Cistern Drain Fitting Snorkel Float Chamber Noise Reduction
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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 disadvantageous under hydrostatic and hydrodynamic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A drain fitting design featuring a valve body with a sealing element and a float chamber that includes 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, while maintaining the volume and functionality of the fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the valve body moves quickly from flushing position to closed position, then the flushing function is effective, but loud noises are generated during closing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a float chamber that fills with water during flushing and then equalizes pressure with the surrounding water through control passages during closing. This pre-filled chamber acts as a cushion, allowing the valve body to close more slowly and quietly without compromising flushing effectiveness. The water in the float chamber absorbs the impact and reduces the closing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by introducing a float chamber filled with water that communicates with the surrounding water through control passages. The hydraulic connection allows pressure equalization between the float chamber and the cistern water, enabling controlled movement of the valve body during closing while reducing noise through fluid-mediated pressure balancing.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the float chamber volume is increased to reduce noise, then noise is reduced, but the size of the drain assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The float chamber is designed to nest around the valve body, with the valve body extending through the float chamber. This nested arrangement allows the float chamber to provide noise-reducing volume without significantly increasing the overall footprint of the drain assembly. The float chamber effectively utilizes the space around the existing valve body.
Solution Approach 2:
The float chamber extends in the vertical dimension along the central axis, allowing the valve body to move vertically within it. This vertical extension provides the necessary volume for noise reduction while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint, effectively using the third dimension to solve the size-constraint problem.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a weight is added to enable partial flushing, then flushing options are increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The float chamber with its control passages automatically equalizes pressure with the surrounding water through hydraulic connection, enabling the valve body to return to the closed position without requiring additional weights or complex return mechanisms. The system uses the surrounding water pressure itself to service the return motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The float chamber serves multiple functions: it enables both full and partial flushing options, provides noise reduction during closing, and automatically returns the valve body to the closed position through pressure equalization. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require separate mechanisms for each function.
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 optimizing the buoyancy and movement of the valve body, ensuring a quieter operation without compromising the size or functionality of the drain fitting.
Implementation Method 1
air from areas outside the float chamber can enter 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 can be moved from the flushing position to the resting position when the pressure conditions are equalized
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A drain assembly (1) for a cistern, comprising a valve body (2) with a sealing element (4) cooperating with a valve seat (3) and a float (5), wherein the valve body (2) with the sealing element (4) is movable from the valve seat (3) along a central axis (M) from a rest position to a flush position and from the flush position to the rest position, and a float chamber (6) with an opening (28) through which the valve body (2) extends, wherein the float (5) is movable within the float chamber (6) along the central axis (M) and hydraulically cooperates with the float chamber (6).The float chamber (6) comprises at least one control passage (7) through which, as soon as the flushing water level (S) surrounding the drain assembly (1) has dropped to the level of the control passage (7), air from areas (8) outside the float chamber (6) can enter the float chamber (6) in such a way that the pressure conditions between the float chamber (6) and the areas (8) outside the float chamber (6) can be equalized, whereby the float (5) can be moved from the flushing position to the rest position when the pressure conditions are equalized. The float chamber (6) has a base section (9) extending completely around the central axis (M) and a snorkel section (10) adjoining the base section (9).Preferably, the cross-section of the snorkel section (10) is smaller when viewed transversely to the central axis (M) than the cross-section of the base section (9), wherein the float (5) extends into the snorkel section (10) with a column section (11).