Intelligent drainage device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bathtubs take too long to drain, leading to rapid temperature drops for seniors, increasing the risk of cold exposure and discomfort, especially when manual drainage methods are cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent drainage device with an electronic control system that synchronizes multiple drain assemblies equipped with stepping motors and waterstop members to rapidly drain water from a bathtub, utilizing a power supply unit, water discharge key, motor drive unit, and control unit to manage the drainage process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional bathtub plug connected with a slender chain is used to seal the drain hole, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the drainage speed is slow and takes too long to drain the bath water
Solution Approach 1:
The bathtub is divided into multiple drainage zones with several drain holes distributed across the bathtub bottom. Each drain hole is equipped with its own waterstop member and stepping motor, enabling parallel drainage operations that significantly increase overall drainage speed compared to a single plug system.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical plug-pulling system is replaced with an automated electronic control system. Stepping motors drive the waterstop members to automatically open and close the drain holes, eliminating the need for manual chain-pulling while providing precise control over the drainage process.
2Temperature
If the drainage takes too long in a conventional bathtub, then the temperature of the residual water drops quickly, but the simple plug structure is easier to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The waterstop members are positioned to cover the drain holes before bathing begins, and the system can be pre-programmed or manually activated to drain water at the optimal moment. The electronic control system allows for timely drainage activation, preventing excessive temperature drop while maintaining simplicity in the waterstop member structure.
3Ease of operation
If the plug is too tight with the drain hole to be pulled by chain, then the sealing is better, but manual intervention requires direct hand reaching under the naked body causing inconvenience and embarrassment
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system operates autonomously without requiring manual intervention. The stepping motors automatically drive the waterstop members to open and close the drain holes based on control signals, eliminating the need for users to reach under their bodies to pull plugs or operate chains.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control system acts as an intermediary between the user and the drainage mechanism. Users can operate the system through external controls (such as remote controls or wall switches), and the control unit translates these inputs into coordinated motor actions, providing indirect but convenient control without physical contact with the drain area.
4Productivity
If multiple drain assemblies with electronic control system are installed, then the drainage speed is significantly improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each drain assembly uses standardized components including waterstop members, stepping motors, and control circuits that can be replicated across multiple drain holes. This modular universal design allows for scalable installation while maintaining consistent performance and simplifying maintenance, as the same component types are used throughout the system.
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 intelligent drainage device significantly reduces drainage time, minimizing body temperature drops and enhancing comfort by quickly removing bathwater, thus reducing waiting time for seniors to exit the bathtub and minimizing exposure to cold.
Implementation Method 1
The stepping motor has a power transmission shaft. A lower end of the guide bar of the waterstop member pierces into an upper end of the receiving tube in a tight match manner. The power transmission shaft of the stepping motor, plugged into and thus connected with a lower portion of the receiving tube, is used for driving the receiving tube and the waterstop member to descend or ascend.
Implementation Method 2
The waterstop member further includes a waterstop cover and a guide bar. The waterstop cover is used for sealing the drain hole of the bathtub.
Implementation Method 3
By pulling the plug off the drain hole through the chain, the bath water can be discharged.
Data Source
AI summary
An intelligent drainage device includes a power supply unit, a water discharge key, drain assemblies, a motor drive unit and a control unit. The drain assembly, installed to a bathtub drain hole, includes a waterstop member, a stepping motor and a receiving tube. The receiving tube engages fixedly and oppositely the waterstop member and a power transmission shaft of the stepping motor. The control unit receives a start/stop signal from the water discharge key, then transmits the signal to the motor drive unit for controlling the power transmission shaft to drive the corresponding waterstop member to move upward or downward. In this device, with a simple touch at the water discharge key, the control unit would control the motor drive unit to activate the stepping motors so as to have all the drain assemblies at the respective drain holes to discharge simultaneously and rapidly the water inside a bathtub.