Flush Water Tank Valve Control Using Segmented Floats
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing flush water tank apparatuses face challenges in accurately setting the amount of flush water to be discharged due to variations in piston descent speed, which is influenced by the outflow rate of water and sliding resistance, making it difficult to consistently control the duration the discharge valve is open.
Innovation Solution
A flush water tank apparatus with a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit, a clutch mechanism, and float devices that utilize water pressure to control the discharge valve's operation, allowing for accurate selection between two flush water amounts by disconnecting the clutch mechanism at a predetermined timing and using float-driven mechanisms to engage and disengage the valve, independent of the hydraulic drive unit's operation speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the discharge valve is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder device with a piston and drain unit, then the discharge valve can be opened using water pressure, but the piston descent speed varies due to outflow rate and sliding resistance, making it difficult to accurately set the flush water amount
Solution Approach 1:
The float device is divided into multiple float chambers (first float chamber, second float chamber, third float chamber) with different water levels, each controlling the discharge valve at different stages. This segmentation allows precise control of the valve opening duration by having each float chamber engage or disengage at specific water levels, thereby accurately setting the flush water amount despite variations in piston descent speed.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the solenoid valve is closed to stop water supply to the hydraulic cylinder device, then the piston descends and the discharge valve closes, but the water flows out little by little from the drain unit causing gradual descent and making it difficult to set short opening time
Solution Approach 1:
The float device is configured to engage the discharge valve at predetermined water levels before the piston completes its descent. The first float chamber engages the valve at a higher water level, and the second float chamber engages at a lower water level, allowing the system to pre-determine the valve opening duration based on water level rather than waiting for gradual piston descent, thus enabling accurate control of short opening times.
3Reliability
If the piston descent speed is dependent on outflow rate and sliding resistance, then the valve operation can be simple, but variation and change over time occur, making it difficult to accurately set the flush water amount
Solution Approach 1:
The float device provides continuous feedback on the water level in the tank, with each float chamber detecting specific water levels and corresponding to specific discharge valve engagement states. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable and consistent valve operation by base on actual water level conditions rather than relying on variable piston descent speed, thereby enabling accurate and repeatable flush water amount control.
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 configuration enables precise control over the amount of flush water discharged, ensuring consistent operation regardless of variations in the hydraulic drive unit's speed and maintaining adequate flush water supply even if the float driving mechanism malfunctions, by using a second float device to hold the discharge valve at a lower position.
Implementation Method 1
a first float device (26) including a first float (26a) moved according to a water level in the storage tank (10)
Implementation Method 2
a control jet unit (20) jetting flush water to a water receiving surface (26b) provided on the first float device (26)
Implementation Method 3
a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit (14) driving the discharge valve (12) with water supply pressure of supplied tap water
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
The present invention is a flush water tank apparatus (4) and includes: a storage tank (10) on which a drain port (10a) is formed, a discharge valve (12) opening/closing the drain port; a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit (14) driving the discharge valve using water supply pressure; a clutch mechanism (30) coupling the discharge valve and the discharge valve hydraulic drive unit to pull up the discharge valve; flush water amount selection means capable of selecting between a first and a second amount of flush water; a timing control mechanism controlling a timing of the drain port being blocked; and a control jet unit (20) jetting, when the second amount is selected, flush water to a water receiving surface provided on the timing control mechanism so that a timing of the drain port being blocked is earlier than a case of the first amount of flush water.