Wall mountable sanitary plumbing device with integral valve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wall-mountable sanitary line connection devices lack flexibility, compact design, and complexity in manufacturing, and are not well-suited for modern sanitary systems and smart home applications with water sockets.

Innovation Solution

A wall-mountable sanitary line connection device featuring a base body with a receiving sleeve and an electrically controllable valve cartridge that can be axially inserted and fixed using a bayonet connection unit, allowing for remote control of water flow and easy replacement or cleaning of the valve cartridge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional wall-mountable sanitary pipe connection device is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the device lacks flexibility and cannot be easily adapted for smart home applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in applicationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve is divided into a separate valve cartridge that can be independently inserted into and removed from the base body. This segmentation allows the valve to be upgraded or replaced without replacing the entire pipe connection device, thereby increasing adaptability while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base body with receiving sleeve is designed to accommodate different valve cartridges, enabling the same base structure to work with various valve types (electrically actuated, manual, different valve types). This universality provides flexibility for different applications including smart home systems while keeping the base design relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If an electrically actuated valve is integrated into the pipe connection device, then remote control of water flow is enabled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote control capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrically actuated valve is contained within a separate cartridge that can be independently handled. This segmentation isolates the complex electrical components from the base structure, allowing automation functionality to be added or upgraded without redesigning the entire device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The valve cartridge acts as an intermediary component between the base body and the electrical control system. It provides a standardized interface that simplifies integration of electrical actuation while containing the complexity within the removable cartridge rather than the permanent base structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of repair

If the valve cartridge can be easily removed and replaced, then maintenance becomes easier, but the mechanical connection strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between valve cartridge and base body is designed to be dynamically changeable - securely locked during operation to maintain mechanical strength, but easily releasable for maintenance. The bayonet connection provides this dynamic characteristic through its locking and unlocking positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing unit combines multiple functions into a single integrated mechanism: mechanical support, fluid-tight sealing, electrical connection, and secure locking. This merging ensures that ease of removal does not compromise any individual function, as all are addressed by the unified bayonet connection design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If a fixing unit is used to secure the valve cartridge in the receiving sleeve, then mechanical strength is ensured, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing unit merges multiple critical functions into a single integrated component: mechanical support for the valve cartridge, fluid-tight sealing between cartridge and base body, electrical connection pathways, and secure locking mechanism. This consolidation provides full mechanical strength while minimizing the number of separate parts and assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bayonet connection design provides multi-functionality: it secures the valve cartridge mechanically, maintains fluid tightness, enables electrical connections, and allows for easy removal and reinstallation. This universal fixing mechanism addresses multiple requirements simultaneously without adding proportional complexity for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3705636B1Wall mountable sanitary plumbing device with integral valve
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 HANS GROHE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3705636B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3705636B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3705636B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A wall-mountable sanitary pipe connection device with a wall-mountable base body and a valve that can be fixed to the base body. The sanitary pipe connection device according to the invention comprises a wall-mountable base body (1) having a receiving sleeve (2) and a water inlet channel (3) which opens circumferentially into the receiving sleeve with an inlet channel outlet (7), an electrically actuated valve (4) with a cylindrical valve cartridge (5) that can be inserted axially into the receiving sleeve, in which a valve unit is located and which has an electrical valve connection unit (11) on a first end face (10) and a pipe connection coupling (13) on a second end face (12) and includes a circumferential valve inlet opening (8) that can be coupled fluid-tight to the inlet channel outlet, and a fixing unit for fixing the valve cartridge in the receiving sleeve.