Drain diverted dirty water and continuously circulated clean water system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water conservation systems in public restrooms, such as automatic faucets, suffer from inaccuracies in water flow control, leading to waste and maintenance issues, and pose hygiene risks due to reliance on sensors and mechanical components.
Innovation Solution
A water delivery system that continuously recirculates clean water, diverting only contaminated water to a drain without the need for sensors, using a circulation pump and valve configuration that allows uninterrupted water flow, reducing waste and improving hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If automatic faucets with sensors are used to conserve water, then water flow can be controlled automatically, but the sensor accuracy is insufficient leading to water waste and the system requires power and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the sensor and switching valve components from the automatic faucet system. Instead of using sensors to detect hands and control flow, the system uses a continuous water stream that is interrupted only when hands physically block it, removing the unreliable sensing and switching components entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The water stream itself performs the sensing function by being naturally interrupted when hands are placed in it. The system serves itself by using the physical presence of hands to automatically divert water to the drain without requiring external sensors or control systems.
2Duration of action of moving object
If self-closing faucets with mechanical timing mechanisms are used, then water flow duration can be controlled, but the mechanism is prone to failure and the fixed time period is inconvenient for users
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the mechanical timing mechanism entirely from the faucet system. Water flow duration is no longer controlled by a mechanical timer that can fail, but by the continuous operation of the system combined with automatic diversion when hands are detected through stream interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts water flow duration based on actual usage needs. When hands block the stream, water is diverted to drain; when hands are removed, clean water continues to circulate. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for fixed timing mechanisms.
3Extent of automation
If self-closing faucets are used, then water flow can be automatically stopped, but users must touch the faucet with unclean hands which creates hygiene hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic water flow control without requiring any user contact. The continuous water stream is interrupted by hands themselves, which naturally diverts the water to the drain, eliminating the need for users to touch any faucet components.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a mechanism that requires user activation (touching the faucet to start or stop flow), the system inverts the approach: the user's hands naturally interrupt the continuous stream, which automatically triggers the diversion of dirty water to the drain.
4Device complexity
If conventional faucets are used in public restrooms, then water delivery is simple, but water is wasted when hands are not present and hygiene is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous circulation of clean water through the recirculation pump, ensuring that clean water is always available at the outlet. This continuous useful action eliminates periods where water might be wasted or unavailable, while the stream interruption mechanism prevents waste during non-usage periods.
Solution Approach 2:
When hands interrupt the water stream, the system automatically discards the contaminated water to the drain and recirculates clean water through the pump. This separation of clean and dirty water streams maximizes water conservation by continuously recovering and recirculating clean water while only discarding contaminated portions.
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 system effectively conserves water, reduces germ spread, aids users with disabilities, and minimizes scalding risks, while offering flexible configurations and optional sanitization and decorative features.
Implementation Method 1
A circulation pump continuously moves the water from the inlet, which can be combined with source water, to the outlet
Implementation Method 2
If the stream is disturbed, such as by the hand washing activities of the user, the stream is diverted from the inlet and instead falls into a sink and into the drain
Data Source
AI summary
According to embodiments of the present disclosure is a water delivery system that continuously flows and recirculates clean water, diverting only water that has touched a user's hands. No sensing is required to activate the water flow and the actions of the user effectively divert the dirty water to a drain. The water delivery system comprises a clean water outlet, a clean water inlet, a dirty water drain, and a circulation pump. A stream of water continuously flows from the outlet and is received by the water inlet if the stream is uninterrupted. If the stream is disturbed, such as by the hand washing activities of the user, the stream is diverted from the inlet and instead falls into a sink and into the drain.