Sanitary Fitting with Configurable Liquid Quantity and Type Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary fittings have limited flexibility in adjusting the quantity and type of treated liquids, leading to increased manufacturing costs and difficulty in adapting to diverse customer requirements.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary fitting with two adjusting elements, each having multiple defined positions, and a control device that allows configurable assignment of liquid quantity and type, along with a treatment device for various liquid modifications, enabling user customization and manufacturer flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the sanitary fitting has fixed predefined adjusting positions for liquid quantity and type, then the manufacturing cost is reduced and structure is simplified, but the adaptability to different customer requirements and global specifications is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different customer requirementsVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the adjusting elements programmable and reconfigurable through electronic control. The control device stores multiple position assignments that can be electronically switched, allowing the physical hardware to remain simple while the functional behavior becomes dynamic and adaptable to different customer requirements and global specifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of the adjusting elements from fixed mechanical positions to electronically configurable positions. The control device enables different quantity and type assignments to be stored and recalled, allowing the same physical hardware to adapt to varying liquid specifications without structural modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sanitary fitting is adapted separately for different countries with varying customer requirements, then the adaptability to local specifications is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to global customer specificationsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing a single sanitary fitting model that can serve multiple countries and customer requirements. The control device stores multiple position assignments that can be electronically configured for different regions, allowing one universal hardware design to replace multiple country-specific variants and reduce manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-programming multiple position assignments in the control device during manufacturing. This allows the fitting to be delivered to different countries with pre-configured settings for local specifications, eliminating the need for separate adaptations and reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the adjusting elements have multiple defined positions for liquid quantity and type, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional adjusting mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjusting liquid quantity and typeVSAvoidcomplexity of adjusting elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary - the control device - that mediates between the simple mechanical adjusting elements and the complex functionality required. The control device translates simple mechanical position changes into multiple liquid configuration options, maintaining ease of operation while enabling complex adaptability through electronic interpretation rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4177216B1Sanitary fitting for dispensing processed liquids
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BLANCO GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4177216B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4177216B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4177216B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a sanitary fitting for dispensing treated liquids, comprising a first actuating element for setting a quantity of a liquid to be dispensed, a second actuating element for setting the type of liquid to be dispensed, wherein at least one of the two actuating elements has several defined setting positions, and a control device connected to the actuating elements, which is configurable such that a configurable quantity of a type of liquid to be dispensed and/or a configurable type of liquid to be dispensed can be assigned to at least one defined actuating element position by means of the control device.