Hidden Water Tank Conversion for Interchangeable Driving Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hidden water tanks are limited to a single type of driving panel, requiring full replacement and reconstruction if a customer desires a different driving mode, leading to high workload and cost.

Innovation Solution

A hidden water tank design that incorporates a first driving conversion module to convert mechanical driving force into air pressure and a second driving conversion module to convert electrical signals into air pressure, allowing it to adapt to pneumatic, mechanical, and electric driving panels without replacing the water tank body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the water tank body is designed with a fixed driving panel type, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the adaptability to different driving modes is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different driving panelsVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driving panel system is divided into two independent parts: the water tank body (with pneumatic drainage assembly) and the driving panel (with driving conversion module). This segmentation allows the water tank body to remain simple while the driving panel can be varied to match different driving modes, thereby improving adaptability without significantly increasing overall structure complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The water tank body is designed with a universal pneumatic drainage assembly that can work with different types of driving panels (pneumatic, mechanical, electric) through the driving conversion module. This multi-functionality enables a single water tank body design to accommodate multiple driving modes, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the water tank body is replaced to match a different driving mode, then the adaptability is improved, but the workload and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different driving modesVSAvoidworkload for reconstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the system into a reusable water tank body and an interchangeable driving panel, the patent eliminates the need to replace the entire water tank body when changing driving modes. Only the driving panel needs to be replaced, significantly reducing the workload and time required for reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows customers to discard only the outdated driving panel while recovering and retaining the water tank body. This selective replacement approach minimizes the workload and cost associated with upgrading driving modes, as the bulk of the system (water tank body) is preserved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Adaptability or versatility

If the water tank body is replaced to match a different driving mode, then the adaptability is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different driving modesVSAvoidcost for reconstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation of the water tank body from the driving panel enables cost-effective upgrades. When a customer needs a different driving mode, they only need to replace the driving panel, not the entire water tank body, thereby reducing the reconstruction cost significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design enables customers to recover the water tank body and only discard the driving panel when upgrading. This approach reduces the overall cost of reconstruction compared to replacing the entire water tank body, making the system more economical to manufacture and upgrade.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4242387B1Hidden water tank for matching different driving panels
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 KOHLER CHINA INVESTMENT
  • EP4242387B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4242387B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4242387B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The application discloses a hidden water tank capable of matching different driving panels, which belongs to the technical field of sanitary wares. The water tank comprises a water tank body, the water tank body comprising a water inlet assembly and a pneumatic drainage assembly; and a driving panel detachably connected to the water tank body, comprising one of a pneumatic driving panel, a mechanical driving panel and an electric driving panel. The mechanical driving panel and the pneumatic drainage assembly are connected through a first driving conversion module, and the first driving conversion module is used for converting a mechanical driving force into an air pressure- driving force; and the electric driving panel and the pneumatic drainage assembly are connected through a second driving conversion module, and the second driving conversion module is used for converting an electrical signal into an air-pressure-driving force. The application solves a problem that an existing hidden water tank cannot match different driving panels.