Water Fixture Sensor Carrier Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of non-contact water fittings with presence sensors is complex and error-prone, often resulting in sensor damage due to protruding casting residues or sharp-edged parts, which affects both appearance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact water fitting design featuring a sensor carrier with two parts connected via a longitudinal guide, allowing the bearing and support parts to move relative to each other, with a latching element securing them in place, and a guide web preventing sensor scratches during assembly, enabling simplified and precise sensor placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the sensor is inserted through the opening into the interior of the water fitting, then the presence sensor can be positioned in the sensor opening, but the assembly becomes complex and prone to errors with risk of sensor damage
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor carrier is divided into two separate parts: a bearing part that holds the presence sensor and a support part that provides structural support. This segmentation allows the bearing part to be inserted first with the sensor already positioned, eliminating the risk of sensor damage during assembly, while the support part is added separately to complete the mounting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The presence sensor is pre-mounted on the bearing part before insertion into the water fitting. This preliminary action ensures the sensor is already in its correct position and protected from damage during the insertion process, avoiding the need for complex in-situ positioning procedures.
2Ease of operation
If the sensor is moved across the interior wall during assembly, then the sensor can be positioned in the sensor opening, but the sensor can be scratched by protruding casting residue or sharp edges
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the sensor-holding bearing part from the structural support part, the sensor remains protected on the bearing part during insertion. The bearing part can be designed with protective features while the support part handles the structural requirements, preventing sensor contact with harmful interior surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing part acts as an intermediary carrier that protects the presence sensor during the insertion process. It provides a controlled interface between the sensor and the potentially harmful interior environment of the water fitting, allowing the sensor to be positioned without direct contact with sharp edges or casting residues.
3Ease of manufacture
If a sensor carrier with two parts connected via longitudinal guide is used, then the assembly process is simplified and sensor damage risk is reduced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor carrier is segmented into a bearing part and a support part connected by a longitudinal guide, allowing independent assembly of each component. This segmentation simplifies the overall assembly process while the guide ensures proper alignment, balancing structural complexity with manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal guide allows the bearing part and support part to move relative to each other during assembly, providing dynamic adjustment capability. This enables easy insertion and positioning while maintaining a secure final assembly, reducing assembly complexity despite the two-part structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A touchless controlled water fitting (1) comprises a fitting body (2) with a wall (3) that defines an interior space (4), wherein the wall (3) has a base opening (5), a sensor opening (6) and an outlet opening (7), and a presence sensor (8) which is fixedly mounted on a sensor carrier (9), wherein at least one bearing surface (10) for mounting the sensor carrier (9) is provided in said interior space (4). The sensor carrier (9) is formed in two parts, with a bearing part (11) to which the presence sensor (8) is attached, and a support part (12), wherein the bearing part (11) and the support part (12) are connected to each other via a longitudinal guide (13) and are movable from a mounting position relative to each other along the longitudinal guide (13) to an installation position.