AU2020239634A1

AU2020239634A1 - Waste outlet pipe

Info

Publication number: AU2020239634A1
Application number: AU2020239634A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brian Haigh
Original assignee: Haigh Tooling Ltd
Current assignee: Haigh Tooling Ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-19
Filing date: 2020-09-22
Publication date: 2021-06-03

Abstract

A wastewater pipe which includes: a main pipe which is adapted to be connected at its upper end to a sink outlet and at its lower end to a wastewater system; first and second 5 secondary inlets, each adapted to be connected at its upper end to a wastewater outlet and at its lower end to open into the interior of the main pipe; each secondary inlet having a longitudinal axis in the range of approximately 300 - 600 to the longitudinal axis of the pipe; the angle between the longitudinal axes of the first and second secondary inlets being in the range of approximately 70° - 1100. 7

Description

WASTE OUTLET PIPE

Technical Field The present invention relates to a waste outlet pipe for fitting below basins and sinks to carry away waste water into a waste water system. In the specification, the term "sinks" shall be taken to mean "basins and sinks".

Background Art At present, standard waste water pipes are in the form of a single pipe which extends between the sink and the remainder of the waste water system:- typically, the single straight pipe is connected to the top of a water-trap pipe. However, it is becoming increasingly common to require waste water outlets to accommodate additional waste water sources, such as dishwashers, and as kitchen equipment becomes more sophisticated it frequently is necessary to accommodate waste water from more than one additional source.

Modifying a single ("main") pipe to provide a secondary inlet into the pipe is straightforward:- this is achieved by adding a side inlet pipe which enters the body of the main pipe at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, so that water coming from the side inlet pipe is directed downwards.

However, modifying a main pipe to provide two secondary inlets is more complicated: the inlets need to be spaced apart so that the inlets can be accessed by a plumber when the system is being assembled, but the secondary inlets cannot be arranged opposite each other or waste water being discharged into one secondary inlet tends to splash into the other secondary inlet. This is especially a problem with high-pressure systems (typical pressure 100 psi) such as are commonly used in domestic and commercial applications.

One system to overcome this problem has been proposed, in the form of a main pipe with two secondary inlets one vertically above the other. However, this simply cannot be used in some applications because the space under a sink often is limited, and in many cases there is insufficient room to accommodate two vertically stacked secondary inlets.

Another possible way to overcome the problem of splashing from one secondary inlets to another is to put a web on the inside of the pipe, between the secondary inlets. This is feasible for large diameter pipes, but there is simply not sufficient room in standard domestic and commercial waste water system pipes.

Disclosure of Invention An object of the present invention is the provision of a waste water pipe which provides two secondary inlets without unduly reducing the space available under a sink, and without risk of water splashing from one secondary inlet to the other.

The present invention provides a waste water pipe which includes: • a main pipe which is adapted to be connected at its upper end to a sink outlet and at its lower end to a waste water system;

• first and second secondary inlets each adapted to be connected at its upper end to a waste water outlet and at its lower end to open into the interior of the main pipe;

• each secondary inlet having a longitudinal axis in the range of approximately 30 60 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the main pipe;

• the angle between the longitudinal axes of the first and second secondary inlets being in the range of approximately 58-112 degrees.

Preferably, each of the first and second secondary inlets open into the main pipe close to the upper end of the main pipe, to minimise the overall length of the pipes underneath the sink.

Preferably also, the first and second secondary inlets open into the main pipe adjacent each other, at approximately the same vertical height along the length of the main pipe.

The first and second secondary inlets could be formed separately from the main pipe, but preferably are formed integrally with the main pipe.

Preferably also, each secondary inlet is provided at its free end with a removable connector pipe which may be either straight or angled.

The main pipe may be formed integrally as part of a J trap, but preferably is formed as a separate pipe which is connectable to the upper end of a J trap.

If the main pipe is formed as a separate pipe, it can rotate independently of the J trap and it can also be vertically adjustable relative to the J trap; both of these features are advantages in practice.

Brief Description of Drawings By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a waste outlet pipe in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section on line A - A of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1 from above; and

Figure 4 is a side view of a stub pipe.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to the drawings, a waste outlet pipe 10 in accordance with the present invention includes a straight pipe 11 the lower end 11a of which is formed with a barb 12 which prevents the pipe 11 being pulled out of engagement with a seal provided on the top of a conventional water trap or other waste fitting, in known manner.

The longitudinal axis of the pipe 11 is indicated by the line X - X in Figure 2.

The upper end 11b of the pipe 11 is formed with a shoulder 13 which in use carries a seal (not shown) and a captive internally screw threaded collar (not shown) to enable the end 11b to be secured onto the waste outlet of a sink, in known manner.

Two secondary inlet pipes 14, 15 are mounted on the pipe 11 a short distance below the upper end 11b of the pipe. The longitudinal axis of secondary inlet 14 is marked by the line Y -Y in Figures 2 and 3. The longitudinal axis of the secondary inlet 15 is indicated by line Z - Z in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 3, the longitudinal axes (Y -Y/Z - Z) of the secondary inlets 14, 15 are at an angle t shown as 90 degrees to each other. This angle t may be varied over the range 58° - 112° for larger diameter pipes (56.00 mm outside diameter) but preferably is in the range 70°-110° for smaller diameter pipes (43.00 mm outside diameter).

The lower end of each secondary inlet, 14, 15 opens into the interior of the pipe 11, and the longitudinal axis (Y - Y/Z - Z) of each secondary inlet is at an angle S which is shown as approximately 60 degrees to the longitudinal axis X - X of the pipe 11. The angle S may be varied in size, typically in the range 30° - 60, but must be sufficiently large that water entering the pipe 11 through one of the secondary outlets 14, 15 tends to travel directly to the bottom of the pipe 11 rather than splashing across the pipe or up the pipe, but sufficiently small that there is room for the top fitting of each secondary pipe adjacent the top of the pipe 11.

Because the longitudinal axes (Y - Y/Z - Z) of the secondary inlets 14, 15 are spaced from each other around the exterior of the pipe 11 but not opposite, or nearly opposite, each other, water entering the pipe 11 through either of the secondary inlets does not tend to splash into the other secondary inlet. It will be appreciated that it is not necessary for the angle between the longitudinal axes (Y - Y/Z - Z) to be exactly 90 degrees, but they must not be spaced so far apart that water entering the pipe 11 through one of the secondary inlets can easily splash into the other secondary inlet.

The free end of each of the secondary inlets may be provided with any of a range of suitable connectors to enable the end of the inlet to be joined to an outlet pipe or hose from an appliance. For example, each of the secondary inlets may be formed with an external screw thread 17, 18 at its free end. An outlet pipe from an appliance can be connected directly on to either of the secondary inlets using an internally screw threaded collar (not shown) to engage with the screw thread 17, 18 in known manner. Alternatively, a straight or curved stub pipe, the end of which is formed with a tapered engaging surface, can be secured to the screw thread 17, 18 using an internally screw threaded collar.

Figure 4 illustrates a curved stub pipe 20, one end of which is formed with a shoulder 21 for engaging a corresponding shoulder on an internally screw threaded collar. The other end of the pipe 20 is formed with a tapered outer surface 22 to enable an outlet pipe from an appliance to be press fitted over the stub pipe.

The stub pipe 20 can be rotated relative to the secondary inlet to which it is secured by slackening off the internally screw threaded collar, rotating the stub pipe 20 to the required position, and re-tightening the collar.

If stub pipes are to be fitted to the ends of the secondary inlets, a shoulder 23 is formed around the interior of each of the secondary inlets, adjacent the end of each inlet, for carrying a seal against which the end of each stub pipe seals.

It is preferred that the waste outlet pipe 10 is formed as a separate pipe (as described above) which engages the top of a J trap. However, it would be possible to form the waste outlet pipe of the present invention integrally with the upper part of a J trap; in this case, the secondary inlets must of course open into the interior of the main pipe on the same side of the J trap as the upper end of the main pipe.

The waste outlet pipe of the present invention may be made from any of a range of suitable plastics customarily used for making plumbing fittings e.g. polypropylene.

Claims

1. A wastewater pipe which includes: • a main pipe which is adapted to be connected at its upper end to a sink outlet and at its lower end to a wastewater system; • first and second secondary inlets, each adapted to be connected at its upper end to a wastewater outlet and at its lower end to open into the interior of the main pipe; • each secondary inlet having a longitudinal axis in the range of approximately 300- 600 to the longitudinal axis of the pipe; • the angle between the longitudinal axes of the first and second secondary inlets being in the range of approximately 70° - 1100.

2. The wastewater pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the secondary inlets opens into the main pipe close to the upper end of the main pipe.

3. The wastewater pipe as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said secondary inlets open into the main pipe adjacent each other, at approximately the same vertical height along the length of the main pipe.

4. The wastewater pipe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said secondary inlets are formed integrally with the main pipe.

5. The wastewater pipe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each secondary inlet is provided at its free end with a removable connector pipe.

6. The wastewater pipe as claimed in claim 5 wherein each removable connector pipe is straight.

7. The wastewater pipe as claimed in claim 5 wherein each removable connector pipe is angled.