Reversibly Deformable Tap Outlet With Spaced Coil Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water outlet fittings are not resource-efficient and comfortable to use due to their asymmetrical design, which results in increased initial resistance and direction-dependent restoring forces, making them stubborn to deform and requiring a significant force threshold for operation.
Innovation Solution
A reversibly deformable water outlet with a coil spring having a curved section that merges into straight sections, where the spring coils are spaced apart to allow for easy deformation and automatic return to the original shape, reducing the need for high initial forces and ensuring similar forces are required in all directions, thus enhancing usability and reducing material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the spring windings rest against one another (tension spring design), then the spring provides strong restoring force, but it requires a significant initial force threshold to overcome the pre-compression and creates direction-dependent restoring forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the spring from a tension spring with windings resting against each other to a compression spring with spaced-apart windings. This parameter change eliminates the pre-compression force threshold while maintaining restoring force through the elastic deformation of the spring material itself.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a tension spring that pulls the hose back, the patent inverts the approach by using a compression spring that pushes the hose back to its rest position. This inversion eliminates the need to overcome initial pre-compression forces and provides more consistent operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the spring has an asymmetrical design with curved and straight sections, then it provides structural stability, but it creates direction-dependent restoring forces and increased initial resistance to movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry in a controlled manner by positioning the curved section specifically at the dispensing device end while keeping the connecting device end straight. This targeted asymmetry provides the necessary flexibility for deformation while maintaining stable mounting, and the symmetry in the straight sections ensures consistent restoring force in all directions.
3Volume of moving object
If the spring windings are close together, then the spring is compact, but it requires more material and creates increased friction and resistance during deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by spacing the windings apart specifically in the active deformation region of the spring, while maintaining a compact overall structure. This local spacing reduces friction and resistance during deformation without significantly increasing the overall volume or material usage.
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 provides a comfortable, fatigue-free operation with reduced initial resistance and material usage, allowing for smooth handling and efficient water jet direction control without the need for high force thresholds, while maintaining stability and restoring force.
Implementation Method 1
The coil spring (5) has a curved spring axis in a first section (6), the inner tube (4) of the outlet (1) being guided inside the coil spring (5), so that the inner tube (4) follows the course of the coil spring (5)... the helical spring is (partially) designed as a (pure) compression spring... This enables comfortable and fatigue-free operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a reversibly deformable outlet (1) for tap water, wherein the outlet has a connecting device (2) for mechanical fastening and establishing a fluidic connection to a water supply network, wherein the outlet has a dispensing device (3) for dispensing the tap water, and wherein the outlet has a flexible inner hose (4) which establishes a fluidic connection between the connecting device and the dispensing device, so that tap water fed into the connecting device passes through the inner hose to the dispensing device and is dispensed there, wherein the outlet has at least one helical spring (5) which gives the outlet its shape and reversible deformability, wherein the helical spring holds the dispensing device on the connecting device and has a spring axis that is curved in the rest state in a first section (6).wherein the inner tube is guided inside the helical spring, so that the inner tube follows the path of the helical spring. According to the invention, it is provided that the coils of the helical spring are spaced apart from each other in such a way that they do not touch at any point when the outlet is in its rest position.