Pool Drain with Internal Dividers for Even Suction Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pool drains with separate intake ports from a central hub face design limitations due to uneven pressure differentials, restricting their shape to circular designs and preventing non-circular aesthetic options while ensuring even suction pressure across all intakes.
Innovation Solution
A pool drain design featuring a central hub with elongated drain ports extending radially, internal dividers directing fluid back towards the hub to equalize suction pressure, and a water stop system for secure anchoring in the pool surface, allowing for a cross-shaped aesthetic while maintaining even pressure across all intake points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the drain intake is separated from the central hub, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but pressure differential becomes uneven across the intake
Solution Approach 1:
The drain system is divided into separate components: an elongated intake port separated from the central hub, with internal flow dividers creating multiple flow paths. This segmentation allows the intake to have an aesthetic non-circular shape while internally managing pressure distribution through divided flow channels.
Solution Approach 2:
Internal flow dividers are positioned at specific locations within the elongated intake port to create zones of equalized pressure. The dividers are strategically placed to ensure that each section of the intake port experiences uniform suction pressure, addressing the local pressure differential issue while maintaining the overall separated design.
2Reliability
If the drain intake is made elongated or enlarged, then compliance with safety acts is improved, but entrapment risk increases if pressure differential becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated intake port is divided into multiple flow channels by internal dividers, creating several independent flow paths. This segmentation ensures that if one section experiences blockage or pressure variation, other sections maintain proper flow, reducing entrapment risk while maintaining the enlarged intake area required by safety acts.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal flow dividers are designed to equalize pressure across all sections of the elongated intake port, creating equipotential zones. This ensures uniform suction pressure distribution throughout the entire intake area, preventing the pressure differentials that could lead to entrapment while maintaining compliance with safety act requirements for enlarged intakes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If non-circular shapes are used for aesthetic purposes, then design versatility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intake port is designed with asymmetric, non-circular shapes to provide aesthetic versatility and break from traditional designs. The elongated configuration with custom geometry allows for unique visual appeal while the internal divider system manages the complexity of creating uniform pressure distribution in the asymmetric shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex non-circular shape is managed by dividing the intake port into segmented flow channels using internal dividers. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing each section to be formed independently while maintaining the overall aesthetic shape, reducing the complexity of creating uniform walls and flow paths in a non-circular configuration.
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 even suction pressure across elongated drain ports, preventing entrapment hazards and allowing for a non-circular aesthetic while securely anchoring the drain in the pool surface, addressing the limitations of existing circular designs.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of internal dividers are positioned to direct fluid away from the central hub, around the plurality of internal dividers and back toward the central hub
Implementation Method 2
A water stop surrounds the central hub to anchor the central hub within the surface material and prevent leakage
Implementation Method 3
a pump-driven filtering system... ensuring a low pressure differential at the intake
Data Source
AI summary
A pool drain for flush mounting in the surface of a swimming pool includes a central hub and elongated drain ports in fluid communication with the central hub. The elongated drain ports extend radially away from the central hub. The surface material individually surrounds the central hub and elongated drain ports when the pool drain is installed in the surface material. Internal dividers are located between the central hub and the elongated drain ports. The internal dividers are positioned so that they direct fluid away from the central hub, around each of the internal dividers and back toward the central hub. A water stop surrounding the central hub and elongated drain ports anchors the pool drain in the surface and prevents leakage.