Wall-Mounted Drain Pan Layout for Tankless Water Heater Leaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of suitable drain pans for tankless water heaters and other wall-mounted water containing devices, leading to potential water damage and non-compliance with plumbing and building codes, as traditional solutions either omit or use incompatible floor-mounted pans.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mountable drain pan apparatus with a basin and side panels, designed to enclose and protect water containing devices, featuring a drain hole for water management and compatible mounting options to ensure code compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a floor-mounted drain pan is used for wall-mounted water heaters, then drainage function is provided, but the drain pan is incompatible and does not satisfy plumbing codes
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adapting floor-mounted drain pans to work with wall-mounted equipment, the patent inverts the approach by designing a drain pan specifically configured for wall-mounted installation. The drain pan is mounted to the wall behind or beside the water heater, with a basin that extends forward to catch leaks, rather than placing a floor pan in front of the equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from floor-level drainage (horizontal plane) to wall-level drainage (vertical plane). The drain pan is positioned in a different spatial dimension - mounted on the wall rather than the floor - allowing it to effectively intercept leaks from wall-mounted equipment while maintaining code compliance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If no drain pan is installed to maintain simplicity, then installation is easier, but water damage protection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drainage function from a complex floor-mounted pan system and creates a simplified wall-mounted solution. The drain pan is designed as a standalone component that attaches to the wall, separating the drainage function from the equipment mounting and eliminating the need for complex floor modifications or multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain pan utilizes a shallow basin design with a drain hole, creating a simple protective barrier that can be easily installed. The pan acts as a flexible containment structure that redirects water flow without requiring complex mechanical systems or extensive installation procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a drain pan is installed to protect against water damage, then safety is improved, but floor space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the drain pan from the floor plane to the wall plane, utilizing vertical space instead of horizontal space. This dimensional transition allows the drainage protection function to be achieved without occupying valuable floor area, as the pan is mounted on the wall behind or adjacent to the water heater.
Data Source
AI summary
A drain pan and drainage system is herein disclosed. The drain pan includes a basin with a wall mount connected to the basin. A drain hole is formed in a bottom surface of the basin. The drain pan also includes at least one side panel connecting the basin and the wall mount. The drainage system includes a wall, drain pan and water containing device. The water containing device is mounted to the drain pan and both are mounted to the wall. The water containing device and drain pan are mounted in such a way that the water containing device is at least partially enclosed by the drain pan.