Cistern Inlet Fitting Noise Reduction via Flow Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inlet fittings for cisterns generate noise during water filling, which is undesirable for user experience.
Innovation Solution
An inlet fitting design featuring a housing with a water channel, a float-controlled valve, and an expansion element that increases the cross-section of the water channel, reducing flow speed and noise through water jet expansion, with a deflection element that further calms the flow by deflecting the water jet into an outlet pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water flows through the inlet fitting at high speed, then filling efficiency is improved, but noise generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water channel is divided into multiple sections: a first water channel for high-speed flow from the inlet, and a second water channel for low-speed flow to the outlet. This segmentation allows different flow velocities in different zones, achieving both efficient filling and noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
A connection channel is introduced as an intermediary element between the first and second water channels. This connection channel gradually transitions the water flow from high speed to low speed, acting as a mediator that reduces noise while maintaining filling efficiency.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the water channel cross section is increased, then flow speed is reduced and noise is decreased, but filling efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The water channel is segmented into a first section with smaller cross-section for high-speed flow and a second section with larger cross-section for low-speed flow. This allows the system to achieve both high filling efficiency (in the first section) and low noise (in the second section).
Solution Approach 2:
The water channel cross-section is designed to dynamically change along the flow direction, transitioning from a smaller cross-section at the inlet to a larger cross-section at the outlet. This dynamic geometry optimization allows the water flow to adapt its velocity profile for both efficiency and noise reduction.
3Reliability
If a float-controlled valve is used to control water flow, then water level control is improved, but flow turbulence and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection channel acts as an intermediary that gradually decelerates the water flow after it passes through the float-controlled valve. This gradual deceleration reduces turbulence and noise while preserving the water level control function of the valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow velocity parameter is changed along the water channel, transitioning from high velocity near the valve to low velocity near the outlet. This parameter change reduces turbulence and noise while maintaining the valve's control 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 design significantly reduces noise during water filling by expanding the water jet and slowing down the flow, ensuring a quieter operation.
Implementation Method 1
an expansion element (7) arranged in the water guide channel (3) after the float-controlled valve (6), viewed in the flow direction, which increases the cross section of the water guide channel (3), so that an expansion of the water jet takes place and the flow speed is reduced
Implementation Method 2
a deflection element (10) with a deflection surface (11), wherein the tubular element (8) is directed with its tube end (9) towards the deflection surface (11), with the tube end (9) being spaced from the deflection surface (11)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An inlet assembly (1) for filling a cistern comprises a housing (2), a water channel (3) arranged in the housing (2) with an inlet (4) and an outlet (5), and a float-controlled valve (6) arranged in the water channel (3), which closes the water channel (3) and opens it during filling. Downstream of the valve (6), an expansion element (7) is arranged in the water channel (3), which increases the cross-section of the water channel (3), thus expanding the water jet and reducing the flow velocity.