Toilet Cistern Outlet Fitting with Segmented Control Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain fittings for cisterns are unreliable and difficult to produce, with control mechanisms that fail to consistently manage flushing operations effectively.
Innovation Solution
A drain fitting with a valve body, sealing element, and retaining pawl system, where full and partial quantity control units provide supporting and closing forces to hold the valve body in flushing position until a specific water level is reached, allowing for reliable operation and easy production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a complex locking mechanism with multiple pawls is used to control the valve body, then the flushing operation can be controlled, but the manufacturing complexity and reliability issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing control is segmented into two independent control units: a full-volume control unit with a first locking wheel and a partial-volume control unit with a second locking wheel. Each control unit independently controls specific flushing operations, simplifying the overall mechanism by dividing functionality into manageable segments rather than using a single complex locking system.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body serves multiple functions: it acts as both the sealing element and the locking element. The valve body includes a sealing surface for closing the outlet and locking surfaces that engage with the locking wheels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining operational control.
2Ease of operation
If a complex locking mechanism with multiple pawls is used to control the valve body, then the flushing operation can be controlled, but the manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism is divided into separate full-volume and partial-volume control units, each with its own locking wheel. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing where each unit can be produced independently and assembled, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty compared to producing a single complex multi-pawl mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body integrates multiple functions including sealing and locking capabilities. By incorporating locking surfaces directly into the valve body structure, the design eliminates the need for separate locking components, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing assembly steps.
3Reliability
If the valve body is held in flushing position by a retaining pawl supported by control units, then operational reliability is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining pawl is supported by buoyant forces from the control units when the cistern is full. This buoyancy counteracts the weight of the pawl and provides automatic support, ensuring reliable engagement with the valve body's locking surface. When the water level drops, the buoyancy decreases and releases the support, allowing automatic return to rest position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the water level itself to control the retaining pawl's support status. The buoyancy provided by the water-filled control units automatically supports the pawl in the flushing position, and the loss of buoyancy when water level drops automatically releases it. This self-service mechanism improves reliability without requiring additional complex control systems.
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 enhances operational reliability and safety by ensuring the valve body moves correctly between flushing and rest positions, addressing the production and reliability issues of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
the control unit supporting the retaining pawl comprises a buoyancy element, which experiences buoyancy when the cistern is full, and a support element that supports the retaining pawl during this buoyancy
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A flushing assembly (1) for a cistern comprises a valve body (2) with a sealing element (4) cooperating with a valve seat (3), wherein the valve body (2) with the sealing element (4) is movable from the valve seat (3) along an axis of movement (B) from a rest position to flushing position and from the flushing position to the rest position, a full-volume control unit (5) for controlling a full-volume flush, a partial-volume control unit (6) for controlling a partial-volume flush, and a retaining latch (7) which can be engaged with the valve body (2) when it is in the flushing position and holds it in the flushing position.The full-volume control unit (5) and the partial-volume control unit (6) are displaceable relative to the retaining latch (7) and cooperate with it, wherein at least one of the control units (5, 6) is in contact with the retaining latch (7) at least when the cistern is full, wherein the retaining latch (7) is supported by this control unit (5, 6) with a supporting force (S) such that it is pressed against the valve body (2) and forms a latching connection with the valve body (2) in the flushing position, and wherein when a predetermined water level is reached, said supporting effect ceases, thereby releasing the latching connection between the valve body (2) and the retaining latch (7), so that the valve body (2) can be moved from the flushing position to the rest position.