Floor Drain With Adjustable Height And Variable Immersion Pipe

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in designing a floor-level shower drain with an odor trap is the limited space available for installation, which restricts the flexibility in adjusting the overall height, water seal height, and drainage capacity, especially in old building renovations where structural integrity and low screed heights are concerns.

Innovation Solution

A drain system with an adjustable bottom part and immersion pipe that can be customized in height and length, allowing for variable settings of overall height, water seal height, and drainage capacity through screw threads, annular seals, and cutting of the immersion pipe, ensuring a liquid-tight connection and enhanced outflow performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional floor drain with fixed parameters is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the adaptability to different installation situations is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different installation situationsVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base part is made adjustable in height relative to the drain body through a threaded connection mechanism, allowing the overall height to be dynamically adapted to different installation situations such as varying screed heights and floor levels, while maintaining a relatively simple structural design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drain is divided into separable components including the drain body, adjustable base part, and immersion pipe, allowing independent adjustment of each component's position and height to achieve optimal adaptation to different installation environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the immersion pipe is made longer to increase drainage capacity, then the drainage capacity improves, but the overall height increases which is not suitable for low screed height requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrainage capacityVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The immersion pipe length is made variable rather than fixed, allowing it to be cut to the required length during installation to achieve the desired drainage capacity while maintaining the overall height within acceptable limits for low screed height applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The length parameter of the immersion pipe can be changed by cutting it to different lengths, enabling optimization of drainage capacity independently of the overall drain height, which is determined by the adjustable base part

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Length of stationary object

If the base part is made adjustable in height, then the adaptability to different installation heights improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation heightVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism uses simple threaded connections instead of complex mechanical systems, allowing height adjustment through basic screwing and unscrewing actions, thereby achieving adaptability to different installation heights while minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded connection between the base part and drain body provides self-adjusting capability, allowing installation personnel to easily modify the height setting during installation without requiring specialized tools or complex adjustment procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution provides a flexible and adaptable drain system that can be easily adjusted to meet specific installation needs, ensuring optimal performance in terms of height, water seal, and drainage capacity while maintaining structural integrity and low profile requirements.

Implementation Method 1

the bottom part and the drain housing are each provided with a thread that can be screwed together

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew thread: Screw

Implementation Method 2

an annular seal can expediently be arranged between the base part and the drain housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 3

the immersion pipe, which can be inserted into the drain housing via the inlet opening and defines an odor trap with it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater seal:

Data Source

PatentEP2305905B1Floor drain with variable height
Publication Date: 2012.10.31 VIEGA GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2305905B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2305905B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2305905B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The drain (1) has an immersion pipe (2) inserted into a cup-like drain housing (1.1) via a supply opening (1.3) and defining an odor trap with the housing. A shell or cup-like bottom part (1.2) is connected with drain housing in height-adjustable and liquid-tight manner. The immersion pipe is shortened for reducing an axial length by separating an immersion pipe section (2.2). The bottom part and the housing include threads that are screwed with each other. An annular groove is provided in the housing. A seal is inserted in the annular groove.