Above-Ground Pool Drainage Assembly for Leak-Safe Flexible Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drainage devices for above-ground pools face issues such as deformation of the drainage inlet during installation, leading to water leakage, and inflexible drainage pipes that increase costs due to packaging challenges and reduced lifespan from direct contact with the ground or pool bottom.
Innovation Solution
A drainage device with a flexible drainage pipe and a drainage valve design that includes a connecting member formed by injection molding, a drainage pipe holder made of a harder material for stability, and a reinforcing member with ribs to prevent deformation and ensure smooth water flow, allowing for bendability and reduced packaging size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an inflexible drainage pipe made of hard material is used, then the drainage pipe can maintain structural integrity and resist deformation, but it causes damage to the drainage pipe and pool bottom through direct contact, shortening effective life and increasing packaging cost
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage pipe is designed with flexible material that can bend without breaking, allowing it to adapt to the pool bottom contour and avoid direct rigid contact that causes damage. The flexibility enables the pipe to conform to surfaces rather than imposing rigid stress concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the drainage pipe are changed from rigid/hard to flexible/soft, fundamentally altering how the pipe interacts with the pool bottom. This parameter change allows the pipe to maintain structural integrity while avoiding damage through deformation capability.
2Strength
If an inflexible drainage pipe is used, then the drainage pipe can maintain structural integrity, but it cannot be bent making it inconvenient to pack and ship, resulting in increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage pipe utilizes flexible material that can be easily bent and rolled for compact packaging during shipping, then deployed in its functional form during installation. This flexibility dramatically improves packaging efficiency and reduces shipping costs while maintaining structural integrity through proper material selection.
3Strength
If high-frequency welding is used to fix the overmolded part, then the drainage valve can be securely attached to the pool bottom, but the overmolded part near the drainage inlet causes deformation of the drainage inlet, preventing complete sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is separated from the drainage inlet, with the drainage inlet maintained as a clean, undeformed opening for proper sealing. The connecting member is attached separately to the pool bottom, removing the source of deformation that prevented complete sealing between the drainage inlet and sealing plug.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage valve assembly is divided into distinct functional components: the drainage inlet for sealing, the connecting member for attachment, and the sealing plug. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the sealing precision of other components.
4Device complexity
If a connecting member is formed by injection molding around the water inlet periphery, then the drainage valve can be integrated with the drainage pipe, but the connecting member may cause deformation of the water inlet during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member is extracted from the water inlet periphery and positioned at a radial distance, allowing the water inlet to maintain its precise shape for proper sealing. The connecting member is formed by injection molding but positioned away from the water inlet to avoid deformation during installation.
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 solution prevents deformation of the drainage inlet during installation, reduces water leakage, and decreases packaging costs by enabling the drainage device to be more flexible and resistant to wear, while maintaining effective water flow and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a drainage pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end
Implementation Method 2
discharges water from the pool through a drainage pipe and a drainage valve
Data Source
AI summary
A drainage device for an above-ground pool, and an above-ground pool including the drainage device are provided. The drainage device includes a drainage pipe, with inlet and outlet ends, and a drainage valve connected to the inlet end of the drainage pipe. The drainage valve includes a water inlet periphery, defining a water inlet in fluid communication with the inlet end of the drainage pipe, and a connecting member disposed circumferentially around the water inlet periphery. The connecting member is radially spaced apart from the water inlet periphery. The connecting member may be formed by injection molding around the water inlet periphery.