Integrated Plumbing Valve Housing to Minimize Leak Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plumbing systems face complexity and inefficiency due to the need for multiple water control mechanisms, which can lead to increased costs, material usage, and labor requirements, as well as sub-optimal installations and compatibility issues between different brand control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A compact fluid control device with a housing that integrates a pressure regulator, check valve, and stop valve within a single sealed joint, reducing leak paths and device length, and optionally incorporating a flood prevention regulator and pressure release aperture for easy reset.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate control mechanisms are installed, then each individual function (pressure regulation, backflow prevention, stop control) can be achieved, but the system complexity, material usage, and installation labor increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines pressure regulator, check valve, and stop valve into a single integrated housing with one sealed joint. This merging of multiple control mechanisms into one unified device reduces system complexity and the number of connection points while maintaining all required functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single housing structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the pressure regulator for flow control, the check valve for backflow prevention, and the stop valve for flow cessation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate devices for each control function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate control mechanisms with different brands and specifications are used, then installation flexibility may be maintained, but compatibility issues arise and additional fittings are required
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated housing provides a universal platform that accommodates pressure regulator, check valve, and stop valve in a single standardized structure. This eliminates compatibility issues between different brands and specifications that would arise from using separate devices, while the standardized connectors ensure consistent connection methods.
3Reliability
If multiple separate control mechanisms are installed, then each function can be performed, but the overall device length and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging pressure regulator, check valve, and stop valve into a single housing, the overall device length is significantly reduced compared to installing multiple separate mechanisms in series. The compact integrated design maintains all control functions while minimizing the spatial footprint.
4Ease of manufacture
If multiple connection joints are used between separate control mechanisms, then each connection can be made independently, but the potential for leak paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the number of connection joints by housing all control mechanisms within a single sealed housing. This eliminates multiple external connection points where leaks could occur, while the internal sealed joints provide reliable connections between components. The single external sealed joint reduces leak paths compared to multiple separate connections.
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 integrated design simplifies installation, reduces material usage and costs, and ensures reliable operation by minimizing leak paths and enhancing compatibility between control mechanisms, while also providing easy reset functionality for the flood prevention regulator.
Implementation Method 1
housing a pressure regulator to regulate flow in the flow passage
Implementation Method 2
housing a check valve to prevent back flow through the flow passage
Data Source
AI summary
A plumbing device including a body with at least one inlet and at least one outlet and a number of fluid control mechanisms, wherein each fluid control mechanism performs a different fluid control function compared to the other fluid control mechanisms and wherein the body houses the fluid control mechanisms.