Urinal Odor Seal Replacement With Continuous Gas-Tight Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urinal odor trap replacement methods often lead to strong ammonia odors and nuisance, especially in large facilities, due to the need to remove and install multiple odor traps simultaneously, causing odor escape and disruption.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a urinal design where an additional odor trap is automatically closed when the old one is removed and automatically opens when a new one is inserted, ensuring continuous gas-tight insulation and minimizing odor escape during replacement, with optional manual operation or actuation mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple odor traps are removed and installed simultaneously in large facilities, then replacement efficiency is improved, but strong ammonia odors and nuisance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a bypass connection that is pre-configured and activated before the odor trap removal process begins. The bypass allows urine flow to continue through the alternative path (container → bypass → outlet) while the odor trap is being replaced, preventing odor release without requiring simultaneous removal of multiple traps. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining productivity through continuous operation while eliminating the harmful ammonia odor that would otherwise be released.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If odor trap replacement is performed sequentially, then odor nuisance is reduced, but replacement time and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the urine flow path into separate segments: the main path through the odor trap and an alternative bypass path. This allows the odor trap to be replaced independently while urine continues to flow through the bypass segment. The system is segmented such that the bypass connection includes a container receiving portion and an outlet portion that can operate independently of the odor trap replacement process, thereby reducing odor nuisance without causing operational disruption or time loss.
3Ease of manufacture
If the urinal is taken out of service for odor trap replacement, then proper replacement can be performed, but operational availability and user convenience decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a bypass connection as a mediator between the odor trap and the outlet. This bypass acts as an intermediate pathway that allows urine to reach the outlet even when the odor trap is removed or being replaced. The bypass connection includes a container receiving portion that can be positioned to allow access to the odor trap for replacement while maintaining urine flow through the intermediary bypass path, thus enabling replacement accessibility without compromising operational availability.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a urinal having an odour seal (2). The urinal is characterized by provision of a further odour seal (9), preferably connected in series.