Water Tank Filter Connector With Polygonal Cartridge Coding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water tank and filter cartridge systems lack a reliable mechanism to ensure correct filter cartridge alignment and usage, leading to potential operational safety issues, taste and odor problems, and machine defects due to the use of incorrect or defective filter cartridges.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure between the water tank and filter cartridge featuring polygonal contours on both the cartridge and tank connection elements, providing a form-fitting seal and coding mechanism to ensure correct alignment and prevent the use of non-compatible cartridges, with additional coding structures for secure fixing and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a simple cylindrical connection is used between tank and filter cartridge, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because incorrect filter cartridges can be used
Solution Approach 1:
The connection element features an asymmetric polygonal contour (e.g., hexagonal) instead of a simple cylindrical shape. This asymmetric geometry creates a unique fit that only matches the corresponding asymmetric connection structure in the tank, preventing the installation of incorrect or incompatible filter cartridges while maintaining ease of manufacture through simple geometric shaping.
2Reliability
If a polygonal coding structure is added to ensure correct filter cartridge alignment, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polygonal coding structure is merged with the connection element itself, combining the sealing function and the coding/alignment function into a single integrated component. The polygonal contour serves dual purposes: it provides the sealing interface between the filter cartridge and tank, and simultaneously acts as the coding structure that ensures correct alignment and prevents incorrect cartridge installation, thereby avoiding additional separate coding components.
3Reliability
If a form-fitting seal is created using polygonal contours, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to precise alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric polygonal contour provides self-aligning properties during insertion. The unique geometric shape guides the filter cartridge into the correct rotational position automatically as it is inserted into the tank, eliminating the need for manual alignment adjustments. The asymmetric geometry ensures that only one orientation allows the connection elements to mate properly, making the correct installation intuitive and error-proof.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tank for aquiferous devices, particularly household appliances, or devices for the processing of food and/or beverages, such as beverage dispensers, particularly coffee dispensers, drinking water dispensers, cooking and baking devices, steam dispensing devices, particularly steam irons, steam cleaners, high-pressure cleaners, air pressure cleaners and conditioners, or such, is provided, wherein a suction connector is provided at the tank for the suctioning of the water from the tank using means for generating low pressure, and a filter connector is provided for the connection of a filter cartridge, in the interior and/or at the exterior of the tank while ensuring that only the permitted filter type can be used. A tank according to the invention is characterized by mechanical coding structures having a polygon cross-section of the peripheral surface at the filter connector element in order to exclude the use of any filter cartridge not corresponding with the tank.