Spout Tip Attachment Watertight Seal Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water delivery systems, such as faucets, face challenges in creating a reliable and watertight seal between fluid conduits and aerators, which can lead to leaks and inefficiencies in water distribution.
Innovation Solution
A water delivery system design that includes a spout assembly with a non-metallic spout body and a fluid transport member, featuring an overmold component with a sealing surface that forms a watertight seal with an aerator assembly, utilizing a holder mechanism to secure the fluid conduit and prevent misalignment, ensuring a secure and leak-proof connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional fluid conduit interface is used, then assembly is simple, but the seal reliability is poor leading to leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The interface combines a rigid fluid conduit with a soft overmold material to create a composite sealing structure. The overmold material deforms to conform to the aerator interface, ensuring a reliable watertight seal while the rigid conduit provides structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The overmold creates a flexible sealing interface that can deform to match the aerator's sealing surface. This flexible layer compensates for manufacturing tolerances and surface irregularities, ensuring consistent seal reliability across assemblies.
2Reliability
If a secure sealing interface is implemented, then leak prevention is improved, but assembly and disassembly become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The holder mechanism transitions between locked and unlocked states through translational movement. During assembly, the holder is translated to engage retaining features that secure the overmold component. During disassembly, reverse translation releases these features, enabling easy removal while maintaining secure sealing during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separable components: the fluid conduit, the overmold component, and the holder mechanism. This segmentation allows the sealing interface to be independently optimized for reliability while the holder provides a separate, easy-to-operate assembly/disassembly mechanism.
3Reliability
If a non-metallic spout body is used, then corrosion resistance is improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The non-metallic spout body combines corrosion-resistant polymer material with structurally reinforcing elements or design features. The material selection and structural design work together to achieve both corrosion resistance and adequate structural strength for the application.
Data Source
AI summary
A water delivery system is disclosed including a first component coupled to a fluid transport member, the first component including an interface, and a second component coupled to an aerator. The second component positioning the first component relative to the aerator. The aerator and the interface of the first component cooperate to form a water tight seal there between.