Pet Water Dispenser Guide Plate Scattering Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pet water dispensers are inadequate in ensuring clean water supply and comfort for pets, as they often suffer from contamination, water scattering, and inefficient water management, particularly when pets are left alone and communication with owners is difficult.

Innovation Solution

A pet water dispenser design featuring a water tank with a pump, a water supply plate, and a water guide that directs water back into the tank, incorporating a filter assembly, sterilizing filter, and illumination, ensuring clean water and preventing contamination, while the water guide's design prevents water scattering and allows pets to drink comfortably.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If water is supplied directly to pets without a guide structure, then the drinking process is simple, but water scatters and causes contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater scattering and contaminationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A water guide structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the water supply and the pet drinking area. This guide structure channels water in a controlled manner, preventing scattering while directing water flow to the appropriate location, thus eliminating contamination without requiring complex system architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The water supply system is segmented into distinct functional zones: a water supply channel, a water guide structure with specific geometric features (inclined surfaces and vertical walls), and a drinking area. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function efficiently while maintaining overall system simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a water guide structure is added to prevent water scattering, then water contamination is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater quality maintenanceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water guide structure incorporates curved inclined surfaces and rounded geometric features that naturally guide water flow through gravity and surface tension effects. These curved surfaces are more effective at controlling fluid flow than sharp angles, while maintaining a simple, elegant structure that does not add significant complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The water guide structure utilizes the natural properties of water (gravity, surface tension, viscosity) to control its own flow path without requiring additional active control mechanisms. The geometric design of the guide allows water to self-direct into the drinking area, eliminating the need for pumps, valves, or electronic controls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If pets are left alone without proper water supply, then the system is simple, but water quality deteriorates and contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater quality assuranceVSAvoidmonitoring capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a camera that continuously monitors the pet drinking area and a processor that analyzes the video feed to detect water quality issues, contamination, or abnormal pet behavior. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain water quality and alert owners remotely, enabling reliable operation even when pets are left alone for extended periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Manual monitoring and water quality checking are replaced with an automated visual inspection system using computer vision technology. The camera and processor system automatically detects issues without requiring physical intervention, replacing the need for owners to manually check water quality while pets are away

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 reliable, clean water supply and comfortable drinking experience for pets by filtering water, preventing contamination, and ensuring water is guided back into the tank, reducing the risk of scattering and maintaining water quality.

Implementation Method 1

a pump (20) installed in the water tank (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

incorporating a filter assembly, sterilizing filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a water guide (50) provided to be below and spaced apart from the water supply plate (30) to receive the water dropped from the water supply plate (30)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3626056B1Liquid dispenser for animals
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3626056B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3626056B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3626056B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pet water dispenser may include a water tank, a pump installed inside the water tank, a water supply pipe connected to the pump to transfer water, and a water supply plate provided at a position higher than an upper end of the water tank and through which water supplied from the water supply pipe flows. The water supply plate may be provided to be spaced apart and above a water guide configured to catch water falling from an edge of the water supply plate and to guide the dropped water back into the water tank.