Water Application Device with Freezing Protection Compensators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Watering equipment is prone to damage from freezing temperatures due to residual water expanding within its components, particularly in areas where water can collect, leading to potential damage or ruin of the device.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating compensators made of flexible or elastic materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers with enclosed gas volumes, into critical areas of the water application device to accommodate volumetric expansion of freezing water without causing permanent deformation, thus protecting internal components from damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water application equipment is left pre-configured and deployed for convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but the equipment becomes vulnerable to freezing damage from residual water expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates compressible compensators in advance within critical areas of the water application device. These compensators are pre-positioned to cushion against volumetric expansion of freezing water, protecting internal components from damage before freezing occurs. This allows the equipment to remain deployed and pre-configured while gaining protection against freezing damage.
2Reliability
If compensators are added to protect critical areas from freezing expansion, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible, compressible compensators that can be integrated into the existing device structure. These compensators are made of elastomeric materials that can be molded to fit within critical areas, providing protection without requiring complex mechanical assemblies or additional rigid components.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensators function by utilizing the compressibility of elastomeric materials to accommodate volumetric expansion of freezing water. This pneumatic-like compression mechanism provides protection without requiring complex hydraulic systems or additional moving parts, maintaining relative simplicity while improving reliability.
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 compensators effectively absorb and compensate for the expansion of freezing water, preventing damage to the device and ensuring its durability and functionality even in freezing conditions.
Implementation Method 1
residual water left in the equipment could expand with the freezing and damage the equipment
Implementation Method 2
the compensator(s) may be compressed to compensate for the volumetric expansion of the freezing water
Implementation Method 3
compensators made of flexible or elastic materials, such as thermoplastic elastomers with enclosed gas volumes
Data Source
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AI summary
A water application device (10, 100) may include a main body (20, 110) graspable along a handle portion (22, 119) thereof by an operator, an operable member (30, 140), and a flow channel. The main body (20, 110) may house a flow control assembly (50) configured to enable the device to execute a control function relative to flow of water through the device. The operable member (30, 140) may be operably coupled to the main body to interface with the flow control assembly (50) to alternately provide flow and stop flow through the device. The flow channel may be formed inside the main body to define a flow path between an inlet portion (26, 114) and an outlet portion (24, 112) of the device. The flow channel may define a plurality of critical areas in which water is enabled to collect when the water application device is not applying water. At least a first compensator (302) may be provided in a first critical area and at least a second compensator (302, 304, 308) may be provided in a second critical area. The first and second compensators (302, 304, 306, 308) may include compressible material configured to enable the first and second compensators to be compressed within the first and second critical areas, respectively, to increase an effective volume of the first critical area and the second critical area.