Sealing Diaphragm Design for Urinal Odor Trap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing odor trap devices for waterless urinals have dead spaces that lead to odor formation, particularly when small amounts of urine or liquid are present, as they require significant liquid flow to open the sealing diaphragm and allow discharge.
Innovation Solution
A sealing diaphragm fixed on a holder with reduced contact area, featuring a rubber-elastic, upwardly tapering accumulation section and a hollow-cylindrical section that forms an uninterrupted annular inlet channel, allowing small amounts of urine or liquid to be reliably discharged, minimizing dead spaces and odor formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing diaphragm is designed with a large accumulation section supported on bearing webs, then the sealing diaphragm can be prevented from being pressed open by back pressure, but the number of dead spaces increases and odor formation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing diaphragm is segmented into a flat sealing area and a barrel-shaped accumulation section with decreasing diameter. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be separated from the pressure resistance function, enabling the accumulation section to be minimized for odor prevention while maintaining sealing reliability through the flat sealing area.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of supporting the accumulation section on bearing webs as in prior art, the invention inverts the approach by having the flat sealing area contact the sealing wall and minimizing the accumulation section. This inversion eliminates dead spaces and odor formation risk while maintaining back pressure resistance through the inverted T-shaped cross-section design.
2Reliability
If the sealing diaphragm requires a relatively large amount of liquid to open, then the sealing remains intact under back pressure, but small amounts of urine or liquid cannot be reliably discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the sealing diaphragm, specifically creating an inverted T-shaped cross-section with a flat sealing area and a minimized accumulation section. This parameter change allows the diaphragm to respond to small liquid amounts while maintaining sealing integrity, achieving both reliable discharge of small quantities and resistance to back pressure.
3Strength
If the sealing diaphragm has a barrel-shaped accumulation section with decreasing diameter, then back pressure resistance is improved, but dead spaces are created that promote odor formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional barrel-shaped accumulation section design. Instead of increasing diameter towards the accumulation section, the design minimizes the accumulation section diameter and positions the flat sealing area to contact the sealing wall. This inversion eliminates dead spaces and odor formation while maintaining back pressure resistance through the inverted geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sealing diaphragm are given different qualities: the flat sealing area provides sealing contact, while the minimized accumulation section provides back pressure resistance without creating dead spaces. This local quality differentiation allows the diaphragm to fulfill multiple functions without promoting odor formation.
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
The solution effectively reduces the risk of odor formation by ensuring reliable discharge of even small quantities of urine or liquid, enhancing the odor trap's performance and hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing diaphragm (6) which is in sealing contact with the sealing wall (1.3) in a closed position and is pushed away from the sealing wall (1.3) into an open position when fluid, such as urine, is present
Implementation Method 2
the liquid to be discharged, in particular urine, flows out of the sanitary object due to gravity
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an odor trap device for sanitary fixtures, in particular urinals, having a drainage element which has a pipe section, the pipe section defining a sealing wall, having a sealing diaphragm which is in sealing contact with the sealing wall in a closed position and is pushed away from the sealing wall into an open position when fluid, such as urine, is present, and having a holder for mounting the sealing diaphragm relative to the sealing wall. In order to minimise the risk of odor formation in an odor trap device of this kind and also to reliably discharge small quantities of urine or liquid present, it is provided, in accordance with the invention, that the sealing diaphragm is fixed on the holder, the holder being supported below the sealing diaphragm.