Horizontal Submersible Floor Drain Pump with Level Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floor drain systems for shower trays without basins require active pump support due to water accumulation, leading to protruding components, high maintenance costs, energy inefficiency, and noise issues from air suction.
Innovation Solution
A floor drain device with a horizontally arranged pump housed in a watertight enclosure, featuring a detachable head section for easy maintenance and a level switch to ensure efficient water operation, allowing the pump to be fully submerged and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pump is arranged vertically with protruding components above ground, then the pump can be easily accessed for maintenance, but the overall height increases and components protrude from the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is reoriented from a vertical arrangement to a horizontal arrangement, changing the spatial dimension of installation. This allows the pump to be embedded within the floor structure without protruding components above ground, while the detachable head section provides maintenance accessibility from the side rather than from above.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is nested within a housing that is integrated into the floor structure. The detachable head section can be removed from the housing for maintenance, allowing the pump to be embedded in the ground while still providing easy access to the pump body for servicing.
2Reliability
If the pump operates continuously to ensure drainage, then water accumulation is prevented, but energy consumption increases and the pump may suck in air causing noise and reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
A level switch is implemented to detect the water level in the collection chamber and provide feedback control to the pump operation. The level switch activates the pump only when water reaches a predetermined level, preventing continuous operation and air suction, thereby reducing energy consumption and eliminating noise while maintaining effective drainage when needed.
3Strength
If the pump head is fixed permanently to the pump body, then the structure is more robust, but maintenance requires dismantling electrical components and screws
Solution Approach 1:
The pump head is segmented from the pump body, allowing it to be detached as a separate component. The detachable connection provides sufficient structural robustness during operation while enabling easy maintenance by removing only the head section without needing to dismantle electrical components or loosen multiple screws.
4Ease of repair
If the pump is positioned to allow easy removal of the head section, then maintenance is simplified, but the suction connection may not effectively reach the collection chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The suction connection is extended in a horizontal direction rather than vertically, changing the spatial approach to reach the collection chamber. This horizontal extension allows the suction opening to effectively reach into the collection chamber while maintaining the detachable head section configuration for easy maintenance access.
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 solution reduces the overall height of the system, prevents clogging, minimizes energy usage, and eliminates noise by ensuring the pump only operates when necessary, enhancing maintenance accessibility and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a pump (6), in particular a submersible pump, for moving the water
Implementation Method 2
The fixing element (5) is frictionally held in the holding position by the frictional connection
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a floor drain device for mounting below drains, in particular below walk-in showers, having a housing (1) which has a collecting chamber (3) for receiving draining water. The drain device further has a pump (6) for drawing water located in the collecting chamber (3), the pressure side of said pump (6) being coupled to a line section (7) led out of the collecting chamber (3) for this purpose. The pump (6) is arranged horizontally, and the pump part which has the electric components of the pump is accommodated in a pump chamber (2) which is sealed from the collecting chamber (3) in a water-tight manner. The pump (6) suction area (6b) which can be found on a head portion (6a) of the pump (6) is located in the collecting chamber (3).