Sanitary Fitting Assembly With Sliding Guide Water Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitary fittings require a larger housing diameter or a multi-part design to connect the water guide of the outlet to the valve adapter, which is not feasible for a one-piece fitting housing made of cheaper materials like zinc or zinc alloys.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary fitting with a connecting element that uses a linear sliding guide to attach the water guide to the valve adapter, allowing for a one-piece housing design without increasing the housing diameter, and a method for assembling the fitting that involves attaching the connecting element to the valve adapter using a linear sliding guide, enabling the connection without enlarging the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a water guide is connected to a valve adapter in conventional sanitary fittings, then the connection is achieved, but the housing diameter must be enlarged or a multi-part design is required
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is inserted into the valve adapter through a guide channel, with the water guide subsequently inserted into the connecting element. This nested arrangement allows all components to be integrated within the existing housing diameter without requiring enlargement or multi-part construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element features a guide channel extending in a first direction, while the water guide is inserted in a second direction perpendicular to the first. This orthogonal arrangement enables compact integration of the water guide connection within the one-piece housing without increasing the housing diameter.
2Ease of manufacture
If cheaper materials like zinc or zinc alloys are used for the fitting body, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the material must not come into contact with drinking water
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting body is segmented into a housing made of cheaper material (zinc or zinc alloy) and a separate water guide made of drinking water-compatible material. This segmentation allows the use of cost-effective materials for the housing while ensuring water contact surfaces meet drinking water standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The water guide acts as an intermediary component between the water flow and the fitting body. It prevents direct contact between drinking water and the zinc alloy housing, while still allowing the housing to be made of cheaper materials.
3Ease of operation
If the connecting element is fastened using a linear sliding guide, then assembly is simplified and one-piece housing is enabled, but the assembly precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide channel is pre-formed in the connecting element during manufacturing, with the opening positioned to align with the valve adapter insertion direction. This preliminary preparation simplifies the assembly process by guiding the connecting element into proper alignment before final insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide channel structure provides self-alignment during assembly, where the geometry of the guide channel and its opening automatically guide the water guide and connecting element into the correct position, reducing the need for high-precision external alignment procedures.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A sanitary fitting (1), at least comprising: • - a fitting housing (2) with an outlet (4) having an outlet opening (3); • - a valve adapter (5), which is arranged in the fitting housing (2); • - a valve (6) for at least partially shutting off the outlet opening (3), said valve being at least partially arranged in the valve adapter (5); and • - a connecting element (7) for connecting a water guide (8), which is arranged in the outlet (4), to a water opening (9) in the valve adapter (5), wherein the connecting element (7) is fastened to the valve adapter (5) by means of a linear sliding guide (10). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for mounting a sanitary fitting (1).