Flush Tank Water Supply Delay Assembly for Reduced Water Waste

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flush tank systems waste water due to simultaneous operation of inlet and outlet valves, leading to excessive consumption and inefficiency, with limited adaptability and requiring complex modifications for integration.

Innovation Solution

A water supply delay assembly positioned between the stopcock and flush tank, featuring a cylindrical body with perforated washers and calibrated valves to delay water supply after flushing, ensuring controlled flow and reducing overlap between inlet and outlet operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the inlet valve opens immediately when the float drops below the threshold, then the tank begins filling quickly, but water is wasted because the inlet and outlet valves operate simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetank filling speedVSAvoidwater consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet valve closes before the inlet valve opens, creating a sequential operation where the discharge is completed first. This preliminary action of closing the outlet valve prevents the harmful simultaneous operation, eliminating water waste while maintaining efficient tank filling speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Volume of moving object

If a delay device is integrated inside the cistern, then the system provides a compact solution, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The delay device is extracted from the cistern interior and installed externally on the water supply line. This extraction maintains the compactness of the cistern while significantly improving maintenance accessibility, as the delay device can now be serviced without dismantling the tank.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the delay device is positioned outside the cistern, then maintenance and installation are simplified, but the device requires additional space and may be less discreet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation and maintenance easeVSAvoiddevice installation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The delay device is merged with the existing water supply infrastructure by installing it on the supply line between the stopcock and the cistern. This integration utilizes available space in the plumbing system, achieving ease of maintenance while minimizing additional space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4636180A1Water supply timing assembly for a flushing tank of a sanitary appliance
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 SIMON FABIEN
  • EP4636180A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4636180A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4636180A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a water supply delay assembly for a flush tank of a sanitary appliance, comprising a clean water supply pipe connected to a stopcock (15) supplying and a flush tank (16) of a sanitary appliance having a flush activation mechanism. It comprises: a water supply delay device positioned between said stopcock and said flush tank, said water supply delay device comprises an element configured to delay the opening of the clean water supply after activation of the flush.