Drain Device Spacer Prevents Backflow Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drainage devices with odor traps and backwater barriers face issues such as detachment due to soiling, difficulty in maintenance, and potential backflow problems, where the backwater barrier can be pushed upwards, leading to ineffective sealing and cleaning challenges.
Innovation Solution
The drainage device incorporates spacer elements between the insert element and the attachment element to prevent upward movement during backflow, ensuring liquid flows in the intended direction and maintaining a secure seal, while the closing element is biased by a spring to open and allow drainage, and the cover member is designed with spacer elements to prevent undesired movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the backflow preventer is designed to press against a sealing seat to prevent backflow, then backflow prevention is improved, but the device can be pushed upwards by excessive backflow pressure, causing detachment and ineffective sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spacers that constrain the insert element in the radial direction (perpendicular to the flow direction), preventing upward movement while allowing vertical movement for sealing. This dimensional constraint resolves the contradiction by blocking the escape path in the radial dimension while maintaining the sealing function in the vertical dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers act as intermediary elements between the insert element and the mounting piece, providing mechanical support and preventing direct upward movement of the insert element. These intermediaries absorb the backflow pressure and transfer it to the mounting piece structure, preventing detachment.
2Reliability
If the odor trap is screwed to the surrounding housing to prevent removal, then backflow prevention reliability is improved, but the device becomes almost impossible to remove for cleaning and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sealing system into separate components: the insert element with spacers provides mechanical support and sealing, while the mounting piece provides structural attachment. This segmentation allows the insert element to be removed independently for cleaning without compromising the permanent mounting of the overall device.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacers are extracted as separate elements that provide the necessary mechanical support to prevent upward movement. By taking out the function of preventing removal from the screw connection and assigning it to the spacers, the device allows easy removal of the insert element for cleaning while maintaining secure attachment of the overall assembly.
3Ease of repair
If simple removal for maintenance is enabled, then ease of repair is improved, but excessive backflow can cause the backflow preventer to be pushed upwards
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers serve as intermediary elements that remain in place during maintenance removal, providing continuous support to prevent upward movement of the insert element. When the insert element is reinstalled, the spacers ensure proper positioning and prevent detachment during operation, enabling both easy maintenance and reliable backflow prevention.
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
This design effectively prevents backwater from overflowing and ensures easy maintenance by preventing the insert element from being pushed out, maintaining a secure seal and allowing efficient drainage while allowing for easy cleaning and preventing backflow.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spacer element is arranged between the housing of the insert element and the cover element, wherein the at least one spacer element prevents movement of the housing in a second direction opposite to the first direction
Implementation Method 2
the closing element is biased by a spring to open and allow drainage
Implementation Method 3
the closing element in a first position seals an area of a liquid inlet against an area of a liquid outlet
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
A drainage device for liquids comprising a base body (10) and an extension element (20) connected to the base body (10), into which an insert element (30, 40) with a housing (30) and a movable closing element (40) is inserted. A cover element (50) is arranged on the extension element (20) and is partially permeable to liquid. The closing element (40) serves as a trap and backflow preventer, wherein the closing element (40) in a first, upper position in the installed position seals a liquid inlet against a liquid outlet, and the closing element (40) is movable downwards from the first position in the installed position to at least one further position that allows liquid to drain from the area of the liquid inlet to the area of the liquid outlet.The drainage device is characterized in that at least one spacer element (31, 32, 51a, 52a) is arranged between the housing (30) of the insert element and the cover element (50), wherein the at least one spacer element (31, 32, 51a, 52a) prevents upward movement of the housing (30).