Electric Flush Valve Buoyancy Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sanitary cisterns and drain valves require high actuation forces, are expensive, and have high energy consumption, and often cause splashing during flushing due to strong flushing flows, especially in rimless toilet bowls, making them complex and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An electrically actuated drain valve with a design that reduces the tensile and compressive forces required for operation by utilizing existing buoyancy and downforce forces, allowing for adjustable flushing flow and energy-efficient operation through a device for power transmission, such as a threaded spindle or rack mechanism, and a sealing section with a small sealing surface to minimize energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional drain valves are mechanically operated, then device complexity is low, but actuation force required is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical operation system with an electric drive system. The electric motor provides the necessary actuation force to lift the valve body from the closed position, eliminating the need for high mechanical actuation forces while reducing overall device complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes buoyancy forces acting on the valve body to counterbalance the weight and reduce the actuation force required. The valve body is designed to experience upward buoyant forces in the water-filled cistern, which naturally assist in lifting the valve during flushing operation, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the electric drive.
2Force
If electrically operated drain valves are used, then actuation force is reduced, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is designed to utilize buoyancy forces from the water in the cistern to counterbalance its weight. This natural physical force reduces the workload on the electric motor, allowing it to operate with minimal energy consumption, particularly when using low-power drive mechanisms such as threaded spindles or rack mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric drive operates in periodic, short-duration pulses only when flushing is required, rather than continuously. The control system activates the motor briefly to lift the valve body, allows it to open and flush, then deactivates it. This intermittent operation significantly reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional flush flow restrictors are used, then splashing is prevented, but device complexity and adjustment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using fixed mechanical flow restrictors that require complex adjustment mechanisms, the patent employs a dynamic control approach where the electric motor controls the valve body position. By precisely controlling the opening degree and duration of the valve, the system dynamically adjusts the flush flow to prevent splashing while maintaining simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical flow restrictor systems with an electrically controlled valve positioning system. The electric drive mechanism, combined with control logic, substitutes for the mechanical adjustment mechanisms of conventional restrictors, simplifying the overall device while achieving the same splashing prevention effect.
4Reliability
If large sealing surfaces are used on the valve body, then sealing reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing section of the valve body is designed with optimized local sealing characteristics rather than uniformly large sealing surfaces. The sealing geometry and material properties are tailored to achieve reliable sealing with minimal contact area, reducing the friction and actuation force required while maintaining effective sealing during valve closure.
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 reduces energy consumption, simplifies the design, and allows for adjustable flushing flow without the need for complex flush flow throttles, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing operational costs while preventing splashing during flushing.
Implementation Method 1
The drive of the drain valve according to the invention can thus raise the valve body from the closed position (in other words: pull it upwards) and, conversely, push it downwards from an open position (in other words: actively lower it). Buoyancy and downforce forces present in the cistern into which the drain valve according to the invention is installed support the drive of the drain valve in raising and lowering the valve body.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a drain valve (1) for a sanitary cistern with a liftable and lowerable valve body (2) which, in a closed position, seals against a valve seat (5) surrounding a drain opening with a sealing section (3.2), an electric actuator (9) for lifting the valve body (2) from the closed position, and a device (10) for transmitting force from the electric actuator (9) to the valve body (2). To achieve high energy efficiency in such a drain valve, the invention provides that the electric actuator and the force transmission device are designed such that, in the closed position, the valve body (2) is pressed against the valve seat (5) by means of the electric actuator (9) and/or the force transmission device (10).The invention is based on the idea that forces occurring in the cistern assist the movement of the valve body (2) into the flushing position (open position) and into the closed position. The tensile and compressive forces to be applied by the electric drive (9) of the flush valve are accordingly reduced or relatively low. Furthermore, the invention relates to a sanitary cistern, in particular for a toilet or urinal, with a flush valve (1) according to the invention.