Portable Urinal With Sensor-Controlled Suction for Overflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional urine collection devices face issues such as overflow due to passive urine flow by gravity, container contamination, user discomfort, and inefficiency in power consumption by electrical suction units, along with limitations in diaper usage.
Innovation Solution
A portable urinal with an adjustable suction power mechanism that synchronizes with urine levels, using a urine level sensor to control the suction pump, preventing overflow and user discomfort, and incorporating a wash function to maintain hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrical suction unit is introduced to actively suction urine, then urine overflow is prevented, but power consumption increases and noise is generated continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pump's power is made dynamically adjustable based on real-time urine level detection. The controlling unit modifies the suction power according to the detected urine amount, allowing the system to maintain reliability while optimizing energy consumption by avoiding continuous high-power operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A urine level sensor provides continuous feedback about the urine amount in the collector to the controlling unit, which then adjusts the suction pump power accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures overflow prevention while minimizing unnecessary power consumption when the collector is not full.
2Quantity of substance
If a urine bag is used as a container, then urine collection is achieved, but user mobility is restricted and urine flow back occurs when compressed
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from passive gravity-dependent urine collection to active suction-based collection. This dynamic change in the urine export mechanism allows the container to be positioned without strict gravitational constraints, significantly improving user mobility while maintaining collection capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional urine collection devices are used, then urine collection is achieved, but container contamination occurs due to precipitates
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pump operates continuously or periodically to actively remove urine from the collector, preventing urine from remaining stagnant in the collection chamber. This continuous action prevents precipitate formation and contamination, while the sensor-controlled power adjustment ensures energy efficiency.
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 portable urinal effectively manages urine collection by adjusting suction power based on urine volume, preventing overflow and contamination, allowing user mobility, and providing a hygienic wash function.
Implementation Method 1
the urine level sensor is configured to detect a urine level in the inner space
Implementation Method 2
an electrical suction unit is introduced into the urine collection device. The electrical suction unit is capable of actively suctioning the urine in the urine collector
Data Source
AI summary
The portable urinal has a urine collector, a suction assembly, and a container. The urine collector has a first opening, a second opening, an inner space, and a urine level sensor. The inner space is formed in the urine collector. The urine level sensor is in the inner space to detect a urine level. The suction assembly has a urine pump, a urine exporting tube, and a controlling unit. The urine pump is adjustable in suctioning power and fluidly communicates with the urine collector. The urine exporting tube is connected to the urine pump and fluidly communicates with a urine reservoir of the container. The controlling unit is communicatively connected to the urine pump and the urine level sensor. The portable urinal is capable of adjusting the suctioning power of the urine suction pump by the amount of the urine in the urine collector.