Foam Shower Base Drain Layout With Integrated Horizontal Odor Trap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foam shower floor elements with drains face challenges in integrating an odor trap within the thickness of the panel-like design without requiring special excavation or pre-assembly, while maintaining high flow rates and ensuring stability.
Innovation Solution
The odor trap is formed partially outside the drain pot with a drain line routed at different heights, featuring hump-like flow obstacles that allow for a counter-directed cover, enabling an effective odor trap within the drain pipe, and the drain line is pre-assembled and pre-sealed to fit within the shower base element, ensuring a flush installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the odor trap is formed inside the drain pot, then the structure is simple, but the shower floor element thickness becomes too large requiring excavation
Solution Approach 1:
The odor trap is repositioned from a vertical arrangement inside the drain pot to a horizontal arrangement within the drain line, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the shower floor element. This dimensional shift allows the odor trap to fit within the panel thickness without increasing the vertical profile, eliminating the need for excavation while maintaining the water seal function.
2Ease of operation
If the drain line is pre-assembled and pre-sealed, then installation becomes easier, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drain line is pre-assembled with the odor trap and pre-sealed at the factory before installation at the construction site. This preliminary action allows quality control and sealing to be performed under controlled manufacturing conditions, ensuring precision while simplifying on-site installation to merely positioning and connecting the pre-prepared assembly.
3Device complexity
If the drain line runs at constant height, then the structure is simple, but odor trap formation is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The drain line is designed with dynamic height variations including upward slopes and downward drops along its longitudinal course. These height changes create the necessary conditions for odor trap formation (water seals at upward slopes) while maintaining relatively simple overall structure. The dynamic profile allows the same drain line to serve both drainage and odor prevention functions.
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 allows for a compact, pre-assembled drain system that fits within the shower floor element's thickness, preventing protrusions and enabling easy installation, while maintaining high flow rates and stability, and can be adapted for various configurations including stepped edges and multiple panel designs.
Implementation Method 1
the odor trap is formed at least partially outside the drain pot and the height-related flow deflection is formed outside of the drain pot by means of the drain line
Implementation Method 2
The seal is preferably achieved by an adhesive layer (see also below), optionally also by conventional sealing tapes or a continuous sealing film
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a foam shower base element (1), preferably a plate-type foam shower base element, comprising a drain, wherein the drain comprises an outlet bowl (4) with a bowl base and an odor trap formed by a vertical flow undulation, and wherein a drain line (5) runs from the outlet bowl (4) to an edge of the shower base element. In order to provide a foam shower base element that is configured for advantageous installation, in particular for a flat and flush base installation, it is proposed that the odor trap be designed at least partially outside the outlet bowl (4) and that the vertical flow undulation be designed outside the outlet bowl (4) by way of the drain line (5); to do so, the drain line (5), which is placed at the bottom at an elevation equal to the bowl base or higher, is routed within a vertical section (thickness d) of the shower base element at different heights along the length of the drain line such that an odor trap results therein.