Drain Plug With Helical Converging Conduit for Debris and Noise Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain plugs in the automotive industry fail to prevent debris and particles from passing through, while also allowing external noise to travel from the lower part of a vehicle's wall structure to the upper part, during water drainage from an upper part to a lower part.
Innovation Solution
A drain plug design featuring a helical fluid conduit with a converging cross-sectional area and optional siphon structures that create a complex fluid path to prevent backflow and noise transmission, using an attachment member and fluid flow member to securely engage with the wall structure and direct fluid flow from an inlet to an outlet port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional drain plug with straight fluid path is used, then simple structure and easy manufacture are achieved, but debris and particles can pass through freely and noise transmission is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a helical (curved) fluid conduit structure instead of a straight path. The helical geometry creates a complex flow path that forces water to spiral through the conduit, effectively trapping debris and particles while allowing water to pass. This curved path design resolves the contradiction by preventing debris passage without requiring additional filtering components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent varies the cross-sectional area of the helical conduit along its length, creating regions of different diameters. This parameter change optimizes flow characteristics - wider sections allow debris to settle while narrower sections maintain flow velocity to prevent backflow. This resolves the contradiction by achieving debris prevention through geometric parameter optimization rather than adding complex filtering mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a straight fluid path is used in the drain plug, then low acoustic dampening and simple structure are achieved, but external noise travels freely from lower to upper parts
Solution Approach 1:
The helical curved path of the fluid conduit creates multiple reflections and direction changes for sound waves traveling through the water flow. This curved geometry naturally dampens acoustic energy by scattering sound waves in multiple directions rather than allowing direct transmission, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and structural simplicity.
3Speed
If the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit is uniform, then easy manufacture and simple structure are achieved, but fluid speed is insufficient to prevent backflow of water and particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately varies the cross-sectional area parameter along the helical conduit length, creating a non-uniform geometry with wider and narrower sections. This parameter variation optimizes fluid dynamics by maintaining adequate flow velocity to prevent backflow while allowing for practical manufacturing methods. The gradual area changes resolve the contradiction by achieving flow speed control through geometric optimization rather than complex active flow control systems.
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
Effectively prevents splashes and debris from entering the upper part of the vehicle while minimizing noise transmission by enhancing fluid speed and acoustic dampening, ensuring efficient drainage and reduced noise interference.
Implementation Method 1
the cross-sectional area of said at least one first region is greater than the cross-sectional area of said at least one second region... the reduced cross-section area towards the outlet port increases the fluid speed compared to the inlet port
Implementation Method 2
the changing cross-sectional area may provide acoustic back-reflections and interferences that are configured to cancel or at least reduce any noise (sound waves) travelling towards the inlet port
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
The present invention provides a drain plug (100;200), comprising an attachment member (112;212), configured to fixingly couple into an aperture (H) of a wall structure (W), so as to provide a fluid path along a longitudinal axis of said attachment member (112;212) through the wall structure (W), and comprising a casing member (116;216) axially protruding along said longitudinal axis towards a distal end of said attachment member (112;212); and a fluid flow member (114;214), sealingly engageable with said casing member (116;216), comprising at least one fluid conduit (124;224), extending between an inlet port (126;226) and an outlet port (128;228) of said drain plug (100;200), said fluid conduit (124;224) comprising at least one first region towards said inlet port (126;226) and at least one second region, downstream of said at least one first region towards said outlet port (128;228), wherein the cross-sectional area of said at least one first region is greater than the cross-sectional area of said at least one second region.