Drinking water and cleaning product refill station

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Solution Overview

Problem

The widespread use of single-use plastic bottles for cleaning products and drinking water results in significant waste, particularly in areas affected by natural disasters where relief supplies are distributed, and there is a lack of systems for conveniently cleaning and refilling these containers.

Innovation Solution

A device that includes multiple functions for cleaning and refilling bottles with drinking water, cleaning products, and pre-moistened wipes, utilizing a rotating platform for different bottle sizes, steam cleaning, and a system for filtering and processing water through Reverse Osmosis (RO) to sanitize and refill containers with filtered water and concentrated cleaning solutions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If single-use plastic bottles are used for distributing cleaning products and drinking water, then convenience of distribution is improved, but waste generation increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of distributionVSAvoidwaste generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a system where plastic bottles are collected after use, cleaned through steam sanitation, and refilled with cleaning solutions or water. This closed-loop process recovers the container resource, eliminating the need for continuous production of new single-use bottles while maintaining convenient distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The refilling station serves multiple functions: it can refill both cleaning product bottles and drinking water bottles, and can distribute multiple types of cleaning solutions. This multi-functionality increases the system's utility while reducing overall waste through centralized refilling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of substance

If systems for cleaning and refilling plastic bottles are implemented, then waste reduction is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste reductionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical cleaning systems with steam sanitation technology. The steam system automatically cleans and sanitizes bottles through a simplified process of steam injection and drying, eliminating the need for multiple mechanical cleaning stages while achieving effective waste reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The refilling station is designed to be relatively simple and portable, allowing users to easily load bottles, select refilling options, and retrieve refilled containers. The system performs automated cleaning and refilling operations once activated, minimizing the complexity of user interaction while achieving waste reduction goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If portable refilling stations are deployed in disaster relief areas, then container reuse capability is improved, but device portability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer reuse capabilityVSAvoiddevice portability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The refilling station is designed as a modular system that can be broken down into separate components for transport. The steam generation system, water reservoir, control unit, and bottle handling mechanisms can be disassembled and reassembled at the deployment location, enabling container reuse capability while maintaining reasonable portability for disaster relief operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Reduces waste by allowing the reuse of containers, enabling centralized distribution of clean water, cleaning products, and wipes without additional containers, and providing a mobile solution for disaster relief.

Implementation Method 1

After steam cleaning using a preferred mixture of 4% heated water and 96% dry air, the bottles are filled with filtered water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSteam cleaning: Steam Explosion

Implementation Method 2

the bottles are filled with clean water that is filtered and/or processed by Reverse Osmosis ('RO' or 'RO water')

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReverse Osmosis: Reverse Osmosis

Data Source

PatentUS11479454B1Drinking water and cleaning product refill station

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 WINK JOHN

AI summary

The water, cleaner, and wipe supply station includes multiple, related functions. Specifically: cleaning and refilling bottles with drinking water; cleaning and refilling cleaning product containers; and cleaning and refilling containers with pre-moistened wipes. The result is a reduction of waste introduced into landfills, and a means of centrally distributing clean water, cleaning products, and wipes without the need for additional containers.