Animal Drinking Post Valve Layout to Prevent Freezing and Drain Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The prior art animal watering fountain faces issues with drainage blockage and freezing due to water covering the release valve, difficulty in reinstalling the valve assembly, and flapper breakage.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves elevating the city water outlet above the leech field using a stand and crossbar for stabilization, adding ribs inside the bowl for easy valve conduit assembly removal, redesigning and strengthening the flapper, and providing training flapper embodiments to prevent breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the water outlet is placed at ground level connected to underground water line, then installation is simple, but drain water covers the release valve causing drainage blockage and freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent elevates the water outlet from ground level to above-ground position using a vertical PVC pipe structure. This dimensional change in vertical positioning allows the outlet to be accessed above the frost line while maintaining connection to the underground water line, preventing both drainage blockage and freezing issues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure consisting of a vertical PVC pipe, stand, and crossbar assembly that mediates between the underground water line and the above-ground water outlet. This intermediary structure protects the release valve from drain water coverage while maintaining water flow functionality
2Temperature
If the valve assembly conduit is installed underground connected to water line, then freeze prevention is achieved, but difficulty removing and re-installing the valve assembly after maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve assembly conduit into removable sections that can be detached from the underground water line. The stand and crossbar structure are designed as separate components that can be assembled and disassembled independently, facilitating easy maintenance while maintaining freeze prevention through proper underground connection
Solution Approach 2:
The stand and crossbar serve as intermediary components that facilitate the connection between the underground water line and the above-ground valve assembly. These intermediaries provide structural support and alignment features that simplify the removal and reinstallation process while maintaining the frozen protection benefit
3Ease of manufacture
If the city water outlet is positioned low in the PVC pipe, then installation is simple, but drain water covers the release valve causing blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the vertical dimension of the water outlet position from low in the PVC pipe to above the leech field level. This elevation uses the vertical space within the PVC pipe structure to position the outlet above the drain water level, preventing blockage while maintaining installation simplicity through the integrated stand design
Data Source
AI summary
An intake valve and a drain system are located in the lower portion of a stanchion or outer pipe which is preferably dimensioned so that these structures can be located below the frost line underground so as not to be subject to freezing. The intake valve structure includes a body which fits tightly within the stanchion and which has a central bore which receives, at its uppermost end, the lower end of the conduit. The lower end of the bore is fitted with threads or other convenient means for connecting a conduit representing a source of water which is under sufficient pressure to allow the water to rise in the stanchion conduit and fill the basin. The improvements to the prior art include a stand or stabilizing means to secure the city water vertical outlet port at least about four to six inches above the bottom of the outer pipe. This facilitates removal of the intake valve structure from the city water outlet port. Other improvements include a reinforced pivot axis on the flapper, training and raised flappers, and ribs inside the bowl to assist unscrewing the intake valve structure.