Vacuum Breaker Bushing Connection Structure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum breakers face issues with water leakage due to deformation of plastic bushings during injection molding and increased fabrication costs from using leadless copper materials in the metallic body.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum breaker design featuring a plastic bushing integrated with a copper main body via a connection structure, including air vent holes and an elastic member to prevent detachment and leakage, while utilizing lead-containing copper for cost reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic bushing is combined with a metallic body by injection molding, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the bushing is easily deformed and stripped during the process due to thermal expansion and contraction, causing water leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is divided into multiple functional elements: a connection groove in the bushing, a connection protrusion in the body, and a locking groove for securing the protrusion. This segmentation allows the injection molding process to create a reliable multi-stage connection that prevents both deformation and stripping of the bushing during manufacturing and operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If leadless copper material is used for the body, then the vacuum breaker prevents lead contamination, but the fabrication cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The material composition parameter of the body is changed from leadless copper to lead-containing copper. This parameter change reduces fabrication costs while the connection structure ensures that the bushing remains securely attached, preventing water leakage and maintaining the functional integrity of the vacuum breaker.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bushing is made of plastic material, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the bushing is easily deformed during injection molding due to thermal expansion and contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The connection groove is pre-formed in the bushing during injection molding, and the connection protrusion is designed to fit into this groove with a locking mechanism. This preliminary action ensures that the bushing maintains its dimensional stability and prevents deformation during the injection molding process, while still using cost-effective plastic material.
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 design effectively prevents water leakage by ensuring the bushing remains securely attached to the main body and reduces fabrication costs through the use of lead-containing copper materials.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member mounted in the main body and biased between the bushing and the braking member
Implementation Method 2
The bushing is combined integrally with the main body by the connection structure under an external force
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum breaker includes a main body, a bushing mounted in the main body, a braking member mounted in the main body and located above the bushing, a water stop gasket mounted in the main body and located above the braking member, an elastic member mounted in the main body and biased between the bushing and the braking member, a water inlet disk mounted in the main body and located above the water stop gasket, and a washer mounted in the main body and located above the water inlet disk. The vacuum breaker further includes a connection structure mounted between an inner circumference of the main body and an outer circumference of the bushing. The bushing is combined integrally with the main body by the connection structure under an external force and will not be detached from the main body.