Sanitary Faucet Slide-Guide Assembly Without Larger Body Diameter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitary faucets face challenges in designing a connection between the water guide and valve adapter that allows for an integrally formed faucet body without increasing the body diameter, particularly when using less expensive materials like zinc or zinc alloys, which requires either enlarging the faucet body or using a multi-part design.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary faucet design featuring a linear slide guide that secures the connection element to the valve adapter, allowing the connection element to be moved linearly and attached without increasing the faucet body diameter, using a ridge and bearing groove with a trapezoidal or dovetail cross-section to prevent deformation and maintain a secure seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a connection between water guide and valve adapter is designed to allow integral faucet body formation, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the faucet body diameter must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The connection element is inserted into the valve adapter through a bearing groove, creating a nested structure where the connection element is housed within the valve adapter assembly. This nesting allows the components to be integrated without increasing the overall faucet body diameter, as the connection element fits within the existing valve adapter volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The faucet body is divided into separate functional components (faucet body, valve adapter, connection element, water guide) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. The linear slide guide mechanism enables this segmentation by providing a standardized interface for connecting these segments without requiring the entire faucet body to be enlarged.
2Reliability
If expensive materials like brass are used for the faucet body, then water contact safety is ensured, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different materials are used for different functional zones: expensive brass is used only for the valve adapter and connection elements that contact water, while the outer faucet body can be made from less expensive materials. This local differentiation maintains water contact safety where required while reducing overall manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve adapter acts as an intermediary component that interfaces between the faucet body and the water guide. By placing the water-contacting surfaces in this intermediary component rather than the entire faucet body, the patent enables selective material usage where expensive materials are only applied where water contact occurs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-part design is used for the faucet body, then material selection flexibility increases, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linear slide guide mechanism serves multiple functions: it guides the connection element during assembly, provides a sealing surface, and enables easy disassembly and reassembly. This multi-functionality reduces overall assembly complexity despite the multi-part design, as a single mechanism handles multiple assembly requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing groove and ridge are pre-formed during manufacturing of the valve adapter and connection element respectively. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and fit during final assembly, reducing the complexity of the assembly process by eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures or additional adjustment steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A sanitary faucet (1) containing a faucet body (2) with an outlet (4) having an outlet opening (3); a valve adapter (5) disposed in the faucet body (2); a valve (6) for at least partially closing off the outlet opening (3), which is at least partially disposed in the valve adapter (5); and a connection element (7) for connecting a water guide (8) disposed in the outlet (4) to a water aperture (9) of the valve adapter (5), wherein a linear slide guide (10) is used to attach the connection element (7) to the valve adapter (5). In addition, a method of assembling a sanitary faucet (1) is proposed.