System comprising a water socket being embeddable in concrete for a cooling panel and a connection modul

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water sockets for cooling sails are expensive due to high production costs and weight, and require individual, costly connections to commercially available fittings, with no efficient solution for embedding in concrete without compromising sealing or requiring additional electrical connections.

Innovation Solution

A modular water socket system consisting of a socket housing and angle tubes, with integrated supply and return lines, and a connection module featuring clutch valves and a dismantling device, allowing for flexible pipe connections and integration into concrete ceilings while minimizing weight and production costs, and incorporating an empty pipe connection for electrical wiring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a solid distribution block made of brass is used in the water socket, then the hydraulic connection is reliable, but the weight and production costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic connection reliabilityVSAvoidwater socket weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The water socket is divided into multiple functional components: a plastic socket housing, separate angle tubes for hydraulic connections, and an integrated clutch valve mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, replacing the solid brass distribution block with lighter materials while maintaining hydraulic reliability through the specialized clutch valve design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The material composition is changed from solid brass to a combination of plastic and metal components. The clutch valve mechanism uses a plastic body with metal sealing elements, changing the physical parameters of the materials used while maintaining the required hydraulic sealing performance and connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If commercially available fittings are used for connecting cooling sails, then connection flexibility is improved, but production costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection flexibilityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The water socket design incorporates universal clutch valve mechanisms and standardized connection interfaces that can accommodate different cooling sail configurations. The angle tubes and clutch valves provide a universal connection system that works with various pipe orientations and connection types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized fittings while maintaining connection flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Shape

If the water socket is embedded in concrete, then aesthetic appearance and integration are improved, but sealing reliability and installation complexity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The clutch valve mechanism is pre-configured with sealing elements and connection components before concrete embedding. The valve is designed to be closed during concrete pouring and sealing, and opened afterward to establish hydraulic connections. This preliminary preparation ensures that the sealing integrity is maintained during the concrete embedding process while enabling reliable connections afterward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If individual pipe connections are made for supply and return lines, then installation flexibility is improved, but the number of components and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supply and return line connections are merged into a single integrated clutch valve mechanism. Both the flow line and return line connections are provided through the same valve body, allowing simultaneous control and connection of both hydraulic lines. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining installation flexibility through the clutch valve's design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2950016B1System comprising a water socket being embeddable in concrete for a cooling panel and a connection modul
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 AFRISO EURO INDEX MBH
  • EP2950016B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2950016B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~2
  • EP2950016B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In a water outlet (1) with a pot-shaped outlet housing (2) made of plastic, which has a bottom opening (4), and with a supply line (8VL) and a return line (8RL) which run side by side in the outlet housing (2) and each have an axial line section (11a) open at the bottom with a coupling valve (6VL, 6RL) and a radial line section (11b) open at the outer shell, the invention provides that the two line sections (11a, 11b) of the supply and return lines (8VL, 8RL) are each formed by a 90° angled pipe (31) which is connected to the outlet housing (2), or that the two line sections (11a, 11b) of the supply and return lines (8VL, 8RL) are each formed by two channel sections angled at 90° in the plastic material of the outlet housing (2).