Watercraft Drain Plug with Bayonet Sealing Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watercraft drainage systems, particularly those with rubber and/or duck bill valves, are prone to failure when left unattended or stored overnight in water, leading to potential sinking of the vessel.
Innovation Solution
A fail-safe sealing system featuring a self-bailing drain plug with a ball check valve and a sealing cap that uses a bayonet-style locking assembly to secure the sealing cap to the ball retaining pin, ensuring a watertight seal and preventing water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rubber and/or duck bill valves are used in drain plugs, then the drain plug can be opened to drain water from the watercraft, but the drain plug may fail when the watercraft is left unattended or stored overnight
Solution Approach 1:
The drain plug system performs sealing and draining functions automatically without requiring manual operation or external power. The ball check valve self-activates based on water pressure differential, and the bayonet locking mechanism self-secures when the sealing cap is inserted, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static sealing (rubber valves requiring manual operation) to dynamic sealing (ball check valve responding to water pressure). The ball moves automatically between sealed and open positions based on pressure differential, and the bayonet locking provides dynamic mechanical security that engages when the sealing cap is inserted.
2Reliability
If a sealing cap is secured to the drain plug to prevent water ingress, then water-tight sealing is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into distinct functional segments: the drain plug body, the ball check valve mechanism, the sealing cap, and the bayonet locking assembly. Each segment performs a specific function and can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bayonet locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the sealing cap and the drain plug body. It provides a simple yet effective mechanical connection that ensures the sealing cap remains securely attached without requiring complex fastening systems or multiple components.
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 system effectively prevents water from entering the watercraft by maintaining a secure seal, even when the vessel is left unattended or stored in water, thereby enhancing safety and reducing the risk of sinking.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve including a ball disposed within the fluid conduit and being surrounded by the outer wall
Implementation Method 2
a sealing cap having a bayonet-style locking assembly that locks onto the ball retaining pin for securing the sealing cap to the proximal end of the outer wall
Implementation Method 3
the sealing cap has a sealing washer projecting from a washer groove formed therein that is configured to engage the proximal face for forming the water-tight seal
Data Source
AI summary
A fail-safe sealing system for a watercraft includes a self-bailing drain plug having an outer wall with a proximal end having a proximal opening, a distal end having a distal opening, and a fluid conduit that extends from the proximal opening to the distal opening. The sealing system includes a check valve including a ball disposed within the fluid conduit and being surrounded by the outer wall, and a ball retaining pin extending between opposite lateral sides of the outer wall adjacent the proximal opening for preventing the ball from passing through the proximal opening. The sealing system includes a sealing cap having a bayonet-style locking assembly that locks onto the ball retaining pin for securing the sealing cap to the proximal end of the outer wall for forming a water-tight seal with the proximal end of the outer wall of the self-bailing drain plug.