Motorized Drain Fitting With Cam Actuation and Capacitor Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain fitting systems, particularly in bathing environments, often rely on cable systems that can fail, leading to inconvenience and safety hazards when draining is incomplete, as users may be trapped until the water is fully drained, which can be dangerous in emergencies and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a drain fitting device that decouples the cam from the stopper, utilizing a motor with a capacitor for power storage to rotate the cam and plunger union, allowing for reliable operation without external power, and incorporating a torsional spring to absorb impact and prevent mechanical failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable system is used to operate the stopper, then the drain can be controlled to open and close, but the system is prone to mechanical failure and unreliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cam from the stopper assembly, creating a separate cam mechanism that operates independently. This decoupling allows the cam to be actuated by a simple lever without being mechanically linked to the stopper through cables, thereby eliminating cable failure points while maintaining reliable stopper operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the cable-based mechanical transmission system with a direct lever-actuated cam mechanism. The lever directly actuates the cam, which in turn operates the stopper, eliminating the need for cables and reducing mechanical complexity while improving reliability.
2Device complexity
If the cam is directly coupled to the stopper, then the mechanism is simple, but mechanical failure risk increases due to lack of decoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drain mechanism into distinct functional components: a lever for user input, a cam for motion conversion, and a stopper for flow control. The cam is positioned within a chamber and rotated independently to push the stopper, creating modular functional units that reduce mechanical failure risk while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam acts as an intermediary between the lever and the stopper. Instead of directly coupling the lever to the stopper, the cam mediates the motion transfer, allowing independent rotation of the cam and reliable operation of the stopper while reducing mechanical stress on direct connection points.
3Power
If external power is required for the motor, then the motor can provide consistent rotation, but the system becomes dependent on external power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a capacitor that is pre-charged to store electrical energy before it is needed. This preliminary energy storage allows the motor to operate independently of external power sources during actual operation, providing consistent rotation for cam actuation while eliminating dependence on continuous external power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor enables the motor to be self-powered by storing electrical energy internally. The motor draws power from the capacitor's stored energy rather than requiring continuous external power connection, making the system self-sufficient and independent of external power sources during operation.
4Power
If the plunger union is always engaged with the plunger, then power transmission is continuous, but the plunger cannot rotate independently to change cam position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic engagement system where the plunger union tab can be in either an engaged or disengaged state with the plunger tab. This dynamic configuration allows the system to switch between continuous power transmission (when engaged) and independent plunger rotation (when disengaged), providing both reliable power transmission and positional flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement between the plunger union tab and plunger tab is localized to specific interaction points. The tabs are positioned and shaped to engage at particular locations, allowing controlled engagement for power transmission while permitting disengagement at other positions to enable independent plunger rotation for cam position changes.
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 solution ensures a reliable and safe draining process by reducing the risk of mechanical failure and allowing for quick drainage without external power, enhancing user safety and convenience, especially in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
The motor is an electric motor comprising a capacitor that is configured to store energy such that the motor can rotate the plunger union without an external power source
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a torsional spring to absorb impact and prevent mechanical failure
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to drains in bathing environments. A drain fitting device can have a motor to actuate a cam to maneuver a drain stopper, enabling the flow of fluid through a drain inlet of a bathing environment. The drain fitting device can provide a motorized or actuated method for a user to quickly and reliably open a drain stopper of a bathing environment.