Modular Sanitary Hydraulic Valve Layout for Variable Outlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high variety of hydraulic devices required for sanitary facilities with different numbers of liquid outlets leads to increased costs, as existing solutions do not allow for flexible adaptation to the number of outlets.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic device with a modular design featuring a carrier with receptacles for valves and sensors to detect the presence and position of valves, enabling flexible configuration and retrofitting based on the number of liquid outlets, with a mixing valve for temperature control and an operating device for user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different hydraulic devices are designed for different numbers of liquid outlets, then each device can be optimized for its specific configuration, but the variety of devices increases leading to higher costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal hydraulic device with a carrier that can accommodate a variable number of valves (e.g., 1, 2, 3, or more) depending on the sanitary fixture's requirements. The carrier serves multiple functions: it holds valves, provides mounting positions for sensors, and defines fluid pathways. This multi-functional design allows a single device type to replace multiple specialized devices, reducing product variety while maintaining adaptability to different outlet configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic device is segmented into modular components: a carrier with discrete valve receptacles, individual valves for each outlet, and sensors that can be selectively positioned. This segmentation allows the system to be configured with only the necessary components for each specific application, rather than requiring completely different devices for different numbers of outlets.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed number of valves is built into the hydraulic device, then the device structure is simplified, but the device cannot be adapted to different numbers of liquid outlets
Solution Approach 1:
The device structure incorporates dynamic configurability through the carrier design, which allows for selective installation of valves and sensors in a predetermined number of receptacles. The carrier itself is a fixed, simple structure, but the number of active components (valves and sensors) can be dynamically adjusted during installation to match the required number of liquid outlets, combining structural simplicity with adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is pre-designed with multiple potential valve receptacles and sensor mounting positions, but the actual configuration is determined at the time of installation based on the specific sanitary fixture requirements. This preliminary preparation of the carrier structure allows for easy adaptation without requiring complex manufacturing processes for each configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensors are added to detect valve presence, then the device can adapt to different configurations, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system automatically detects which valve receptacles contain valves and which are empty, enabling the control unit to self-configure the hydraulic device's operation. The sensors provide feedback about the actual configuration, allowing the system to adapt its control logic without requiring manual configuration or complex wiring. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex setup procedures and simplifies the user interface.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors are integrated into the carrier to detect the presence or position of valves in each receptacle. This feedback information is transmitted to the control unit, which uses it to determine the active configuration of the hydraulic device. The feedback mechanism enables automatic adaptation of the system's behavior to match the physical configuration, reducing the need for manual intervention and simplifying the overall control architecture.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
Hydraulic device (1) for a sanitary installation (2), comprising at least: - at least one fluid inlet (3, 4); - at least one fluid outlet (5, 6, 7); - a support (23) with at least one receptacle (8, 9, 10) for a valve (11, 12); and - at least one sensor (13, 14, 15) for detecting the valve (11, 12).