Low Profile Drain Water Trap Horizontal Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional P-traps require significant vertical space and create design restrictions, particularly in wheelchair-accessible applications, due to their vertical drop and aesthetic issues, limiting functional applications and obstructing accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A water trap design with a housing, inlet, outlet, and trap chamber that retains liquid in a substantially horizontal configuration, reducing vertical space requirements and incorporating features like a weir and optional inlet baffle to enhance sealing and accessibility, allowing for easier installation and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional P-trap with vertical drop is used, then effective water sealing is achieved, but significant vertical space is required and accessibility is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the conventional vertical P-trap configuration into a horizontal trap chamber design. The trap chamber extends horizontally between the inlet and outlet, eliminating the need for significant vertical drop while maintaining water sealing functionality through the horizontal liquid barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the trap chamber from vertical to horizontal. This parameter change allows the water seal to function effectively in a horizontal configuration, reducing vertical space requirements while maintaining sealing reliability.
2Reliability
If a conventional P-trap is suspended below a sink, then water sealing is provided, but aesthetic issues arise and clearance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal trap chamber design redistributes the trap's spatial footprint from a vertical suspension configuration to a horizontal integration within the sink structure, improving aesthetic appearance and maximizing clearance space while maintaining water sealing.
3Length of stationary object
If a horizontal trap chamber design is used, then vertical space is reduced and accessibility is improved, but the sealing mechanism must be redesigned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes to adapt the sealing mechanism from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. The horizontal trap chamber maintains the essential water seal function by creating a horizontal liquid barrier, simplifying the overall design while reducing vertical space requirements.
4Reliability
If a larger liquid volume is retained in the trap chamber, then gas prevention is improved, but the risk of water evaporation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal trap chamber configuration changes the geometry parameters of the liquid retention space, creating a larger surface area with potentially reduced depth. This parameter change improves gas prevention through increased liquid volume while the horizontal orientation may reduce evaporation compared to vertical configurations.
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 horizontal trap chamber design reduces the risk of water evaporation, improves accessibility, and simplifies servicing by minimizing vertical space needs, while maintaining effective gas prevention through a larger liquid volume and improved sealing mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The residual water in the U-bend 204 forms a 'water seal' that prevents gases from passing upward from the sewer through the P-trap 200
Implementation Method 2
The horizontal trap chamber design reduces the risk of water evaporation
Data Source
AI summary
A water trap for use in connection with a wash basin or other plumbing fixture includes a housing, an inlet extending into the housing and an outlet extending out of the housing. The water trap also includes a weir inside the housing between the inlet and the outlet, and a trap chamber defined by the space within the housing on an upstream side of the weir. The trap chamber is designed to retain liquid following a drain cycle from the wash basin or other plumbing fixture.