Toilet Flusher Dosing via Flow Sensor Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toilet flushers face challenges in delivering precise and consistent dosing of cleaning and fragrance compositions due to dependence on local flow conditions, leading to inefficient release of active ingredients and potential splashback, which affects cleaning and fragrance persistence.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanically operated toilet flusher system with a dosing device comprising a sensor unit, control unit, dispensing element, and energy source, designed to detect flushing water flow without interfering with it, ensuring timely and precise release of preparations into the toilet bowl, even when surrounded by liquid, using a splash-proof housing and chemically inert materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a toilet flusher is used to release active ingredients during flushing, then cleaning and fragrance compositions are delivered into the toilet bowl, but the dosing precision is poor due to dependence on local flow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor detects the approaching flushing water flow before it reaches the toilet flusher, triggering the dosing mechanism in advance. This preliminary detection and action ensures that the active ingredients are released at the optimal moment, independent of the actual flow conditions at the flusher location, thereby improving dosing precision and release consistency
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor continuously monitors the flushing water flow and provides feedback to the control unit, which adjusts the dosing timing and amount accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system compensates for variations in flow conditions, ensuring precise and reliable dosing regardless of local flow variations
2Quantity of substance
If flushing water flows over the toilet flusher during use, then active ingredients are released into the toilet bowl, but the water supply provided by the toilet manufacturer is disrupted, reducing flushing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing function is extracted from the main flushing water flow path and implemented as a separate, independent mechanism. The sensor detects flow conditions, and the dosing occurs through a dedicated dispensing system rather than relying on the flushing water to carry the active ingredients, thus avoiding disruption to the flushing performance while still achieving active ingredient release
3Loss of time
If the dosing time is too early during flushing, then preparation is released into the toilet bowl, but the foam is carried away with the flushing water flow, reducing cleaning and fragrance persistence
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor detects the flushing water flow and triggers the dosing mechanism at the optimal moment - after the main flushing action has begun but before the water flow subsides. This timing ensures that the preparation is released when it can form persistent foam that remains in the toilet bowl, maximizing both foam retention time and cleaning effectiveness
4Loss of time
If the dosing time is too late after flushing, then preparation is applied to toilet surfaces, but the preparation sets on ceramic surfaces and is difficult to remove, leaving unsightly residues
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor detects when the flushing water flow is still active and triggers the dosing mechanism during this period. By releasing the preparation while water is still flowing, the system ensures that the preparation remains easily removable with the next flush, preventing it from setting on ceramic surfaces and forming unsightly residues, while still achieving sufficient foam formation
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Method for operating a WC rinser (1), wherein the WC rinser (1) comprises a sensor unit (11), a controller (12), a dispenser element (6) and at least one container (3) for storing st least one preparation (4), wherein the dispenser element (6) and the container (3) are communicably connected and the throughflow of rinsing water into the toilet bowl (8) within a rinsing interval [t1t2] wherein t1 represent the beginning of the rinsing water flow and t2 the end of the rinsing water flow. The sensor unit (11) detects the triggering of the rinsing water flow through the toilet bowl (8) within the rinsing water interval [t1t2] at a time ts, the sensor signal, representing the triggering of the rinsing water flow is sent to the controller (12), the controller (12) converts the sensor signal into a control signal for the dispensing element (6) such that preparation (4) is dispensed into the toilet bowl (8) by the dispenser element (6) from the container (3), wherein the dispensing of the preparation (4) from the container (3) by the dispenser element (6) is carried out at a delay ?t after detection of the rinsing flow by the sensor unit at time ts.