Elastic Membrane Odor Trap for Wastewater Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing odor traps face issues with water evaporation and contamination, leading to ineffective sealing and odor leakage due to sensitivity to humidity and accumulation of substances, especially in environments with higher air movement and lower humidity.
Innovation Solution
A waterless odor trap design featuring a flow-through element connected to a receiving element, where the membrane's sealing lip rests in wastewater, ensuring continuous moisture and preventing substances from lodging between the membrane and flow element, thus maintaining effective sealing and preventing odor passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane is used to prevent backflow and vermin entry, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the membrane becomes sensitive to contamination by substances in wastewater that can prevent proper closing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a receiving element as an intermediary component between the membrane and the contaminated wastewater environment. This receiving element collects wastewater and positions it to wash the membrane's outer surface, creating a mediating cleaning action that protects the membrane from contamination while maintaining its sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-cleaning functionality where the flowing wastewater automatically cleans the membrane surface during normal operation. The membrane is positioned to be washed by the wastewater flow, enabling it to self-remove contaminants without external intervention, thus maintaining long-term sealing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If seal water is used in water-conducting odor traps, then odor sealing is achieved, but water evaporation in low humidity environments causes insufficient water to maintain the seal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the water-based mechanical sealing system with a membrane-based elastic sealing system. Instead of relying on water to block odors, an elastic membrane physically closes the opening, eliminating dependence on water presence and making the system effective in low humidity environments where water evaporation would compromise the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the sealing mechanism from a water-dependent parameter to a membrane elasticity parameter. By transitioning from liquid-based sealing to elastic material-based sealing, the system's performance becomes independent of humidity levels and water evaporation rates.
3Reliability
If flaps are used instead of siphon to avoid water evaporation issues, then odor sealing is maintained without water, but flaps are particularly vulnerable to hard water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible elastic membrane instead of rigid flap structures. This thin film approach provides effective odor sealing while being less susceptible to hard water damage compared to traditional flap mechanisms, as the membrane can be designed to resist mineral deposition and maintain its elastic properties.
4Reliability
If the membrane must lie completely close to the flow-through element for effectiveness, then sealing is achieved, but tolerance sensitivity makes the system prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the dynamic elasticity of the membrane to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. The elastic membrane can deform and adapt to slight variations in the flow-through element's dimensions, maintaining effective sealing without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and manufacturing precision.
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 odor leakage by maintaining a moist contact surface and ensuring the membrane remains functional, meeting DIN-EN 1253 standards and reducing maintenance needs, while avoiding the issues of water-conducting traps.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic membrane is arranged, which allows a fluid flowing through the odor trap to flow through in an outflow direction and avoids the passage of the fluid in a countercurrent direction opposite to the outflow direction in that the membrane sealingly rests on the inside of the flow element
Implementation Method 2
The water evaporates or is sucked back into the sewer line. This means that there is no longer enough water to create the odor trap and unpleasant smells arise.
Implementation Method 3
a sealing lip of the membrane sits in the wastewater remaining in the receiving element after the flow has passed through
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
To reduce maintenance requirements and simplify manufacturing, a trap 2 for sealing a wastewater pipe or the like against backflow of vapors or odors from this wastewater pipe into a room or environment, particularly for use in a sanitary room such as a shower, is proposed to have an external flow-through element 31 in which an elastic membrane 28 is arranged such that it allows a flowing fluid to pass through in an outflow direction and prevents the passage of the fluid in a counterflow direction by the membrane 28 sealingly against the inside of the flow-through element 31. The flow-through element 31 is further proposed to be connectable to a receiving element 21 designed for receiving fluid in such a way that, after the fluid has flowed through in the outflow direction, fluid remains in the receiving element.wherein the flow-through element, at least with its lower sealing end, at which the membrane 28 seals against the inside, is seated in the receiving element such that a sealing lip of the membrane 28 is located in the fluid remaining in the receiving element after the flow-through.