Water-saving device for flush toilets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flush toilet systems consume significant amounts of drinking water, particularly when flushing urine, and existing solutions do not provide a simple, effective, and universally applicable method to conserve water without requiring complex installations or maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a guiding part and an inner drain profile with a collection container, which can be easily attached to a toilet bowl to direct urine directly into the drain channel, reducing water usage and preventing odor contamination, suitable for use by both men and women.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional flush toilet systems are used, then toilet flushing function is provided, but significant amounts of drinking water are consumed (up to 40 liters per person per day)
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the toilet usage into two distinct phases: urine collection phase (using the collection container attached to the drain channel) and flushing phase (using the toilet's normal flushing mechanism). This segmentation allows urine to be collected and drained separately without requiring immediate flushing, thereby reducing water consumption while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a collection container as an intermediary element between the urine source and the drain channel. This intermediary container temporarily holds urine and allows it to be drained directly into the drain channel without using flushing water, thus mediating between the need for urine disposal and the goal of water conservation.
2Loss of substance
If collection containers are used to collect urine, then water consumption is reduced, but odor contamination may occur in the surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the odor problem from the collection container by providing a separate drain channel connection that allows urine to be directly drained away from the toilet bowl area. This extraction removes the source of potential odor contamination from the immediate surroundings while maintaining the water-saving benefit of collection container usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of odor contamination into a benefit by designing the drain channel connection to efficiently redirect urine flow away from the toilet bowl. The very feature that enables water-saving (collection container) is paired with a mechanism that prevents its harmful side effect (odor), thereby converting what could be a disadvantage into an advantage through proper drainage design.
3Device complexity
If simple drain channels are used, then device complexity is reduced, but urine may not be efficiently directed into the drain
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the drain channel itself complex to achieve efficient urine direction, the invention inverts the approach by making the collection container and its connection mechanism the focused element. The simple drain channel receives urine efficiently through the properly designed collection container attachment, which provides the necessary directional guidance without complicating the drain channel structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device according to the invention addresses the problem of saving drinking water when using flush toilets in households and in public facilities. The device consists of a hollow profile of the guiding part, into which a hollow inner profile with a collection container is inserted. The device is not a part of the toilet but can be easily connected to it and used at any time. It can be used on both the inside and outside of the toilet, for men, women and children.