Helical Loop Toilet Drain Reduces Clogging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional toilet drains with P-trap style trapways face challenges in rapidly injecting water and reducing clogging incidence due to symmetry constraints and multiple bends, which increase resistance and likelihood of blockages.
Innovation Solution
A helical loop trapway design that exits the toilet bowl from the side, allowing a flush jet to enter and exit out-of-plane, minimizing bends and maintaining angular momentum, thereby reducing resistance and clogging likelihood.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a P-trap style trapway with multiple bends is used to create a siphon effect, then the toilet can achieve effective waste removal, but the resistance increases and the likelihood of clogging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trapway transitions from a traditional planar configuration with multiple bends to a three-dimensional helical loop configuration. This dimensional change allows the water flow to maintain more consistent momentum while still creating the necessary siphon effect, reducing turbulence and clogging risk associated with sharp planar bends
Solution Approach 2:
The trapway employs a helical curved configuration instead of sharp angular bends. The gradual curvature of the helix allows water to transition smoothly through the trap, maintaining flow velocity and reducing the harmful effects of turbulence and stagnation that lead to clogs
2Power
If the pipe diameter is reduced or the pipe is corrugated after the second bend to increase resistance, then the siphon kick is enhanced, but the exit flow is limited and clogging likelihood increases
Solution Approach 1:
The helical loop trapway is designed to generate the siphon kick effect through its geometric configuration and water flow dynamics rather than through restrictive measures. The pre-designed helical path creates the necessary pressure differential and flow velocity to initiate the siphon effect without requiring downstream restrictions
3Device complexity
If a traditional symmetric P-trap design is used, then the toilet structure is simplified, but the water flow path creates more bends and increases resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The trapway adopts an asymmetric helical loop configuration rather than a symmetric planar design. This asymmetric three-dimensional path allows water to flow more efficiently through the trap by maintaining better flow momentum and reducing the number of sharp direction changes, thereby decreasing resistance while still achieving the siphon effect
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 helical loop trapway design enables a siphon flush with less impedance, reducing the likelihood of clogs by maintaining quasi-laminar flow and accommodating compliant objects, while providing a smooth continuous outer surface.
Implementation Method 1
The P-trap style trapway or drain in a traditional toilet functions like a siphon in removing waste from a toilet bowl
Implementation Method 2
maintaining angular momentum, thereby reducing resistance and clogging likelihood
Data Source
AI summary
A helical drain for a toilet is disclosed. The present invention relates to a novel toilet drain configuration. Specifically, the novel toilet drain configuration comprises a helical loop trapway. The drain of the present invention exits the toilet bowl and forms a substantially vertical tubular loop running generally parallel to the width of the bowl or stool, or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bowl or stool, before being connected to a sewer. The drain of the present invention functions like a P-trap syphon in removing the contents of the bowl. The diameter of the looped tubular portion of the drain may vary by approximately 20 percent or less in the direction of the sewer connection. Sensors may be placed on the drain to monitor drain contents, fluid levels, and drain performance. The drain may be fitted with valves to control the flow of fluids and gases through the drain.