Hybrid Wall Urinal Trap Assembly for Odor and Sediment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current waterless urinal systems face challenges with ongoing maintenance requirements, replacement of trap sealing media, and drain line sediment buildup, which affect their efficiency in preventing odors and conserving water.
Innovation Solution
A trap assembly for wall urinals featuring a housing with a drainage tube and a gel-filled enclosure that reacts with urine, providing a liquid seal and reducing odors, combined with a removal tool for easy maintenance, and an optional electronic flush valve for automated cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional traps (p-traps, s-traps, bell traps) are used to provide liquid seal for preventing sewer gases, then odor blocking is effective, but residual urine remains in the trap causing ammonia dioxide release and odors requiring multiple flushes
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is divided into multiple chambers: a first chamber for receiving urine and a second chamber for providing the liquid seal. This segmentation allows urine to be separated from the seal water, preventing residual urine from remaining in the seal chamber and eliminating ammonia dioxide release while maintaining effective sewer gas blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
A baffle is introduced as an intermediary element between the first chamber and the second chamber. The baffle directs flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, ensuring that urine passes through the seal water which traps odors, while preventing direct communication between the urine chamber and the sealed environment.
2Loss of substance
If waterless urinals with oil-based trap sealing media are used, then water conservation is achieved, but ongoing maintenance requirements increase including replacement of trap sealing media
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the urinal's own operational features (flushing mechanism) to maintain the trap. During normal flushing operations, water automatically refills the seal chamber to maintain the liquid seal, eliminating the need for separate maintenance of sealing media. The system serves itself by using its primary function (flushing) to maintain the trap seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the sealing medium from oil-based products to water-based liquid seal. This parameter change eliminates the need for specialized maintenance and replacement of oil-based sealing media, as water is readily available and can be automatically replenished through the existing flushing system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If large volume traps directly connected to drain system are used, then sewer gas blocking is effective, but drain line sediment buildup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is segmented into a first chamber for urine reception and a second chamber for sealing, connected through a restricted opening. This segmentation prevents direct communication between the large trap volume and the drain line, reducing sediment while maintaining effective gas blocking through the sealed second chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
Different chambers have different functions and qualities: the first chamber handles urine with larger opening for reception, while the second chamber provides the seal with restricted opening to minimize sediment passage. This local differentiation allows effective odor blocking without proportionate sediment buildup in the drain line.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple flushing is performed to reduce odors from residual urine, then ammonia dioxide release is reduced, but clean fresh water is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the trap into urine reception and seal chambers, the system eliminates the need for multiple flushes to clear residual urine odors. The sealed second chamber prevents ammonia dioxide release regardless of residual urine in the first chamber, saving the water that would otherwise be wasted on unnecessary flushes.
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 trap assembly effectively reduces maintenance needs, minimizes sediment buildup, and provides a reliable odor control mechanism using the urine's pH and enzymatic digestion properties, while allowing for customizable operation as both waterless and traditional urinals.
Implementation Method 1
A trap assembly for a wall urinal may include an enclosure having a hollow interior for holding a gel material that reacts with urine
Implementation Method 2
The trap assembly effectively reduces maintenance needs, minimizes sediment buildup, and provides a reliable odor control mechanism using the urine's pH and enzymatic digestion properties
Implementation Method 3
Plumbing and sanitation codes require urinals to provide a liquid seal to prevent sewer gases from escaping
Data Source
AI summary
A trap for positioning within a wall urinal includes a housing having an open top end and an open bottom end coupled to a drainage pipe. The trap includes a top that includes an upper surface with a center portion having at least one drainage opening extending therethrough. The top is to be coupled to the open top end of the housing. A drainage tube has an open top end and an open bottom end, with the open top end coupled to the center portion of the top and aligned with the at least one drainage opening. A cup is to be suspended within the housing and has an open top end and a closed bottom end with sidewalls therebetween, and with the open bottom end of the drainage tube inserted into the cup.