Drinking Water Dispenser Outlet With Separated Exit Planes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinking-water dispensers face issues with contamination of drinking water by mixed water residues and simultaneous discharge of both, which degrade water quality.
Innovation Solution
The outlet element features three separate water routes with distinct exit planes, allowing for the selective dispensing of treated drinking water and mixed water in different spray patterns, and includes mechanical and electronic control elements to manage these routes, ensuring separation and preventing simultaneous discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single outlet is used for both drinking water and mixed water, then device complexity is reduced, but drinking water quality deteriorates due to contamination by mixed water residues
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet element is divided into three separate water routes (first, second, and third routes) with distinct exit planes. The first and second routes discharge mixed water, while the third route exclusively dispenses drinking water. This segmentation physically separates the water flows to prevent contamination, with the third exit plane positioned at least 1 mm apart from the first and second exit planes to ensure spatial separation.
2Ease of operation
If independent control of drinking water and mixed water discharge is provided, then user convenience is improved, but simultaneous discharge of both waters occurs causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet element incorporates a dynamic control mechanism that responds to user interaction (such as pressing a button or moving the outlet element) to selectively activate different water routes. When the outlet element is in a first state, the first and second water routes are activated for mixed water discharge. When in a second state, only the third water route is activated for drinking water discharge, preventing simultaneous discharge of both water types.
Data Source
AI summary
An outlet element for a drinking-water dispenser containing a first water route formed by the outlet element and opening on a first exit plane, water flowing through the first water route being dispensed via the outlet element, a second water route formed by the outlet element and opening on a second exit plane, water flowing through the second water route being dispensed via the outlet element, the second water route differing at least sectionally from the first water route, a third water route formed by the outlet element and opening on a third exit plane, water flowing through the third water route being dispensed via the outlet element, the third water route extending separately from the first water route and the second water route through the outlet element and the third exit plane having a distance of at least 1 mm from the first exit plane and the second exit plane.