Thermostatic Tap Antibacterial Pipe Insulating Socket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermostatic mixing taps in healthcare environments face issues with bacterial growth due to stagnated water and heat transfer from hot water pipes, leading to increased risks of infection and temperature regulation challenges.
Innovation Solution
The thermostatic mixing tap features a metal hot water pipe element with antibacterial surfaces and a thermally insulating socket, along with a metal cold water pipe element and insulating sleeves, to prevent bacterial growth and reduce heat transfer, maintaining a lower housing temperature. The pipe elements have a small inner diameter to enhance water flow and minimize stagnation volume, and are surrounded by air chambers to further reduce stagnation and heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hot water pipe element is made of metal, then the thermal energy of the hot water can easily be transferred to the housing, but the pipe element becomes stiff and pressure resistant
Solution Approach 1:
A thermally insulating socket made of plastic is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal hot water pipe element and the housing. This socket prevents direct thermal contact while maintaining mechanical support, thereby blocking heat transfer to the housing while preserving the structural benefits of the metal pipe element.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines metal pipe elements for pressure resistance with plastic insulating sockets for thermal isolation. This composite construction allows each material to perform its optimal function - metal for mechanical strength and plastic for thermal insulation - resolving the contradiction between pressure resistance and temperature control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the internal surfaces of the pipe element are provided with material having antibacterial properties, then the attachment and growth of bacteria is hindered, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of treating the entire pipe element with antibacterial material, only the internal surfaces that come into contact with water are coated with copper or copper-containing alloys. This localized application provides antibacterial protection where needed while minimizing manufacturing complexity and material costs.
3Quantity of substance
If the inner diameter of the pipe element is kept small, then the flow velocity of water is high and stagnation volume is low, but the pipe element becomes more prone to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe element design optimizes the inner diameter parameter to achieve high flow velocity while maintaining adequate flow cross-section. The specific dimensional parameters are carefully selected to balance the competing requirements of minimizing stagnation volume and preventing clogging, ensuring reliable operation in healthcare environments.
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 configuration effectively inhibits bacterial growth, reduces the risk of infection, and maintains a lower housing temperature, making the tap suitable for healthcare environments while minimizing stagnation volume and heat transfer.
Implementation Method 1
the hot water pipe element is fixed with at least one section in the housing by a socket, which is made of a thermally insulating material
Implementation Method 2
the internal surfaces of the hot water pipe element coming into contact with the water are provided at least in sections with a material having antibacterial properties
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a thermostatic mixing tap comprising an elongated housing (1) having a cold water inlet opening (2) towards its one end, a hot water inlet opening (3) towards its other end and a mixed water outlet aperture (4), further comprising a temperature control component (5) for mixing the cold and hot water and at least one hot water pipe element (6), which is arranged completely in the housing (1) and in which the hot water is guided towards the temperature control component (5), characterized in that the hot water pipe element (6) is made of a metal, wherein the internal surfaces (7) of the hot water pipe element (6) coming into contact with the water are provided at least in sections with a material having antibacterial properties and in that the hot water pipe element is fixed with at least one section in the housing (1) by a socket (8), which is made of a thermally insulating material.