Drain Assembly Insert Element Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain assemblies require significant installation space and suffer from premature seal wear due to constant water flow over the valve seal when open, leading to reduced seal life and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A compact drain assembly design featuring a valve body mounted on an insert element, allowing for simplified assembly and removal, with an overflow pipe extending upward to bridge the valve, and a pivotable valve flap that prevents water overflow and maintains flow efficiency, along with a return element to ensure proper closure and a seal between the insert element and receptacle for water containment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the valve body is mounted directly in the drain pipe, then the structure is simpler, but the assembly and removal of the valve body becomes difficult and access for cleaning is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is separated from the drain pipe structure by introducing an insert element as an intermediate component. The insert element can be independently removed from the drain pipe, allowing the valve body to be accessed, cleaned, or replaced without dismantling the entire drain pipe assembly. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural simplicity while improving maintenance accessibility.
2Volume of stationary object
If a compact drain assembly design is implemented, then installation space is reduced, but assembly complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drain assembly is divided into modular components including the drain pipe, insert element, and valve body assembly. These segmented components can be manufactured separately and assembled in a compact configuration, reducing overall installation space while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert element is inserted into the drain pipe, and the valve body is mounted on the insert element, creating a nested structure. This nesting approach achieves compact design by utilizing internal space within the drain pipe assembly, thereby reducing the overall volume required for installation without significantly increasing assembly complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the valve body is fixed directly in the drain pipe, then the structure is more stable, but the valve body and attached components cannot be easily removed for cleaning or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is mounted on the insert element rather than being fixed directly to the drain pipe. The insert element serves as a removable intermediate structure that can be extracted from the drain pipe, allowing the valve body and any components attached to it to be easily removed for cleaning or replacement while maintaining structural stability during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A drain assembly for connection to a sanitary-appliance, comprising: a drain pipe having a pipe inlet and a pipe outlet and a valve arranged in a valve section of the drain pipe having a sealing face and a valve body, wherein the valve body can be moved away from the sealing face from a closed to an open position by an actuating element. Also included is an overflow pipe, which extends away from the drain tube from a first branch lying upstream of the valve seen in the direction of flow of the water to a second branch lying downstream of the valve seen in the direction of flow and thereby bridges the valve. The valve body is at least partially mounted on an insert element; the drain pipe has an insert receptacle; and the insert element can be inserted into the insert receptacle on the drain pipe.