Sanitary Fitting Premixing Valve Reset for Cold-Start Water Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sanitary fittings that mix cold and hot water often lead to increased energy consumption when hot water is unintentionally dispensed, as the operating lever may not be fully in the cold water position during opening, resulting in the mixing of hot and cold water.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary fitting with a premixing valve that can be adjusted from a cold water position to a hot water position, and a reset device that automatically returns the premixing valve to the cold water position when the mixing valve is closed, ensuring that only cold water is dispensed initially, preventing unintentional hot water consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operating lever is not fully in the cold water position when the sanitary fitting is opened, then hot water is added to the cold water by the sanitary fitting, but this leads to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-mixing valve is set to cold water position as the initial state before use. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the mixing valve is opened, only cold water flows initially, preventing unintentional hot water consumption. The user must consciously activate the pre-mixing valve to hot water position if hot water is needed, making the energy-consuming action deliberate rather than accidental.
Solution Approach 2:
The reset device automatically returns the pre-mixing valve to the cold water position after use, without requiring manual intervention from the user. This self-service mechanism ensures the system is always ready for the next use in the energy-efficient cold water state, while the user only needs to operate the main mixing valve for water delivery.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a pre-mixing valve is added to mix cold and hot water to form hot water, then the ability to control hot water delivery is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water control function is divided into two independent segments: the mixing valve for controlling water delivery and the pre-mixing valve for controlling water temperature composition. This segmentation allows each valve to perform its specific function independently, providing precise control over both water flow and temperature without requiring a single complex multi-functional valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-mixing valve acts as an intermediary component between the hot and cold water supply lines and the mixing valve. It prepares the hot water by mixing it with cold water in predetermined ratios before delivering it to the mixing valve, thereby simplifying the overall temperature control mechanism while maintaining adaptability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the pre-mixing valve is automatically returned to the cold water position using a return device, then energy consumption is reduced by preventing unintentional hot water use, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reset device with spring mechanism automatically returns the pre-mixing valve to the cold water position without requiring manual intervention. This self-service feature ensures the system automatically resets to the energy-efficient state after each use, reducing energy consumption while minimizing the user's operational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system exhibits asymmetric behavior: the pre-mixing valve automatically returns to the cold water position (energy-efficient state) using a spring mechanism, but requires deliberate user action to switch to the hot water position. This asymmetry ensures that the default state is always the lower-energy state, while hot water usage remains an intentional choice.
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
This design reduces energy consumption by preventing the unintentional use of hot water and allows users to consciously decide when to use hot water, thereby optimizing energy usage.
Implementation Method 1
The return device can have a return spring with which the pre-mixing valve can be returned to the cold water position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Sanitary fitting (1), comprising at least: - a fitting body (2); - a mixing valve (3) for mixing cold water and hot water to produce mixed water; - a premixing valve (4) for mixing cold water and hot water to produce the hot water, wherein the premixing valve (4) is adjustable from a cold water position (5) to a hot water position (6); and - a reset device (7) with which the premixing valve (4) is reset to the cold water position (5) when the mixing valve (3) is closed.