Flush Toilet Equipment With Minute Bubble Generator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flush toilet equipment with larger bubbles in flush water fails to fully diffuse bubbles, limiting improvements in toilet flush effect, water volume reduction, splash prevention, and sound reduction.

Innovation Solution

The equipment incorporates a minute bubble generator that produces bubbles of 0.1-1000µm diameter by sudden pressure changes, mixing gas with water, and includes a bubble diameter controller, gas mixer, dissolution part, and separation part to ensure uniform and extensive bubble diffusion within the flush water.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional bubble generators are used to produce millimeter-order bubbles in flush water, then the equipment structure is simple, but the bubbles are not fully diffused into flush water and the toilet flush effect is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment structure simplicityVSAvoidtoilet flush effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the key parameter of bubble diameter from millimeter order to 0.1-1000μm minute bubbles. This parameter change enables full diffusion of bubbles into flush water, significantly improving toilet flush effect while maintaining equipment simplicity through pressure-based generation without complex mechanical parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses pneumatic-hydraulic principles by mixing gas with water under pressure to generate minute bubbles. The gas mixer and pressure control system create uniformly diffused bubbles in flush water without requiring complex mechanical bubble generation mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and flush effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If minute bubbles of 0.1-1000μm are generated by sudden pressure changes, then bubble diffusion into flush water is complete and flush effect is improved, but the equipment complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetoilet flush effectVSAvoidequipment structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the water supply line's existing pressure to automatically mix gas with water and generate minute bubbles. The sudden pressure change occurs naturally when water flows through the gas mixer and dissolution part, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex drive mechanisms. This self-service approach improves flush effect while minimizing equipment complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex mechanical bubble generation mechanisms with a pressure-based pneumatic-hydraulic system. By using sudden pressure changes and gas dissolution in water rather than mechanical agitation or ultrasonic vibration, the system achieves minute bubble generation with simpler equipment, resolving the contradiction between enhanced flush effect and reduced device complexity

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

3Stability of the object's composition

If gas is mixed with water to generate minute bubbles, then bubble uniformity and diffusion are enhanced, but pressure loss increases in the water supply line

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebubble uniformityVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The gas is mixed with water in advance through the gas mixer and dissolution part before reaching the sudden pressure change point. This preliminary mixing allows gas to dissolve uniformly in water under pressure, creating consistent minute bubbles when pressure drops. The advance preparation ensures bubble uniformity while minimizing energy loss by avoiding last-minute gas injection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If the bubble diameter is controlled to be smaller, then bubble diffusion and dirt removal effectiveness are improved, but the duration of dirt prevention effect decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirt removal effectivenessVSAvoiddirt prevention duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts bubble characteristics by controlling gas mixing ratios and pressure parameters. Minute bubbles of 0.1-1000μm provide superior dirt removal through full diffusion, while the controlled generation rate and continuous supply maintain prolonged prevention effect. The dynamic control of bubble parameters resolves the contradiction between immediate effectiveness and duration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 enhances the toilet flush effect, reduces water volume, prevents water splash, and minimizes splashing sound by ensuring thorough bubble dispersion and prolonged dirt removal due to the small, uniform bubbles.

Implementation Method 1

The gas mixer mixes the gas from said another line with the water from the water supply line to supply gas-mixed water to the dissolution part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMixing:

Implementation Method 2

The dissolution part dissolves a part or all of the gas of the gas-mixed water into the water to supply gas-dissolved water to the separation part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

The separation part suddenly changes the pressure of the gas-dissolved water to separate and generate the minute bubbles from the gas-dissolved water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure change: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 4

The vortex generator rotates the water from the water supply line to the sudden pressure change part side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex: Vortex Generator

Implementation Method 5

The generator may further comprise an air pump located between the water supply line and the gas mixer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas compression: Gas Compressor

Data Source

PatentEP1939366B8Flush toilet equipment
Publication Date: 2016.12.14 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

Flush toilet equipment comprises a bowl, a flush mechanism that supplies flush water to the bowl through a flush water passage, and a minute bubble generator. The minute bubble generator generates minute bubbles. The bubbles are 0.1-1000µm in bubble diameter and mixed with the flush water. In this construction, since the minute bubbles are fully diffused into the flush water, various effects such as improvement of toilet flush effect, etc. can be further enhanced.