Retained Scupper Plug Structure for Controlled PWC Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scupper plugs for personal watercraft often require removal for drainage, leading to misplacement and difficulty in maintaining alignment with the scupper hole, especially in rough waters, resulting in water splashing and instability.
Innovation Solution
A scupper plug with retention features that allow it to be retained in the open position within the scupper hole, using tapers and bendable legs to maintain alignment and facilitate axial movement between closed and open positions, enabling controlled water flow without complete removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the scupper plug is completely removed to allow drainage, then water flow through the scupper hole is permitted, but the plug can be misplaced and requires frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The scupper plug is designed to nest within the scupper hole opening, with a generally frustoconical body that fits inside the circular opening. The retention feature includes a distal shoulder that engages with the scupper hole rim, allowing the plug to be retained in the open position without complete removal, thus preventing misplacement while maintaining drainage capability
Solution Approach 2:
The retention feature acts as an intermediary mechanism between the plug body and the scupper hole. The distal shoulder and bendable legs provide a mechanical interface that allows the plug to be held in the open position within the scupper hole opening, serving as a mediator that enables drainage while preventing loss of the plug
2Productivity
If the scupper plug is set aside during drainage, then water can drain freely, but the plug must be realigned with the scupper hole to prevent water flow, which is difficult during use
Solution Approach 1:
The scupper plug incorporates bendable legs that can flex to allow the plug to be inserted and removed from the scupper hole. During drainage, the plug remains retained in the open position within the scupper hole opening rather than being completely removed, eliminating the need for realignment while maintaining drainage efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The retention feature is pre-configured with the plug body, with the distal shoulder positioned to engage with the scupper hole rim. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the plug is opened for drainage, it automatically retains its position within the scupper hole opening, eliminating the need for subsequent realignment actions by the user
3Reliability
If the scupper plug is retained in the open position within the scupper hole, then alignment is maintained and inadvertent removal is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The scupper plug body is segmented by incorporating cutouts that form bendable legs. These legs are separated from the main body through the cutouts, allowing them to flex independently while remaining part of the integrated plug structure. This segmentation enables the retention feature to function without requiring separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The retention feature is merged with the plug body as an integrated structure rather than a separate component. The distal shoulder and bendable legs are formed as part of the plug body through strategic cutouts, combining the sealing function, retention function, and flexibility into a single unified component, thus minimizing structural complexity
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 ensures stable water drainage without splashing, maintaining plug alignment and preventing inadvertent removal, enhancing user convenience and stability during various water conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more bendable legs can bend radially inward during movement of the scupper plug from the closed position to the open position, and then return to an original shape such that the secondary taper interfaces with the taper of the scupper surround to retain the scupper plug in the open position
Data Source
AI summary
A scupper plug for selectively sealing a scupper hole is provided. The scupper plug can include a tapered sealing surface and one or more legs extending from the tapered sealing surface. The legs can include tapered retention surfaces positioned at a distal portion of the legs, and stopping shoulders adjacent to the tapered retention surfaces. The scupper plug can have a central cavity extending between the first and second legs and defining first and second cutouts extending through the first and second legs. When in a closed position, the tapered sealing surface can be positioned to sealingly contact a scupper surface in the scupper hole to prevent water flow through the scupper hole, and when in an open position, the tapered retention surfaces can be positioned to contact the scupper surface to retain the scupper plug in the open position to permit water flow through the scupper hole.