AU757020B2 - Drainage support - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Koctner uQO? Rodee icle ike AT-r- NPERSE\~r\r~ l Name of Applicant: 4* 0* Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: LAWRIE ANDERSON CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

DRAINAGE SUPPORT Details of Associated Provisional Application: No. PQ1165 filed 23 June 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to drainage supports which are particularly suitable for hot water systems such as domestic and commercial hot water cylinders. The invention will be described in this later context however wider applications will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee and it is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiment but has much broader ramifications.

:Current Australian Building Regulations require domestic and commercial hot water cylinders which are installed inside a building, to be placed on a tray and eoee to be connected to a waste drain. The purpose of the 15 tray is to catch water due to leakage should the cylinder rupture, or to catch water due to operation of the *expansion valve.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART 20 Commonly used trays are typically manufactured S. from galvanised sheet metal with a square profile and upturned edges. A metal outlet is fitted on site to suit :the waste pipe supplied. Prior to installing a hot water cylinder on the tray, a support is located on the tray.

In practice, this can be anything from a few broken pieces of cement sheeting to a custom-made support moulded from plastics material.

Such arrangements have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, because metal trays sweat between the floor and the underside of the trays, accelerated corrosion can occur. Secondly, because the trays sit flat on the floor or support base, they do not drain effectively, also leading to accelerated corrosion.

Thirdly, the outlet drain provided in the side wall of the tray is typically spaced slightly above the base wall of the tray, which once again gives rise to corrosion.

These corrosion accelerating influences require the trays to be replaced from time to time and this is not only expensive but disruptive to supply.

Other disadvantages of these types of arrangements include the leaking of the outlets. This is because they are not an integral part of the system but have to be fitted on site and perfect joints are not therefore guaranteed. Furthermore, if the outlets are siliconed in position, degradation of the silicone due to environmental consequences, or even eating by some species of ants or termites, can occur.

Aesthetic considerations are also absent in known arrangements. The fitting of square trays is 15 unsightly due to a lack of design. Further, because they are manufactured from light weight metal which bends and distorts when the hot water cylinder is placed on them, they have an added dimension of unsightliness. The location of the outlet drain on the outside of the side 20 wall of the tray, which takes up unnecessary room, can also look untidy. Because the outlet protrudes, there is a possibility of it being knocked, causing it to leak, and thereby negating the effectiveness of the tray.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a drainage support which obviates or at least minimises the aforementioned disadvantages, or at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a drainage support for a hot water cylinder, said drainage support comprising a moulded receptacle having an integrally formed base and side wall, wherein a plurality of support elements project from the base to define a plane of support for a hot water cylinder, said receptacle including a sloping floor located between the plane of support and the base which functions to direct any water falling thereon to an outer perimeter of the receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The drainage support is suitably manufactured by injection moulding of a high density plastics material such as high density polypropylene, polyethylene, or suitable co-polymers which can include UV stabilisers, colorants, extenders and other conventional additives which are typically incorporated in moulded plastics products.

Preferably, the receptacle has a truncated cylindrical configuration and has a diameter which is slightly greater than the diameter of the hot water cylinder it is designed to support.

The support elements can assume a variety of 20 shapes and configurations. The only requirement is that they provide sufficient support for the particular size hot water cylinder they are required to support, under full load capacity. One preferred form of support elements comprise a plurality of longitudinal extending parallel ribs of substantially rectangular configuration.

Ideally, such ribs run in the same direction as the sloping floor of the receptacle but do not touch the side walls of the receptacle so that condensate water flow is channeled to the outer perimeter of the receptacle and then to an outlet. Cross-bracing between adjacent ribs can be provided to give additional support to the ribs if need be. Preferably, such cross-bracing will be in the form of transverse members on the undersides of the ribs in a manner which does not impede the flow of condensate water.

The region in the outer perimeter of the receptacle to which water is drained suitably includes an outlet drain. The outlet drain is preferably integrally moulded with the receptacle to ensure the integrity of the unit and thereby obviate any possibility of leakage at that point. Preferably, the outlet drain incorporates a circular cross-section conduit which opens to the lowest point of the sloping floor in the receptacle. A threaded riser can also suitably be located on the top side of the conduit to enable connection to an expansion relief valve pipe which extends down the side of the hot water cylinder. The conduit can include an integral flow directional tube which ensures that any flow of hot water from the expansion relief valve pipe is directed down the drain, thereby eliminating the possibility of "splash back" which could cause severe burning. At present, in 15 order to minimise "splash back", the hot water system installer is required to extend the expansion pipe into the drain but there is no anchoring system to guarantee that the pipe stays there.

The drainage support according to the present invention provides the following advantages over existing arrangements: It is an integrally moulded unit not subject to corrosion or leakage.

It can be dimensioned to conform with the cross-sectional profile of the hot water cylinder (which is normally cylindrical).

It is self draining due to the inbuilt sloping floor.

The integrally moulded outlet can accept standard off-the-shelf fittings.

The outlet enables semi-concealed corner installation.

It is rigid and will not deform when a hot water cylinder is placed on it.

The outlet fits within the square of the round base making a neat installation.

The outlet fits within the square of the circular configuration thus saving room.

The expansion pipe can be fitted direct to the outlet giving a quicker, neater and safer S. installation.

It exceeds Australian Standards 3500-4 and the ***Australian Building Regulations for hot water installations (11) It is quick and safe to install.

1iBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a hot water cylinder supported on a drainage support according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the drainage support shown in Figure i, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the drainage support shown in Figures 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in all of which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a typical cylindrical hot water cylinder is shown at 10 and a drainage support according to the invention is shown at 11. The hot water cylinder includes an inlet 12 for mains water, an outlet 13 for hot water, and a relief valve 14.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 simultaneously, the drainage support 11 comprises a truncated cylindrical walled receptacle 15 having an integrally formed planar base 16 moulded from high density polypropylene with UV stabilisers. A plurality of integrally formed rectangular ribs 17, extend upwardly from the base 16 in parallel alignment with one another. A space separates 15 the ends of the ribs 17 from the cylindrical wall of the receptacle. Ventilation slots 18 are formed between the .ribs 17 to enable any condensation which collects on the bottom of the hot water cylinder 10 to be carried away by the ambient air flow. Bracing 19, in the form of 20 integrally moulded ridges, extends between the ribs to provide added strength to the drainage support.

A floor 19a slopes downwardly to an outlet which incorporates a 50 mm male PVC conduit 21 surrounding an opening in the side wall of the receptacle. A 10 mm threaded riser extends from the top of the conduit 21 to enable connection to an expansion relief valve pipe 23 fitted to the relief valve 14 as illustrated in Figure 1.

In use, the drainage support 11 fully supports the hot water cylinder 10 without distortion and in an aesthetic manner. The drainage support 11 is very easy to install and the connection to the relief valve 14 ensures that no hot water is splashed about when the relief valve is operated. Any water that escapes from the cylinder is immediately dispersed down the sloping wall to the outlet 20 and all condensation is removed due 8 to the venting between the support ribs 17, by the ambient air.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications are variations may be made thereto by persons killed in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

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Claims (11)

1. A drainage support for a hot water cylinder, said drainage support comprising a moulded receptacle having an integrally formed base and side wall, wherein a plurality of support elements project from the base to define a plane of support for a hot water cylinder, said receptacle including a sloping floor located between the plane of support and the base which functions to direct any water falling thereon to an outer perimeter of the receptacle.

2. A drainage support as claimed in claim 1 and including an outlet drain in the outer perimeter of the receptacle by way of which water is drained from the receptacle.

3. A drainage support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the receptacle has a cylindrical configuration and a diameter which is slightly greater 20 than the diameter of the hot water cylinder it is S.required to support.

4. A drainage support as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, wherein the support elements comprise a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs of substantially rectangular configuration.

A drainage support as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ribs are arranged parallel to one another and extend in the same direction as the sloping floor of the receptacle.

6. A drainage support as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 and wherein cross-braces are provided between adjacent ribs to provide additional rigidity thereto.

7. A drainage support as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cross-braces comprise transverse members on the undersides of the ribs.

8. A drainage support as claimed in claim 2, or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the outlet drain incorporates a circular cross-section conduit which opens to the lowest point of the sloping floor of the receptacle.

9. A drainage support as claimed in claim 8, wherein the conduit includes a threaded riser on the top side of the conduit to enable connection to an expansion relief valve pipe extending down the side of the hot *.**.water cylinder. 15

10. A drainage support as claimed in claim 9, wherein the conduit includes an integral flow directional *tube which directs the flow of hot water from the S. expansion relief valve pipe through the outlet drain in such a manner as to prevent "splash back".

11. A drainage support substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. go DATED this 23rd day of June 2000 LAWRIE ANDERSON By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.