Floor Sink Strainer Flange Design for Tool-Free Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor sink strainers are prone to lateral movement and lifting during high water influx, allowing debris to enter the drainage system, and require tools for installation and servicing.
Innovation Solution
A floor sink and strainer assembly with a dome-shaped body and a planar flange that includes a plurality of apertures, where the flange's design constrains lateral movement and prevents lifting, allowing the strainer to remain in place without mechanical fasteners, ensuring effective debris filtration during high water flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the strainer is mechanically attached to the floor sink, then the strainer remains in place during high water influx, but a tool is required for installation and servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer is designed with a flange that fits into a recess in the floor sink, allowing it to be installed and removed by hand without tools. The flange's peripheral edge engages with the recess to prevent lateral movement, while the upwardly extending portion prevents lifting during high water influx. This self-contained design enables tool-free installation and servicing while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the strainer is not mechanically attached, then installation and servicing are convenient, but the strainer moves laterally and lifts during high water influx
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer is divided into functional segments: a flange for lateral constraint, an upwardly extending portion for lifting prevention, and a body with apertures for debris filtration. Each segment performs a specific function, and together they provide tool-free installation while maintaining stability during high water influx.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer design extends into the vertical dimension with an upwardly extending portion that engages with the floor sink's internal structure. This vertical engagement prevents lifting during high water influx, while the flange's horizontal extension provides lateral constraint, solving the stability issue without mechanical fasteners.
3Reliability
If the flange has large aperture area, then debris filtration is effective, but the flange provides less constraint against lateral movement
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is designed with non-uniform aperture distribution: a central region with multiple apertures for effective debris filtration, and a peripheral region with reduced aperture area that engages with the recess to provide lateral constraint. This local differentiation allows the flange to simultaneously achieve both filtration effectiveness and lateral stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A strainer for a floor sink and a floor sink strainer assembly. The strainer includes a central body defining a perimeter and further includes a generally planar flange extending outwardly from the perimeter of the body. The flange has a shape and size corresponding to the size and shape of the bottom wall of the floor sink. As a result, the strainer is constrained from lateral movement and lifting during a high influx of water.