Conical Jet Splitter for Flush Water Distributor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flush water distributors for sanitary articles, such as toilets, often experience pressure losses due to obstacles that divide the flush water flow, leading to inefficient cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A flush water distributor with a conical jet splitter that divides the flush water stream into multiple substreams with minimal pressure loss, using guide surfaces to direct the flow and minimize contact losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If obstacles are used to divide the flush water flow into different directions, then thorough flushing and cleaning of the toilet is achieved, but pressure losses occur that may prevent efficient cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The jet splitter employs a conical shape with continuously curved surfaces instead of flat plates or sharp edges. The conical geometry gradually redirects the water flow, creating smooth transitions that minimize turbulence and pressure losses while still achieving flow division into multiple directions for effective toilet cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The jet splitter divides the single inlet flush water flow into multiple outlet streams (typically two or three partial flows) that are directed toward different areas of the toilet bowl. This segmentation enables comprehensive cleaning of various surfaces simultaneously while maintaining adequate pressure in each stream through the optimized conical design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a jet splitter is used to divide the flush water stream into multiple partial flows, then different areas of the sanitary ware can be cleaned, but contact losses and pressure losses occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidcontact loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The conical surface of the jet splitter provides continuous curved guidance for the water flow, eliminating sharp edges and abrupt transitions. This curved geometry reduces contact losses by smoothly redirecting water molecules along the cone surface, preserving kinetic energy while distributing flow to multiple outlets for versatile cleaning coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The conical geometry changes the flow parameters gradually rather than abruptly. As water flows over the cone, its direction and velocity are modified continuously, reducing turbulence and energy dissipation. This parameter transformation enables efficient flow division while minimizing contact losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional obstacles with edges are used to redirect flush water, then flow division is achieved, but pressure losses increase due to edges creating obstructions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow divisionVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The conical jet splitter replaces conventional flat obstacles with sharp edges with a smooth conical surface. This curved geometry eliminates edge-induced turbulence and vortex formation, allowing easy flow division into multiple directions while significantly reducing pressure losses associated with sharp transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using flat plates that block and redirect flow, the invention uses a conical protrusion that flows around. This inverted approach—using a rounded obstruction rather than a flat barrier—achieves flow division while minimizing the harmful effects of edges and sharp transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 achieves efficient cleaning of sanitary articles with minimal energy requirements, reducing pressure losses and ensuring thorough flushing without significant disruptions in the water flow.

Implementation Method 1

A jet splitter is arranged in the supply line, which divides the supply line on the outlet side into at least two distribution channels for dividing a flush water flow into at least two partial flows. The jet splitter has a conical end region on the inlet side for point-shaped jet splitting.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJet splitting: Jet

Implementation Method 2

The jet splitter has a conical end region on the inlet side for point-shaped jet splitting. Due to the conical end of the jet splitter in the supply line, a single point of disturbance is created for the flushing water stream. This minimizes contact losses of the flushing water with the flushing water distributor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPoint-shaped jet splitting: Jet

Implementation Method 3

Further pressure losses that occur in the flushing water distributor are related to friction losses along the inner walls of the flushing water distributor. Friction losses can be minimized by using suitable materials, for example, with surfaces that are as smooth as possible and the flushing water distributor's lengths that are as short as possible.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction loss minimization: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4283057B1Flush water distributor
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 LAUFEN SCHWEIZ AG
  • EP4283057B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4283057B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP4283057B1 patent drawingFigure 8~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a flushing water distributor for use with a sanitary fixture. The flushing water distributor has a supply line with an inlet opening and at least two outlet openings. A jet splitter is arranged in the supply line, which divides the supply line into at least two distribution channels at the outlet end. The jet splitter has a conical end section at the inlet end for point-like jet splitting.