Expandable Locking Floor Sink Drain Screen for Blockage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floor sink drains often experience blockages due to the passage of large objects, leading to flooding and increased operational costs, as existing drain screens are either ineffective or become clogged, and are not easily removable for cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A floor sink drain screen with expandable means that securely engages the drain walls, preventing large objects from entering while allowing fluid passage, and can be quickly removed for cleaning, featuring a tamperproof locking mechanism to prevent unauthorized disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a permanent drain screen is installed to prevent large objects from entering the drain, then blockage prevention is improved, but the screen becomes clogged and adds to the flooding problem
Solution Approach 1:
The drain screen is made expandable and collapsible rather than permanent. The expandable sections can be pushed outward to engage with the drain wall for secure installation, and collapsed inward for easy removal and cleaning. This dynamic structure allows the screen to be temporarily installed to prevent blockages, then removed when clogged, preventing flooding.
2Reliability
If a drain screen is permanently installed to block large objects, then object passage is prevented, but the screen is difficult to remove for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The screen incorporates expandable and collapsible sections that allow it to be easily installed and removed. When collapsed, the screen fits within the drain opening for storage, and when expanded, it engages with the drain wall for secure positioning during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen is divided into multiple sections including expandable sections with slits that allow individual panels to move outward. This segmentation enables the screen to adapt to the drain shape for secure installation while allowing easy collapse for removal and cleaning.
3Reliability
If the drain screen is made secure to prevent unauthorized removal, then security is improved, but the screen cannot be quickly removed for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The screen uses an expandable locking mechanism that secures the screen to the drain wall during normal operation, preventing unauthorized removal. However, when cleaning is needed, the entire assembly can be quickly collapsed and removed as a unit, providing both security and maintenance accessibility.
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
Effectively prevents blockages by securely locking large objects out while allowing liquids to flow, and can be easily cleaned and reinstalled, reducing maintenance costs and flooding issues.
Implementation Method 1
An expandable ring section consists of a number of panels 20 separated by a plurality of slits 21 that permit the panels 20 to be forcefully expanded against the inner surface of a drain pipe
Data Source
AI summary
An improved locking floor sink drain screen for an enlarged drain is provided. The locking floor sink drain positively precludes passage of large objects, while permitting free passage of fluid and which can quickly and easily be removed for cleaning. Vertical separators provide spaces through which water can flow from the enlarged drain opening into a standard drain pipe. In some embodiments, a special, tamperproof locking key may be used to prevent unauthorized disassembly of the installed floor drain screen.