Inlet Fitting Backflow Element for Pressure-Independent Water Diversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inlet fittings for cisterns face challenges in optimizing the diversion of additional water independently of water pressure, which affects the filling speed and accuracy of the cistern.

Innovation Solution

An inlet fitting with a float-controlled valve and an additional water tap, along with a pressure-independent backflow element, ensures a consistent diversion of additional water regardless of water pressure, enhancing the closing accuracy and efficiency of the filling process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional water is diverted from the inlet fitting, then the closing accuracy of the inlet fitting is improved, but the water pressure in the inlet fitting becomes variable and affects the diversion amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosing accuracyVSAvoidwater pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The backflow element is designed to change its geometric parameters (cross-sectional area) in response to water pressure changes. As pressure increases, the element deforms or moves to increase its cross-section, automatically compensating for pressure variations and maintaining constant additional water diversion regardless of pressure fluctuations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The backflow element acts as an intermediary component between the water supply channel and the additional water tap. It mediates the relationship between variable water pressure and the additional water diversion, ensuring that pressure changes do not directly affect the amount of additional water diverted to the float cavity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If additional water is diverted to fill the float cavity, then the filling speed of the cistern is improved, but the diversion amount varies with pressure conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling speedVSAvoiddiversion amount consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The backflow element dynamically changes its flow resistance parameters based on water pressure. When pressure increases, the element's cross-section increases proportionally, maintaining a constant pressure differential across the additional water tap and ensuring stable additional water diversion that consistently fills the float cavity at the designed rate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback mechanism where water pressure changes are detected by the backflow element, which then automatically adjusts its own geometry to compensate. This self-regulating feedback ensures that the additional water diversion remains stable and consistent, directly improving filling speed reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 allows for consistent and efficient diversion of additional water, ensuring the cistern is filled quickly and accurately across varying pressure conditions, improving the overall performance of the inlet fitting.

Implementation Method 1

a float-controlled valve arranged in the water channel, which blocks the water channel or during filling of the cistern, and a float that works with the valve to control the valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

The backflow element is preferably designed in such a way that the cross section of the backflow element is increased as the pressure increases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-dependent deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3263781B1Inlet fitting
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 GEBERIT INT AG
  • EP3263781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3263781B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3263781B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An inlet assembly (1) for filling a toilet cistern comprises a housing (2), a water channel (3) arranged in the housing (2) with an inlet (4) and an outlet (5), a float-controlled valve (6) arranged in the water channel (3) which closes or opens the water channel (3) during filling, and a float (7) cooperating with the valve (6) for controlling the valve (6), wherein the float (7) has a water-fillable cavity (8) and at least one buoyancy chamber (9). The inlet assembly (1) further comprises an additional water outlet (10) branching off from the water channel (3) for filling the said cavity (8) to provide additional weight. In the water supply channel (3) at least one backflow preventer (11) is arranged in the area of ​​the additional water tap (10), with which a backflow in the area of ​​the additional water tap (10) can be provided for the pressure-independent withdrawal of additional water.