Rimless Toilet Water Distributor Seal Structure for Alignment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water distributors for rimless toilet bowls face issues with misalignment due to involuntary rotation, complex sealing with supply pipes, and increased manufacturing costs, particularly with anti-rotation parts and perforated top plates.
Innovation Solution
A water distributor with a tubular body and seal ring configuration that includes a first seal ring portion to secure against the toilet bowl's rear bore and a second seal ring portion to retain the distributor in place, preventing misalignment and reducing manufacturing complexity by eliminating the need for perforated top plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If longitudinal guides are added to the rear bore to prevent rotation, then misalignment is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding guides to the rear bore to prevent distributor rotation, the invention inverts the approach by adding anti-rotation tabs to the distributor itself that engage with corresponding features in the rear bore. This transfers the complexity from the bowl to the distributor, simplifying bowl manufacturing while achieving the same alignment prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-rotation mechanism is segmented into separate components: tabs on the distributor and corresponding engagement features in the rear bore. This allows independent manufacturing and assembly, reducing overall system complexity compared to integrated longitudinal guides.
2Manufacturing precision
If independently-manufactured anti-rotation parts are added to the water distributor, then misalignment is prevented, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation tabs are merged with the distributor body as integral features rather than separate components. This eliminates the need for independently-manufactured anti-rotation parts, reducing assembly steps and manufacturing costs while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Anti-rotation functionality is added only at specific locations (tabs at the periphery) rather than requiring a complete structural redesign. This localized approach minimizes manufacturing complexity and cost while achieving the desired precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If a seal ring with two portions is used to prevent misalignment, then placement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal ring is designed with two portions that serve multiple functions: the first portion provides sealing against the rear bore surface, while the second portion provides anti-rotation functionality. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, actually reducing overall device complexity while improving placement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Sealing and anti-rotation functions are merged into a single seal ring component rather than using separate parts. This integration simplifies the overall device structure while achieving both sealing and precise placement simultaneously.
Data Source
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AI summary
Water distributor (1, 1', 1") for distributing flush water to a rimless inner wall (21', 21") of a toilet bowl (2', 2"), the water distributor (1, 1', 1") comprising a tubular body (10, 10', 10") having a main tubular portion (100, 100', 100") extending from at least one water discharge opening (101, 101', 101", 102, 102', 102") placed at one longitudinal end to an outwardly directed wall (103, 103', 103") arranged at the other longitudinal end, the tubular body (10, 10', 10") comprising an auxiliary tubular portion (104, 104', 104"), which is attached to the outwardly directed wall (103, 103', 103") of the main tubular portion (100, 100', 100") of said tubular body (10, 10', 10"), and the water distributor (1, 1', 1") comprising a seal ring (11, 11', 11") including a first seal ring portion (110, 110', 110") arranged on at least part of said auxiliary tubular portion (104, 104', 104") and configured to seal the tubular body (10, 10', 10") against an inner wall of a rear bore (22', 22") and a second seal ring portion (112, 112', 112") arranged and configured to cover at least part of the outwardly directed wall (103, 103', 103"). Fig.2.