Dome Flapper Animal Drinking Post Valve Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing animal watering fountain designs face issues such as drainage blockage and freezing due to water pooling, difficulty in maintaining and reinstalling the valve assembly, and flapper breakage, which affect the functionality and durability of the system.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a stand to support the city water outlet above the leech field, an elevated crossbar for stabilization, a lower block to centralize the outlet, ribs inside the bowl for easy valve assembly removal, a strengthened and redesigned flapper with a dome for training, and improved drainage features to prevent pooling and freezing, along with a single moving valve body and enhanced mushroom/rubber seal components for better functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the city water outlet is placed at the base of the PVC pipe, then the structure is simple, but drainage water covers the release valve causing drainage blockage and freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical stand structure with a central pipe guide that raises the city water outlet above the leech field level. This dimensional change in vertical positioning separates the water outlet from the drainage path, preventing drain water from covering the release valve while maintaining structural simplicity through the integrated stand design.
2Temperature
If the valve assembly conduit is installed underground (two to seven feet), then freeze prevention is achieved, but difficulty removing and re-installing the valve assembly after maintenance occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve assembly into a removable upper portion and a fixed underground connection. The stand with central pipe guide allows the valve assembly to be detached and reattached without disturbing the underground frozen water line, enabling easy maintenance while preserving freeze protection through the buried connection point.
3Ease of operation
If the flapper is made lightweight for easy operation, then animal activation is easier, but broken flappers occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite construction for the flapper, combining lightweight materials for ease of animal activation with reinforced structural elements and improved pivot assembly components. This composite approach maintains the flapper's responsiveness to animal contact while significantly enhancing its resistance to breaking through strengthened materials and design.
4Reliability
If drainage holes are made small, then clogging is reduced, but water pooling occurs adjacent to the drinking fountain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different drainage hole sizes in different locations of the bowl - smaller holes in areas prone to debris accumulation to prevent clogging, and larger holes or additional drainage paths in areas where water flow is needed to prevent pooling. This localized variation in hole size optimizes both drainage clarity and prevents water accumulation adjacent to the fountain.
Data Source
AI summary
An intake valve and a drain system are located in the lower portion of a stanchion or outer pipe which is preferably dimensioned so that these structures can be located below the frost line underground so as not to be subject to freezing. The intake valve structure includes a body which fits tightly within the stanchion and which has a central bore which receives, at its uppermost end, the lower end of the conduit. The lower end of the bore can be fitted with a metal fitting and a guide washer. The improvements to the prior art include a second drain over the top of the bowl via indents. A concave collar under the bowl guides the water-carrying pipe. A new flapper has a boot type pressure point and a metal pivot assembly. A new valve is overmolded using a hard plastic interior and a soft plastic top.