Nested Drain Basket Apparatus for Debris Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing debris filtering systems are inadequate for industrial applications with enlarged drain openings, as they fail to effectively capture debris while allowing liquid to flow into narrower drainpipes, leading to potential clogging.
Innovation Solution
A nested drain basket apparatus comprising an upper and lower basket, each with a raised portion and sidewall structures featuring specific openings and finger holes for easy removal, allowing liquid to flow while capturing debris, with the upper basket having larger openings and the lower basket having smaller openings to prevent debris from entering the drainpipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single basket filter is used in an enlarged drain opening, then the structure is simple, but the debris capture effectiveness is insufficient and clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested basket configuration where an inner basket with larger openings is placed inside an outer basket with smaller openings. This nested structure allows the system to capture multiple sizes of debris simultaneously, significantly improving debris capture effectiveness without requiring a completely separate filtering system for each debris size category.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtering system is segmented into two distinct baskets, each with different opening sizes tailored to capture specific debris size ranges. The inner basket handles larger debris while the outer basket captures smaller particles, dividing the filtering function into specialized segments that work together to prevent clogging.
2Reliability
If the basket openings are made small to capture more debris, then debris capture improves, but liquid flow restriction increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the filtering system have different opening sizes optimized for their specific functions. The inner basket features larger openings to maintain high liquid flow rates while capturing large debris, whereas the outer basket has smaller openings strategically positioned to capture smaller debris without significantly restricting overall flow. This local differentiation of opening sizes resolves the contradiction between debris capture and flow rate.
3Strength
If the basket structure is made robust to prevent deformation, then structural strength improves, but removal difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the removal function from the main basket body by providing separate removal tools or mechanisms. The baskets are designed with features such as integrated handles, grip zones, or compatibility with external removal tools that allow users to easily extract the baskets for cleaning without requiring excessive force or complex manipulation, thus maintaining both structural strength and ease of removal.
Data Source
AI summary
A nested drain basket apparatus for placement in an enlarged drain opening having an interior support floor, for separating and retaining debris while allowing liquid such as water to flow into the drain free of the debris includes a upper basket nested in a bottom basket. The upper and bottom baskets each have a bottom with a raised portion, and sidewall structure extending up from the bottom. The upper basket includes a plurality of upper basket openings in its bottom and sidewall structure. The bottom basket includes a plurality of bottom, basket openings in its bottom and sidewall structure where the bottom basket openings are generally smaller than the upper basket openings with the raised portion of the upper and bottom baskets each having at least one finger hole to facilitate removal of the upper basket and bottom basket for cleaning. The upper basket includes a flange at the termination of its sidewall structure and the bottom basket include a recessed ledge at the termination of its sidewall structure for receiving the upper basket flange so that upper basket is held in spaced relationship above the bottom of the bottom basket. The bottom basket further has legs for supporting the apparatus on the support floor of the drain opening.