Shower-WC Water Tank Overflow Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Shower toilets lack an effective mechanism to automatically prevent the water tank from overflowing, particularly when solenoid valves malfunction, leading to continuous water flow and potential overflow.
Innovation Solution
A device that checks the tightness of fresh water inlet valves with each use, using sensors to measure water flow or level, and blocks refilling if a leak is detected, including a method to clean valves by alternately opening and closing them to restore tightness, ensuring the water tank does not overflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a solenoid valve is used to control water supply to the tank, then automated water level control is achieved, but the valve may malfunction and cause continuous water flow leading to overflow
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a tightness check of the solenoid valve before allowing normal operation. A test phase is executed where the valve is closed and the system monitors for any water level increase that would indicate leakage. Only after successful verification does the system transition to normal filling operation, preventing potential overflow before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors water level and flow to detect valve malfunction. Sensors provide feedback about water level changes during the test phase and normal operation. When leakage is detected through feedback from level sensors, the system automatically responds by blocking further water supply, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains reliability.
2Device complexity
If manual intervention is required to stop water flow in case of valve failure, then system simplicity is maintained, but response time is delayed and overflow risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects valve leakage and blocks water supply without requiring manual intervention. The control unit monitors sensor data, identifies leakage conditions during the test phase or normal operation, and autonomously activates the blocking mechanism. This self-service capability eliminates the time delay associated with human response while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
3Reliability
If continuous monitoring of water flow is implemented to detect valve leakage, then overflow prevention is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system performs a concentrated tightness check during a dedicated test phase before normal operation. This preliminary verification establishes baseline safety without requiring constant surveillance during filling and usage, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable overflow prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic tightness verification rather than continuous monitoring. The test phase occurs at defined intervals (before normal operation and potentially between usage cycles), providing regular safety checks without the complexity and resource consumption of uninterrupted monitoring, thus balancing reliability with system simplicity.
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
Prevents water tank overflow by ensuring valve tightness is maintained, reducing unnecessary water usage and requiring manual or automatic intervention for faulty valves, thereby ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the water flow in the fresh water inlet (1) directly (by means of a flow sensor, e.g. impeller sensor)
Implementation Method 2
measuring the water flow in the fresh water inlet (1) directly (by means of a flow sensor, e.g. impeller sensor or an inductive flow meter)
Implementation Method 3
indirectly (by measuring the water level in the water tank)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for avoiding overflow of the water tank in a shower-WC, having a water tank (2) with a fresh water supply (1), and comprising a first valve (3) and a second valve (4) which are arranged in said fresh water supply (1), are connected in series, and are electrically controlled.