Flexible Water Inlet With Integrated Electrodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment solutions for limescale protection require installation on water supply pipes, limiting flexibility and accessibility, especially in household settings where water inlet hoses are flexible and require maintenance of their flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A physical water treatment device with a pair of electrodes integrated into a flexible water inlet, forming an integral body that encloses the cavity and ensures all water flows through a galvanization system, maintaining flexibility while providing effective treatment by incorporating stirring-up vanes and a design that prevents damage or theft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water treatment devices are installed on rigid water supply pipes, then effective water galvanization treatment is achieved, but installation flexibility and accessibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the rigid pipe installation requirement into a flexible solution by making the water inlet hose itself flexible while integrating the treatment device. The device can be installed at the appliance end where flexibility is needed, rather than requiring rigid pipe installation. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt to different installation locations while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible water inlet hose as the installation medium instead of rigid pipes. The flexible hose allows the treatment device to be installed at the appliance end (such as washing machines, coffee machines, shower heads) where accessibility is needed, eliminating the requirement for rigid pipe installation and technical room access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If metal fibres are arranged at the inner wall of flexible water inlet, then flexibility is maintained, but treatment effectiveness is reduced due to insufficient water flow contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a vibration element that generates vibrations in the water flow, causing the water to move more actively past the metal fibres. This vibration effect ensures that water from the entire cross-section of the flow comes into sufficient contact with the metal fibres, not just water near the walls, thereby maintaining treatment effectiveness while preserving flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the water flow itself as the medium to activate the treatment process. By positioning metal fibres at the inner wall and using water flow dynamics (including vibration-induced flow patterns), the system ensures that the flowing water activates the galvanization process effectively throughout the entire flow cross-section.
3Reliability
If electrodes are installed in solid two-chamber vessels, then stable galvanization treatment is provided, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the treatment device directly into the water inlet hose structure, nesting the electrodes and treatment components within the flexible hose itself rather than requiring separate solid vessels. This eliminates the need for additional installation space while maintaining the galvanization treatment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the water inlet hose with the treatment device functionality, combining the flexible hose structure with integrated electrodes and treatment components. This eliminates the need for separate solid two-chamber vessels and reduces installation space requirements while maintaining treatment stability.
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 device effectively treats water throughout the entire cross-section of the flow without compromising the flexibility of the water inlet, ensuring high galvanization efficiency and protection from limescale deposition in flexible water inlet pipes and hoses.
Implementation Method 1
Two electrodes of different materials according to the Beketov's series of metals are immersed in flowing water to be treated to create a difference in electrical potentials between the electrodes. The difference in electrical potentials results in the release of metal nanoparticles from the anode electrode, which perform the function of crystallization nuclei
Implementation Method 2
The electrodes differ in shape for each of the chambers, with the turbulent coupling retarder arranged at the interface between the chambers. The function of the turbulent coupling retarder is to ripple the flowing water to stir up the water flow streamlines
Implementation Method 3
The integral body completely encloses the cavity of the flexible water inlet, with the integral body being hollow for the flow of water through it. The electrodes in the integral body form a flow-through turbulent galvanization system of electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
The physical water treatment device, in particular in a flexible water inlet (1), comprises at least one pair of electrodes (2) for water galvanization and at least one means for inserting and fixing the electrodes (2). The means for inserting and fixing the electrodes (2) together with the electrodes (2) form an integral body (3), the resulting shape of which is adapted for the insertion into the flexible water inlet (1). The integral body (3) completely blocks the flexible water inlet (1) and is hollow so that the water flowing through the flexible inlet (1) flows through the electrodes (2) of the integral body (3). The electrodes (2) form a flow-through galvanization system in the integral body (3).