Adapter Plate for Shower Drain Suction Cup Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction cups are ineffective for removing blockages from long and narrow sanitary floor drains and shower channels due to dimensional mismatches, and caustic cleaning agents are hazardous, expensive, and environmentally polluting.
Innovation Solution
An adapter with a pipe socket and adapter plate that can be inserted into the drain socket, allowing a commercially available suction cup to create a pressure-tight seal, combined with a telescopic design for adjustable fit and a sealing ring for reliable sealing, enabling effective blockage removal with minimal environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a commercially available suction cup is used on a long and narrow floor drain, then the suction cup cannot cover the inlet opening with a seal, but using an adapter increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is divided into multiple functional segments: a pipe socket for insertion into the drain socket, an adapter plate that protrudes radially to provide a mounting surface, and a sealing ring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, enabling the suction cup to seal properly on narrow floor drains without requiring a completely redesigned complex device.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter serves as an intermediary component between the suction cup and the narrow floor drain inlet opening. It bridges the dimensional mismatch by providing an intermediate sealing surface that the suction cup can effectively cover, thus enabling reliable sealing without directly modifying the suction cup or the drain structure.
2Productivity
If caustic pipe cleaning agents are used to dissolve blockages, then blockages can be removed, but the agents are hazardous to users, expensive, and pollute the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the chemical cleaning method (caustic agents) with a mechanical cleaning method (suction cup applied through the adapter). By creating a pressure-tight seal and generating positive and negative pressure mechanically, blockages can be removed without using hazardous chemicals, thus eliminating the harmful effects while maintaining blockage removal effectiveness.
3Reliability
If the adapter plate protrudes radially beyond the pipe socket, then the suction cup can be placed in a pressure-tight manner, but the adapter requires more material and larger dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter plate protrudes radially beyond the pipe socket specifically at the locations where sealing is required. This localized protrusion provides the necessary surface for the suction cup to form a pressure-tight seal, while minimizing the overall volume of the adapter by not unnecessarily increasing dimensions in all directions.
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 adapter allows for effective removal of blockages in narrow floor drains and shower channels using a suction cup, providing a high suction effect while being inexpensive, safe, and environmentally friendly.
Implementation Method 1
an adapter plate which protrudes radially beyond the pipe socket on the outside, has an opening leading into the pipe socket and is connected to the pipe socket in a liquid-tight manner
Implementation Method 2
By moving the suction cup rod briskly up and down, the suction cup generates a negative pressure, which can be used to loosen a blockage in the drain pipe or siphon
Implementation Method 3
the adapter plate is designed in such a way that the rubber bell can be placed on the adapter plate in a pressure-tight or suction-tight manner and pressed down
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The adapter has a pipe socket insertable into a discharge nozzle of a floor drain channel and including an outer surface that acts as a sealing surface against the nozzle. A sealing ring (1.23) e.g. annular seal such as elastic O-ring, is provided on the outer surface. An adapter plate (1.2) comprises an opening that opens into the socket. A tubular connecting piece (1.22) is provided on a lower side of the adapter plate and connected to the socket in a fluid-tight and axially adjustable manner such that the adapter plate is connected with the socket in a fluid-tight manner.