Washer Drain Vent With Flap Valve to Stop Siphon Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing appliance drain systems are complex, bulky, unreliable, and expensive due to their multi-piece assembly, which can lead to siphon-induced emptying during normal wash cycles when negative pressure occurs in the sewage system.
Innovation Solution
A drain system with a valved vent featuring an integrated flap valve within a T-fitting, where pipes from the drain pump, wall-mounted mouth, and vent meet, secured by a rubber overmolding for a compact and reliable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a multi-piece assembly with separate container, float valve, and pipes is used, then the drain system can perform venting and water leakage prevention functions, but the structure becomes complex, bulky, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the vent pipe, T-fitting, and flap valve into a single unified component. The vent pipe is directly formed as part of the T-fitting structure, and the flap valve is integrated into the T-fitting assembly, eliminating the need for separate containers and multiple discrete parts. This merging reduces structural complexity while maintaining the dual functions of venting and water leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-fitting serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a pipe connector, a structural support, a vent channel, and a mounting base for the flap valve. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require separate components into a single universal element, reducing both complexity and cost.
2Reliability
If a multi-piece assembly with separate container and float valve is used, then the drain system can prevent water leakage, but the space requirement and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flap valve is integrated directly into the T-fitting structure rather than being housed in a separate container. The valve seat is formed as part of the T-fitting, and the valve body is positioned within the same assembly, significantly reducing the overall volume required for the drain system while maintaining water leakage prevention capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If separate pieces are assembled together, then the drain system can be manufactured, but assembly complexity and potential reliability issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the vent pipe, T-fitting, and flap valve into a single molded component, the patent eliminates multiple assembly steps and potential assembly errors. The integrated design ensures proper alignment and sealing without requiring precision assembly of multiple separate parts, thereby improving reliability while simplifying manufacturing to a single molding process.
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 solution simplifies the structure, reduces space and cost, and prevents water leakage during the drain phase while allowing air entry to cancel siphon effects, ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
in case a negative pressure occurs in the pipings of the sewage plant the washer may be emptied by siphon effect
Implementation Method 2
provided with a valve that is closed during the drain phase to prevent water leakages
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A washer including a substantially T-shaped fitting (1) comprising a first pipe (2) coming from a drain pump, a second pipe (3) that goes to the wall-mounted drain mouth and a third pipe (4) that acts as a vent and at the opposite end is connected to the detergent drawer through a connector (5), a flap valve (6) being fitted in a scat formed in the arm of the fitting (1) to which the third pipe (4) is connected and the assembly being then overmolded with a rubber cover (7) that covers substantially the whole T-shaped fitting (1).