Temperature-Control Tap Core Structure to Block Housing Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional temperature controllable taps are expensive due to the use of copper and complex molds, and they can scald users because the housing material conducts heat, posing a safety risk.
Innovation Solution
The tap design features a core portion with a plastic housing and a separate waterway portion, where the waterway is entirely contained within the core, allowing for non-copper materials and reducing thermal conduction between the housing and waterway, thus enhancing safety and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If copper material is used for the housing to guarantee water quality, then water quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tap is divided into two separate parts: a housing (body) and a core portion (waterway component). The core portion that contacts water is made of food-grade plastic, while the housing can be made of other materials. This segmentation allows the water-contacting part to meet quality standards without requiring expensive copper for the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses food-grade plastic for the core portion instead of copper, substituting an expensive material with a cheaper alternative that still meets the required safety and quality standards for water contact.
2Reliability
If copper housing is used, then water quality is guaranteed, but thermal conduction causes scalding risk
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the housing from the waterway core portion, the patent eliminates the thermal conduction path from hot water to the housing. The core portion made of food-grade plastic has low thermal conductivity, preventing heat transfer to the housing and eliminating the scalding risk while maintaining water quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The core portion acts as an intermediary between the hot water and the housing. Made of food-grade plastic with low thermal conductivity, it mediates the thermal interaction by blocking heat transfer while allowing water flow, thus protecting users from scalding.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If copper material is used for the entire tap, then durability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tap is segmented into a housing and a core portion that can be manufactured separately using different processes. The core portion can be molded as a single piece using food-grade plastic, simplifying the molding process compared to traditional copper fabrication, while the housing can be produced independently.
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
This design provides a safer and more affordable temperature controllable tap by isolating the waterway from the housing, preventing scalding and allowing for cost-effective production using non-copper materials.
Implementation Method 1
the thermal conduction between the housing and the waterway is cut off by the core portion, the housing is influenced less by the water temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention pertains to a temperature controlling tap, which comprises a tap portion (10) with a waterway portion (123, 124, 125, 126, 127), two joint portions (20) respectively fixedly assembled to and connected to a hot water resource and a cool water resource, an outlet portion (30), a water temperature adjusting mechanism (40) and a flow regulating mechanism (50), the two joint (20) portions are fixedly connected to the tap portion (10), the water temperature adjusting mechanism (40) and the flow regulating mechanism (50) are coupled to the waterway portion (123, 124, 125, 126, 127) to realize flow regulating and water temperature adjusting, the tap portion (10) comprises a housing (11) and a core portion of plastic (12) fixedly assembled in the housing (11), wherein the waterway portion (123, 124, 125, 126, 127) is entirely disposed in the core portion (12) and the waterway portion (123, 124, 125, 126, 127) connects the two joint portions (20) and the outlet portion (30), the core portion (12) separates the waterway portion (123, 124, 125, 126, 127) and the housing(11) . The present invention has advantages that the housing (11) is not contacted with the waterway (123, 124, 125, 126, 127), the material of the housing (11) is not limited and the housing is less prone to being heated by the water temperature, thus avoiding scalding of a user.