Sanitary Fitting Siphon Mixing Water Consumption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary fittings require high water flow rates to mix soap and water efficiently, leading to excessive water consumption and maintenance issues, and lack energy efficiency in delivering cleaning liquid and water mixtures.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary fitting design featuring a fluid supply line, fluid-conducting element, fluid outlet, container, and siphon, with an injector nozzle and snifting valve, allowing for controlled mixing and foaming of cleaning liquids, and efficient delivery of aqueous solutions or pure water, incorporating a dosing system and pump for low-maintenance operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a Venturi nozzle is used to suck soap out of a container, then soap and water can be mixed, but a continuously high flow rate of water is required leading to high water consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater consumptionVSAvoidmixing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a siphon mechanism (hydraulic principle) to extract cleaning liquid from the container using the water flow itself, eliminating the need for high continuous water flow rates. The siphon creates a pressure differential that automatically draws soap into the water stream, achieving effective mixing with reduced water consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The siphon system is self-regulating and automatically controls the mixing process. Once activated, the siphon maintains itself through the water flow, automatically drawing in the required amount of cleaning liquid without needing continuous high-pressure water input, thus reducing overall water consumption while maintaining mixing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If complex mechanical constructions with moving parts are used to mix soap and water, then mixing can be achieved, but the device requires maintenance and has high wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance requirementVSAvoidmechanical construction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical mixing systems with moving parts (gears, pistons, valves) with a passive hydraulic mixing system using a siphon and injector nozzle. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear and maintenance requirements while achieving effective soap-water mixing through fluid dynamics principles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and utilizes the natural kinetic energy and pressure of the water flow to drive the mixing process through the siphon mechanism, removing the need for separate mechanical drive systems. This extraction of functional capability from mechanical components directly reduces maintenance needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Use of energy by moving object

If high water flow rates are used for continuous mixing, then sufficient negative pressure is generated for mixing, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidmixing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the water flow by using the siphon mechanism to create localized pressure differentials at specific points in the system. This allows effective mixing to occur with lower overall water flow rates, thereby reducing the energy required to maintain the water supply while preserving mixing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design reduces water consumption, enhances energy efficiency, and allows for easy removal of cleaning liquid and water mixtures, including foamed solutions, while maintaining low wear and maintenance, ensuring efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

a siphon, wherein the container is fluidly connected to the fluid-conducting element via the siphon

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSiphon: Syphon

Implementation Method 2

A disadvantage of this device is that a continuously high flow rate of the water is required for a continuous mixing of the water with the soap or the shampoo in order to generate a sufficiently high negative pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3258019B1Sanitary fitting and process for providing an aqueous cleaning liquid or a cleaning foam by means of siphon
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 GROHEDAL SANITARSYSTEME GMBH
  • EP3258019B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3258019B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3258019B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device (100) comprising a) a fluid supply line (101), b) a fluid-conducting element (102), c) a fluid outlet (103), d) a container (104), and e) a siphon (105), wherein the fluid outlet (103) is fluidly connected to the fluid supply line (101) via the fluid-conducting element (102), and wherein the container (104) is fluidly connected to the fluid-conducting element (102) via the siphon (105). Method using the device (100); bathroom fittings, toilet fittings, and sinks, each comprising the device (100); using a siphon (105), a Venturi nozzle, and an inlet fitting.