Flushing Valve Timer Mechanism Prevents Simultaneous Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current toilet flushing systems waste significant water due to immediate refilling after each flush, and they suffer from reliability issues, bulkiness, and complexity, leading to increased plumbing repair costs and water hammer noise.

Innovation Solution

A flushing valve system comprising an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a timer valve that prevents simultaneous opening, allowing the cistern to refill only after the flush is complete, thereby reducing water usage and incorporating a double diaphragm pressure head valve to mitigate water hammer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cistern refills immediately after flushing, then the cistern is ready for the next flush faster, but water is wasted because the inlet valve opens while the outlet is still draining

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflush readiness timeVSAvoidwater wastage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The timer valve creates a controlled delay mechanism that provides feedback control between the outlet valve closing and the inlet valve opening. This feedback system ensures the inlet valve only opens after the outlet valve has closed, preventing water wastage while maintaining flush readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The timer valve performs a preliminary action by closing the inlet valve before the outlet valve closes. This preliminary closure prevents water from entering the cistern during the draining phase, eliminating wastage while the timer ensures the inlet opens promptly afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If traditional ball float inlet valve design is used, then the valve is simple in structure, but it is bulky and prone to early failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve structure simplicityVSAvoidvalve reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic ball float mechanism and replaces it with a diaphragm-based inlet valve system. This extraction removes the reliability issues and bulkiness associated with ball float designs while maintaining the essential function of controlling water intake.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The traditional mechanical ball float system is substituted with a diaphragm-based mechanism that uses pressure differential and elastic deformation instead of gravity and mechanical buoyancy. This substitution improves reliability and reduces size while maintaining functional simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Volume of stationary object

If equilibrium valve with shorter pivot arm and float is used, then space within cistern is reduced, but water hammer effect still occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecistern space utilizationVSAvoidwater hammer noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical equilibrium valve system susceptible to water hammer is replaced with a diaphragm-based inlet valve. The diaphragm's elastic properties and gradual opening/closing action eliminate water hammer effects while maintaining compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The inlet valve mechanism changes from rigid mechanical components to flexible diaphragm material, altering the physical parameters of the system. This change allows gradual valve operation that prevents water hammer while maintaining space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The system significantly reduces water wastage by approximately one liter per flush, enhances reliability with a robust design, and minimizes water hammer noise, while being easier to install and maintain.

Implementation Method 1

the timer valve being mechanical connected to both the inlet valve and the outlet valve so as to control their movement between an open and a closed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical linkage control:

Implementation Method 2

When the water level within the cistern rises, the buoyancy of the float causes the pivot arm to rise exerting its upward force on the end of a piston, or similar device, so as to close the inlet valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

incorporating a double diaphragm pressure head valve to mitigate water hammer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWater hammer mitigation: Fluid Hammer

Data Source

PatentUS9151028B2Flushing valve

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 GTP DEV

AI summary

A flushing valve suitable for reducing water wastage from a cistern of a toilet is described. The flushing valve comprising an inlet valve, an outlet valve and a timer valve. The timer valve is mechanically connected to both the inlet valve and the outlet valve so as to control their movement between an open and a closed position such that the timer valve prevents both the inlet valve and the outlet valve from simultaneously being in their open positions. By preventing the inlet valve and the outlet valve from simultaneously being in their open positions results in the fact that the flushing valve does not allow the cistern to start to refill until after the flush process is complete. This results in a significant reduction in the volume of water passing through the cistern during each flushing cycle.