Hydrogen Water Generator Tank Coupling to Reduce Hydrogen Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydrogen water generators face issues with hydrogen leakage during water tank replenishment, unintentional separation of the water tank, and difficulty in ensuring proper coupling, leading to inefficient hydrogen retention and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen water generator design featuring a water tank assembly that couples to the main body via a sliding mechanism, guided by a surface for secure attachment and detachment, with automatic detection of connection and disconnection, and a structure that minimizes hydrogen escape through airtight coupling and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the water tank is directly opened to replenish supply water, then the water tank can be easily accessed for refilling, but hydrogen escapes from the hydrogen water in the water tank
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank is divided into two separate tanks: a first water tank for storing supply water and a second water tank for storing hydrogen water. This segmentation allows the supply water tank to be replenished without opening the hydrogen water tank, thus preventing hydrogen escape while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A transfer pump acts as an intermediary device to transfer water from the first water tank to the second water tank through a water transfer channel. This intermediary mechanism enables indirect water replenishment, allowing the system to add supply water without directly opening the hydrogen water storage space, thereby preventing hydrogen loss.
2Ease of operation
If the water tank is detachably coupled to the hydrogen water generator, then the water tank can be easily removed and cleaned, but the water tank may be easily separated unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure employs asymmetric design with a protrusion on one component and a corresponding recess on the mating component. This asymmetric geometry ensures that the water tank can only be coupled in the correct orientation and prevents unintentional separation, while still allowing easy removal when intentionally detached.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure uses a nested design where the protrusion of one component fits into the recess of another component. This nesting mechanism provides secure attachment that prevents unintentional separation while maintaining ease of intentional removal, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the water tank is cylindrical in shape, then the water tank can be easily manufactured, but it is difficult to guide the correct direction and position for coupling
Solution Approach 1:
While the water tank maintains a generally cylindrical shape for ease of manufacture, asymmetric coupling features (protrusion and recess) are incorporated at specific locations. This combination allows the tank to be easily manufactured while the asymmetric features guide the correct direction and position during coupling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling guidance mechanism replaces complex mechanical alignment systems with simple geometric features (protrusion and recess) that automatically guide the water tank into the correct position and orientation during coupling, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving ease of operation.
4Device complexity
If the connection flow paths are covered by the water tank and seating part, then the structure is compact and clean, but it is difficult to check whether the connection has been properly made
Solution Approach 1:
The connection verification mechanism uses visual indicators (such as color changes or visible marks) that become apparent when the water tank is properly coupled to the seating part. This allows the connection status to be easily detected without exposing the internal flow paths, maintaining structural compactness while enabling simple connection verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical inspection systems with simple visual indicators that provide immediate feedback on connection status. This substitution maintains the compact and clean structure while making connection verification easy through visual detection rather than mechanical inspection.
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 design ensures quick, accurate, and secure coupling and decoupling of the water tank, reducing hydrogen loss and user effort, while maintaining the integrity of the hydrogen water generation process.
Implementation Method 1
a water tank, a seating part, an electrolyzer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A hydrogen water generator includes a body including a first outlet coupled to a first inlet for receiving supply water, and a second inlet coupled to a second outlet, the second outlet for discharging hydrogen water, a water tank assembly detachably attached to the body, the water tank assembly including a water tank and an electrode module coupled to the water tank, and the water tank including a third inlet and a third outlet. When the water tank assembly is attached to the body, the third inlet of the water tank couples to the first outlet of the body, and the third outlet of the water tank couples with the second inlet of the body.