Perforated Pet Fountain Diffuser for Supplement Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pet fountains limit water movement and sound, making it difficult to attract pets, and they lack a mechanism to ensure nutritional supplements remain in suspension and effective within the recirculating water.
Innovation Solution
A water diffuser is inserted into the discharge spout of a pet fountain, featuring a perforated tubular design that allows water to flow through and houses a dissolvable supplement, which dissolves and releases nutrients into the water stream, while being resistant to physical interaction with pets to maintain supplement dispersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the force with which water exits the spout is limited to prevent overflow and splashing, then water movement and sound are improved, but the ability to attract pets is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The water stream is segmented into multiple smaller streams by the perforated diffuser section, which has multiple perforations that break the single water flow into numerous droplets and small streams. This segmentation increases the surface area of water exposed to air, enhancing evaporation and sound generation while maintaining controlled force output that prevents splashing.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser incorporates a perforated tubular section with multiple perforations throughout its length, creating a porous structure that allows water to pass through numerous small openings. This porous design transforms the water flow into a dispersed pattern of droplets and streams, maximizing air-water interaction for sound and evaporation while controlling the force of discharge.
2Quantity of substance
If supplements are added to pet drinking water by hand, then nutritional supplementation is achieved, but the supplements may fall out of suspension and lose effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The dissolvable supplement is pre-loaded into the diffuser device before use. As water flows through the diffuser, it automatically dissolves the supplement and distributes it throughout the water stream before the water reaches the pet's drinking area. This preliminary action ensures uniform supplement distribution and maintains suspension stability throughout the water circulation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser device automatically dissolves and distributes the supplement through the flowing water without requiring manual intervention. The water flow itself serves to dissolve the supplement and distribute it uniformly, creating a self-service system that maintains reliable supplement suspension throughout operation.
3Productivity
If the constant movement of recirculating water is used to circulate water through the fountain, then water circulation is achieved, but the supplement's medicinal efficacy and scent are hastened to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The supplement is pre-loaded into the diffuser and begins dissolving as water flows through the device. This preliminary dissolution action occurs continuously during normal water circulation, ensuring the supplement is uniformly distributed throughout the water stream from the outset, which maximizes its efficacy duration despite constant water movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser device continuously dissolves and distributes the supplement throughout the water circulation cycle. As long as water flows through the diffuser, the supplement is continuously replenished and distributed into the water stream, maintaining consistent supplement concentration and efficacy throughout the recirculating water system.
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
The diffuser enhances water movement and sound, ensures supplements remain effective and suspended in the water, and allows for controlled release of nutrients, attracting pets and providing a nutritious drinking experience.
Implementation Method 1
houses a dissolvable supplement within the interior of the diffuser section that dissolves and releases a supplement into the water
Data Source
AI summary
A water diffuser that extends from the discharge outlet of a pet fountain, for receiving water from the outlet of the pet fountain's water pump, wherein the diffuser includes a perforate tubular diffuser section that can be releasably coupled or otherwise anchored to part of the fountain by a connecting or coupling section that preferably is tubular and imperforate. The diffuser can include a water treatment disposed within the diffuser that is dispensed or released into water flowing through the diffuser. The diffuser may also include a filter for removing contaminants from water flowing through the water. Where used together with a water treatment, the filter can be disposed within the diffuser upstream of the water treatment for filtering water flowing through the diffuser before treating the flowing water.