Vacuum Breaker Rib and Skirted Section for Back Pressure Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum breakers in flush valve assemblies face challenges with increased back pressure, leading to water leakage through air slots and mechanical durability issues, particularly in low-volume, high-pressure bathroom plumbing systems.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum breaker assembly featuring a supporting rib axially aligned with air slots and a skirted section that prevents leakage during high back pressure conditions, comprising a vacuum sleeve with a flange recess and flow insert with apertures, and a skirted section that engages the outlet tube to create a seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a vacuum breaker is used in a flush valve assembly with low-volume, high-pressure water supply, then water efficiency is improved, but water leakage through air slots occurs due to increased back pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific structural feature (the rib protrusion) at the critical location where the vacuum breaker sleeve interacts with the outlet tube. This rib protrusion locally enhances the sealing capability at the air slots region, preventing water leakage specifically where back pressure causes failure, while maintaining the overall low-volume, high-pressure flushing performance.
2Quantity of substance
If a vacuum breaker is used in a flush valve assembly with low-volume, high-pressure water supply, then water efficiency is improved, but mechanical durability at air slots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rib protrusion provides localized structural reinforcement at the air slots region, strengthening the vacuum breaker sleeve where it experiences the most stress from high back pressure. This local strengthening prevents mechanical failure at the critical air slots area while maintaining the overall structural integrity needed for low-volume, high-pressure operation.
3Reliability
If air slots are provided in the outlet tube for vacuum breaking, then backflow prevention is enabled, but water leakage through air slots occurs under high back pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The rib protrusion creates a localized sealing feature that prevents water from leaking through the air slots during high back pressure conditions, while the air slots themselves remain intact for their primary function of allowing air entry during vacuum conditions to prevent backflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib protrusion design allows dynamic response to pressure conditions - during high back pressure, the rib contacts the outlet tube inner surface to seal and prevent water leakage, while during vacuum conditions, the air slots remain open to allow air flow for backflow prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum breaker having a supporting rib and a skirted section is disclosed. The supporting rib is configured to be axially aligned with air slots in an outlet tube and provide a more robust vacuum breaker sleeve under extreme operating conditions. The skirted section can prevent leakage through air slots during high back pressure operating conditions.