Elastic Drain Hose Beak Prevents Air Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water drain hoses for motor vehicles, particularly sunroofs, often produce gurgling noises when the vehicle is in motion due to air entering the hose under negative pressure, which existing solutions fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A water drain hose with a beak-shaped mouthpiece made of thin, elastic material that closes even at low negative pressure, featuring an S-shaped profile to ensure a tight seal and prevent air ingress, allowing for efficient water discharge without additional valves or complex installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mouthpiece is made of thin, elastic material to close at low negative pressure, then air ingress is prevented and gurgling noises are eliminated, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece is formed from thin-walled elastic material that can deform in response to negative pressure. The elastic membrane automatically closes the opening when subjected to vacuum forces during vehicle motion, preventing air ingress without requiring complex mechanical valves or precision-controlled rigid structures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the mouthpiece opening is made narrow to prevent air entry, then gurgling noises are reduced, but water discharge capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece opening dynamically adjusts its size based on pressure conditions. During normal operation with positive or zero pressure, the opening remains sufficiently wide to allow efficient water discharge. When negative pressure occurs during vehicle motion, the elastic material deforms to close the opening, preventing air ingress and gurgling noises.
3Reliability
If closing lips are used to seal the opening, then air ingress is prevented, but the hose requires specific installation conditions and back pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic mouthpiece material serves its own sealing function through its inherent elasticity. When negative pressure occurs, the material automatically deforms to close the opening without requiring separate closing lips, springs, or other active sealing mechanisms. This self-actuating design eliminates the need for specific installation conditions such as requiring the hose end to be at the lowest point or having sufficient back pressure.
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 prevents gurgling noises by ensuring the mouthpiece closes at slight negative pressures, reducing production costs and simplifying installation while maintaining high functional reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the mouthpiece consists of the thin, elastic material, so that it closes even at a very low negative pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The pipe (1) has ends made of a thin elastic material, where the ends extend in the form of a nozzle (2) to form an inlet opening (3) without the effect of force. The nozzle is elastically deformed, such that the opening is closed when pressure in the pipe is low, where the nozzle is surrounded by a protective coating. The opening has s-shaped course, and a projection (4) is attached at an outer end area of the pipe. A section is connected at the end area, where the wall of the section has a wave-like course in a longitudinal section.