Prefabricated Utility Wall Plumbing for Shipping Container Bathrooms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular homes built in shipping containers face challenges in plumbing installation as traditional underground or pier-based methods are unsuitable, requiring a solution to maintain plumbing above the floor while providing conventional conveniences like sinks, toilets, and showers without penetrating the container floor.
Innovation Solution
A pre-fab utility wall system with a partial enclosure and plumbing assembly that elevates bathroom fixtures on a riser, using a main drain pipe with eccentric connections and a 90-degree elbow to manage drainage within a minimal vertical space, keeping plumbing above the container floor and preventing backflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional underground plumbing methods are used in modular homes, then proper drainage and sewer connection can be achieved, but the container floor must be penetrated and plumbing is exposed to elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions plumbing from horizontal underground installation to vertical installation within a wall cavity. The drain pipe is routed vertically through the utility wall assembly rather than horizontally through the floor, eliminating floor penetration and protecting plumbing from elements while maintaining drainage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The utility wall assembly serves as an intermediary structure that contains and protects the plumbing system. The wall cavity acts as a protective channel for the drain pipe, allowing proper drainage connection while keeping the plumbing enclosed and protected from environmental exposure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If plumbing is installed above the container floor, then floor penetration is avoided and plumbing is protected, but vertical space for drainage slope is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension of the wall cavity to accommodate the drainage slope. Instead of requiring horizontal length for slope, the drain pipe descends vertically through multiple wall assemblies, using gravity to achieve proper drainage gradient within the limited vertical space of the container structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system is divided into segments corresponding to different wall assemblies. Each utility wall contains a portion of the drain pipe, allowing the overall drainage path to be distributed vertically through the structure while maintaining adequate slope in each segment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bathroom fixtures are installed in a compact modular home, then conventional plumbing conveniences are provided, but the plumbing system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The utility wall assembly serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, contains the plumbing system, enables ventilation, and accommodates multiple fixture connections. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise be separate systems into a single integrated assembly, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines drainage, ventilation, and structural elements into a single utility wall assembly. The drain pipe, vent pipe, and wall structure are integrated rather than separate, simplifying installation and reducing the number of independent components while providing complete plumbing functionality for multiple fixtures.
Data Source
AI summary
A plumbing assembly to support a modular bathroom positioned within a shipping container include: a subfloor positioned above a main floor by less than about 7 inches; a toilet positioned and a shower positioned on the subfloor; a sink positioned on a vertical wall adjacent the subfloor; and a plumbing assembly between the subfloor and the main floor that receives fluid from the shower, the toilet, and the sink. The plumbing assembly includes: a shower drain pipe, sink drain pipe, and a main drain pipe draining the shower drain pipe, the sink drain pipe, and the toilet. The main drain pipe diameter is 3 times larger than the shower drain pipe diameter. The shower drain pipe is connected to the main drain pipe in an eccentric position and at a radial position of the main drain pipe closest to the main floor of the shipping container.