Purified Water Tank Buffer Structure for Sloshing Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional water purifiers face issues with residual water discharge due to sloshing caused by pressure changes in the gas layer, leading to increased size and complexity, and the need for multiple valves.

Innovation Solution

A water purifier design with a discharge buffer part and a gasket to reduce sloshing, minimizing the number of valves and using an inlet valve to control the discharge flow, eliminating the need for an additional outlet valve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If an outlet valve is removed to reduce the number of valves, then the size and cost of the water purifier are reduced, but residual water is arbitrarily discharged due to sloshing caused by pressure changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of valvesVSAvoidcontrol over residual water discharge

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A one-way valve is introduced as an intermediary component in the discharge pipe to control the flow direction of purified water. This allows the system to maintain reliable control over residual water discharge without requiring a complex outlet valve, thus resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and operational reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The discharge buffer part is designed to automatically prevent sloshing of purified water through its structural configuration, eliminating the need for additional active control mechanisms. The buffer part self-regulates the water flow stability, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable discharge control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Speed

If the inlet valve is opened and closed rapidly, then the response time of the water purifier is improved, but vibration occurs due to pressure changes in the gas layer causing sloshing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse time of valve operationVSAvoidvibration and sloshing

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge buffer part is designed with sufficient volume to accommodate and dampen pressure fluctuations and water sloshing before they can propagate to the discharge pipe. This beforehand cushioning effect prevents vibration and harmful sloshing even when the inlet valve operates rapidly, maintaining both fast response time and operational stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The discharge buffer part acts as an intermediary between the tank and the discharge pipe, absorbing and dampening vibrations and pressure fluctuations. This intermediary structure prevents the transmission of harmful vibrations to the discharge system while allowing rapid valve operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the discharge buffer part volume is increased to reduce sloshing, then the stability of water flow is improved, but the size of the water purifier increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of water flowVSAvoidvolume of discharge buffer part

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The optimal volume of the discharge buffer part is determined by analyzing the relationship between buffer volume and sloshing reduction effectiveness. By optimizing this parameter, the system achieves sufficient flow stability with the minimum necessary buffer volume, avoiding excessive size increase while maintaining stable water flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The discharge buffer part is positioned specifically at the discharge end of the tank where sloshing most affects discharge flow. By concentrating the buffering function in this critical local area rather than distributing it throughout the entire system, the design achieves effective sloshing reduction with minimal additional volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Prevents residual water discharge and reduces the purifier's size and manufacturing costs by simplifying the internal configuration.

Implementation Method 1

a gasket extending from the insertion portion to an inner peripheral surface of the discharge buffer part to reduce sloshing of the purified water in the discharge buffer part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS12454451B2Water purification tank and water purifier comprising same

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 COWAY CO LTD

AI summary

A water purifier that purifies water to provide purified water may include: a purified water tank accommodating the purified water; and a discharge port discharging the purified water to an outside of the water purifier. The purified water tank may include: a tank main body that provides an accommodation space for accommodating the purified water; a discharge buffer part having an inlet which communicates with the accommodation space so that the purified water in the accommodation space flows in the discharge buffer part, the discharge buffer part extending in an up-down direction; an outlet tube including an insertion portion extending downward in the discharge buffer part to discharge the purified water to the discharge port through a discharge flow path; and a gasket extending from the insertion portion to an inner peripheral surface of the discharge buffer part to reduce sloshing of the purified water in the discharge buffer part.