EP0494060A1

EP0494060A1 - Floor drain insert

Info

Publication number: EP0494060A1
Application number: EP91850323A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gert Söderström
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-03
Filing date: 1991-12-18
Publication date: 1992-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2011-12-18
Also published as: NO920044D0; SE9100015D0; SE9100015A0; FI920050A0; ATE113104T1; NO920044L; EP0494060B1; FI920050A; DE69104703D1

Abstract

Floor outlet or drain that contains a housing (29) placed in the floor for the connection of outlet pipings and sewer net. Between the floor drain housing (29) and the outlet pipe a wall or lip extends up from the bottom, in order to dam up water to a water trap. In the water drain housing a floor drain insert that in its entirety is numbered (25) is lowered. An unsymmetrical funnel part (28) transcend into a cylindrical vertical tube piece (31) constituting the upper trap lip. In the piece of tubing (31) is arranged a seat (34) for a ball (33) below. The level (30) of the water trap keeps the ball (33) up towards the seat (34). The specific weight of the ball or the height of the seat above the water surface is however so chosen or adjusted, possibly by water being pumped into the ball that merely some centimeter of water column above the ball is capable of pushing this aside so that the water easily can flow down through the floor drain. Through the funnel part (28) extends sealingly a cylindricaly or tube shaped connecting part (27) that even this extends down below the water level (30). To this tubing (26) can for instance bathtub, wash basin or the like sealingly be connected.

Description

This invention is in particular related to drains or, traps outlets in floors of the kind that exist in for instance bath-rooms, wash-rooms etc. Today it is very usual with water damages in connection with floor outlets of this kind. They do not only serve to drain away water that so to say intentionly get on the floor but shall also often be able to take care of comparatively large amounts of drained water, that is let out from bathtubs, washing machines, wash basins etc. Frequently the water trap or its connecting piping is unable to divert the water with the same speed that it for instance flows out of a bathtub or is pumped out of a washing machine. The result is that the water is retained on the floor surface, which i.a. can lead to water damages on gods stored on the floor as for instance articles that are to be washed. Due to the difficulties of obtaining absolutely tight joints between the floor coating or carpet and the floor outlet it is also easy for water to pierce out into underlying floor materials giving rise to water damages. It is certainly intended that these connections shall be absolutely tight, but in reality this is rarely the case.
At a stop in the outlet tube or overload water coming also from the sewage system in general can be pushed up through the floor outlet, including such outlet water that comes from toilets, which as i easily understood not only means the same risks of water damages as above, but also an increased risk of fouling. Furthermore this means an infection risk since sewer or outlet water can include bacteria, virus etc. It is thus not only water damages that can be a problem in connection with floor outlets.
An additional uptil now hardly considered problem at floor outlets is the drying of these. Many floor outlets stand for a long time without being fed with water, the water evaporates and'the water trap of the floor outlet will become empty. This leads to smell from the sewage system being able to pass up through the water trap and up into for instance bath-rooms, washing-rooms etc. Regretfully it is not only the smell that can come through, but also bacteria, virus, fungous spores, as well as allergy provoking substances can be transferred in this way. In this connection it should also be noted that also contaminating substances from other houses and even hospitals can be spread in this way.
The primary object of the invention is to avoid the above mentioned risks of flooding and other inconveniencies thereby reducing the risk of water damages, foul air and contaminations. It is further desired from the invention that it shall be possible to use in already existing floor outlets.
The object of the invention is in accordance with the invention solved by drain insert or the drain itself having one (or several) additional parallel connection for the connection of for instance bathtub, washing machine etc, and that the floor outlet tself (for water on the floor) includes a non-return valve, preferably in the shape of a ball floating on the water in the water trap. This ball and its seat is preferably so arranged in relation to the water surface or the ball is given such a specific weight that the non-return valve in its normal position is closed. In this way water can be fed to the floor outlet housing from for instance a bathtub without water going backwards into the floor outlet so that this floods and water floods out on the floor. Preferably the floor outlet connection as well as the connection for the bathtub or the like, is extended down to such a level in the floor outlet housing that a water trap function is established.
The closing by means of a non-return valve for instance in the shape of a floating ball efficiently closes the floor outlet thereby preventing evaporation from the water trap. Tests have shown that during the time that a normal water trap is entirely emptied by evaporation the evaporation from a water trap closed in this way, will be practically nonexisting. The evaporation through the additional parallel connection will in the normal case be very small since so to say a moisture gradient is obtained along the connected piping.
In a further development of the invention one can however consider to arrange also in the additional connection a non-return valve of similar type as in the floor outlet. In this way the evaporation is not only prevented even more efficient, but also water is prevented from streaming back up into for instance a bathtub at a stop further away in the system and furthermore the risk of foul air at a longer time of non-use is reduced further.
Within the frame of the inventive thought the additional connection can include an extension that extend down into the housing or the well so that also for this connection a water trap is established. A non-return valve in the shape of a seat and a sphere or ball can be arranged in this extension. Preferably in accordance with the invention non-return valve and/or water trap for this additional connection for for instance bathtub, wash basin, wash machine etc, can be arranged at another location for instance in the case of the wash basin directly below this. This later variety can for instance be suitable when an existing floor outlet installation with limited space possibilities is to be made more secure and hygenic in accordance with the invention.
The non-return valves prevents evaporation very efficiently and consequently the risk of foul air is diminished as from the outlet escaping unhealthy air in for instance intermittently used facilities as for instance hotel rooms, changeing rooms in shools etc.
In order to secure the sealing ability of the non-return valve or the non-return valves a ground plastic ball is preferably used. A water level of a few centimeters is sufficient to push down the ball so far into the water in the water trap that water can stream out through the floor outlet connection. As has been said above the floor outlet and the additional connection respectively can themselvels constitute parts of the water trap. For those cases where an already existing floor outlet is to be provided with a floor outlet insert in accordance with the invention the floor outlet housing in some cases has an unremoveable water trap device, the water trap function of the floor outlet connection and the additional connection respectively are thus not necessary. Instead the reduced flow capacity due to the original water trap in series with the non-return valves can be compensated by for instance the lower end of the floor outlet connection being provided with wall parts that can be broken away but still guide the ball in the water trap but provides a more free water flow.
Further advantages and aspects of the invention are apparent from the following description of an embodiment shown in the drawings. In the drawings Fig 1 shows in cross-section an insert for floor outlets in accordance with the invention, fig 2 an installed floor outlet with insert, fig 3 a known floor outlet with the floor outlet insert according to the invention, fig 4 the insert of fig 3 seen from above and fig 5 the floor outlet of fig 3 and 4 seen from above without insert.
The floor outlet with insert shown in figs 1 and 2 includes a housing 29 located in the floor for connection to outlet tubing and sewer net. Between the floor outlet housing 29 and the sewer connection a wall or lip 32 extends from the bottom, to dam up water to a water trap. In the housing of the floor outlet a floor outlet insert is lowered that in its entirety is designated as 25. An unsymmetrical funnel part 28 transcend into a cylindrical vertical tube piece 31 constituting,upper water trap lip. In the tube piece 31 is arranged a seating 34 for a ball 33 located below. The level 30 of the water trap keeps the ball 33 up against the seating 34. The specific weight of the ball 33 is however so chosen or adjusted, possibly by water being pumped into the ball that merely a water level of a few centimeters above the ball is capable of pushing this aside so that water easily can flow down through the water outlet.
In the funnel part 28 there is a connecting hole 27, below which an extension 26 for a connection extends down to the same level as the vertical tube piece 31 so that also for this connection a water trap is obtained. In the hole 27 a connecting tubing 2 for for instance a wash basin can be connected. The hole 27 can in fabricated, delivered status of the insert 25 be closed but provided with a fractural impression so that a disk corresponding to the hole 27 simply can simply be broken away or cut away. This for use at those floor outlets where this additional connection is not needed.
Preferably the seat 34 include a sealing ring for contact against the ball that preferably is ground. This seal can for instance be of rubber. Also the connecting hole 27 can include a rubber seal intended to secure absolute seal against the inserted connection tubing. Within the frame of the invention a seat for a non-return valve ball can be arranged in the water trap tube 26. For instance this seat can be constituted by the lower end of an inserted connection tubing, alternatively by a seat similar to that of the floor connection itself.
The water trap insert according to the invention can also be arranged in already existing floor outlets or drains, as is shown in figs 3-5. The floor outlet housing 41 includes a connection 42 to the sewer net and a lower water trap lip 43 and an upper water trap lip 44. On its upper side the floor outlet in a known way has a flange 45 for contact against a floor and a shoulder 46 in which a clamping ring 48 can be introduced to clamp the floor carpet or coating 46 and then the entire upper side of the floor outlet is covered by a grid 49.
Below the clamping ring 48 has been inserted or lowered into the well a floor outlet insert in accordance with the invention. This includes a collecting funnel part 50 that at its outer edge transcends into a flat flange. The funnel part 50 slopes excentrically against a seat portion 51 below which a ground sphere or ball of plastic floats on the water level in the water trap. In the seat a rubber seal 53 is arranged to increase tightness. Below the seat a water trap constituting and ball retaining and guiding extension 54 is arranged. The funnel part 50, the seat 51 and the extension 54 are suitably integrated in one piece.
In the funnel part 50 a stud pipe 55 or a so called "knock-out" (removable hole)is arranged extending upwards, to which an additional connection 56 has been connected, preferably with the insertion therebetween of a seal and that in the shown case extends a distance down into the floor drain or outlet but not down to water level due to the limited space of the well or housing. The streaming of the water from the additional connection has schematicly has been shown with arrows.
In order to secure a good tightness or seal for floor drain and insert the contact surface between the floor drain insert and the shoulder 46 of the floor drain is preferably sealed with a floating silicon seal or the like. The tunnel 50 of the floor drain is intended in particular for secondary splash or rinsing water while the connection 56 is intended for primary water from a bath tub outlet or the like. In the same way as in the previous embodiment a small water pressure from the upper side is efficient to push aside the sphere or ball 52.
The invention reduce the overflow risk at stop in the outlet tubings, and. Prevent water from wash basin, wash machine or bath tub to pour out on the floor, which in turn also drastically reduces the risk of water entering below the floor coating or carpet. Furthermore the risk of smell and contamination forcing their way up through the outlet due to dried out water traps is reduced. Since the floor drain according to the invention essentially only differ from the floor drains of today by the shape and look of the insert the invention is also applicable in already installed floor drains or outlets, which considerably reduces the costs for an increased security against water damages.
Tests with wells or drains in accordance with the invention have shown that the floor drain in accordance with the invention can cope with considerable pressure from the outlet water tubing without any leakage at all and this despite the fact that only a few centimeter of water level is enough to allow water to pass.
The small amount of water that normally remain above the ball can at a possible sub-pressure in the outlet system fill upp the water trap so that this is not evacuated. In this direction works also the tact that the ball has a pretension upwards corresponding to this water level and that consequently the water trap can stand a certain bleeding if the worst should come and despite this be capable of holding the ball in its place. Should at pressure variations after subpressure an overpressure be established the water and the ball is pushed up in the corresponding tube and against the seat so that no gases can escape. Even in the extreme case with a forceful sucking subpressure in the outlet tubings sufficient water will remain in order to enable the lifting of the ball when an overpressure is once again established. If after such a pressure variation the ball is no longer pushed against the seat, it will however with its guiding and seat provide a reduction of the evaporation due to the diminished ventilation down to the water surface.

Claims

Floor drain insert, characterized in that it includes a non-return valv (33, 34) in the connection for water coming from the floor and an additional connection (27) for for instance bathtub, wash basin and wash machines that is coupled in parallel or coupled past the non-return valve of the floor connection.
Floor drain insert according to claim 1, characterized in that also in the additional connection is a non-return valve arranged (35, 36).
Floor drain insert according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the non-return valve is constituted by a seat (36) for a ball (35) floating there below in the water.
Floor drain insert according to claim 3, characterized in that the ball is a ground plastic ball.
Floor drain including an insert according to any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that it includes a lip extending from the bottom upwards and that either or both of the connections constitute upper water trap lips establishing water traps.
Floor drain according to claim 5, characterized in that the non-return valve or valves are constituted by a ball floating on water in the water trap and pressed respectively upwards towards a seat by the water.
Floor drain according to claim 1-5, characterized in that the additional connection extends down into the water in the water trap.
Floor drain according to any of the claims 5-7, characterized in that a specific weight of the water trap ball or balls (33, 35) is adjusted by this being filled with water in sufficient degre so that a desired resistance against a push downwards in combination with the corresponding seat level over the water trap level is obtained.