Membrane Odor Trap Resolving Height and Drainage Trade-offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water odor traps face issues with high overall height, reduced drainage capacity, and failure to prevent sewer gases from passing through due to drying out and low sealing water levels, especially in environments with overpressure or negative pressure in the sewer system.
Innovation Solution
A compact odor trap design with a membrane element that can move between closed and open positions, surrounded by inlet channels forming an open drainage space, ensuring the outlet opening is sealed under excess pressure and maintaining sealing even when dry, with a removable cover for easy maintenance and inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the water seal height is reduced to lower the overall height of the odor trap, then the overall height is reduced and installation becomes easier, but the drainage capacity decreases and the water seal cannot prevent sewer gases under overpressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane element that can deform under pressure to seal the outlet opening. This membrane acts as a dynamic barrier that compensates for the reduced water seal height, preventing sewer gases from passing through while maintaining compact dimensions. The membrane's flexibility allows it to respond to pressure changes without requiring a deep water seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The odor trap transitions from a static water seal to a dynamic system where the membrane element actively responds to pressure changes. The membrane moves between sealed and open states based on pressure differential, enabling the compact design to maintain both low height and effective sealing under varying pressure conditions.
2Length of stationary object
If the water seal height is reduced to lower the overall height, then the overall height is reduced, but the water seal offers insufficient static pressure to counteract gas overpressure in the sewer system
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane element provides active pressure compensation by deforming to seal the outlet opening when subjected to sewer gas overpressure. This dynamic sealing mechanism replaces the reliance on static water seal pressure, enabling reliable gas prevention in a compact configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane element automatically responds to pressure changes without external control. When sewer gas pressure increases, the membrane is pushed into the outlet opening to seal it; when pressure normalizes, the membrane returns to its original position. This self-regulating mechanism ensures reliable sealing under varying pressure conditions.
3Length of stationary object
If a shallow water seal height is used, then the overall height is reduced, but the trap dries out during prolonged disuse and allows sewer gases to pass through
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane element provides a physical barrier that seals the outlet opening independently of the water seal level. Even when the water seal is shallow or partially dried during prolonged disuse, the membrane maintains the seal, preventing sewer gases from passing through the trap.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane element acts as an intermediary sealing mechanism between the water seal and the outlet opening. It provides an additional layer of protection that does not depend on the water seal depth, ensuring odor prevention even when the water seal is compromised or dried out.
4Reliability
If the membrane element is made heavier to prevent lifting under negative pressure, then sealing reliability improves, but the membrane may not open easily under normal drainage conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane element is designed with a three-dimensional dome shape that provides structural rigidity in the vertical dimension to resist negative pressure. The curved geometry distributes pressure forces effectively, allowing the membrane to maintain its sealing position under suction while still permitting water flow to push it open during drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's physical parameters are optimized to balance weight and flexibility. The material selection and geometric design provide sufficient mass to resist negative pressure lifting while maintaining enough flexibility to be pushed open by normal drainage water flow. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between staying sealed and opening easily.
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 design reduces overall height while maintaining high drainage capacity and preventing sewer gases from entering, even under varying pressure conditions, ensuring effective odor containment and easy installation in any direction.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane element (15) which is movable between a closed position and an open position, which is arranged in the odor trap (10) such that in the closed position it closes the at least one outlet opening (13) of the chamber (12) and in the open position it releases the at least one outlet opening (13) of the chamber (12)
Implementation Method 2
preventing sewer gases from entering, even under varying pressure conditions
Implementation Method 3
The inlet channels (17) form an inlet channel which - viewed in the installed position - has an upper end open to the environment and extends downwards into a lower area of the chamber (12)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The odor trap (10, 30, 60) has an odor trap body (11, 31, 61) which defines a chamber (12, 32, 62) for sealing water. The chamber (12, 32, 62) has at least one inlet opening (14, 34, 64) and at least one outlet opening (13, 33, 63). The outlet opening (13, 33, 63) is formed by an upwardly open pipe stub inside the trap body (11, 31, 61). The trap body (11, 31, 61) defines a drainage chamber (20, 40, 70) that communicates with at least one outlet opening (13, 33, 63) of the chamber. The drainage chamber (20, 40, 70) surrounds the outlet opening (13, 33, 63) of the chamber (12, 32, 62). The inlet opening (14, 34, 64) forms an inlet channel (17, 37, 67) which—viewed in the installed position—has an upper end open to the environment and extends downwards into a lower region (12a, 32a, 62a) of the chamber (12, 32, 62), with the inlet channel (17, 37, 67) at least partially surrounds the drainage area (20, 40, 70).According to the invention, a cover element (15, 35, 63) rests on the outlet opening (13, 33, 63). When water flows, this element is pushed upwards by the water pressure, thus releasing the outlet opening (13, 33, 63).