Flush Valve Canister Siphon Action for Water Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toilet designs face challenges in achieving high-energy flushes with reduced water volumes, which is essential for conserving water and meeting regulatory requirements.
Innovation Solution
The proposed toilet assembly incorporates a flush valve assembly with a canister and conduit system that allows for efficient water flow and siphon action, enabling a higher energy flush with lower water volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional flush valve designs are used, then sufficient flush water volume is provided, but water consumption exceeds regulatory requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The flush valve assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a canister for water storage, a conduit for water delivery, and a siphon tube for waste removal. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling reduced water volume in the canister while maintaining effective flush performance through coordinated operation of the siphon mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using a siphon tube that utilizes water pressure and atmospheric pressure differentials to create a siphon effect. This allows the system to achieve powerful waste removal with reduced water volumes, as the siphon action multiplies the impact of the limited water available in the canister.
2Productivity
If reduced water volumes are used, then water consumption complies with regulations, but flush power and siphon effectiveness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The canister is pre-filled with a specific volume of water that is optimized to work with the siphon tube geometry. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the flush is activated, the water is already positioned to create effective pressure differentials, maximizing flush power within the constrained water volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes parameters such as the siphon tube length, diameter, and angle, as well as the canister water volume, to achieve the maximum possible siphon effect. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system maintains high flush effectiveness while using reduced water volumes compared to traditional designs.
3Productivity
If a canister and conduit system is introduced, then water flow efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The canister, conduit, and siphon tube are merged into a single integrated flush valve assembly that functions as one coordinated system. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed compared to traditional designs with multiple independent valves and mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high water flow efficiency.
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 design effectively reduces water consumption while maintaining a powerful flush, thereby addressing the need for high-efficiency toilets that comply with water usage regulations.
Implementation Method 1
A siphon jet releases water into an adjoining siphon tube, thereby initiating a siphon action. A siphon action draws water and waste out of the bowl and into the siphon tube.
Implementation Method 2
a floating mechanism which has now dropped in the tank to some residual amount initiates opening of a fill valve
Data Source
AI summary
A toilet assembly comprising a toilet tank; a flush valve assembly positioned in the tank; a bowl; and a trapway, wherein the flush valve assembly comprises a flush valve body extending from a flush valve inlet to a flush valve outlet; a canister having a seal positioned at a lower end and a closed upper end; and a conduit positioned in an interior of the canister, wherein the seal is configured to enclose the flush valve inlet, the canister is configured to lift from the flush valve inlet to open the valve to initiate a flush cycle, the canister comprises one or more openings configured to provide flow communication between the canister and the tank, and the conduit is coupled to the trapway and provides for flow communication between the canister and the trapway.