Transparent Waste Pan Fitting for Visual Outlet Alignment
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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 potential misalignment, increased installation time, and cost, especially since working under the shower base is awkward and visually inspecting the outlet pipe is challenging once the base is in place.
Innovation Solution
A waste fitting with a transparent waste pan that allows visual inspection during installation, enabling precise alignment of apertures with the outlet pipe, either before or during installation, to ensure direct waste flow without the need for additional plumbing tools or access underneath the shower base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
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 is designed with rotational capability, allowing it to be rotated to different orientations during installation. This dynamic feature enables the aperture to be aligned with the outlet pipe by rotating the waste pan to the correct position, rather than requiring precise initial positioning or additional alignment tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste pan includes visual indicators (such as colored markings or transparent sections) that allow the installer to self-align the aperture with the outlet pipe by visual inspection through the shower base, without requiring external alignment tools or assistance from someone working underneath the base.
2Ease of operation
If plumbdingers or adjustable pipes are used to fill alignment gaps, then misalignment is compensated, but waste flow speed decreases and scum accumulation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical alignment system (plumbdingers, adjustable pipes) with a visual alignment system. The transparent or marked waste pan allows optical alignment with the outlet pipe, enabling direct connection without mechanical compensation devices that would impede waste flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable waste pan provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the installer to achieve perfect alignment by rotating the waste pan to the correct orientation. This eliminates the need for static compensation devices like plumbdingers that create flow restrictions and scum accumulation points.
3Manufacturing precision
If careful measuring and marking is done before installing the shower base, then alignment precision improves, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The waste pan is pre-marked with visual indicators and alignment features during manufacturing. These preliminary markings guide the installer during installation, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site measuring and marking operations. The pre-prepared visual cues allow for rapid alignment with the outlet pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical measuring and marking process with a visual indication system built into the waste pan. The transparent sections and colored markings provide immediate visual feedback during installation, substituting the time-consuming measurement process with simple visual alignment.
4Ease of manufacture
If the waste pan is opaque, then manufacturing is simpler, but visual inspection and alignment during installation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The waste pan is manufactured with localized transparent or visually distinct sections at specific positions (such as the perimeter or alignment zones) while the rest of the pan remains opaque. This local quality change provides the necessary visual alignment capability without requiring the entire pan to be transparent, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling visual inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste pan incorporates colored markings, colored transparent sections, or contrasting color regions that provide visual indicators for alignment. These color changes allow the installer to easily identify the aperture position and align it with the outlet pipe, while the rest of the pan can remain opaque for manufacturing simplicity and aesthetic purposes.
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 on 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.