WO2008108692A1

WO2008108692A1 - Closed floor outlet and water seal for floor outlet

Info

Publication number: WO2008108692A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/000207
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gert Wilhelm SÖDERSTRÖM
Original assignee: Soederstroem Gert
Priority date: 2007-03-04
Filing date: 2007-03-04
Publication date: 2008-09-12
Also published as: WO2008108706A1; EP2132384A1; KR20090127911A; TW200902805A; EP2132384A4; US20100089838A1; CN101668906A

Abstract

Floor drain with water trap including an upper screen (19, 28) or lip and a lower screen or threshold (32, 36) extending to a higher level than the lower edge of the upper screen, and that the water first flow below the upper screen and thereafter over the lower screen. The inlet part before the upper screen has a small cross-section or volume in relation to the water volume between the upper and the lower screen securing an efficient flushing away of light pollutions.

Description

Closed floor outlet and water seal for floor outlet

The present invention concerns a closed floor outlet or floor drain and a water seal or trap for floor outlets or floor drains of the kind that is used in bathrooms, toilets, kitchens etc.

A problem at floor drains, that is yet to an unsatisfactory degree considered, is the cleanliness in the floor drain itself. If the floor drain is not kept clean the risk is that in the floor drain organic material is accumulated that is decomposed there and smells. Sedimentation may also occur in the floor drain leading to the clogging of this. Clearing and cleaning with chemical means need to be carried out frequently. The possibilities for cleaning are made difficult by the water trap and the accumulation of organic pollutions is furthered by this.

Water traps are used to prevent air and smell from the sewage system from finding their way up into inhabited spaces. In water traps (odor seals) the outflowing water is forced to flow first below a first screen and thereafter over a second screen, the upper edge of which being located higher than the lower edge of the first screen so that remaining water prevents the passage of air.

The two screens or shutters of the water trap also act together to make the clearing of sewage tubes, starting from for instance floor drains, more difficult. In order to solve this problem it is known to arrange with seals provided openings through which a cleaning helix can be pushed in after removal of the seal. These openings are however small and the clearing can be difficult and it may often be very difficult to remove the seals.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved floor drain, that reduce the sedimentation in the floor drain and that thereby remain more clean and hygienic. This object is solved in accordance with claim 1. Since the inlet flow space is small the water will have a fair speed when flowing in, which cause light organic pollutions, that are the problem, to be flushed on below the screen or lip projecting downwards from above, then to rise to the surface in the following dammed up part of the water trap. In said dammed up part that preferably has a larger volume the pace will be lower and the organic lighter material can rise to the surface, then to accompany the water that flow over the second, from below protruding, barrier or threshold and over into the outlet. It can be mentioned that altogether it is desirable with a reserve of water in the floor drain so that the water does not evaporate thereby allowing an upward flow of sewage air. The invention thus result in a floor drain that is hygienic and that has less tendency to become clogged than known floor drains.

In a further development of the inventive concept water is supplied from for instance a bathtub or washstand via a separate tube, the lower end of which extending down into the water. The large flow quantities and speeds at this efficiently flush the water trap clean. A further object of the invention is to considerably facilitate tube clearing at floor drains.

This object is solved in accordance with claim 2.

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention are apparent from the subclaims and the following description of embodiments of the invention. In this connection fig 1 shows a known floor drain, fig 2 a floor drain in accordance with the invention , fig 3 the stationary part of a floor drain, that is mounted or cast integral in the floor, fig 4 and 5 respectively details thereof, fig 6 an insert for the establishing of an outlet barrier in a water trap or trap, fig 7 the insert in fig 6 on its place in a floor drain, fig 8 an upper water trap insert with matching clamping ring, fig 9 the floor drain with inserted water trap parts, figs 10 and 11 the first water trap barrier in more detail and fig 12 - 13 different versions of outlet barriers for the water trap in accordance with the invention.

As is apparent from the drawings the fixed part 1 of the floor drain comprise an upper opening 2 and a circular flange 3 extending radially out from this. Below the opening an inward extending step or shoulder 4 is arranged with a short cylindric wall 5 between the shoulder and the opening. The fixed part 1 of the floor drain tapers with a lower part 6 somewhat down towards a flat bottom 7. Laterally a horizontal tube 8 extends for connection to the sewer system. Above the shoulder, as seen in figures 4 and 5, in the cylindrical wall 5, alternating groves 9 and ridges 10 are arranged.

In fig 5 is shown how a flooring material 11 , for instance in the shape of a plastic mat or some other sealing layer is arranged up on floor drain and the sealing layer has been folded or formed down into the floor drain so that the bottom side will be in contact with said ridges 9. The plastic mat is pressed against the ridges 9 by a clamping ring 12 of rubber, that has been pushed down into the floor drain and that on the inside is supported by a ring 13 of metal or plastic, and that has an L-shaped cross section. The clamping ring 12 is provided with a downwards extending all around going bead 14 that press against a floor drain insert

15 that is pressed against an O-ring arranged in the shoulder. The grid of the floor drain rests on the clamping ring or the support ring of this.

The above described connection to the flooring material 11 guarantees a very good seal. To start with the outer rubber ring of the clamping ring is sealed against the surface of the flooring material and against the floor drain insert 15 lying on the shoulder 4 and thereby preventing water from entering between flooring material and the inside of the floor drain. Furthermore the bead 14 and the pressing of the flooring material against the surrounding ridges 9 secure a sealing that prevents water from entering between floor and flooring material and the floor drain. In other words a two step sealing is achieved. If desired the cylindrical part 5 may be made so that it is inclined slightly inward and upward securing that the clamping ring when mounted is guaranteed to press downward all the time. Alternatively the rubber ring 12 may be shaped with an upper edge that is higher at the outside so that it at movement upward tries to become wider, securing a stable seating and pretension outward and downward.

The support ring comprise on its upper side an horizontal outward directed flange, which serve as a contact part when the clamping ring 12 is pressed down. The clamping ring is after being mounted seated so good that you for its removal at first have to pull up the support ring 13. In fig 10 an insert 15 for the floor drain is shown that comprise an upper funnel like part 16 that in its upper end transcends into flat circular flange 17, intended for instance to be placed below the above mentioned clamping ring 12 with a sealing ring 18 between the flange 17 of the insert 15 and the shoulder 4 (fig 5).

The funnel like part 16 of the insert transcends in the lower end into a vertical tube 19 in which an inner tube 20 is displacably arranged, which is provided with a seat 21 in the upper end and with a ball 22 placed below said seat. The ball and the seat together constitute a non return valve by the ball being filled with air and by the water in the water trap pressing it up against the seat. The ball seat provided tube is displaceable height-wise for adjustment so that the ball can be pressed down into the floor drain by the water in the funnel like part without the water having to stand over the edge of the floor drain but is otherwise kept lifted. The inner tube 20 is in its lower end provide with a flange 23 facing outward and preventing the inner tube from being pushed upward out of the outer tube 19 at excess pressures in the sewer system or in the water trap. The inner tube can however be pulled down, to secure the floating of the ball on the water if for instance supplementary rings have been used to raise the top of the floor drain. In this case, distance elements, in the shape of short tube pieces 24, are placed between the outward flange 23 of the inner tube 20 and the outer tube 19 to prevent a lifting up of the inner tube. The tube pieces advantageously have the same height as the supplementary rings for the floor drain. In a widening 25 inward of the flange 17 with a corresponding recess in the funnel like part a circular grove 26 is arranged and outside of this a downward facing pipe socket

27 is arranged. The material on the inside of the groove can be broken away providing an opening through which, with an intermediate seal, a tube 28 from a washstand, shower, sink or bathtub can be pushed down. This tube is pushed down so that its lower end ends below the water level 29 so that also this connection constitute an upper water trap screen or lip.

The water flows directly down into the floor drain on the outlet side of the non return valve constituted by ball and seat. In this way one does not risk flooding of the floor, when for instance water from a bathtub is released. Furthermore this supply of fast flowing water clean the floor drain efficiently.

In fig 6 a part 30 is shown that constitute outlet threshold in the water trap. This threshold part 30 is intended to be pushed into the outlet tube 8 of the floor drain. The threshold part 30 is essentially tube-shaped with a pair of outer sealing rings 31 or beads if the part is made of rubber or other elastic material. In its towards the inner of the floor drain facing end the tube shape transcends into an ending rounded wall 32 that extends up to an opening 33. Water may thus flow over the edge of the opening 33 and out into the outlet and this part constitute together with the downward extending tube part of the funnel-like part a water trap that retain the water in the floor drain.

In figures 12 and 13 alternative shapes are shown for the threshold part. The version in figure 13 includes a rubber tube 35 provided with sealing flanges and that in its towards the floor drain facing end is semi closed by an end 36 forming the outlet threshold for the water.

By making the threshold part 30 or 35 of rubber it may easily be removed when the outlet from the floor drain has to be cleaned up and the cleaning up is in particular facilitated by the entire cross section of the outlet tube becoming accessible.

By turning the outgoing water trap part the water level in the floor drain may be adjusted if so is required in order to achieve the proper function of the non return valve. In particular the versions shown in figures 12 and 13 provide a large degree of height adjustment. A fair volume of water in the floor drain is desired in order to secure that the water trap does not dry out, to which also the non return valve in the shape of ball and seat contribute since there is no open water surface for the water to evaporate from to the surrounding above the floor drain.

Instead of placing the funnel shaped part with water trap and non return valve below the clamping ring one can consider placing it on top of the clamping ring and held by a second clamping ring. This has the advantage that cleaning can take place without one having to disturb the clamping of the flooring material or the seal therebetween.

In order to enable cleaning without demounting the clamping ring one can consider to arrange a removable rubber closing in the upper water trap part 15 above the opening 33 in the threshold part 30.

An essential advantage with the above described water trap part is that it can be mounted in many today existing floor drains and scuppers respectively thereby improving the function of these and not least drastically reduce the risk of water damages. In fig 1 a conventional floor drain with an upper lip 50, a lower threshold 51, a dammed up volume 52 in a floor drain part 53 is shown. Water can flow down into the floor drain from the floor via a grid 54 or from a bathtub via a tube 55. Light pollutions as skin deposits and fat rise to the surface in the dammed up volume 52 and remain as a top layer, while the water without disturbing this layer can flow out below the upper lip 50 and thereafter over the threshold 51.

At the invented object however the outflowing dammed up water is instead forced up to the surface and can thus pull along the light contaminations out of the floor drain.

Claims

1. Floor drain with water trap including an upper screen or lip (20, 28) and a lower screen or threshold (3) that extends to a higher level than the lower edge of the upper screen, and that the water flow first below the upper screen and then over the lower screen, characterized in that an inlet part down to the lower edge of the upper screen has a small cross section or volume so that the flowing through becomes fast to the water volume between the upper and lower screen.

2. Water trap, in particular for floor drains or scuppers, characterized in that in the outlet a tube (30; 35), sealed against the outlet tube, is inserted, that is provided with a barrier (33) extending from below upward that constitute the outlet barrier of the water trap.

3. Water trap according to claim 2, characterized in that said tube (30) in one end is closed with a rounded wall (32) and an upward facing opening (33).

4. Water trap according to claim 2, characterized in that said tube (35) has an inner partition that covers a part, for instance one half, of the cross section of said tube.

5. Water trap according to any of the preceding claims 2 - 4, characterized in that the inlet pass into a downward extending tube (19) in which sealingly is arranged an inner displaceable tube (20) that in its upper end is provided with a seat (21) for a below arranged ball (22) and that said inner tube is provided with means (23, 24) that can prevents its pushing up from different inserted positions.

6. Water trap according to any of the preceding claims 2 - 5, characterized in that the water trap inlet part (16) is provided with means (26, 27) that allow the insertion of an additional connection (28), from for instance bathtub, shower or washstand, that can be sufficiently pushed down sufficiently to constitute a first upper screen of a water trap.

7. Water trap according to any of the preceding claims 2 - 6, characterized in that a seal is arranged between a shoulder (4) or the like in the floor drain and an all around going flange (17) on said inlet part (16) of the water trap.

8. Water trap according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a clamping ring (12) of rubber or the like is arranged to press a floor mat edge or a the inner edge of a sealing membrane toward an inner edge of the floor drain, which clamping ring has a bead (14) extending downward for sealing against the upper side of a lateral flange on the upper water trap part and that the clamping ring on its inside is provided with a releasable support ring (13) with L-shaped cross-section.

9. Water trap according to claim 3, characterized in that a hole, that can be closed with a plug, is arranged in the upper water trap part above said opening in the outgoing water trap part in order to allow cleaning without dismantling of the water trap.

10. Floor drain according to claim 1, characterized in that said damming up space between upper and lower screen is larger than the space for the incoming flow to the first from above downward projecting screen so that light pollutions can rise to the surface and be flushed over the edge of the second from below projecting screen.