Multi-Lumen Water Outlet for Compact Separate Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outlet designs for water armatures that aim to create more than two separate water paths are either too wide, increasing material costs and assembly complexity, or require multiple tubes, which is costly and difficult to manage.
Innovation Solution
A single multi-lumen tube with at least three parallel fluid channels is used to create separate fluid paths through the outlet, allowing for efficient fluid flow while maintaining a small outer diameter and reducing material costs, with the tube extending from the inlet to the outlet region within the outlet body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If more than two separate water paths are formed through an outlet, then the number of fluid flows increases, but the outlet diameter must be significantly wider
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing multiple fluid channels (at least three) inside a single tube, which itself is positioned within the outlet body. This nested configuration allows multiple separate fluid flows to coexist within a compact cross-sectional area, avoiding the need to increase the outlet diameter while maintaining separation between fluid paths.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of expanding the outlet in two dimensions (wider diameter), the invention utilizes the third dimension (length/depth) by creating multiple parallel channels extending through the tube length. This dimensional transition allows multiple fluid flows to be accommodated vertically along the tube axis rather than horizontally across the outlet face.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple tubes are used to form separate water paths, then the number of fluid flows increases, but assembly complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate tubes into a single multi-channel tube structure. Instead of installing multiple individual tubes to achieve separate fluid paths, one integrated tube with multiple internal channels performs the function of multiple tubes, significantly simplifying assembly while maintaining the capability to conduct multiple separate fluid flows.
Solution Approach 2:
The single tube serves multiple functions simultaneously by containing at least three separate fluid channels within its structure. This multi-functional design allows one component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components, reducing assembly complexity while achieving the same fluid separation objective.
3Quantity of substance
If the outlet diameter is increased to accommodate multiple fluid flows, then more fluid paths can be created, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting multiple fluid channels within a single tube of standard diameter, the invention minimizes the total material required compared to creating a larger diameter outlet with multiple separate paths. The nested configuration optimizes material utilization by filling the tube's cross-section efficiently with multiple channels rather than requiring additional material for a larger outlet structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an outlet (1) for a water armature (2) having an inlet region (3) and an outlet region (4), wherein a tube (5) extends through the outlet body (6) from the inlet region (3) to the outlet region (4), and wherein at least three fluid channels (7, 8, 9) which run parallel to one another and separate from one another are formed in the tube (5).