Integrated Valve Block Layout for Compact Multi-Outlet Water Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall-mountable sanitary line connection devices lack flexibility, compact design, and complexity in manufacturing, and are not well-suited for modern sanitary systems and smart home applications.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mountable sanitary line connection device with a base body and valve block body featuring electrically controllable valves, a distribution chamber, and line connection sockets, allowing for flexible configuration and remote control of water flow, with a compact design and easy assembly, including a rubber-elastic retaining ring for cable routing and spherical contact surfaces for alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are arranged in a conventional manner, then the device can control multiple water outlets, but the device size becomes large and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve bodies are integrated into a single common body structure, where the first, second, and third valve bodies are merged with a common body that houses shared components such as the drive mechanism and fluid distribution passages. This merging reduces the overall device volume while maintaining the capability to control multiple water outlets independently
Solution Approach 2:
The common body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support for all valve bodies, provides a shared drive mechanism for actuating multiple valves, contains fluid distribution passages that route water to different outlets, and houses the control electronics. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each valve, reducing overall device size
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are arranged in a conventional manner, then the device can control multiple water outlets, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve bodies are integrated into a single common body structure, where the first, second, and third valve bodies are merged with a common body that houses shared components such as the drive mechanism and fluid distribution passages. This merging reduces the overall device volume while maintaining the capability to control multiple water outlets independently
Solution Approach 2:
The common body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support for all valve bodies, provides a shared drive mechanism for actuating multiple valves, contains fluid distribution passages that route water to different outlets, and houses the control electronics. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each valve, reducing overall device size
3Ease of operation
If the device is designed for flush-mounted installation, then it can be installed in wall areas with water supply connections, but the internal arrangement space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cartridge assemblies are arranged in a radial pattern around the central drive mechanism, utilizing three-dimensional space efficiently within the compact common body. The first, second, and third valve cartridges are positioned at different angular positions, allowing optimal use of the limited internal volume available in flush-mounted installations
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a wall-mountable sanitary distribution and pipe connection device comprising a wall-mountable base body (1), a valve block body (8) that can be fixed to the base body, and valves held on the valve block body. In the pipe connection device according to the invention, the base body includes a wall mounting side (2), a water inlet (3), and a base-side contact surface (7) on a valve block coupling side (6) opposite the wall mounting side. The valve block body has a distribution chamber (9) with a distribution chamber inlet (9a), a valve block-side contact surface (10) on a base coupling side (11), and at least three pipe connection spigots (133) on a pipe coupling side (12) opposite the base coupling side, which are arranged side by side in a row with parallel spigot longitudinal axes (SL).Furthermore, at least three electrically controlled valves (42, 43) are provided, each containing a valve cartridge (52, 53), each of which has a valve inlet (14) in fluid communication with the distribution chamber and is held on the valve block body by mutually parallel valve cartridge longitudinal axes (VL), the valve cartridge longitudinal axes being offset from each other in a circumferential direction. The valve block body has at least three separate fluid channels, each leading from one of the valve outlets to one of the pipe connection spigots. Applications include, for example, connecting shower hoses to wall-mounted water supply installations in buildings.