Siphon Unit With Latching Seal for Narrow Gutters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing siphon designs for shower spaces face challenges such as limited space for stench lock installation, potential blockages, and awkward sealing ring manipulation, which complicates both installation and cleaning processes.
Innovation Solution
A siphon unit with a deformable collar and a latching mechanism that allows for a watertight seal without requiring large pressing forces, enabling easy assembly and disassembly, and accommodating narrower gutters by using a transit tube part with a sealing flange and latching member for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing ring is used to create a watertight seal between the container and gutter, then sealing reliability is improved, but the pressing force required makes placement and removal awkward
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism is changed from a pressing-based seal to a geometry-based seal. The L-shaped sealing profile engages with a corresponding groove, creating a watertight seal through geometric interlocking rather than compressive force. This allows the siphon to be easily inserted and removed without requiring high pressing forces, while maintaining reliable sealing.
2Ease of repair
If the siphon is designed to be accessible for cleaning by removal, then ease of maintenance is improved, but the space required for manipulation during installation and removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The siphon is divided into separable components (container, cap, sealing elements) that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The simplified L-shaped sealing mechanism allows these components to be quickly connected and disconnected without requiring complex manipulation or large working spaces, facilitating easy maintenance while minimizing space requirements.
3Ease of operation
If the cap and container are separate parts requiring vertical shifting movement, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sealings required
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sealing functions are merged into a single L-shaped sealing element that simultaneously seals both the container-gutter interface and the cap-container interface. This reduces the number of separate sealing components needed, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the ease of assembly and disassembly provided by the separable cap and container design.
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 provides a reliable watertight seal with reduced space requirements and simplified maintenance, allowing for efficient water discharge while maintaining aesthetic and functional integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The operation of a stench lock is based on the fact that at least one segment of the conduit is completely filled with water. This conduit segment is rising in the discharge direction
Implementation Method 2
a deformable collar and a latching mechanism that allows for a watertight seal without requiring large pressing forces
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A siphon assembly (1000) comprises a transit tube part (300) and a siphon unit (600). The siphon unit comprises a siphon container (100) with a bottom (101 ) and side walls (102, 103); a passage (110) in front wall (102); and around the passage a collar (120) of rubber or silicone extending out of the front wall. The siphon unit further comprises a siphon cap (200) with an upper side (201 ) and side walls (202, 203), and a passage (210) in a front wall (202). The siphon container is arranged within the siphon cap, with the collar extending outwards through the passage of the siphon cap. The circumferential groove (212) of the passage of the siphon cap is located in a circumferential groove (121 ) of the collar. The transit tube part has a coupling flange (310) with a front face (320). At its lower side, the coupling flange is provided with a receiving space (314) for hingedly coupling to the siphon cap. A latching member (330) latches the upper side of the siphon cap to the upper side of the coupling flange.