Elastic Water Outlet Sealing to Stop Post-Shutoff Dripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water outlet devices, such as shower rods, experience prolonged dripping after water shut-off due to water accumulation, causing noise and potential slips, especially at night or in quiet environments.
Innovation Solution
A water stopping mechanism with elastic pad members that move between a sealing and open position in response to water pressure changes, featuring ventilation holes for pressure balance, ensuring automatic closure of water outlets to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional overhead shower structure is used, then water outlet function is simple, but water continues to drip for a long time after water shut-off due to water accumulation in cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses elastic pad members (flexible elements) that can deform elastically to seal the water outlet ports. These pad members are disposed in the water outlet chamber and can move between a retracted position (allowing water flow) and a protruding position (sealing the outlets to stop dripping). The elastic deformation capability allows the pad members to automatically respond to water pressure changes without complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The water stopping mechanism operates automatically based on water pressure changes. When water pressure increases, the pad members are pushed back to allow flow; when water pressure decreases or stops, the elastic pad members naturally protrude to seal the outlets. This self-actuating mechanism eliminates the need for external control systems, motors, or complex valve operations.
2Reliability
If pad members are added to seal water outlet ports, then water stopping and hermetical sealing are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs elastic pad members as flexible sealing elements that can deform to conform to the water outlet port surfaces. These pad members are integrated into the shower structure and can elastically protrude to create hermetical seals around the water outlet ports, ensuring complete water stopping capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
3Ease of operation
If ventilation holes are added for air pressure balance, then pad members can move smoothly during sealing, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates ventilation holes (porous structures) in the shower body or relevant components to enable air pressure balance during pad member movement. These holes allow air to flow through and equalize pressure differences that would otherwise resist the elastic deformation and movement of the pad members, ensuring smooth operation of the sealing mechanism.
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 mechanism effectively stops water flow upon shut-off by elastic sealing and reopening based on pressure changes, maintaining air pressure balance to prevent dripping and slipping hazards.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more pad members are configured for elastic deformation... the one or more pad members elastically deform to accumulate an elastic force
Implementation Method 2
the deformation member is configured to apply the elastic force to the pad body toward the one or more water outlet ports
Implementation Method 3
the one or more ventilation holes are in communication with the position-providing space and outside air. When the one or more pad members move toward the position-providing space, the one or more ventilation holes are configured to maintain an air pressure balance between the position-providing space and the outside air
Implementation Method 4
the one or more pad members elastically hermetically seal and abut an outer peripheral of one or more water outlet ports of the water outlet chamber to achieve water stopping and hermetical sealing
Data Source
AI summary
A water stopping mechanism configured for a water outlet device comprises one or more pad members configured for elastic deformation. The one or more pad members are configured to be movably disposed in a water outlet chamber of the water outlet device. The one or more pad members at least define a position-providing space, and the one or more pad members comprise a water stopping position and an open position. When in the water stopping position, the one or more pad members elastically hermetically seal and abut an outer peripheral of one or more water outlet ports of the water outlet chamber to achieve water stopping and hermetical sealing, and the one or more pad members are configured to move toward the position-providing space due to increasing of water pressure in the water outlet chamber to terminate the water stopping and the hermetical sealing.