EP3688239B1

EP3688239B1 - Plumbing trap

Info

Publication number: EP3688239B1
Application number: EP18795712.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: James Edward Mcalpine; Robert Gemmell MCALPINE; Christopher Mckendrick
Original assignee: McAlpine and Co Ltd
Current assignee: McAlpine and Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-09-29
Filing date: 2018-09-28
Publication date: 2023-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-28
Also published as: GB2566981A; ES2957295T3; PL3688239T3; EP3688239C0; GB201715837D0; EP3688239A1; WO2019064015A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compact plumbing trap, in particular a trap suitable for use with a shower, where space below the shower tray is height restricted.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A trap is attached to a waste or drainage outlet of a plumbing installation, for example a shower, bath, sink and the like as part of the waste water drainage system, but primarily the traps function is to create a water seal that prevents backflow of waste water, odours and gases being back-fed from the downstream waste pipe system into the room in which the plumbing installation is located.
Traps of many shapes and forms are available, for example the conventional P-trap, which comprises a U-shaped length of pipe which facilitates drainage from the plumbing installation and contains a portion of water at least in the bottom portion of the U-shape to create a water seal. A bottle trap is another example where an outlet from the plumbing installation is connected to a pipe within a surrounding container to create a water seal.
Every time the plumbing installation, for example the shower is used, water is flushed through the trap and fresh water replaces the water in the bottom of the U or in the bottom of the container to maintain a water seal. Unfortunately, solids, for example hair conditioner, detergents, hair etc begin to stick to the inner surfaces of the trap over time. This can result in the trap becoming clogged or blocked which affects the flow rate of water passing through the drain. In the event of clogging or blockage such traps are typically difficult or impossible to clean due to the configuration of the trap. As such, instead of cleaning it is common to replace such traps.
It is more common for shower traps to become clogged and blocked because of restricted size of the trap and the volume of solid materials attempting to pass through the drain. Attempts to remove a trap for cleaning from a built-in shower can be almost impossible.
EP2 426 283 describes a siphon product which includes a housing having a primary chamber and a secondary chamber, wherein the housing has a receiving opening that is configured to connect with respect to a drain-piece of a drainage channel, and a receiving opening that is configured to connect to a drain opening of a shower tray.
US 3 651 826 describes a floor drain trap, which includes an inlet drainpipe section having its lower end spaced above the bottom of the housing. Flow passes downwardly into the trap through the drainpipe section then upwardly about the outer surface of the inlet drainpipe section and over the lower edge of an opening in the housing into the connection to the horizontal drainpipe.
GB 2 298 661 describes a water trap, which includes a first chamber into which an inlet tube extends downwardly from a waste water outlet, an outlet port from the first chamber communicating with a second chamber, said outlet port being disposed at or adjacent to the upper end of the body, and an outlet in the second chamber to which an outlet pipe is connectible, wherein the outlet is disposed at a lower level than the outlet port.
WO2010/100556 describes a water drain siphon device made from a plastic hollow body that is defined by a flattened tube element which is wavy along its longitudinal axis, where the body includes two water seals in series along the axis. Each water seal is defined between a lower partition and an upper partition opposed and axially staggered to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a plumbing trap as defined in claim 1.
The inlet may be eccentrically placed relative to the body.
The first compartment and second compartment each define a volumetric capacity, wherein the volumetric capacity of the first compartment may be substantially double the volumetric capacity of the second compartment; and wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are of substantially constant depth.
The depth of the second compartment may correspond substantially with the outlet diameter.
The inlet may be arranged substantially concentric with the first compartment.
A second end of the seal tube may further comprise a drain cover support member, wherein the drain cover support member provides a support structure comprising voids to allow waste water to drain, wherein the support structure is configured to receive and retain a drain cover over the inlet.
The drain cover support member may comprise one or more projections operable to contact with the flange when the seal tube is inserted through the inlet.
The support structure may comprise three or more radially extending legs and drainage voids defined between the legs.
The trap may further comprise a lid attached to the body, wherein the inlet is provided through the lid.
The lid and body may be permanently bonded.
The lid and body may be bonded by spin welding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A shows a schematic illustration of an assembled trap according to the present invention;
Figure 1B shows a schematic illustration of an exploded view representing top-down assembly of the trap of Figure 1A;
Figure 2A and 2B show schematic illustrations of cross-sectional views of the trap of Figure 1A; and
Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration of the trap of Figure 1A viewed from above.

DESCRIPTION

Figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B and 3 illustrate an example of a compact plumbing trap 10. The illustrated example is suitable for attachment to an outlet from a shower tray (not illustrated), which is an example of drainage installation, below which space is limited.
The plumbing trap 10 includes a body 12 defining two internal chambers 14, 16, an inlet port 18 and an outlet port 20. In the illustrated example, the inlet port 18 is located on top of the body 12 for connection vertically to an outlet from a plumbing installation, for example a shower tray (not illustrated).
The outlet port 20 is oriented horizontally and extends from the side of the body 12 and is arranged to be in fluid communication with the outlet from the plumbing installation via the inlet port 18 and the chambers 14, 16.
In the illustrated example, the inlet port 18 is provided through a lid 22, which is attached to the body 12 by spin welding. Spin welding is a friction welding technique where one-part spins relative to the other part, which is stationary. The heat of friction between the parts reaches a sufficient level for the parts to weld. Typically, the welded parts spin as a unit while pressure is applied along rotational axis to ensure the parts stay connected while the welded section cools to ensure a sound connection between the two parts.
A seal member 24 is located adjacent the inlet port 18, as part of the lid 22. The seal member 24 is operable to create a seal between the underside of a shower tray (not illustrated) and the area of the lid 22 around the inlet port 18 when the plumbing trap 10 is installed, as discussed further below.
Figure 1B shows an exploded view of the plumbing trap 10. A gasket seal 26 and a flange 28 act to seal and secure the plumbing trap 10 relative to an outlet from the plumbing installation (not illustrated).
The plumbing trap 10 also includes a seal tube 30, which is inserted into the inlet port 18 to create a water seal 32 (see figure 2A). The seal tube 30 is configured to maintain a gap 31 between the seal tube and the bottom of the internal chamber 14 to allow water to flow through the body 12 and out via the outlet port 20.
The inlet port 18 and the flange 28 include small lugs 34 extending radially inwardly from the perimeter of the hole defining the inlet to the plumbing trap 10. Each of the lugs 34, 35 includes a hole 38, 39 to receive a screw 36, which facilitates tightening of the flange relative to the gasket seal 26 and the body 12. When the screws 36 are tightened against the flange 28 the gasket seal 26 is compressed and the body 12 is pulled upwards towards the underside of the shower tray such that a watertight seal is created around the inlet port 18.
The seal tube 30 includes diametrically opposed recesses 41, which have a profile that corresponds with the shape of the lugs 34, 35. As such the lugs 34, 35 act as guides during insertion and extraction of the seal tube 30.
A drain cover support 40 is integral to the top of the seal tube 30. In the illustrated example, the drain cover support 40 includes four radially extending arms 42, which extend from a central hub 44 to a point beyond the circumference of the seal tube 30. Each arm 42 is dimensioned such that an end portion 46, which extend beyond the circumference of the seal tube 30, rests on the flange 28 The end portions 46 are operable to limit how far the seal tube 30 extends into the body 12. As such, the end portions 46 act as a stop to maintain the gap between the bottom of the seal tube 30 and the bottom inside surface of the body 12.
The lower end of the seal tube 30 includes a stepped profile, which includes two projections 47 which project downwards and contact the bottom inside surface of the body 12 to create a water seal when the trap 10 is in use.
The drain cover support 40 is arranged to receive a drain cover (not illustrated).
In the illustrated example, the outlet port 20 includes a threaded connection 48 which is operable to connect the plumbing trap 10 to downstream pipework (not illustrated) linked to an outside drain or sewer.
A seal 50 and a castellated nut 52 are illustrated as an example of means of attaching the plumbing trap 10 to downstream pipework. It will be appreciated that other connections could be applied to the outlet 20, for example a compression fitting.
As described above, the body 12 includes two internal compartments 14, 16 (see figure 2A and 2B).
In the illustrated example, the ratio of the two compartments 14, 16 is approximately two to one. The larger compartment 14 is in direct fluid communication with the inlet port 18 and the smaller compartment 16 is in direct fluid communication with the outlet port 20.
Referring to figure 3, the inlet assembly 49, including the flange 28, seal tube 30 and drain cover support 40 aligns substantially centrally over the larger compartment 14. As such the inlet port 18 is eccentrically located relative to the outside dimension (circumference) of the body 12 and the lid 22.
In the illustrated example, the inlet port is approximately 52mm (2") diameter. This means that removal of the seal tube 30 and the drain cover support allows full access to the inside of both compartments for ease of cleaning and maintenance. In addition, the screwed fitting of the flange 28 to the inlet port 18 allows easy removal of the flange 28 to allow removal and replacement of the trap 10 using standard tooling, for example a screw driver or Allen key rather than specialist tooling which is becoming commonplace.
Referring to figure 2A, the larger compartment 14 and the smaller compartment 16 are defined by an internal ridge 60. The combination of the ridge and the seal tube 30 creates a water seal to prevent downstream odours flowing from outlet 20 to inlet 18.
Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A plumbing trap (10) comprising:
a body (12) to be connected to an underside of a plumbing installation and aligned with an outlet from the plumbing installation, wherein the body (12) includes:
an inlet (18);

an outlet (20);

a first internal compartment (14); and

a second internal compartment (16);

wherein the first compartment (14) is in direct fluid communication with the inlet (18) and the second compartment (16) is in direct fluid communication with the outlet (20);

wherein the first internal compartment (14) is wider than the second compartment (16);

wherein the first compartment (14) and second compartment (16) are disposed side by side and both are visible and accessible via the inlet (18) and wherein an internal ridge (60) divides the first compartment (16) from the second compartment (18);

a seal tube (30) insertable into the body (12) via the inlet (18), wherein in use, a gap (31) is created between a first end of the inserted seal tube (30) and an inside bottom surface of the first compartment (14); wherein the combination of the inserted seal tube (30) and the internal ridge (60), in use, create a water seal within the first compartment (14), wherein the internal ridge (60) defines a maximum height of a water seal created within the first compartment (14); wherein the gap (31) is provided by a step profile on the first end of the seal tube (30), wherein the step profile comprises one or more projections (47) extending down from the first end, wherein upon insertion of the seal tube (30) into the inlet (18) the one or more projections (47) are configured to contact with the inside bottom surface of the first compartment (14) thereby defining the gap (31) to create the water seal, in use; and

a flange (28) operable to connect the body (12) relative to an outlet of a plumbing installation, wherein the flange (28) is configured for disposal on an upper side of the plumbing installation and a fastener secures the flange (28) to the body (12) such that the plumbing installation is sandwiched between the flange (28) and the body (12), characterized in that

the inlet (18) and flange (28) each comprise at least two inwardly radially extending projections (34, 35) operable to facilitate connection of the trap (10) to a plumbing installation, wherein the radially extending projections (34, 35) each comprise a hole (38, 39) therethrough, wherein the hole (38, 39) facilitates insertion of a fastener (36) operable to secure the flange (28) to the body (12) and to the plumbing installation, wherein the seal tube (30) comprises at least two longitudinal recesses (41) having a profile corresponding to the at least two inwardly radially extending projections (34, 35), wherein the recesses (41) facilitate alignment of the seal tube (30) relative to the inlet (18) and the body (12).
A plumbing trap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet (18) is eccentrically placed relative to the body (12).
A plumbing trap as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first compartment (14) and second compartment (16) each define a volumetric capacity, wherein the volumetric capacity of the first compartment (14) is substantially larger than the volumetric capacity of the second compartment (16); and wherein the first compartment (14) and the second compartment (16) are of substantially constant depth.
A plumbing trap as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the volumetric capacity of the first compartment (14) is substantially double the volumetric capacity of the second compartment (16).
A plumbing trap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the depth of the second compartment (16) corresponds substantially with the outlet diameter.
A plumbing trap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inlet (18) is arranged substantially concentric with the first compartment (14).
A plumbing trap as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a drain cover support member (40), wherein the drain cover support member (40) provides a support structure comprising voids to allow waste water to drain, wherein the support structure is configured to receive and retain a drain cover over the inlet.
A plumbing trap as claimed in claim 7 wherein the drain cover support member (40) is connected to a second end of the seal tube (30).
A plumbing trap as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the drain cover support member (40) comprises one or more projections operable to contact with the flange (28) when the seal tube (30) is inserted through the inlet.
A plumbing trap as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the support structure comprises three or more radially extending legs and voids defined between the legs, wherein the voids facilitate drainage from the plumbing installation to waste.
A plumbing trap as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a lid (22) attached to the body, wherein the inlet is provided through the lid (22).
A plumbing trap as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lid (22) and body (12) are permanently bonded.
A plumbing trap as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lid (22) and body (12) are bonded by spin welding.