for adjusting height, a locking element with male and female parts for securing the position, and a guide screw for axial guidance. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide screw acts as an intermediary element that provides axial guidance to the locking mechanism, ensuring that the regulation element moves only along the correct path during adjustment and preventing lateral displacement that could compromise the locking reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to prevent involuntary turning, then the reliability of height regulation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of involuntary height adjustmentVSAvoidcomplexity of locking mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The male and female locking parts are integrated into a unified coupling mechanism that combines the locking function with the guide screw assembly. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining effective locking capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage through the rotational movement of the regulation element. The male and female parts self-align and lock when the regulation element is turned to the desired position, eliminating the need for separate locking operations or additional actuators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the regulation element is made freely movable for easy adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the regulated position deteriorates due to potential slipping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of height adjustmentVSAvoidstability of regulated height position
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanism transitions between two dynamic states: a freely movable state during adjustment when the locking elements are disengaged, and a locked state when the male and female parts engage to secure the position. This dynamic behavior allows the system to optimize for ease of operation during adjustment and for position stability during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide screw is pre-configured with axial guidance features that automatically align the regulation element during insertion and adjustment. This preliminary positioning action ensures that the locking elements engage correctly the first time, preventing slipping and maintaining stability without requiring additional alignment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3388587B1Device for regulating the height of a cistern flushing mechanism
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 FOMINAYA SA
  • EP3388587B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3388587B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3388587B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for regulating the height of a cistern flushing mechanism to adapt it to the same comprising a long part (1), which is adjustable axially and fits into a conduit (2) which passes through the upper base (4a) of the main body (4) of the flushing mechanism (5) and finding itself associated with a part of a push mechanism (19) which, when activated, moves the main body (4) of the flushing mechanism (5) downwards. Said conduit (2) is defined by two facing extensions (3), in the form of a neck, which start from the upper base (4a) of the main body (4). A circular tightening part (8) is coupled around the two facing extensions (3). Furthermore, the facing extensions (3) have inner opposing portions which face opposite portions of the long part (1). The long part can be used to assume a locked position in which it is axially retained, and a release position.