Faucet Filtration System with Latch Arms for Bacterial Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and biofilms in plumbing systems poses a significant risk for Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs), particularly in hospitals where water hygiene is difficult to maintain, leading to aerosolization of bacteria like Legionella and Pseudomonas through faucets and shower heads, posing a severe threat to immunocompromised individuals.
Innovation Solution
A water filtration apparatus designed for point-of-use installation, featuring a housing with a valve assembly and multiple filters, including a pre-filter and internal filter, configured to effectively remove bacteria from water, with a mechanism for easy installation and removal from faucets and shower heads, utilizing seals and latch arms for secure coupling and uncoupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filtration device is installed at the point of use to remove bacteria from water, then water hygiene and safety are improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration device is divided into separate modular components including a filter housing, valve assembly, and cartridge filters that can be independently installed and maintained. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining effective bacterial removal capabilities at the point of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates self-contained features such as integrated seals and latch mechanisms that automatically secure the filter housing to the water line without requiring additional tools or complex installation procedures. The valve assembly automatically controls water flow through the filtration system.
2Reliability
If a secure coupling mechanism with latch arms is used to ensure reliable filter installation, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the ease of operation for installation and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch arms are designed as movable components that can be easily actuated by the operator to transition between locked and unlocked states. The dynamic latch mechanism allows simple manual operation for installation and removal while maintaining secure connection during normal operation through the engagement of latches with corresponding slots in the valve assembly.
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 filtration apparatus significantly reduces the risk of waterborne bacterial infections by ensuring clean water is dispensed from faucets and shower heads, particularly beneficial for immunocompromised individuals by effectively removing bacteria and biofilms, enhancing water hygiene at the point of use.
Implementation Method 1
A water filtration apparatus is provided which includes a housing, a pre-filter, an internal filter, and a valve assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A water filtration apparatus comprises a housing having a housing outlet and a housing inlet, the housing outlet configured to allow filtered water to exit therefrom, the housing inlet includes a valve stem, where the housing has latch arms disposed adjacent to the valve stem. At least one filter is disposed in the interior portion of the housing, and the at least one filter is in fluid communication with the housing outlet and the housing inlet. A valve assembly includes a valve body releasably coupled with the valve stem, where the valve body has a faucet interface component, and the valve body configured to fluidly couple with a faucet via the faucet interface component. The valve assembly has a valve body release coupled with the valve body, and the valve body release is slidable relative to the valve body and the one or more latch arms.