Drain Valve With Foldable Pull Tab For Cistern Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drain valves for sanitary cisterns, particularly concealed cisterns, are difficult to install and remove due to their long design and the need for additional alignment and fixing components, making handling during assembly and disassembly challenging through small inspection openings.
Innovation Solution
The drain valve features an integrated spacer at its upper end, allowing for alignment and fixation without additional parts, with a pivotable pull tab that can be folded to shorten the valve's length, and a rotatable spacer design that simplifies handling, including a locking mechanism for secure folding and three-dimensionally structured gripping surfaces for secure handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drain valves are designed with separate alignment and fixing components, then the alignment and fixing function is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to multiple parts and difficult handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the alignment and fixing functions into an integrated spacer component that is part of the drain valve assembly. This single component performs multiple functions (alignment, positioning, and fixing) that previously required separate parts, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the reliability of alignment and fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer component is designed to serve multiple purposes: it provides alignment guidance, maintains proper positioning during installation, and ensures correct fixing orientation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate alignment tools or additional fixing components, simplifying the overall device structure.
2Reliability
If the drain valve has a long design for proper functionality, then the functional performance is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult handling through small inspection openings
Solution Approach 1:
The pull tab is designed to be movable between an extended position (for normal operation) and a folded position (for installation and removal). This dynamic configuration allows the drain valve to maintain its full functional length during operation while reducing its effective length during assembly, making it easier to handle through small inspection openings without compromising functional performance.
3Ease of operation
If the pull tab is made foldable to shorten the valve length, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional pivot connections
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot connection for the foldable pull tab is integrated into the existing spacer structure rather than being a separate component. The spacer serves as both the alignment/fixing element and the pivot bearing structure, combining multiple functions into a single element and minimizing the increase in device complexity while enabling the pull tab to fold for easier handling.
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
This design simplifies the installation and removal of the drain valve by allowing intuitive alignment and fixation, reducing the length for easier handling through small inspection openings, while maintaining compact dimensions and ensuring secure locking during assembly and disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
a buoyancy body is provided
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a drain valve for a sanitary flushing cistern, in particular a flush-mounted flushing cistern, including a valve housing and a valve body guided in the valve housing and configured as an overflow pipe having a seal assigned to a valve seat, wherein the valve body is provided with at least one pull tab for lifting the valve body, and one buoyant body.