CA1066165A - Modular assembly for drain trap - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A catch basin system to be installed in a wall leading to a drain comprises an assembly of interfitted modular units, molded or deep-drawn from corrosion-resistant synthetic resin, which include an upwardly open housing of rectangular outline, a conduit with a bottom inlet and a lateral outlet removably inserted in that housing, a catch basket receivable in the housing alongside the conduit, a lid for the housing, and a possible exten-sion interposable between the housing and its lid. The inserted conduit may be provided with an externally manipulable shut-off valve between its inlet an outlet, and/or with a hinged flap serving as a check valve; alterna-tively, it may have an internal tongue designed to raise its liquid level for a more effective stopping of the escape of sewer gases. One or more extensions may be secured to the housing with the aid of external clamps engaging outer peripheral flanges thereof.

Description

:~066~65 My present invention relates to a catch basin system designed to conduct waste water from a sump, gully or the like to a sewer. More parti-cularly, it concerns a modular assembly for building such a system. The system may include a drain trap which can be removable.
Depending upon the type of drain in which a trap is to be installed, as well as upon its environment (e.g. whether it is located in the open or inside a dwelling), different requirements may have to be satisfied. A
simple odor trap, for example, need only insure the continuous existence of, a pool of water blocking the escape of sewer gases. In cases where backup of sewage is a problem, a manually operable shut-off valve may have to be pro-vided for emergency use. Where the runoff into the trap is essentially from rainwater or melting snow, it may be advantageous to equip the trap with a catch basket for pebbles or the like swept along by the flow. Situations may also arise in which a device of this kind, originally designed just as a collection vessel, may have to be subsequently equipped with an odor-blocking insert or a shut-off valve.
In the case of an outside drain located close to a building wall, a trap needs to be disposed only slightly below the surface unless the precipi-tation to be carried off by its drain is collected from a larger area by the usual eave gutter and an associated leader terminating at or above that trap.
If such a leader is installed after the trap has beem emplaced, it may be necessary to deepen the well in which the trap is located so as to reduce the risk of water accumulation on the surface which could result in the flooding of a nearby doorway. In that instance the pool formed by the trap may have to lie at a level between 1 and 1-1/2 meters below the surface; this makes it difficult to remove the usual lid of the trap in order to gain access to its interior for cleaning or replacing some of its parts.
The general object of my present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive modular assembly for such a system which allows these various requirements, including the possiblity of subsequent modifications, to be -1- ~

~066165 taken into account.
Another object is to provide an assembly of this nature whose comr ponents are of light weight and will form fluidtight seals, even after pro-longed use, while being resistant to corrosion and easily cleanable from adhering solids.
The invention is a catch basin system ccmprising the combination of a collecting vessel having a sidewall provided with an exit port and an open upper surface bounded by a rim, at least one shell with open upper and lower ends, the lower end of said shell adapted to be fitted to said rim of said vessel, the upper end of said shell having a rim similar to the rim of said vessel, a lid adapted to fit into the rim of said vessel or the rim of an upperm~st shell, internal holding elements adapted to fasten at least one insert on the inner walls of the vessel and/or the shell to treat or hydrauli-cally influence liquid in the system, insert parts adapted to cooperate with said holding elements, vertically projecting beads on the outside walls of the vessel and the shell adjacent the rims and clamping means to engage aligned beads on the vessel and shell.
The vessel or housing, advantageously, has a generally rectangular outline, with a minor side defining the sidewall carrying the exit port.
One half of the housing, preferably the one close to this sidewall, accommcr dates the insert while its other half, remote frcm the sidewall, forms an antechamber for inflowing water. m at antechamber, empty or occupied by a rem3vable filter screen such as the above-discussed catch basket, may be over-lain by a perforated section of a rectangular lid also having a section pro-vided with a recessed grip above the insert. If the entire lid is perforated, a deflector may be installed above the insert for diverting descending solids to the basket.
According to another aspect of my invention, the top of the housing is internally rabbeted to form a first peripheral seat designed to reoe ive a bottom edge of a shell positianable on the housing as an extension thereof, ~his shell being internally rabbeted to form a second peripheral seat. A lid, again preferably rectangular and divided into perforated and grip-forming 1066~65 sections, may be received on the second seat or -- if the shell is not used --directly on the first seat. The shell can be removably secured to the housing by fastening means such as a set of yoke-shaped clamps engaging superposed outer peripheral flanges of the housing and the shell. With the aid of one or more such extensions, the lid can be easily accessible from above even if the trap housing is sunk deep into the ground.
The above and other features of my invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
Figure la is a longitudinal sectional view of a modular housing for a drain trap according to my invention;
Figure lb is a similar view of an open-ended shell designed to form an upward extension for the housing of Figure la;
Figure lc is a view similar to Figure lb, illustrating a taller shell;
Figure ld is a longitudinal sectional view of a lid fitting any of the components of the prece~ing Figures;
Figure le is a top view of the lid shown in Figure ld;
Figure lf is a longitudinal sectional view of an insert for an anti-backup trap, receivable in the housing of Figure la;
Figure 1~ is a fragmentary sectional view, drawn to a larger scale, of two interfitted components held together by a clamp;
Figure lh is a view similar to Figure lf, showing another insert designed for an odor trap and receivable in the housing of Figure la;
Figure li is a view similar to Figures lf and lh~ illustrating a different insert designed for an odor trap;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an odor trap including the components of Figures la, ld, le and li;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing an anti-backup trap with an insert as shown in Figure lh;
Figure 4 is a view like Figure 3, showing the insert of Figure lf substituted for the one of Figure lh;
Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a different housing extended upwardly by the shell shown in Figure lb;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the trap of Figure 2 extended by the shell of Figure lb; and Fig~re 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line VII-VqI of Figure lb.
Except for har~ware such as clamps and screws, all the components illustrated in the drawing and described in detail hereinafter may be mDlded or deep-drawn from a tough and corrosion-resistant plastic material such as polyester.
In Figure la I have shown an upwardly open housing 10 whose rectan-gular outline corresponds, substantially, to that of an associated lid 30 illustrated in Figures ld and le. Housing 10 is formed at its top with an inner peripheral rabbet 14 for the alternative seating of the lid 30 or of an extension of similar outline such as a shell 16 (Figures Ib and 7) or 23 (Figure lc). A nipple 11 forms an exit port in the upper part of the right-hand sidewall of housing 10 and is tilted slightly dcwnwardly for connection to a nonillustrated sewer pipe. Underneath that exit port the sidewall forms an upwardly open pocket 13 bounded by a lip lOa adapted to enter a pair of complementary notches in the bottom edge of a remavable insert as described hereinafter. Screw bolts 12 (only one shown) on opposite sides of a vertical plane of symmetry, bisecting the exit port 11, æe firmly and fluidtightly embedded in the plastic material of the housing wall and æe designed to pass through respective m~unting holes on a flange of the insert as more fully described in Canadian Patent No. 1,044,111. See also Figures 2 - 4 and 6.
The top of housing 10 is further provided, at the level of its rabbet 14, with an outer peripheral flange 15 designed to facilitate the ,~

~066165 establishment of a rigid and fluidtight connection between the housing and a shell 16 or 23 fitted thereto. For this purpose, each of these shells is formed near its lower end with a similar outer peripheral flange 20 overlying the flange 15 when the bottom edge 17 of the shell is received in the rabbeted top of the housing. The shell and the housing can then be interconnected by a set of fasteners such as C-clamps 52 illustrated in Figure lg. For a more positive connection~ as seen in Figures 1 and 7~ flanges 15 and 20 can be provided on their mutually averted surfaces with edge beads 53 which terminate short of the corners of the rectangular housing and shell profiles to facilitate the emplacement of the clamps. Thus, the confronting jaws of a clamp 52 can be inserted through one of the corner gaps between beads 53 whereupon the clamps may be shifted along one of the sides of the rectangle to let their jaws reach around these beads and firmly grip the two flanges 15 and 20. The clamps, if suitably dimensioned to engage these flanges with a tight frictional fit, may be of unitary construction with fixed jaws as shown; this simplifies assembly and disassembly, yet the components could also be interconnected by adjustable fasteners.
The two shells 16 and 23 differ from each other only in their height~ shell 23 (Flgure lc) being considerably taller than shell 16 (Figure lb). Each shell is formed at its top with an inner rabbet 18, similar to the rabbet 14 of housing 10, designed to receive the lid 30 or another extension shell to increase the height of the assembly. Rabbet 18 is surrounded by an outer peripheral flange 19 which is generally similar to housing flange 15 and facilitates the interconnection of several shells in the aforedescribed manner.
Moreover, the shells are externally provided with peripheral reinforcing ribs 24 at levels between upper and lower flanges 19 and 20.
The components 10, 16 and 23 are all nearly prismatic but have a slight downward draft to make their bottom ends fit snugly into the rabbeted top of any other component for stacking purposes. Thus, even the housing 10 ~066165 could be supported on a shell 16 or 23 if it were desired to raise the trap proper above the bottom of its well.
A downwardly,sloping shelf 21 extends from the left-hand sidewall of either shell 16, 23 (as viewed in Figures Ib and l_) towæd the center of the shell so as to form a deflector for pebbles or other solid objects dropping through perforations 34 (see Figure le) in the overlying half of lid 30. The opposite, right-hand shell half is provided with a set of inw ædly extending lugs 22 for the suspension of a removable filter screen in the shape of a basket 82 designed to catch these solids.
As shown in Figures ld and le, lid 30 is split into two disjointed halves 31, 32. Its left-hand half 31 is formed with a circulæ recess 33 acccmm~dating a conduit 90, e.g. a leader descending from an eave of a building, carrying waste water to be discharged into the exit port 11 (Figure la) of housing 10. The right-hand half 32 of the lid, also provided with perforations 34, has countersunk grip 35 facilitating its remLval from the housing or the shell on which it has been deposited. If no direct connection to an inlet pipe is required, the lid 30 may be replaced by a unitary lid 30' lacking the recess 33, e.g. as shown in Figures 2 - 4 and 6; only the left-hand half of lid 30' has perforations 34.
In Figure lf I have shown a tubular insert 42 receivable in the right-hand half of housing 10 (Figure la) in order to form an odor trap and an anti-backup seal. Such an insert has been more fully described in my co-pending Canadian application Serial No. 253,654, filed May 28, 1976.
For purposes of the instant description it is sufficient to note that the insert is a tubular conduit with a bottom inlet 49 and a lateral outlet 91 closable by a check valve in the form of a flap 51 hinged to the conduit at 92.
A hollow frustoconical valve body 43, centered on a horizontal axis A, is rotatable about that axis with the aid of a handle 47 and is received in a ccmplementarily frustoconical seat formed by .,~
~`

1(~66165 the top wall 44 of the insert and by a generally horizontal partition 93.
Valve body 43 and partition 93 are formed with coexbensive cutouts 45, ~6 which can be moved into and out of register by a swinging of handle 47 through an angle of about 90. Insert 42 has a vertical flange 48 with m~unting holes designed to receive the bolts 12 of housing 10 (Figure la) for aligning its outlet 91 with port 11, the flap 51 being free to swing outwardly into that port; a depending foot 50 of the insert fits into the pocket 13 of the housing, an adjacent cutout 94 then receiving the lip lOa.
Figure lh shows an insert 55 designed to serve the same purpose as the insert 42 of Figure lf. Insert 55, again provided with a foot 50 receiv-able in the pocket 13 of housing 10, has flange 58 surrounding an outlet 56 which is closable by a hinged flap 67 serving as a check valve. A horizontal partition 60 in the lower part of insert 55 has an opening closable by a valve disk 61 which is held against rotation by vertical inner ribs 62 and is integral with a leadscrew 64 engaged by a tubular nut 65 journaled in the top of the insert. Rotation of a handwheel 66, rigid with nut 65, enables the disk 61 to be lowered or raised, the lower limit of its stroke being determined by a depending stem 63 ooming to rest on the housing bottom. Normally, as illust-rated in Figure lh, the disk is spaced from the partition 60 and allows water to flow from an inlet 57 to outlet 56 through a peripheral clearan oe separating that disk form the surrounding wall, the cross-section of this flow path being preferably at least equal to that of the outlet in order to prevent any conges-tion. When the disk 61 is raised against a seat on the underside of partition 60, the flow is cut off to prevent any backup from exit port 11 into the in-terior of the housing. A foot 59, which corresponds to the foot 50 of insert 42, is receivable in pocket 13 of housing 10. For a more detailed description, referen oe is again made to my co-pending Canadian application Serial No.
253,654, filed May 28, 1976.
In Figure li I have shown an insert 36 for an odor trap, again with a bottom inlet 39 and a side outlet 37. An upwardly concave tongue 38 defines .! ~

~066~65 a restricted channel with the vertical peripheral wall of the insert, the edge of the tongue rising to almost the horizontal midplane H of outlet 37. This outlet, again, is surrounded by a vertical flange 40 designed to rest closely against the right-hand sidewall of housing 10 (Figure la), with interposition of a nonillustrated packing ring, and to re oeive its mounting bolts 12. A
depending foot 41 is receivable in the pocket 13 of that sidewall. Further details of insert 36 have been described in Canadian Patent No. 1,044,111.
Figure 2 shows an odor trap 70 assembled from the m~dular components 10, 36 and 30'. The water level within insert 36 is shown to have a height _, determined by the upper edge of tongue 38, which should be at least equal to the diameter of outlet 37 and exit port 11. The absolute magnitude of height may be lOcm or more.
Fig~re 3 illustrates an anti-backup trap 80 assembled from components 10, 30' and 55. The handwheel 66 of insert 55 is accessible u~on rem~val of the lid 30'.
Figure 4 shows a similar trap 81 with substitution of insert 42 for insert 55. Lever 47 can be manipulated upon removal of lid 30'.
In all three instances represented by Figures 2 - 4, the insert leading to the exit port occupies only the right-hand half of the housing 10 whose left-hand half serves as an antecha~ber. This antechamber may be left empty, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, or may be occupied by a remavable catch ha~ket 82 for the aforedescribed purpose.
In Figure 5 I have depicted a trap 85 comprising a modified housing 10' whose exit port 11l is disposed just above its bottom. The housing is extended upwardly by a shell 16, cf. Figure lb, topped by a rem~vable lid 30.
A basket 82 in the right-hand half of housing 10' is suspended form lugs 22 of shell 16 for intercepting solid objects deflected toward it by the sloping -. :,'",~

1066~65 shelf 21. Clamps 52 are shown holding the housing 10' and the shell 16 together in the manner described above.
In Figure 6, finally, the shell 16 overlain by lid 30' is mounted on the housing 10 of Figures la and 2, equipped with the insert 36 forming an odor seal. In this instance the shelf 21 overlies the insert 36, with basket 82 suspended alongside the insert in the left-hand part of the assembly.
Naturally, insert 36 may be replaced by any of the other inserts described above, either originally or after installation.
The lid 30' has been shown so positioned in Figure 6 that its perforated right-hand section overlies the shelf 21 whereby stones or other solids dropping through the perforations 34 will first hit the shelf so that the basket 82 will not be damaged by the impact. If this lid is replaced by the split lid 30~ the recessed half 31 ought to be positioned above the shelf 21 as in Figure 5.
If the stacked components such as the housing 10 and the shell 16 of Figure 6 are to remain permanently connected, their interfitting surfaces may be coated with a suitable water-insoluble adhesive also serving as a sealant.
In that case the clamps 52 or their equivalents need not be used or may be removed after the bonding agent has hardened. Alternatively, these surfaces may be fitted with conventional packing rings (not shown) deforming under the clamping pressure to provide a fluidtight seal therebetween.
The separability of the disjointed sections 31 and 32 of lid 30 affords access to the interior of the trap housing without requiring the removal of the lid half 31 to which a stationary pipe 90 or the like has been attached.
Naturally, the described modular components need not have the exact shape shown in the drawing. Thus, for example, their cross-sections may be rounded rather than rectangular or square.

Claims (15)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A catch basin system comprising the combination of a collecting vessel having a sidewall provided with an exit port and an open upper surface bounded by a rim, at least one shell with open upper and lower ends, the lower end of said shell adapted to be fitted to said rim of said vessel, the upper end of said shell having a rim similar to the rim of said vessel, a lid adapted to fit into the rim of said vessel or the rim of an uppermost shell, internal holding elements adapted to fasten at least one insert on the inner walls of the vessel and/or the shell to treat or hydraulically influence liquid in the system, insert parts adapted to cooperate with said holding elements, vertically projecting beads on the outside walls of the vessel and the shell adjacent the rims and clamping means to engage aligned beads on the vessel and shell.

2. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the internal holding elements are formed by a pocket formed within said inner wall portion below the exit port, said pocket being opened towards the top.

3. The system defined in claim 2 wherein said insert is a drain trap of elbow pipe form having means to cooperate with said pocket, said means being a vertical foot flange receivable in said pocket for juxtaposing said insert part in a position of alignment with said exit port.

4. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said internal holding elements are formed by substantially horizontal braces provided between the inner walls of the shell, said braces forming a collar-like orifice.

5. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein in said holding elements are situated within one half of the shell's cross-section and the other half serves as antechamber.

6. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein a basket is secured by said holding elements.

7. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein said basket occupies only one half of the cross-sections of the shell or vessel.

8. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the other half of the shell or vessel includes a deflector plate which is inclined to the basket so that it receives debris.

9. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein said rim includes a rabbet for snugly inserting the rim of the shell to the vessel, the shell to another shell, or the lid to a shell or vessel.

10. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the beads are intermittent along the rim.

11. The system defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping means are C-shaped with two confronting jaws to overgrip the beads, said means being pushed onto the beads from spaces between the beads.

12. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the lid has openings so that liquid can pass therethrough.

13. The system defined in claim 1, wherein the lid has two portions one of which has openings.

14. The system as defined in claim 13, in which the lid includes a depressed handle for removing the lid.

15. The system defined in either of claims 13 or 14 wherein one of said portions is provided with a depression for connection of a discharge duct and that portion is aligned with a basket for receiving debris.