Plastic Insert Sanitary Fitting with Front-Access Clamps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sanitary fittings with brass inserts in contact with drinking water pose a risk of nickel contamination, and existing designs are difficult to maintain due to the need to dismantle the entire fitting when replacing hoses.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary fitting with a plastic insert that houses flow channels for mixing water temperatures, allowing for easy replacement of hoses without disassembling the mixing valve, and using clamps to secure hoses to the insert, eliminating contact with harmful materials and reducing maintenance complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If brass inserts are used in the fitting body, then the structural strength and durability are improved, but nickel contamination of drinking water occurs and galvanic corrosion is caused
Solution Approach 1:
A plastic insert is introduced as an intermediary component between the brass fitting body and the drinking water flow. This plastic insert receives hot and cold water supply and directs the mixed water output, completely preventing contact between brass/nickel and drinking water. The plastic insert serves as a mediator that maintains the structural integrity of the brass body while eliminating the harmful nickel contamination effect.
2Strength
If hoses are screwed and glued into the brass body as a soldered assembly, then the connection strength is improved, but maintenance complexity increases and time-consuming disassembly is required
Solution Approach 1:
The hose connection system is segmented into separate components: a clamp element that can be independently accessed and operated, and the hose itself. The clamp element is inserted into the fitting body from the front side and can be removed without disassembling the mixing valve or the entire fitting assembly. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to replace hoses quickly by simply manipulating the clamp element, dramatically improving ease of repair while maintaining secure connection strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If clamps are inserted into the valve body from one circumferential side, then the ease of installation is improved, but the clamps and hoses cannot be removed without disassembling the mixing valve
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inserting the clamp element from the circumferential side (as in prior art), the clamp element is inserted from the front side of the plastic insert. This inverted approach allows the clamp element to be accessed and removed from the front side as well, enabling hose replacement without disassembling the mixing valve. The front-side access provides both easy installation and easy maintenance, resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and ease of repair.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Sanitary fitting (1) comprising a fitting body (2) with a mixing valve (3) for mixing cold water and hot water to produce mixed water at a desired mixed water temperature, wherein a cold water hose (4) for the cold water and a hot water hose (18) for the hot water open into a plastic insert (5), so that the cold water and the hot water can be supplied to the mixing valve (3) via the plastic insert (5), wherein the cold water and the hot water can be returned to the plastic insert (5) as mixed water after mixing and can be supplied to an outlet (7) of the sanitary fitting (1) via a mixing water hose (6) inserted into the plastic insert (5), wherein the cold water hose (4), the hot water hose (18) or the mixing water hose (6) is attached to the plastic insert (5) by a clamp (8) inserted into the end face of the plastic insert (5).