Tamper-proof single piece fluid sediment trap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid sediment traps are vulnerable to theft and tampering, allowing unauthorized connections to gas-fired appliances, which can lead to sediment entering the appliances and causing damage or failure, as they can be disassembled or threaded to bypass the sediment trap, disrupting the fluid circuit.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-proof fluid sediment trap is designed as a monolithic, single-piece unit with a drip leg portion that features an oblique conical shape or other resistant profiles, making it impossible to thread or tap, ensuring that sediment is trapped and preventing unauthorized connections by being integrated with the central body and outlet leg portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional multi-component sediment trap is used, then it is easy to assemble and disassemble, but it is vulnerable to theft and tampering allowing unauthorized connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components (central body portion, outlet leg portion, and drip leg portion) into a single monolithic structure formed from one piece of material. This integration eliminates the interfaces between components that could be exploited for tampering, making the sediment trap resistant to disassembly and unauthorized connections while maintaining its sediment trapping function.
2Reliability
If the drip leg portion is made with a resistant shape, then threading or tapping is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drip leg portion is designed with an asymmetric oblique conical shape where the apex is laterally offset from the central longitudinal axis of the central body portion. This asymmetric geometry prevents standard threading or tapping operations while the entire structure is formed monolithically, distributing the manufacturing complexity across the single-piece formation process rather than requiring separate complex components.
3Reliability
If sediment trap is required by code, then appliance protection is ensured, but vulnerability to bypass and disruption remains
Solution Approach 1:
The monolithic design with the drip leg portion extending downward and featuring an oblique conical shape creates preliminary anti-action against potential tampering attempts. The geometry itself prevents threading or tapping before such actions can be executed, and the integrated structure prevents disassembly that would be required to bypass the trap or make unauthorized connections, thereby protecting the appliance protection function mandated by code.
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 tamper-proof design effectively prevents theft and tampering by ensuring that sediment is consistently trapped, protecting gas-fired appliances from damage by maintaining the integrity of the fluid circuit and preventing unauthorized connections.
Implementation Method 1
Sediment traps use gravity to capture sediment before it travels to the gas-fired appliance
Data Source
AI summary
A tamper-proof fluid sediment trap including a central body portion having a central longitudinal axis, an outlet leg portion, a drip leg portion, and a supply leg portion. The outlet leg portion extends upward from the central body portion parallel to the central longitudinal axis and is configured to operably couple to an appliance. The drip leg portion extends downward from the central body portion and defines a shape being resistant to threading or tapping of an outer surface or an inner surface of the drip leg portion. The supply leg portion is configured to couple to a fluid supply line, extends radially outward from the central body portion, between the outlet leg portion and the drip leg portion, and has a central longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the central body portion. The portions of the tamper-proof fluid sediment trap are monolithically formed.