Water Connector With Sensor And Tundish Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plumbing systems face challenges in connecting pressure and temperature relief valves to waste pipes without risk of back contamination or odor ingress, particularly in unvented hot water storage systems, where discharge visibility is crucial but often not guaranteed, leading to potential leaks and damage.
Innovation Solution
A connector with an open-sided tundish design featuring a sensor to detect water presence and output alerts, combined with a non-return valve that opens at a pre-selected pressure, ensuring visible discharge and preventing backflow while monitoring for leaks or temperature anomalies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tundish with air gap is used to prevent back contamination, then backflow prevention is improved, but discharge visibility is reduced making leaks undetected
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor is installed in the tundish to detect water discharge and generate an alert signal when leakage is detected. This feedback mechanism informs users of discharge events that would otherwise be invisible, resolving the contradiction between maintaining backflow prevention through the closed tundish design and providing visibility of discharge through electronic notification.
2Reliability
If regulations require tundish with visible discharge point and air gap, then backflow prevention is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector integrates multiple functions into a single unit: the tundish body provides both the air gap for backflow prevention and houses the sensor for discharge detection. The sensor, alert mechanism, and tundish structure are combined into one integrated assembly, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying installation while maintaining regulatory compliance.
3Reliability
If discharge occurs at high temperature close to boiling, then pressure relief function is improved, but damage to downstream pipework increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tundish acts as a buffer chamber that receives and cools the high-temperature discharge water before it enters the waste pipe system. This pre-cooling function protects downstream pipework from thermal damage while maintaining the pressure relief capability of the system.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a water trap is used to prevent odour escape, then odour prevention is improved, but the trap becomes ineffective through drying out and is bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical water trap system with an alternative odour prevention mechanism that does not rely on water sealing. This eliminates the problems of drying out and bulkiness while maintaining odour prevention effectiveness.
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 ensures visible and monitored discharge, preventing back contamination and potential leaks, reducing the risk of damage and hazardous conditions, while providing alerts for timely maintenance, thus enhancing safety and system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor mounted inside the connector body between the inlet and outlet for detecting the presence of water within the connector body, the sensor being configured to output a detection signal in response to sensing water in the connector body
Implementation Method 2
an open air gap between the inlet and outlet through which water can fall in use
Implementation Method 3
a non-return valve that opens at a pre-selected pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a connector (100) for a water system. The connector comprises an inlet connector (105), a connector body and an outlet connector (120) arranged in sequence. The connector body is open-sided so as to form a tundish having an open air gap between the inlet and outlet connectors (105, 120), through which water can fall in use. The connector (100) further comprises a sensor for detecting the presence of water within the connector body.