Downspout Drain Filter With Sloped Cavity for Debris Clogging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water drainage systems for buildings and houses often fail to effectively filter debris from runoff water, leading to potential clogging and flooding of lower levels.
Innovation Solution
A downspout drain filter with a housing and filter media that includes a sloped surface and a filter plate to trap debris while allowing water to flow through, featuring an overflow mechanism to alert maintenance when clogging occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter media is added to the drainage system to filter debris, then debris filtration capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is divided into distinct functional segments: a housing structure, a filter media layer, and an overflow mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A filter media is introduced as an intermediary component between the inlet and outlet of the drainage system. This mediator traps debris particles while allowing water to pass through, effectively filtering debris without requiring complex mechanical filtering mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the internal cavity is made larger to accommodate more filter media, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but volume occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter media is arranged in a vertical dimension within the housing, utilizing the vertical space from inlet to outlet. This vertical arrangement allows sufficient filter media volume for effective filtration without requiring a larger horizontal footprint, thus maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal cavity is designed with a sloped surface that creates a concentrated filtration zone where the filter media is most needed. The cavity volume is optimized locally to hold sufficient filter media at the critical filtration interface while minimizing overall housing volume.
3Productivity
If a sloped surface is added to the internal cavity to facilitate drainage, then water flow efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sloped surface within the internal cavity is designed as a smooth curved surface rather than a series of sharp angles or complex geometric features. This curved sloped surface efficiently guides water flow from the inlet toward the outlet while being straightforward to manufacture using standard molding or forming processes.
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
Effectively filters debris from runoff water, preventing clogging and ensuring smooth water flow, with an alert system to notify maintenance of clogging issues.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one sloped surface extends into the internal cavity such that the internal cavity tapers in a direction that extends from the top end to the bottom end of the housing along the at least one sloped surface
Implementation Method 2
The filter media is disposed within the internal cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A downspout drain filter includes a housing having walls. The walls define an internal cavity operable to receive a filter media, an inlet to the internal cavity, and an outlet from the internal cavity. The walls include a sloped surface extending into the internal cavity along an intersection between a first of the walls and a second of the walls such that the internal cavity tapers in a direction that extends from the inlet to the outlet along the sloped surface.