Separating Element for Quiet Flush Tank Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flushing systems in sanitary fittings face challenges such as noise generation due to overflow and inconsistent filling valve operation, particularly in installations with limited space, leading to inefficient flushing fluid volume adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A separating element with a closure means that adjusts its position under hydrostatic pressure to separate and connect flushing liquid receiving areas, incorporating check valves and overflow edges to control fluid flow, ensuring quiet operation and precise volume adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a bulkhead is arranged as a separating element in the rinsing container to separate two rinsing liquid receiving areas, then different flushing fluid volumes can be provided, but additional noise is generated during filling due to overflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflushing fluid volume selectionVSAvoidnoise during filling
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful overflow function from the filling process by introducing a closure means that prevents liquid passage during filling. The closure means is integrated into the separating element, allowing the separating element to perform both separation and flow control functions, thereby eliminating noise during filling while maintaining volume adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure means acts as an intermediary component between the two rinsing liquid receiving areas. It mediates the flow of rinsing liquid by being openable under hydrostatic pressure to allow passage during flushing, while remaining closed during filling to prevent overflow and noise. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction between volume adaptability and noise generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the float of the filling valve is designed to react only when both flushing liquid holding areas are completely full, then proper filling control is achieved, but this is rarely possible in cisterns with low installation heights and limited arrangement options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling valve operationVSAvoidspatial arrangement requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure means is designed to open automatically under the action of hydrostatic pressure during filling, eliminating the need for complex float mechanisms or manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the hydrostatic pressure of the rinsing liquid to trigger the opening of the closure means, thereby achieving reliable filling control in compact spaces without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes hydrostatic pressure (a hydraulic principle) to control the closure means. The closure means opens when the hydrostatic pressure of the rinsing liquid exceeds a certain threshold, allowing automatic flow control between the two receiving areas. This hydraulic mechanism enables reliable operation in limited spatial arrangements without complex mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the closure means is designed to open under hydrostatic pressure during filling, then noise is avoided, but the closure means must reliably prevent passage during flushing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise during fillingVSAvoidflow control during flushing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure means is designed with dynamic characteristics, being openable under the action of hydrostatic pressure in a first direction (during filling) while maintaining closure under pressure in the opposite direction (during flushing). This dynamic response to varying pressure conditions allows the closure means to adapt its state based on operational requirements, ensuring both noise reduction during filling and reliable flow control during flushing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The closure means responds to changes in hydrostatic pressure parameters by changing its state between open and closed positions. During filling, hydrostatic pressure causes the closure means to open, preventing noise. During flushing, the pressure conditions reverse, and the closure means remains closed to control flow. This parameter-based control ensures both noise reduction and reliable operation.

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 solution ensures silent filling, reliable filling valve operation, and precise flushing volume control, optimizing space utilization and efficiency in sanitary fittings.

Implementation Method 1

the separating element has at least one closure means which is designed to change its position in the closed position under the action of a hydrostatic pressure in a first direction so that the closed position is opened

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrostatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4556643A1Separating element for a flush tank of a sanitary fitting article, flushing unit for a sanitary fitting article and sanitary fitting article
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 SANITAERTECHNIK EISENBERG GMBH
  • EP4556643A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4556643A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4556643A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a flushing unit (10) with a separating element (12), which achieves significant improvements over DE 20 2021 103 577 U1. Thus, the separating element (12) does not generate any additional noise when filling the flushing container (14), and the proper functioning of the filling valve is ensured. Furthermore, the flushing volume can be adjusted very precisely, and particularly in the closed position of the separating element (12), it can be adjusted particularly precisely to the exact requirements of the sanitary fixture to be flushed. Furthermore, the separating element (12) is structurally very simple in terms of its range of functions and can be manufactured cost-effectively.