Plumbing Trap with Segmented Compartments for Clog Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plumbing traps, especially those in shower installations, often become clogged due to restricted size and accumulation of solid materials, making them difficult to clean and requiring frequent replacement.
Innovation Solution
A compact plumbing trap design featuring two internal compartments with a larger compartment for the inlet and a smaller compartment for the outlet, an eccentrically placed inlet, and a drain cover support member with radially extending legs for easy access and maintenance, allowing for efficient cleaning and installation without specialized tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional P-trap or bottle trap is used, then water sealing function is provided, but the trap becomes clogged due to restricted size and accumulation of solid materials
Solution Approach 1:
The trap body is divided into two separate compartments: a first compartment for receiving waste water from the plumbing installation, and a second compartment for discharge to the waste pipe system. This segmentation allows solids to be contained in the first compartment while maintaining water flow through the second compartment, preventing clogging while preserving the water seal function.
2Volume of moving object
If the trap is built-in to the shower structure, then space is saved, but the trap becomes difficult or impossible to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet connection is extracted and positioned on the top surface of the trap body, allowing the inlet tube to be removed separately. This enables access to the first compartment for cleaning purposes while maintaining the compact built-in design, as the inlet tube can be detached without removing the entire trap from the shower structure.
3Device complexity
If the inlet is centrally placed, then symmetric design is achieved, but access to internal compartments for cleaning is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet is positioned eccentrically on the top surface of the trap body, offset from the center. This asymmetric placement creates an opening that provides direct access to the first compartment, facilitating easy cleaning and maintenance while maintaining overall design simplicity.
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 design ensures effective water sealing, prevents clogging, and facilitates easy maintenance and replacement, addressing the challenges of clogging and blockages in conventional traps by providing easy access to internal compartments for cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
the traps function is to create a water seal that prevents backflow of waste water, odours and gases being back-fed from the downstream waste pipe system into the room
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A plumbing trap (10) comprises a body (12) to be connected to an underside of a plumbing installation and aligned with an outlet from the plumbing installation. The body includes an inlet (18), an outlet (20), a first internal compartment (14) and a second internal compartment (16). The first compartment (14) is in direct fluid communication with the inlet (18) and the second compartment (16) is in direct fluid communication with the outlet (20) and the first internal compartment (14) is wider than the second compartment (16). The first compartment (14) and the second compartment (16) are disposed side by side and both are visible and accessible via the inlet (18). An internal ridge (60) divides the first compartment (14) from the second compartment (16). The plumbing trap (10) includes a seal tube (30) insertable into the body (12) via the inlet (18), wherein in use, a gap (31) is created between a first end of the inserted seal tube (30) and an inside bottom surface of the first compartment (14). The combination of the seal tube (30) and the internal ridge (60), in use, create a water seal within the first compartment (14) wherein the internal ridge (60) defines a maximum height of a water seal created within the first compartment.