Sanitary Mixer Tap Sealing Ring Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of sanitary single-lever mixer fittings is limited by the cylindrical collar arrangement, which restricts design freedom and is sensitive to manufacturing tolerances, leading to potential water ingress issues.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary single-lever mixer tap design that replaces the cylindrical collar with a separate axial sealing ring between the annular cap and housing, allowing for adjustable pressure and reduced dependency on manufacturing tolerances, with a radially protruding sealing lip for enhanced sealing efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical collar is used to prevent water ingress, then sealing reliability is improved, but design freedom is limited and manufacturing tolerance sensitivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the structural collar component. A separate sealing ring is introduced to perform the sealing function, while the collar can be designed freely for structural support and aesthetic purposes. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the collar design to be versatile while the sealing ring ensures reliable water ingress prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the cylindrical collar structure and implemented as a separate sealing ring component. This extraction allows the collar to be redesigned with greater freedom while the dedicated sealing ring maintains reliable sealing performance independent of collar design variations.
2Reliability
If a radial seal is used, then sealing effect is achieved, but dependency on manufacturing tolerances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a static radial seal to a dynamic axial seal that responds to water pressure. The sealing ring can move axially under pressure to maintain contact with the sealing surface, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and ensuring reliable sealing effect independent of precise manufacturing dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing approach changes from relying on precise radial dimensional parameters to utilizing axial pressure-responsive parameters. The sealing ring's axial position and contact pressure are allowed to vary dynamically based on water pressure, reducing sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an axial seal with adjustable pressure is used, then design freedom is improved and manufacturing tolerance dependency is reduced, but sealing ring assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring is nested within the annular cap structure, with the fastening area integrated into the cap's interior. This nesting simplifies assembly by allowing the sealing ring to be installed within the existing cap geometry without requiring separate complex assembly mechanisms, thus reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining design freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring's fastening area is designed to utilize the natural tightening force when the annular cap is screwed onto the adjusting thread. The system self-regulates the sealing pressure through the adjustable thread mechanism, eliminating the need for external complexity to control sealing force while maintaining design flexibility.
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
This design provides greater design flexibility and ensures effective water prevention, reducing the influence of manufacturing tolerances and facilitating assembly with a reliable sealing effect.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing ring is arranged between the bottom of the annular cap and the top of the housing. This makes it possible for the seal to be designed as an axial seal
Implementation Method 2
the annular cap is also screwed onto an adjusting thread of a screw part screwed into the opening, the seal can be loaded with adjustable pressure in the axial direction
Implementation Method 3
the sealing ring has a radially protruding sealing lip. As a result, the desired sealing effect is still ensured even in the case when the radially inner region of the sealing ring lies above the opening on the upper side of the housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The lever mixing tap has an annular cap (16) mounted on a top of a main portion (2a), while inserting a control shaft on the spherical cap outer surface. A control handle having a cap-shaped region overlapping with the annular cap, is movably connected to a control stem portion. The top of the housing is equipped with a main portion and an outlet, without a cylindrical upward projecting collar. A sealing ring (18) is arranged between the underside of the annular cap and the top of housing (2). USE : Sanitary lever mixing tap. ADVANTAGE : The freedom design of the lever mixing tap can be improved. The sealing ring can be correctly arranged between the underside of the annular cap and the top of housing. Hence the penetration of water through the gap between the annular cap and the inner side of the housing can be prevented. The fastening region of the sealing ring is comprised of several segments, so that the simplified assembling process of the sealing ring and can be facilitated. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows a sectional view of the lever mixing tap. 2 : Housing 2a : Main portion 8 : Control cartridge 16 : Annular cap 18 : Sealing ring.