Urinal Sanitation Device with Area-Specific Liquid Agent Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional urinals face challenges in maintaining sanitation without excessive water usage, as urine remaining in the bowl can lead to ammonia production and urine scale formation, especially during low-use periods when chemical agents are not consistently supplied.
Innovation Solution
A urinal with a sanitation device featuring an interchangeable trap unit and a liquid agent ejection system that varies the form and timing of chemical agent delivery based on the area within the urinal to inhibit bacterial multiplication and smell generation, using a control unit to optimize chemical agent and liquid agent distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is supplied to flush urine in the bowl and replace urine in the trap, then sanitation is maintained and ammonia smell is prevented, but water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by supplying water in advance during low-use periods (such as weekends or nighttime) to replace urine in the trap and supply chemical agents before bacteria can multiply and produce ammonia. This preventive approach maintains sanitation without requiring large amounts of water during actual use periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements periodic water supply and chemical agent delivery based on usage detection. When no urine is detected for a predetermined period, the system automatically supplies water to the trap and delivers chemical agents at intervals, maintaining sanitation through periodic rather than continuous operation, thereby reducing overall water consumption.
2Quantity of substance
If urine is retained in the trap to form a water seal, then water consumption is reduced, but ammonia smell and urine scale generation occur
Solution Approach 1:
Chemical agents serve as intermediaries between the retained urine in the trap and the environment. These agents inhibit bacterial multiplication and prevent ammonia generation and urine scale formation, allowing the trap to retain urine for water seal purposes without producing harmful effects. The chemical agents mediate the interaction between retained urine and potential contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the chemical parameters of the retained urine by introducing chemical agents that alter pH and other properties to prevent ammonia formation. By modifying the chemical environment in the trap, the system maintains the water seal function while eliminating the harmful effects of ammonia smell and urine scale.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If chemical agents are supplied to inhibit bacterial multiplication, then ammonia smell is prevented, but during low-use periods the chemical agent supply stops and smell generates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit employs feedback mechanisms by detecting urine presence and usage patterns to determine when chemical agents need to be supplied. When urine is detected or during low-use periods, the system automatically triggers chemical agent delivery and water supply to the trap, ensuring consistent sanitation coverage without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuity of useful action by automatically supplying chemical agents and water during low-use periods when usage drops. This continuous maintenance approach prevents gaps in sanitation coverage, ensuring that ammonia smell prevention remains effective even when the urinal is not in active use.
4Ease of manufacture
If the trap unit is made interchangeable for replacement, then maintenance cost is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trap unit is segmented as a separate, interchangeable component that can be independently replaced. This segmentation allows the trap unit to be manufactured separately with integrated chemical agent reservoirs and installed as a modular unit, simplifying maintenance procedures and reducing long-term costs despite the added complexity of the interchange mechanism.
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
Effectively prevents the generation of smells and urine scale with reliability while conserving water, reducing the frequency and cost of trap unit replacements by ensuring consistent sanitation across varying usage areas.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid agent containing a chemical agent capable of inhibiting generation of an ammonia smell and urine scale from urine, or a liquid agent in which the chemical agent disposed in the urinal is dissolved
Implementation Method 2
a chemical agent capable of inhibiting generation of an ammonia smell and urine scale from urine
Implementation Method 3
urine retained in the trap is used as a water seal
Data Source
AI summary
A urinal with a sanitation device capable of preventing the generation of a smell and urine scale with reliability without reducing a water conservation effect. In the urinal US, a liquid agent is ejected in different modes by predetermined timing according to areas on the urinal US.