Drain Fitting Snorkel Float Chamber for Quiet Cistern Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain fittings for cisterns produce loud noises during the closing process due to high-speed movement of the valve body, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A drain fitting design featuring a valve body with a sealing element and a float that moves within a float chamber, where the float chamber has a snorkel section with a smaller cross-section than the base section, allowing air to equalize pressure and reduce the water pressure on the float, thereby minimizing noise during closure. The float is designed with a column and lower section that extends around an overflow pipe, optimizing the closing process without increasing the size of the fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the valve body moves quickly from the flushing position to the closing position, then the flushing function is efficient, but loud noises are generated when the closing body hits the valve seat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing air into the float chamber through control passages before the valve body completes its closing motion. This air cushion reduces the impact speed of the valve body against the valve seat, thereby cushioning the harmful impact and reducing noise while maintaining efficient flushing performance
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the volume of the float chamber is increased to reduce water pressure on the float, then noise is reduced, but the size of the drain fitting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a snorkel section with different characteristics than the base section. The snorkel section has a smaller cross-section but is positioned to specifically reduce water pressure on the float during closing, providing localized noise reduction without requiring a proportional increase in the overall float chamber volume
3Volume of stationary object
If the cross section of the snorkel section is made smaller than the base section, then the volume is optimized without increasing size, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the float chamber into two distinct sections: a base section and a snorkel section. This segmentation allows each section to have optimized dimensions for its specific function, with the snorkel section having a smaller cross-section to reduce water pressure on the float while maintaining overall compactness
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
The design significantly reduces noise during the closing process by minimizing the water pressure on the float, allowing for a quieter operation while maintaining the functionality and size of the drain fitting.
Implementation Method 1
air can enter the float chamber from areas outside the float chamber, such that the pressure conditions between the float chamber and the areas outside the float chamber can be equalized
Implementation Method 2
the float being movable within the float chamber along the central axis and working hydraulically with the float chamber
Implementation Method 3
with the increased volume of the float, the proportion of water that presses on the float in the float chamber can be reduced
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a drain fitting (1) for a flush tank, comprising a valve body (2) having a sealing element (4), which interacts with a valve seat (3), and having a float (5), wherein the valve body (2) together with the sealing element (4) for the valve seat (3) can be moved along a center axis (M) from an idle position into a flushing position and from the flushing position into the idle position, and comprising a float chamber (6) having an opening (28), through which the valve body (2) extends, wherein the float (5) can be moved within the float chamber (6) along the center axis (M) and hydraulically interacts with the float chamber (6). The float chamber (6) comprises at least one control passage (7), through which, as soon as a flushing water level (S) surrounding the drain fitting (1) is lowered to the height of the control passage (7), air can enter the float chamber (6) from regions (8) outside of the float chamber (6) in such a way that pressure can be equalized between the float chamber (6) and the regions (8) outside of the float chamber (6), wherein the float (5) can be moved from the flushing position into the idle position upon equalization of pressure. The float chamber (6) has a base section (9), which extends completely around the center axis (M), and a snorkel section (10), which adjoins the base section (9). Viewed transversely to the center axis (M), the cross-section of the snorkel section (10) is preferably smaller than the cross-section of the base section (9), wherein a column section (11) of the float (5) extends into the snorkel section (10).