Shower Drain With Hydraulic Drive and Magnetic Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available shower drains have limited drainage capacity, particularly in showers with rain shower heads, due to their reliance on gravity drainage and lack of efficient energy utilization.
Innovation Solution
A shower drain with a hydraulic drive system using a magnetic coupling between a water-actuated drive wheel and a pump impeller, which increases drainage capacity by leveraging the energy of incoming water without requiring additional control elements or mechanical shafts, thus enhancing the pump's performance and tightness of the drain housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional gravity drainage system is used, then the structure is simple, but the drainage capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system uses the kinetic energy of the incoming water flow itself to drive the pump impeller through a hydraulic coupling mechanism, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex control systems. The water flow automatically activates and regulates the pump based on drainage needs
Solution Approach 2:
A hydraulic coupling mechanism transmits the kinetic energy from the incoming water flow to the pump impeller through fluid dynamics. The water flow directly drives a drive wheel that magnetically couples to the pump impeller, creating an efficient energy transfer system without mechanical shafts
2Reliability
If a mechanical drive shaft with seals is used, then the pump can be driven effectively, but the tightness of the drain housing is compromised and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical drive shaft and seal system is replaced with a magnetic coupling mechanism. The drive wheel and pump impeller are coupled through magnetic fields rather than direct mechanical contact, eliminating the need for shaft seals that compromise housing tightness and create maintenance issues
Solution Approach 2:
A magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the drive wheel and pump impeller, transmitting rotational force without direct mechanical contact. This magnetic coupling allows efficient power transfer while maintaining the integrity of the housing seal and enabling easy removal of the pump impeller for cleaning
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 hydraulic drive system significantly increases drainage capacity compared to conventional drains, using the energy of incoming water to accelerate water outflow, and provides reliable tightness and ease of maintenance by eliminating the need for external drive shafts and seals.
Implementation Method 1
The pump is provided with a hydraulic drive and is formed from a pump impeller mounted in the drain housing, with the hydraulic drive having a drive wheel (paddle wheel) that can be acted upon by water, which is coupled to the pump impeller via a magnetic coupling
Implementation Method 2
the hydraulic drive has a drive wheel that can be charged with water and that is coupled to the pump impeller via a magnetic coupling
Implementation Method 3
This allows the energy of the water running into the shower or wet room to be used to accelerate the water running off
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a drain for a wet room, in particular for a shower, having a drain housing (2) on which an outlet (2.4) for connecting to a drain pipe (10) is provided. In order for such a drain to provide greater draining capacity for a given drain pipe having a standard diameter, according to the invention, the drain housing (2) has a pump for delivering water in the direction of the outlet (2.4). The pump preferably has a hydraulic drive (15), wherein the pump impeller (14) of the pump is connected to the drive wheel (15.1) of the hydraulic drive (15) by means of a magnetic coupling (17). The invention further relates to a wet room, in particular a shower, having a water inlet line and a drain of the type described above.