Transparent Waste Pan Alignment for Shower Waste Fittings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in plumbing a shower is aligning the waste fitting with the outlet pipe, which is difficult due to the fixed position of the outlet pipe, leading to misalignment issues that require additional components like plumbdingers, increasing installation time and cost, and making it hard to achieve a precise and visually appealing fit.
Innovation Solution
A waste fitting with a transparent waste pan that allows visual inspection during installation, enabling precise positioning of apertures to align with the outlet pipe, potentially eliminating the need for additional components and allowing installation without accessing the shower base once it's in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the outlet pipe position is fixed, then the waste fitting alignment becomes difficult, but the outlet pipe structure remains simple
Solution Approach 1:
The waste pan means incorporates a transparent or translucent portion that allows visual inspection through it, enabling the installer to see the outlet pipe position and align the aperture accordingly. This transparency acts as a visual guide, transforming the alignment process from a difficult task requiring plumbdingers to a straightforward visual alignment task.
2Manufacturing precision
If plumbdingers or adjustable pipes are used to fix misalignment, then the alignment gap is filled, but the waste flow speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent waste pan means allows the aperture to be positioned and aligned with the outlet pipe before final installation, ensuring direct alignment without gaps. This preliminary visual alignment prevents the need for plumbdingers that would create flow restrictions, maintaining optimal waste flow speed while achieving precise alignment.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shower base is installed first, then the waste fitting alignment becomes harder, but the shower base installation is simplified
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent waste pan means enables the installer to self-align the aperture with the outlet pipe by visual inspection through the transparent portion, eliminating the need to work underneath the shower base. The waste fitting essentially aligns itself using the visual guidance provided by the transparent material, combining ease of installation with precise alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a waste fitting including a waste pan means into which waste can flow, at least one part of the waste pan means allowing visual inspection therethrough. During installation, an opening of the waste outlet can be located by visual inspection through the or each at least one part of the waste pan means, enabling a suitable position to be determined for forming and or positioning of at least one aperture in the waste pan means. The at least one aperture is formed such that, in use, waste that flows into the waste pan means can exit through the or each at least one aperture towards the opening in the waste outlet. The invention also relates to a method of installing a waste fitting.