Closet Collar Seal Assembly for Variable Flange Heights
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of a closet collar at varying levels relative to the floor surface complicates the achievement of a leak-free connection between the toilet and the drain pipe, leading to difficulties in ensuring a proper seal during toilet installation.
Innovation Solution
A sealing assembly comprising a flexible membrane with rigid components, such as a channel wall, toilet horn receptacle, funnel, and sealing rim, which compresses to form a seal by extruding a sealing component into the interface between the toilet and the closet collar, ensuring a watertight connection regardless of the collar's installation level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional seal is used with a closet collar installed at varying levels, then the installation flexibility is improved, but the sealing reliability deteriorates due to difficulty in achieving a proper seal
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed with a flexible membrane that can dynamically adjust and compress to different collar heights. The flexible nature allows the seal to adapt its shape and position based on the installation level, while the compression mechanism ensures consistent sealing pressure regardless of the starting height, thus maintaining both adaptability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The seal utilizes changes in physical parameters - specifically compression and extrusion of the sealing component - to maintain effective sealing. By compressing the seal during installation, the sealing component extrudes to fill gaps and create a watertight barrier, allowing the same seal to work reliably across varying installation levels
2Adaptability or versatility
If the closet collar is installed at different levels relative to the floor surface, then the adaptability to various installation scenarios is improved, but the difficulty of achieving a leak-free connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is designed to be self-adjusting during installation. As the toilet is installed and weight is applied, the flexible membrane automatically compresses and the sealing component extrudes to the appropriate degree, creating an effective seal without requiring precise pre-positioning or adjustment by the installer, thus maintaining ease of operation across different collar levels
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic compression mechanism allows the seal to automatically adapt to the specific installation conditions. The flexible membrane deforms and the sealing component extrudes based on the actual gap and pressure during installation, making the sealing process straightforward regardless of the collar's position relative to the floor
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 sealing assembly effectively prevents leaks by compressing and extruding a sealing component into the interface between the toilet and the closet collar, maintaining a watertight seal even when the closet collar is installed at different levels, thus ensuring a reliable connection between the toilet and the drain pipe.
Implementation Method 1
compresses to form a seal by extruding a sealing component into the interface between the toilet and the closet collar
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments, an apparatus includes a toilet horn receptacle having an upper end and a lower end. A sealing rim is positioned at an upper end of the toilet horn receptacle, and at least a portion of the sealing rim extends inwardly from the upper end of the toilet horn receptacle towards a center axis of the sealing rim. A funnel extends from the lower end of the toilet horn receptacle, and a channel wall circumscribes the toilet horn receptacle. The channel wall and at least the toilet horn receptacle form a continuous annular receptacle. A foam sealing component is disposed in the continuous annular receptacle such that an inner wall of the foam sealing component circumscribes the toilet horn receptacle and such that the channel wall circumscribes at least a portion of an outer wall of the foam sealing component.