Sealed Waterfall Assembly with Internal Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-based art fixtures, such as waterfalls and bubble panels, face issues with water splashing, contamination, rapid evaporation, bacterial and mold growth, and high maintenance requirements, leading to safety hazards, damage, and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A hermetically sealed waterfall assembly with a fluid transport system directing water flow across internal surfaces within a sealed unit, minimizing exposure to the environment and incorporating a lighting system for aesthetic effects while maintaining a compact footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If water treatment systems are added to minimize water splashing and contamination, then water safety and cleanliness are improved, but the base dimensions and device complexity substantially increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of water treatment systems (which added complexity and size) and replaces them with a sealed containment approach. The hermetically sealed chamber encloses the water completely, eliminating the need for complex treatment systems while maintaining safety and cleanliness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sealed chamber as an intermediary barrier between the water and the external environment. This mediator prevents direct contact between water and surroundings, eliminating splashing and contamination risks without requiring complex treatment systems.
2Illumination intensity
If open water surfaces are used to create waterfall effects, then visual appeal and soothing qualities are improved, but evaporation, bacterial growth, and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an inert, sealed environment for the water by hermetically sealing the chamber. This isolates the water from the external atmosphere, preventing evaporation and bacterial growth while maintaining the visual waterfall effect through controlled internal water flow.
3Reliability
If chemical additives and filtration systems are used to mitigate evaporation and contamination, then water quality is improved, but expense and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for chemical additives and filtration systems by using hermetic sealing. The sealed chamber physically prevents contamination and evaporation, eliminating the requirement for complex chemical and filtration systems while maintaining water quality.
4Illumination intensity
If water flows over external surfaces to create waterfall effect, then aesthetic appeal is improved, but water splashes onto nearby objects causing safety hazards and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the water flow system within a hermetically sealed chamber. The waterfalls are contained inside the transparent chamber, allowing the aesthetic waterfall effect to be visible while preventing any water from escaping onto surrounding objects.
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 sealed design reduces water evaporation, bacterial growth, maintenance needs, and safety hazards, while providing a visually appealing and low-maintenance solution for indoor installations.
Implementation Method 1
a first, substantially hermetically sealed chamber adapted to contain a quantity of liquid
Implementation Method 2
The fluid transport system preferably includes either a pump or a plurality of capillary tubes
Implementation Method 3
The aperture is disposed within the first chamber and directs a portion of the water against at least a portion of the internal surface of the substantially vertical side of the first chamber such that the water flows across at least part of the internal surface
Data Source
AI summary
A waterfall assembly features a first, substantially hermetically sealed chamber adapted to contain a quantity of liquid. The first chamber includes at least one substantially vertical and transparent side having an internal surface, preferably with a plurality of protrusions. A pump or fluid transport device is in fluid communication with the first chamber and at least one nozzle/aperture disposed within the first chamber. The nozzle/aperture directs the liquid against at least a portion of the internal surface of the vertical side of the first chamber such that some of the liquid flows over the protrusions. A second chamber having a light source may be disposed beneath the first chamber for illuminating the first chamber.