Floor Drain Trap Asymmetric Flange Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current floor drains often suffer from incorrect assembly, leading to the generation of unpleasant smells in the surrounding room space due to inadequate sealing and alignment of components.
Innovation Solution
The arrangement includes a no-return pipe with a drainage flange and a support collar system that uses a tongue-and-groove mechanism and plane surfaces to ensure correct alignment and sealing, preventing incorrect installation by physically guiding the no-return pipe into the correct position within the floor drain's bottom cup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple drain trap structure is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but assembly correctness deteriorates leading to smell generation
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage flange is designed with an asymmetric shape that does not match the recess except in the correct orientation. The flange includes a first part with a specific profile that engages with a corresponding recess in the bottom cup, allowing insertion only in the correct rotational position. This asymmetric geometry prevents incorrect assembly while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A support collar is introduced as an intermediary component between the drainage flange and the bottom cup. The support collar includes a protrusion that fits into a recess in the bottom cup, providing mechanical guidance and ensuring proper positioning. This intermediary element mediates the connection, guaranteeing correct assembly orientation while keeping the overall structure simple to manufacture.
2Ease of operation
If detachable parts are used for easy cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but assembly correctness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable drainage flange incorporates asymmetric engagement features including a first part with a specific profile that matches a corresponding recess in the bottom cup. This asymmetric design ensures that the flange can only be assembled in the correct orientation, preventing smell generation while maintaining ease of detachment for cleaning purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain trap is segmented into detachable components including the drainage flange, support collar, and bottom cup. This segmentation allows the drainage flange to be easily removed for cleaning while the asymmetric engagement features ensure correct reassembly. The detachable design facilitates maintenance without compromising assembly correctness.
3Reliability
If sealing components are added to prevent smells, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the structural engagement features. The asymmetric profile of the drainage flange and its engagement with the recess in the bottom cup simultaneously provides both mechanical positioning and sealing. The support collar also combines positioning and sealing functions, eliminating the need for separate complex sealing mechanisms while maintaining reliable smell prevention.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to an arrangement in a drain trap, especially in a floor drain (1). This type of floor drain comprises an interior (4) surrounded by a frame (2) and having a flange (5) and bottom (6). Water flows into the floor drain from a drainage aperture (3) opposite the bot¬ tom and from side inlets (7) in the shell, and the water ex¬ its through an outlet (8). A drain trap (9) is formed in the interior by leading into it from the direction of the drainage aperture a no-return pipe (11) that extends to the bottom cup (10). The end of this no-return pipe on the drainage aperture side comprises a drainage flange (12) that settles substantially tightly on the inner surface (13) in the interior of the shell. The no-return pipe then comprises at least on part of the outer edge (14) of the drainage flange (12) a support collar (22) that extends toward the bottom and is arranged to interact with a support edge (23) extending from the shell- toward the interior.