Hybrid Waterless Urinal With One-Way Valve and Washout Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water-based urinals contribute to water shortages due to frequent water usage, while waterless urinals are perceived as emitting unpleasant odors and causing clogs if not flushed with fresh water, leading to reduced popularity.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid waterless urinal with a water flush capability, featuring an integrally formed elongated receptacle, a drain unit with a one-way valve for odor prevention, and a washout channel for providing fresh water under pressure to the drain unit, allowing for both waterless and water-use modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional water-based urinals are used, then urine can be flushed away effectively, but water consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The urinal system dynamically switches between waterless operation and water flush mode based on accumulated urine volume. The control system activates water flush when the urine volume in the collection chamber reaches a predetermined threshold, optimizing the balance between water conservation and effective urine removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the accumulated urine weight itself as the trigger for flushing. When the urine volume reaches the threshold, the control system automatically activates the water flush mechanism, making the system self-regulating without requiring external monitoring or intervention.
2Loss of substance
If waterless urinals are used, then water consumption is reduced, but unpleasant odors and clogs occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous waterless operation for extended periods, eliminating odors and preventing clogs through periodic water flushes rather than continuous water usage. The accumulated urine is periodically cleared to maintain hygiene and prevent harmful conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous water flushing, the system implements periodic water flushes based on accumulated urine volume. This periodic intervention effectively prevents odor buildup and clog formation while minimizing overall water consumption.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If water flush capability is added to waterless urinal, then odor and clog issues are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system serves dual purposes: providing water for periodic flushes to prevent odors and clogs, and potentially refilling the collection chamber. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single system component.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system integrates the waterless urinal collection function with the water flush function into a unified system. The same control unit manages both the urine collection monitoring and the water flush activation, reducing overall system complexity despite adding water flush capability.
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 hybrid urinal effectively conserves water by allowing optional fresh water flushing, reducing maintenance costs and odor issues, while maintaining ecological benefits, providing customizable operation to address user concerns.
Implementation Method 1
a drain unit having an integrated one way valve for storing and removing the effluent liquid from the urinal
Implementation Method 2
a washout channel for providing fresh water under pressure to the drain unit
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid waterless urinal includes a main body having an integrally formed elongated receptacle for receiving an effluent liquid, a drain unit having a reservoir, a primary P-trap and an integrated one way valve for storing and removing the effluent liquid from the urinal, a washout channel for providing fresh water under pressure to the drain unit and a secondary P-trap positioned inside the washout channel.