Overmolded Concealed Sanitary Fitting for Seal-Free Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concealed sanitary fittings require high assembly effort due to the need for separate manufacturing of components and additional sealing between the fitting support body and housing, making installation cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
The fitting support body is inserted into an injection molding device where the housing is partially or fully overmolded, eliminating the need for separate assembly and sealing by integrating the housing directly with the support body during the molding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the housing is made up of two or more separate parts with the valve support body inserted into recesses, then the connections can protrude from the housing for easy connection to water supply lines, but the installation becomes cumbersome and requires additional sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the housing parts and valve support body into a single integrated component. The valve support body is inserted into the injection molding device before producing the housing, so the housing is molded as one piece that encompasses the valve support body, eliminating separate assembly steps and sealing requirements while maintaining protruding connections for easy installation
2Reliability
If separate seals are installed around through-holes to seal the arms of the valve body against the housing, then the connections can be sealed properly, but the installation effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is produced as a single integrated piece that encompasses the valve support body, eliminating the need for separate seals. The injection molding process creates a unified structure where the housing and valve support body form a sealed assembly during molding, removing the need for additional sealing components and reducing assembly effort
Solution Approach 2:
The valve support body is inserted into the injection molding device before the housing is produced, allowing the sealing structure to be formed during the molding process itself rather than requiring separate sealing steps after assembly
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 method reduces assembly effort by integrating the housing with the support body, eliminating the need for separate seals and simplifying the installation process.
Implementation Method 1
inserting the at least one valve support body into an injection molding device and producing a housing of the concealed valve in the injection molding device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a concealed sanitary fitting (1), comprising at least the following steps: - providing at least one fitting support body (2), wherein the at least one fitting support body (2) comprises at least one first arm (3.1) with a first connection (4.1) and a second arm (3.2) with a second connection (4.2), - inserting the at least one fitting support body (2) into an injection molding device, - manufacturing a housing (5) of the concealed fitting (1) in the injection molding device, wherein the first arm (3.1) and the second arm (3.2) are partially overmolded and the first connection (4.1) and the second connection (4.2) remain accessible from outside the housing (5).