Drain Valve Segmented Venting for Odor and Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drain valves for urinals and floor drains are inefficient in preventing odor escape and contamination, prone to clogging, and require frequent chemical treatment, which is costly and environmentally harmful. They also face issues with pneumatic and hydraulic pressure leading to incorrect operation and potential deformation.
Innovation Solution
A drain valve design featuring a housing with a raised strut, a post, and a skirt valve made of resilient elastomeric material, incorporating a venting system that shuts down when the liquid level exceeds a certain point, allowing high flow rates while preventing gas flow back, and including a modular construction for easy assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mechanical valve is provided at a drain opening to prevent gas escape, then odor prevention is improved, but pneumatic and hydraulic pressure build-up occurs causing valve deformation and incorrect operation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: a first valve member for liquid flow control, a second valve member for gas venting, and a float mechanism for coordinated operation. This segmentation allows independent optimization of liquid sealing and gas venting functions, preventing pressure build-up while maintaining odor prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
A vent passage acts as an intermediary channel between the drain system and the external environment. This intermediary pathway allows pneumatic pressure to be relieved without compromising the liquid seal, preventing valve deformation while maintaining odor prevention during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a liquid drain trap is used to prevent odor escape, then odor prevention is improved, but pneumatic pressure acts on the underside of the drain valve causing excessive pressure build-up and valve deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The trap structure is segmented with a dedicated vent passage that separates gas pressure relief from liquid flow control. This allows the liquid trap to maintain its odor-sealing function while the vent passage actively manages pneumatic pressure, preventing excessive stress on the valve components.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent passage serves as an intermediary pressure relief pathway that bypasses the valve underside. By providing this alternative route for gas escape, the system prevents pressure accumulation that would otherwise act on the valve underside, maintaining structural integrity while preserving the trap's odor prevention capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional open drains are flushed regularly with water to prevent contamination and odor, then sanitation is improved, but significant volumes of liquid are consumed representing water waste
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly provides self-service sanitation by automatically preventing odor and contaminant escape through mechanical sealing. The first valve member maintains a liquid seal that continuously blocks contaminants without requiring external flushing, eliminating the need for regular water consumption while maintaining drain sanitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the chemical/water-based cleaning approach with a mechanical sealing system. The valve members create physical barriers that prevent contaminant escape, substituting the need for periodic water flushing with continuous mechanical protection, thereby eliminating water waste while maintaining sanitation.
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 solution effectively reduces odor escape, minimizes clogging, and allows for efficient flushing with reduced water usage, while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly, maintaining correct operation under varying pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a skirt valve made of resilient elastomeric material
Implementation Method 2
a venting system that shuts down when the liquid level exceeds a certain point
Implementation Method 3
fluid can flow down a drain under the action of gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
Figure 8
AI summary
A drain valve device includes a drain valve housing (40, 56, 90, 104) arranged to be located within a drain opening. The housing (40, 56, 90, 104) has a wall structure (42, 1 19) surrounding an axis (46) so as to define an internal flow passage (156) through the housing (40, 56, 90, 104) and a strut member (58, 59, 148, 166) depending radially inwardly from the wall structure (42, 1 19). The device has one or more valve members (10, 88, 138, 146, 155, 160). A gas vent passage (136) may be provided in the housing and a vent valve (146) or control member (168) may be provided to selectively prevent flow through the gas vent passage (136).