Float Rise Speed Control Tank for Reliable Flush Toilet Level Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional float switches in flush toilets experience instability due to static friction and air bubbles, leading to unreliable sensing of the flush water level, which can result in delayed or improper activation of the water supply stop mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A flush toilet design incorporating a float rise speed control tank with a drain hole and window configuration that increases the buoyancy force on the float, overcoming static friction and air bubble interference by enhancing the water level rise speed and generating turbulence to facilitate timely float movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the float switch and support shaft are in a static state while in contact, then the float switch structure is simple, but static frictional force is produced between the float switch float and the support shaft, causing the float not to move relative to the support shaft even if the flush water level reaches the full level, resulting in non-activation or delay in activation timing of the float switch
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the water tank into two separate compartments: a first water tank for storing flush water and a second water tank for storing sensor water. This segmentation allows the float switch to operate in the second tank with controlled water level fluctuations, reducing static friction and improving activation reliability without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a water level control mechanism as an intermediary between the main flush water storage and the float switch operation. By controlling the water level in the second tank separately, the system mediates the interaction between the float and support shaft, ensuring smooth movement and reliable activation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If air bubbles adhere to the float switch float or support shaft, then the float switch structure remains simple, but the air bubbles interfere with the movement of the float, causing the flush water level to fail to move relative to the support shaft, resulting in non-activation or delay in activation timing of the float switch
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the float switch and its associated air bubble problems from the main flush water storage environment. By placing the float switch in a separate second water tank with controlled water level, the system removes the float from the harsh environment where air bubbles accumulate during flushing, thereby improving movement smoothness and activation reliability without complicating the main flush mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The water level control mechanism acts as an intermediary that protects the float switch from air bubble interference. By independently controlling the water level in the second tank, the system mediates between the flushing operation (which generates air bubbles) and the float switch operation (which requires smooth float movement), ensuring reliable activation while keeping the float switch structure simple.
3Loss of time
If the float switch fails to activate at the appropriate timing due to impeded movement, then the device complexity remains low, but the timing at which water supply is stopped is delayed, resulting in water overflow or waste
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the water storage function from the level sensing function. The first water tank stores flush water while the second water tank contains the float switch and provides accurate level sensing. This segmentation enables precise timing control for stopping water supply without requiring complex control systems, as the separate tanks naturally isolate the sensing mechanism from the flushing dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The water level control mechanism serves as an intermediary that ensures accurate timing for stopping water supply. By controlling the water level in the second tank independently, the system mediates between the continuous flushing operation and the discrete stop signal generation, preventing both premature and delayed activation while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
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 solution ensures reliable activation of the float switch and timely stopping of water supply by increasing the buoyancy force and turbulence, preventing movement impeded by static friction and air bubbles, thus maintaining accurate water level sensing and control.
Implementation Method 1
the float is subjected to a buoyancy force, which is increased in response to the increased water level rise speed
Implementation Method 2
the float rise speed control tank is configured to increase a rise speed of the flush water level in the float rise speed control tank more than a rise speed of the flush water level in the flush water tank when the flush water is supplied into the flush water tank
Implementation Method 3
generating turbulence to facilitate timely float movement
Implementation Method 4
the float rise speed control tank includes a drain hole and a window
Data Source
AI summary
A float rise speed control tank in a flush toilet is formed so that when the flush water level inside a flush water tank rises and the flush water level reaches a window due to supply of flush water into the flush water tank by a water supply device, the inflow into the float rise speed control tank by flush water in the flush water tank from a window formed above the bottom edge part of the float causes the rise speed of the flush water level in the float rise speed control tank to increase more than the rise speed of the flush water in the flush water tank.