1. Taking the “P” Out of Splash-Back
Re-Inventing Public Sanitation Solutions
Sam Rabb, Jim McLaughlin
ENGN1000- Brown University
Proposal Presentation
February 17, 2011

2. The Problem
Existing surfaces of male restroom fixtures do not achieve desired level of sanitation

3. Background: “Virtually No Splash” Solutions- Part 1
Pros
Inexpensive
Cons
NOT effective
Not efficient
Basically, this assurance by urinal producers only kills their credibility. There was not a single product that did not promise to be “virtually splash free”

4. Background: “Virtually No Splash” Solutions- Part 2
Pros
Simple and inexpensive
Cons
User reliant
Not very effective
“The Bee”- While this is a simple solution to a major issue, it is not very effective and relies on the user’s ability to aim. If you’ve ever known anyone who refuses to put the seat up, you know that relying on user aim is not an effective tactic. Furthermore, it is not cost effective for these to be implemented: purchase essentially the exact same product with a marginal improvement to improve what you already have? I think not.

5. Background: Waterless “Clean/Green” Solution
Pros
Green
Cons
Clean?
Expensive
While this solution is innovative , it does not really address the major problems at hand. The concept is a chemical seal (specific gravity lower than water so waste is sealed underneath) to reduce odor and some sort of coating on the basin to maintain sanitation. It promises to be virtually maintenance free and “reduce splash considerably”, but reviews of the product are generally negative.

6. Background: Anti-Splash Backguard
Pros
Inexpensive
Easily integrated
Cons
Hard to clean
Replaced often
Costs add up
While this solution is an excellent concept in some ways, in the long-term it just doesn’t make sense. It is hard to clean, it must be replaced several times a year, and (having seen them before) they don’t work very well. Also, over a relatively short period of time, purchasing this product means paying the value of the whole urinal over and over. HOWEVER, the concept and geometry of this product could be studied to help develop our own product.

7. Our Proposed Solution
A stand-alone urinal that eliminates splash-back via improved geometry and materials

8. Engineering Theory Understand and model fluid impact and flow
Understand and utilize fluid interaction with various materials

9. Engineering Technology
Stators/Vanes
Materials

10. Engineering Design Splash must be eliminated
Ergonomics must be maintained
Maintenance requirements/Water usage must be optimized over each iteration