Mechanical Water Tap Body for Multi-Source Flow Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water taps that supply water from multiple sources, such as hot, cold, and filtered water, often require complex and expensive electronic components, making installation and maintenance complicated and requiring professional assistance.
Innovation Solution
A water tap body with mechanical mixing and selector valves that allow selective flow control from multiple water sources, eliminating the need for electronic components by locating all valves on the same side of the installation surface for easy access and maintenance, and comprising separable parts for efficient manufacturing and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are used in multi-source water taps, then water flow control functionality is improved, but installation and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic control systems with a purely mechanical valve system. The mixer tap incorporates multiple mechanical valves (main valve, selector valve, and safety valve) that mechanically control water flow from different sources without requiring any electronic components, thereby simplifying installation and maintenance while maintaining multi-source water control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the water control system into separate mechanical valves, each handling a specific function. The main valve controls overall water flow, the selector valve chooses between different water sources, and the safety valve prevents simultaneous operation of incompatible sources. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and maintainable while achieving complex multi-source control
2Ease of repair
If valves are located on the same side of the installation surface, then ease of access for maintenance is improved, but internal space arrangement becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the space arrangement challenge by organizing valves along the depth dimension of the tap body rather than spreading them across the surface. All three valves (main, selector, and safety) are positioned at different depths but accessible from the same side through a vertically arranged internal channel structure, allowing easy maintenance access while accommodating all components within the tap body volume
3Ease of manufacture
If all components are mechanical, then ease of installation is improved, but control precision and automation capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through the mechanical interlocking design of the valves. The selector valve mechanically links to the main valve through internal channels, automatically preventing the main valve from opening when the selector is in certain positions. This mechanical self-regulation provides sufficient control precision for domestic water mixing without requiring electronic sensors or actuators, maintaining ease of installation while achieving functional automation
Data Source
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AI summary
A water tap body (10) has a mechanical mixing valve (100) which is operable selectively to allow water to flow only from a first water inlet (110a) to a water outlet (110c) of the mixing valve (100), to allow water to flow only from a second water inlet (110b) to the water outlet (110c), and to allow a mix of water to flow to the water outlet (110c). The water tap body (10) also has a mechanical selector valve (200) which is operable selectively to allow water to flow only from a first water inlet (210a) to a water outlet (210c) and to allow water to flow only from a second water inlet (210b) to the water outlet (210c) of the mechanical selector valve (200). The water outlet (110c) of the mechanical mixing valve (100) is in fluid communication with a first tap body outlet (140c). The water outlet (210c) of the mechanical selector valve (200) is in fluid communication with a second tap body outlet (240c).