Replaceable Shower Outlet Sealing Against Retrograde Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing point-of-use showerhead filter devices suffer from retrograde contamination, which compromises the sterility of water and reduces the service life of the filter, leading to costly replacements and potential health risks.
Innovation Solution
A removable outlet system with a polymeric hydrophobic porous disc and a hermetic seal is integrated into the shower or faucet system, preventing airborne and waterborne contaminants from migrating into the filter device and allowing for easy replacement of the outlet to extend the filter's service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a showerhead filter device is used to prevent pathogen dispersal, then waterborne pathogen contamination is reduced, but retrograde contamination occurs over time compromising filter sterility
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet is segmented from the filter device into a separate removable component. This allows the outlet to be replaced independently without replacing the entire filter device, enabling maintenance of filter sterility while addressing contamination issues at the outlet interface where retrograde contamination occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydrophobic porous disc is introduced as an intermediary component between the filtered water and the external environment. This disc allows water vapor and air passage while preventing waterborne contaminants from migrating backward into the filter device, thus maintaining filter sterility while enabling water dispensing.
2Reliability
If the filter device is replaced after a set period to prevent retrograde contamination, then sterility is maintained, but service life is limited and replacement costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two replaceable components: the filter device and the outlet. This segmentation allows selective replacement of only the outlet component, which is less expensive and has a shorter service life, while the filter device can be retained and reused, thereby extending the overall system service life and reducing replacement costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet is designed as a disposable or frequently replaceable component with lower cost compared to the filter device. By making the outlet replaceable and less expensive, the system allows users to replace only the outlet when it shows signs of contamination or wear, rather than replacing the entire filter device, thus extending the effective service life of the system.
3Ease of manufacture
If the outlet is made removable and replaceable, then maintenance cost is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The removable outlet is designed with universal threading and sealing mechanisms that can be integrated into various showerhead and faucet configurations. This standardized design allows the same outlet component to serve multiple functions and be compatible with different filter devices, reducing overall system complexity despite the added replaceability feature.
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 effectively reduces retrograde contamination, extends the service life of the water filter, and provides cost savings by allowing for the replacement of less expensive outlets while maintaining the integrity of the more expensive filter devices, ensuring continuous clean water supply in environments such as hospitals and households.
Implementation Method 1
a polymeric hydrophobic porous disc, preferably, a hydrophobic bacteriostatic porous disc, contained in the cavity of the polymeric shell
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Removable and replaceable outlets for point-of-use showers (2000) or faucets (1000), filter devices (170), and methods and systems including the outlets and/or filter devices, are disclosed.