Sanitary-ware Pressure Exchange Flushing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toilet designs that integrate the cistern into the toilet bowl housing either require electrical power or suffer from reliability issues due to dependence on water pressure infrastructure, and are prone to clogging, while also complicating installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A sanitary-ware system where the cistern is flushed by mains water pressure using a pressure exchange mechanism, such as a piston or rotor system, eliminating the need for electrical power and optimizing space between the bowl and housing for efficient flushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a jet powered water system is used to flush the toilet, then the flushing mechanism can operate without electrical power, but the system becomes prone to clogging due to water impurities and suffers from inappropriate water pressure in the infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic pump system that uses water pressure from the infrastructure to drive the flushing mechanism. The pump is designed to handle varying water pressures and impurities, converting hydraulic energy into mechanical motion to propel the flush without requiring electrical power, thus resolving the contradiction between energy independence and system reliability
2Volume of moving object
If the cistern is integrated into the toilet bowl housing to optimize space, then the structure becomes more compact, but the installation and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cistern and flushing mechanism into a unified assembly that fits within the toilet bowl housing. This merging of components maximizes space utilization while the modular design allows for simplified installation and maintenance, as the integrated unit can be installed as a single component and serviced without disassembling multiple separate parts
3Reliability
If a piston or rotor pressure exchange mechanism is used to eliminate electrical power requirements, then the flushing system becomes more reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a hydraulic pump with a piston or rotor mechanism that converts water pressure into mechanical motion. This hydraulic approach eliminates the need for electrical motors and complex electronic controls, relying instead on the natural pressure differential of the water supply to drive the flushing action, thereby improving reliability while keeping the mechanism relatively simple
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
This solution provides a reliable, space-efficient, and maintenance-friendly flushing mechanism that uses mains water pressure to effectively flush the toilet bowl without electrical power, addressing the limitations of previous designs by ensuring consistent performance and reduced clogging risks.
Implementation Method 1
a flushing assembly including a tank having a first chamber having a first volume and an inlet, and a second chamber having an outlet and a second volume, larger than the volume of the first chamber; the inlet coupled to a source of water at high pressure receiving a first quantity of water at an inlet pressure from the source
Implementation Method 2
a pressure exchange mechanism disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein a first quantity of water in the first chamber causes a second quantity of water in the second chamber, larger than the first quantity, to be pushed out of the second chamber through the outlet at a pressure lower than the inlet pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
Sanitary-ware coupled to a mains water supply, the sanitary-ware including a flushing assembly including a tank having a first chamber having a first volume and an inlet, and a second chamber having an outlet and a second volume, larger than the volume of the first chamber; the inlet coupled to a source of water at high pressure receiving a first quantity of water at an inlet pressure from the source; and a pressure exchange mechanism disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein a first quantity of water in the first chamber causes a second quantity of water in the second chamber, larger than the first quantity, to be pushed out of the second chamber through the outlet at a pressure lower than the inlet pressure by the pressure exchange mechanism. Preferably, the source of water at high pressure is a mains water supply.