Sanitary Fitting Waterway Separation via Changeover Valve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary fittings require multiple cores and cast-on partitions to separate waterways, increasing manufacturing effort and leading to leaks due to faulty cast-on partitions.

Innovation Solution

The changeover valve itself separates the waterways, allowing for injection molding of a complex shape at low cost and eliminating leakage risks by using annular collars and seals on the housing, with raised ribs on sealing surfaces for improved sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cast-on partitions are used to separate waterways in the outlet, then the waterways are separated, but the manufacturing effort increases due to multiple cores and leakage occurs due to faulty cast-on partitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The partition function is extracted from the outlet casting process and transferred to the changeover valve component. The changeover valve housing is injection molded with integrated partition walls that separate the waterways, eliminating the need for complex multi-core casting and associated sealing issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The partitioning function is merged with the changeover valve housing structure. The housing is injection molded as a single piece with integrated partition walls, combining the valve function and waterway separation function into one component, thereby simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If cast-on partitions are used to separate waterways, then separation is achieved, but defects increase due to leakage between waterways

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoiddefect rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If partition walls are added to the outlet, then waterways are separated, but the flow cross-sections are impaired

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaterway separationVSAvoidflow cross-section

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The partition walls are positioned axially within the outlet rather than radially, allowing water flow to pass along the length of the outlet without significant obstruction. This axial arrangement separates waterways while preserving the radial flow cross-section area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2568087B1Sanitary fittings

Publication Date: 2019.10.02 HANSA ARMATUREN GMBH

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The sanitary fitting has outlets that are arranged on a shower terminal and on a hand-operated diverter valve (10) which releases water flow to the poured discharge region (3) or to the shower terminal. Various water routes are separated from the poured discharge region by using the water separation units. The water separation units are equipped with sealing surfaces (33,34) at the outer side that are cooperated with the sealing surfaces (37,38) provided at the inner surface of the poured discharge region.