Sanitary Fitting Flow Calming Device with Staggered Transverse Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitary fittings with flat water outlet openings struggle to achieve a calm and laminar flow due to geometric limitations, and conventional flow calming devices are ineffective and prone to clogging.
Innovation Solution
A flow calming device is positioned at a distance from the outlet, with a housing shape matching the channel, featuring radially arranged transverse walls and increasing cross-section throughflow openings, which slows down water flow and prevents turbulence, reducing the likelihood of blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flow calming devices (screens) are used in the water bubbler, then flow calming is attempted, but the devices are ineffective and prone to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The flow calming device is divided into multiple transverse walls (at least three) arranged in series, each with through-flow openings. This segmentation allows progressive flow calming across multiple stages rather than relying on a single screen that clogs easily.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow calming function is extracted from the water bubbler outlet area and positioned upstream in the channel. This removes the flow calming device from the critical outlet region where clogging would directly affect performance.
2Shape
If flat water outlet openings are used, then geometric simplicity is achieved, but calm and laminar flow cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
Flow calming is performed in advance upstream of the outlet opening using multiple transverse walls. This preliminary action ensures that by the time water reaches the flat outlet opening, the flow is already calm and ready for laminar discharge.
3Ease of manufacture
If flow openings are aligned in adjacent transverse walls, then simple manufacturing is achieved, but water simply shoots through without being deflected and calmed
Solution Approach 1:
The through-flow openings in adjacent transverse walls are deliberately misaligned (non-aligned arrangement). This asymmetry forces water to change direction and be deflected as it passes through each wall, enhancing flow calming effectiveness.
4Reliability
If flow calming device housing is adapted to channel cross-sectional shape, then majority of water flows through the device, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing cross-sectional shape is adapted locally to match the channel's cross-sectional shape. This ensures proper engagement and that the majority of water flows through the device, while maintaining simplicity in other aspects of the design.
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 calms and slows down water flow, ensuring a laminar output from the sanitary fitting with reduced turbulence and minimal risk of clogging, allowing for easy distribution and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The water, whose flow has been made more uniform in this way, is then divided into a large number of water outlet openings
Implementation Method 2
turbulence can be largely eliminated before the water is diverted from a vertical flow direction in the shaft of the sanitary fitting
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A sanitary fitting has, in the known manner, a channel (1) guiding water to an outlet opening within the fitting housing (20). A flow calming device (2) which has a housing (3) the cross-sectional shape of which corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the channel (1) is arranged in the channel. The interior of the housing (3) is subdivided by a plurality of transverse walls (4 to 8) running transverse to the direction of flow of the water. The transverse walls (4 to 8) are provided with through-flow openings (9 to 13) which are arranged such that they do not align in adjacent transverse walls (4 to 8). The cross-section of at least one through-flow opening (12) in a transverse wall (7) reached later by the water is greater than the cross-section of a through-flow opening (10) in a transverse wall (5) reached sooner by the water. The water flow can be reliably equalized with this flow calming device (2) and then distributed or supplied to the outlet opening of the sanitary fitting.