Sanitary Single-Lever Mixer Gap Control via Slide Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sanitary single-lever mixer taps face issues with varying vertical positions due to component tolerances, leading to inconsistent gap widths between the cap and the fitting housing, which is aesthetically undesirable when the cap diameter matches the housing diameter.
Innovation Solution
A slide ring is integrated on the cover part, allowing the spherical cap surfaces to maintain a defined small distance, with the sliding movement ending when the cap's surface meets the slide ring's edge, independent of internal tolerances, and ensuring a consistent gap width without direct contact that could cause slippage or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the cap diameter is made to match the fitting housing diameter for aesthetic purposes, then the visual appearance is improved, but the vertical gap between the cap and fitting housing becomes inconsistent due to component tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a slide ring as an intermediary element between the cap and the fitting housing. This slide ring with its spherical cap surface receives the cap's spherical segment surface, acting as a mediator that absorbs dimensional variations. The slide ring's upper edge provides a consistent reference surface that ensures uniform gap width regardless of variations in the control cartridge components, thus resolving the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and manufacturing precision.
2Ease of manufacture
If a stop is used between the adjusting shaft and receptacle to define insertion depth, then the assembly is simplified, but the vertical position of the cap varies significantly due to component tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The slide ring serves as a new intermediary element that decouples the cap's vertical position from the control cartridge's internal tolerances. By introducing this intermediate component with a precisely defined spherical cap surface, the system achieves consistent cap positioning without requiring tight tolerances on the adjusting shaft and receptacle interface, thus maintaining assembly simplicity while improving manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from defining the cap's vertical position through axial stops (one-dimensional constraint) to using spherical surface contact (two-dimensional constraint). The spherical segment surface of the cap contacts the spherical cap surface of the slide ring, creating a geometric constraint that automatically positions the cap at a consistent height regardless of variations in the adjusting shaft length, thereby solving the positioning problem while maintaining ease of assembly.
3Device complexity
If the spherical cap surfaces are allowed to contact directly, then the structure is simplified, but the handle may become sluggish and surfaces may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The slide ring acts as a protective intermediary between the two spherical cap surfaces. Instead of allowing direct contact between the cap's spherical segment surface and the cover part's spherical cap surface, the slide ring's upper edge intervenes as a bearing surface. This intermediary layer prevents direct metal-to-metal contact that would cause wear and damage, while also providing a controlled sliding interface that ensures smooth handle operation without making it sluggish.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a sanitary single-lever mixer unit (1) having a control cartridge (5) arranged in an accommodation area (4) of a fitting housing (2) in a known manner. Using an upwardly projecting adjustment shaft (17), at least one control element controlling a water flow can be moved in the control cartridge (5). An annular cover part (10) partially covers the accommodation area (4) toward the top and, viewed from the top, has a convex, annular outer spherical cap surface (14). The operating handle (18) of the single-lever mixer unit (1) comprises a cap (18a), which extends over the cover part (10) and on the bottom side thereof is provided with a seat (19) into which the upper end region of the adjustment shaft (17) can be inserted. Viewed from below, the bottom side of the cap (18a) is also provided with a concave, annular spherical cap surface (20). Said spherical cap surface (20) glides on the upper edge of a sliding ring (16), which is mounted to the cover part (10) and upwardly extends beyond the same. Thus, in all positions of the operating handle (18), the spherical cap surfaces (14, 20) of the cover part (10) and the cap (18a) remain at a slight distance from one another. The gap created between the cover cap (18a) and fitting housing (2) and/or cover part (10) can be kept to a very small size.