Compact Drain Fittings With Multiple Pipes For High Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drain fittings for showers and bathtubs have insufficient drainage capacity, particularly with modern shower systems that supply more water, and existing solutions do not effectively address the need for increased drainage without enlarging the drain cross-section or increasing the fitting's size.

Innovation Solution

A drain fitting design featuring multiple drain pipes with a larger cross-section than conventional single pipes, where the connecting pieces on the drain body are positioned higher than its underside, allowing for a compact size while enhancing drainage capacity and preventing dirt and hair deposits by maintaining a good gradient in the drain pipe.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple drain pipes are used to increase drainage capacity, then the drainage capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage capacityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drain fitting is divided into multiple separate drain pipes (at least two) instead of using a single large pipe. Each drain pipe has its own connection spigot on the drain body and adapter, allowing the system to handle higher water volumes through parallel flow paths while keeping individual pipe components simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple drain pipes are combined into a single drain body assembly with integrated connection spigots. The adapter merges the flow from multiple pipes into a unified connection point for the wastewater pipe, achieving high drainage capacity while maintaining a compact overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the drain body size is increased to accommodate larger drain pipes, then the drainage capacity is improved, but the compact design is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage capacityVSAvoiddrain fitting size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connection spigots are positioned on the upper surface of the drain body rather than on the sides or bottom. This vertical arrangement allows multiple drain pipes to be connected in a compact footprint, achieving high drainage capacity without increasing the horizontal dimensions of the drain fitting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter is designed to receive multiple drain pipes and nest them into a compact configuration that connects to a single wastewater pipe. This nested arrangement allows multiple flow paths to be consolidated into a small space, maintaining compact overall dimensions while providing high drainage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If connection spigots are positioned at the standard level on the drain body, then the ease of installation is improved, but dirt and hair deposits accumulate due to poor gradient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoiddirt and hair deposits
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection spigots are pre-positioned on the upper surface of the drain body at a higher level than the drain body's underside. This preliminary design feature ensures that drain pipes can be installed with the correct downward gradient from the shower tray to the wastewater pipe, preventing dirt and hair accumulation before installation occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The elevated position of connection spigots creates a natural gravitational gradient that ensures wastewater flows smoothly from the shower tray through the drain pipes to the adapter. This equipotential design eliminates stagnant areas where dirt and hair could accumulate, maintaining continuous flow conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentEP2014840B1Drain fittings for showers or bathtubs
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 VIEGA TECHNOLOGY GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2014840B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2014840B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The fitting has a drain body (1) comprising or forming a drain trap, and an adapter piece for connecting to a wastewater disposal line (12). A connecting piece (11) is formed on the drain body and the adapter piece for connection of a drain tube (10). The drain body is connected with the adapter piece by the drain tube, where a free cross-section of the drain tube is larger than a free cross-section of other drain tube with circular cross-section. The connection piece comprises a pipe joint (14).