Reusable Sink Strainer With Gravity-Moving Annular Chain Mesh
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strainers face issues with residue removal efficiency and are often either inconvenient to clean or environmentally unfriendly due to disposability.
Innovation Solution
A strainer design featuring interconnected annular chains and connection holes that facilitate residue dislodgement through gravity and vibration, allowing for easy cleaning and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a common strainer with a cylinder and drain holes is used, then drainage function is provided, but residue removal becomes difficult and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements (annular chains) that can move and vibrate during the straining process. The chains are designed to oscillate and shift position, creating mechanical action that automatically dislodges residue. This dynamic behavior transforms a static strainer into an active residue-ejecting device, solving the contradiction between ease of operation and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer utilizes mechanical vibration through the movement and collision of annular chains. As water flows through and chains shift, they generate vibrational forces that prevent residue from adhering to the strainer surface. This vibration mechanism enables easy residue removal without requiring manual intervention, addressing the convenience issue while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If a disposable strainer is used to avoid residue clogging, then residue removal is simplified, but living costs increase and environmental friendliness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer design enables self-cleaning through the natural movement of annular chains during operation. The chains automatically vibrate and shift to eject residue, eliminating the need for manual cleaning or disposal. This self-service capability allows the strainer to maintain its function indefinitely without material consumption, directly addressing both the ease of operation and material loss contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the strainer after use, the design allows for continuous recovery and reuse. The annular chain structure is designed to withstand repeated use and automatic cleaning cycles, enabling the strainer to be recovered and reused indefinitely. This approach eliminates material consumption while maintaining simple residue removal operations.
3Productivity
If the strainer is designed with interconnected annular chains, then residue separation efficiency is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer divides the filtering function into multiple segmented annular chains rather than using a single solid structure. Each chain acts as an independent filtering element that can move and vibrate separately. This segmentation enhances residue separation efficiency through multi-point contact and vibration while keeping each individual chain simple in structure, balancing productivity and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular chains serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as filtering elements, vibration generators, and residue ejection mechanisms. This multi-functionality enhances residue separation efficiency without requiring additional separate components, thereby avoiding excessive increase in device complexity. The same structural element performs multiple roles, optimizing the productivity-to-complexity ratio.
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
Enhances residue separation and drainage efficiency while reducing user costs and environmental impact by enabling easy cleaning and reusability.
Implementation Method 1
each annular chain moves to the opposite side of the supporting plate under the influence of gravity
Implementation Method 2
as the annular chains collide, they induce vibrations that increase the separation between the residue and the annular chains
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sink strainer including a supporting plate and multiple annular chains. A drain hole is positioned at the center of the supporting plate. The annular chains are interconnected to form a mesh, with its outer edge connected to the supporting plate and surrounding the drain hole. The present invention effectively addresses the problem found in conventional non-reusable strainers.