Flexible Seal Stench Trap Reducing Height via Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stench traps with a 5-centimeter water seal height are too tall and not flat, while maintaining air-sealing functionality, and require sufficient water to prevent odor ingress, which can evaporate, allowing air to flow through.
Innovation Solution
A stench trap with a unidirectional seal using flexible silicone flaps that adjust to the channel surface, allowing water to collect and press against the flaps, ensuring a seal even when water levels are low, and automatically closing the passage due to gravity, forming a U-shaped channel for effective odor prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water seal of 5 cm height is used in a conventional stench trap, then air-sealing function is maintained, but the stench trap becomes too tall and not flat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static water seal with a dynamic flexible flap seal that can move between open and closed positions. The flexible flap is held closed by a spring mechanism, creating a reliable seal without requiring the 5 cm water height, thus reducing the stench trap height while maintaining air-sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the hydraulic water seal mechanism with a mechanical spring-loaded flexible flap seal. This mechanical system achieves the same air-sealing purpose without requiring the gravitational force and water column height that a conventional water seal demands, thereby flattening the overall structure.
2Reliability
If sufficient water is maintained in the stench trap to prevent odor ingress, then sealing function is retained, but water evaporation causes air to flow through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the water-based hydraulic seal with a mechanical spring-loaded flexible flap seal. This eliminates the need for water maintenance and prevents the evaporation problem entirely, as the seal relies on mechanical spring force rather than a liquid column that can evaporate.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible flap seal is designed to be self-regulating through the spring mechanism. When pressure differential occurs or water level changes, the spring automatically adjusts the flap position to maintain the seal, eliminating the need for manual water level monitoring and refilling that is required in conventional water seal systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rigid seal structure is used in the stench trap, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but the seal is affected by contaminants and surface variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible flap made of elastic material that can conform to variations in the sealing surface and adapt to contaminants. This flexibility allows the seal to maintain effectiveness despite surface irregularities, while the spring mechanism provides the necessary force to ensure consistent contact and sealing pressure.
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 flexible flap design maintains airtight sealing, prevents odor ingress, and allows for a flatter stench trap configuration while ensuring effective sealing during overpressure conditions without relying on high water levels, providing a cost-effective and reliable solution.
Implementation Method 1
The seal itself can then close by itself due to gravitational force. A seal in the form of a flexible silicone flap will drop down automatically and thereby close the passage.
Implementation Method 2
water will normally lie against the flexible flap(s). This water presses against the flaps so that an improved seal is obtained.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a stench trap comprising: - a housing with an inflow opening and an outflow opening lying in a lower position during use; - a downward directed wall arranged in the housing and having a passage opening close to the underside, wherein a channel is formed from the inflow opening via the passage opening to the outflow opening by the housing and the downward directed wall; and a flexible unidirectional seal arranged in the channel close to the passage opening.