Electronic Shower Valve Cartridge for Retrofit Power-Outage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic shower valves are expensive, difficult to install, and often require hard-wiring to a power source, making them impractical for retrofitting in existing installations and vulnerable during power outages.
Innovation Solution
An electronic shower valve cartridge that uses a universal rough valve body, incorporating a motor and gear assembly for electronic actuation, allowing for battery-powered operation and manual override, enabling control through a user interface or smart device, and compatibility with existing mechanical valve cartridges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional electronic shower valves are used, then electronic control of water delivery is achieved, but installation complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cartridge is designed to be universally compatible with existing rough valve bodies through standardized external dimensions and mounting interfaces. The cartridge integrates multiple functions including electronic actuation, mechanical valve control, and adapter capabilities for different valve types, allowing a single design to replace multiple specialized components and simplify installation across different shower systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical mixing valves with an electronic actuation system that uses a motor assembly and gear mechanism to control water delivery. This substitution enables precise electronic control of hot and cold water mixing while maintaining compatibility with existing mechanical valve bodies, reducing installation complexity by leveraging existing infrastructure
2Reliability
If hard-wired electronic shower valves are installed, then reliable power supply is ensured, but adaptability to existing installations without power outlets is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cartridge incorporates a rechargeable battery assembly with wireless charging capability, allowing the system to power itself without requiring hard-wired electrical connections. The battery can be recharged wirelessly through a charging base that couples with the cartridge, enabling the electronic valve to operate independently in locations without existing power outlets while maintaining full electronic control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
A wireless charging base serves as an intermediary between the power source and the valve cartridge. The base receives power from standard electrical outlets and wirelessly transfers energy to the cartridge's battery assembly, eliminating the need for direct hard-wired connections while ensuring reliable power supply for electronic operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If battery-powered operation is implemented, then adaptability to existing installations is improved, but power supply reliability during operation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The battery assembly is pre-charged before installation and operation. The wireless charging base allows the battery to be recharged in advance whenever needed, ensuring the valve has sufficient power储备 for operation. This preliminary charging action eliminates concerns about power availability during use while maintaining the benefit of no hard-wired connections required
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
Enables cost-effective installation and retrofitting of electronic shower systems, ensuring functionality during power outages and providing a user-friendly interface for controlling water temperature and flow.
Implementation Method 1
A motor assembly is at least partially supported within the outer housing and is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
A strain wave gearing assembly operably couples the motor assembly and the flow control element, and is configured to rotate the flow control element. The strain wave gearing assembly includes an outer circular spline supported by the outer housing, a flex spline cooperating with the outer circular spline, and a wave generator supported for rotation about the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic shower valve including a coaxially aligned motor and gear assembly received within a valve body and configured to move a flow control element. Illustratively, a display is supported by the valve body and is in electrical communication with a controller. A manual override may engage with the flow control element for manual operation thereof