EP0731020A1

EP0731020A1 - Prefabricated cubicle for sanitary facilities, in particular in the cabins of ships, or the like

Info

Publication number: EP0731020A1
Application number: EP95103305A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claudio Fornasini; Umberto Andreola
Original assignee: Atisa Aero Termica Italiana SpA; GIUMMA Srl
Current assignee: Atisa Aero Termica Italiana SpA; GIUMMA Srl
Priority date: 1995-03-08
Filing date: 1995-03-08
Publication date: 1996-09-11

Abstract

A prefabricated cubicle for sanitary facilities, in particular intended to be installed in the cabins of ships, or the like, consists of a box-like structure (2, 3) which has prefixed or preformed therein the sanitary devices (7, 9, 10), such as, for example, W.C. pans, shower trays, wash-basins, baths or the like, and which has incorporated therein at least the installations (14) for supplying and distributing the sanitary water to the delivery devices (310), the installations (207, 210, 13; 109, 17, 18, 19) for discharging the lavatory and washing waste-water from the said sanitary devices (7, 9, 10), as well as, where necessary, the electrical installations (15) also, with branch lines being provided for connection to the corresponding main ducts and lines (12, 16) resident in the ship. According to the invention, the prefabricated cubicle (B, B') has incorporated therein the devices (20) for conditioning the cabin's environment and the devices for regenerating and changing the air, inside the cabin and the cubicle (B, B') itself, as well as the associated automatic regulating systems.

Description

The invention relates to a prefabricated cubicle for sanitary facilities, in particular intended to be installed in the cabins of ships, or the like, which consists of a box-like structure which has prefixed or preformed therein the sanitary facilities, such as, for example, W.C. pans, shower trays, wash-basins, baths or the like, and which has incorporated therein at least the installations for supplying and distributing the hot and cold water to the delivery devices, the installations for discharging the lavatory and washing waste-water from the said sanitary devices, as well as, where necessary, the electrical installations also, with branch lines being provided for connection to the corresponding main ducts and lines of the ship or the installation environment.
Cubicles of this type are known and are currently used for example to furnish the cabins of ships in the form of a private area for sanitary facilities.
At present, said prefabricated cubicles have incorporated inside them only the installations for hygiene facilities of the hydro-sanitary type. However, in particular in ships, the cabins generally also have associated with them other types of installations such as, for example, those for conditioning the environment and regenerating and/or changing the air.
The aim of the present invention is to improve a prefabricated cubicle for sanitary facilities of the abovementioned type so as to make installation more rational, simple and economical and less awkward and so as to incorporate therein most of the devices and installations associated with the cabin itself.
The present invention achieves the above aims with a prefabricated cubicle, in particular for sanitary facilities, particularly in the cabins of ships, or the like, which has incorporated therein the devices for conditioning the environment of the cabin and the devices for regenerating and changing the air, inside the cabin and the cubicle itself, as well as the associated automatic regulating systems.
According to a preferred embodiment, the prefabricated cubicle has associated with it a conditioning device, with at least one intake opening communicating with the cabin and with an opening for reintroducing the conditioned air, also communicating with the cabin.
The conditioning device may have associated with it a device for regenerating the ambient air of the cabin.
Furthermore, the cubicle has incorporated inside it and preferably communicating with its interior an air extraction and/or intake point which can be connected to a main extraction duct resident in the ship.
According to a further improvement, the prefabricated cubicle also comprises a duct supplying clean fresh air, which can be connected to a distribution duct resident in the ship and which communicates with the cabin's environment via an outlet opening. In particular, said supply duct can convey clean fresh air into the cabin itself also via the opening for reintroducing the conditioned and/or regenerated air, inside which it is mixed together with the latter.
The prefabricated cubicle according to the invention, in addition to forming a private area for sanitary facilities, also acts as a supporting element for installation, inside the cabins, of a prefabricated system for conditioning the environment and regenerating the air, which is generally provided in accordance with the current norms. Therefore, separate installation of the conditioning system as well as the cabin ventilating systems is avoided, resulting in lower installation costs and the possibility of a more rational design and more economical construction of the main distribution networks resident in the ship itself. As a result of this more rational design, it is possible to envisage, moreover, a reduction in the internal height of the cabins, with consequent advantages for the structure of the ship itself.
Further improvements according to the invention are described in the subclaims.
The characteristic features of the invention and the advantages arising therefrom will emerge more clearly from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a prefabricated cubicle for sanitary facilities according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the prefabricated cubicle according to Figure 1 installed for example inside a cabin of a ship;
Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of the column housing the ducts for connection to the distribution and discharge networks resident in the ship;
Figure 4 shows, in cross-section, a large-scale detail of the structure of the walls of the prefabricated cubicle according to the preceding figures.

The prefabricated cubicle illustrated in the figures is made in particular so as to be installed in the cabins of ships, or the like. However, it may be used in the same manner also in the construction of other types of environments, such as hotel rooms, hospitals, nursing homes, dwellings or the like.
The prefabricated cubicle B has perimetral walls 2 and a raised floor 3, underneath which a compartment 103 is formed. One of its perimetral walls 2 has formed in it an entry opening 4 with a door 6. In one of its corner zones, the cubicle has an internal-angle recess which extends over the entire height of the cubicle B, forming on the outer side thereof a niche 5. As can be seen from Figure 2, the prefabricated cubicle is intended to be arranged in a corner zone of a cabin and the niche 5 is located so as to correspond to the corner of the cabin.
The compartment directly alongside the internal-angle recess has inside it a shower tray 7 which is further separated laterally by an extension wall 8 from the pan 9 of the W.C. provided opposite the internal-angle recess. The entry opening 4 is provided in the middle zone of the corresponding perimetral wall 2 between the shower tray 7 and a wash-basin 10 which is at the opposite end of the cubicle B with respect to the shower tray 7 itself.
The shower tray 7 and the wash-basin 10 have outlets 107, 110 which are connected by means of discharge pipes 207, 210, individually or together, directly or via a trap 13, to a Y-branch 11 connected to the riser 12 for discharging the washing waste-water, which riser 12 forms part of the discharge system resident in the ship itself.
The main discharge riser 12 is provided inside the niche 5 of the cubicle B and the discharge ducts 207, 210 of the wash-basin 10 and the shower 7 are connected to the trap 13 and to the Y-branch 11 outside the cubicle inside the said niche 5 itself.
The hot and cold hydro-sanitary water is supplied to the delivery devices of the shower 7 and the wash-basin 10 - of which only that 310 of the wash-basin 10 is shown - by means of a sanitary-water supply system, of which only two pipes 14 are shown in Figure 2 and the two end- parts 114, 214 of which are shown, said end-parts being connected to the distribution network resident in the ship, which, however, in turn, is not shown in detail.
In this case also, the sanitary-water supply pipes are housed, at least as regards the shower 7 itself, inside the niche 5 and are connected to the delivery device through the side wall which separates the said niche from the shower compartment.
The niche 5 also has inside it the distribution control unit 15 of the electrical power supply system which is not illustrated in detail as regards its remaining parts.
The main duct 16 for discharging the lavatory waste-water from the lavatory pan 9 also passes inside the niche 5. In particular, in this case a special vacuum system is used for evacuating the lavatory waste-water, for example of the type marketed under the name Vacuum Toilet EVAC 90 Bulkhead Model, super silent.
The main discharge riser for the lavatory waste-water 16 operates under vacuum conditions and the pan 9 has associated with it accessories consisting of a discharge duct 109 which is connected to the riser 16 and which has connected to it a silencer 17, as well as a ventilation valve 18, a water supply duct (not shown) and activating means, only the operating pushbutton 19 of which is shown in Figure 3. Said accessories, except for the operating pushbutton 19, are themselves also all arranged inside the niche 5.
The niche 5, in its upper zone, has housed inside it a conditioning device denoted overall by 20. The conditioner may be of any type and comprises preferably an intake-air filter, a heat exchanger/battery, a fan and a post-heating battery. Together with the conditioner itself, the cubicle also has associated with it the corresponding automatic regulating system and the corresponding control console.
Underneath the shower tray 7, the compartment 103 formed underneath the floor of the cubicle B has an intake unit 21 which communicates, on one side, with the cabin via an intake opening 121 closed by an intake grille and, on the other side, is connected by means of two intake ducts 221 to the conditioner 20. The intake unit 21 extends between the side wall 2 separating the shower compartment from the niche 5 and the parallel wall 2 which divides the cubicle from the cabin. The intake ducts 221 consist preferably of flexible pipes and also extend inside the niche 5.
The air treated inside the conditioner and regenerated by it is reintroduced into the cabin environment via a delivery duct 222 which connects the conditioner 20 to a delivery unit 22. The latter communicates with the cabin via a re-entry opening 122. The opening 122 for reintroducing the conditioned/regenerated air is provided on the peripheral wall 2 of the cubicle opposite the niche 5, in the region of its upper end. It is closed by a grille. The delivery duct 222 extends from the niche 5 to the said peripheral wall 2 and is formed in the manner of a casing. The delivery unit 22 also has emerging inside it a separate duct for supplying clean fresh air 322 which is located directly alongside the delivery duct 222, forming therewith a single casing. Inside the niche 5, the delivery duct 222 for the clean fresh air is connected via a vertical section to a distribution duct 23 resident in the ship itself.
Moreover, the cubicle B has inside it an air intake point 24 which is connected through the niche 5 via a connecting duct 124 to a discharge duct 25 resident in the ship.
The conditioner 20 must be supplied with water for its operation and has a supply pipe and a discharge pipe 120, 220 for the said water, which extend inside the niche 5 and are connected above it to the main ducts 26 and 27 for supplying and discharging the conditioner water, resident in the ship.
As can be seen from Figure 3, the conditioner is further provided with a duct for discharging the condensed water of the exchanger, which is denoted by 320 and which is connected to the washing waste-water discharge ducts, in particular the duct 207 of the shower inside the niche 5 itself.
Advantageously, the duct for distributing the clean fresh air 23, the main extraction duct 25 and the main distribution and discharging ducts 26, 27 for the water for operation of the conditioner 20 are arranged so as to be oriented parallel to each other and in a horizontal direction above the niche 5.
The perimetral walls of the cubicle B extend as far as the ceiling of the cabin, while the main ducts 23, 25, 26, 27 run directly above the latter.
Therefore, with the arrangement illustrated and described above of the cubicle B and niche 5, both the ceiling opening through which the connections are effected and the niche 5 itself are concealed from sight.
When, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the rooms, i.e. the cabins of a ship, are arranged alongside one another, the cubicles B, B' are arranged preferably in the adjoining corner zones of two cabins arranged alongside each other. In this case, it is advantageous to envisage two different types of cubicle B, B', inside one of which the niche 5 is provided in one corner zone and inside the other of which it is provided in the opposite corner zone, of the wall of the cubicle B, B' adjacent to the wall of the cabin which is transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the wall 30 separating the two cabins, corresponding to the corner zone occupied by the cubicle B, B' itself.
In this way, the niches 5 of the two adjacent cubicles B, B' are arranged symmetrically with respect to the wall 30 separating the cabins.
According to an improvement, in the region of the facing sides of the niches 5 of the two adjacent cubicles B, B', the separating wall 30 may be open (Figure 2).
Advantageously, as again can be seen from Figure 2, the wall 30 separating the adjacent cabins extends as far as the corresponding end of the peripheral wall 2 of the cubicles B, B' directed towards it, which wall 2 therefore forms a complementary extension thereof as far as the associated transverse common wall of the two cabins. This further simplifies installation of the cubicles B, B' and therefore also allows a certain saving in the amount of material used.
Advantageously, with the two niches 5 arranged alongside one another and coinciding with one another so that there is an open side directed towards the wall transverse to the separating wall 30 of the cabins themselves, it is possible to provide in the said transverse wall a door providing access to the niches 5 from the outer side of the cabins. This simplifies considerably the operations involving connection of the installations incorporated inside the cubicles B, B' to the distribution and discharge lines or ducts resident in the ship or the maintenance and repair operations and does not require access to the cabins themselves. This arrangement is particularly advantageous, in particular in ships, where the cabins are distributed alongside one another along the ship's bulwark, said cabins being separated on the opposite side to the bulwark from an access corridor by means of a common wall 31 and being separated from each other by transverse walls 30. In this case, the cubicles B, B' are arranged advantageously in the adjacent corner zones of two cabins arranged alongside one another against the common wall 31 separating them from the corridor.
With reference to Figure 4, the walls of the cubicles B consist of two rigid shells 32, 33, one inner and one outer, which have between them a cavity 34 filled with expanded or fibrous material.
The two shells 32, 33 are formed by a plurality of panels which are fixed together, for example by means of overlapping of the end edges 233 or via connecting flanges 232, tightened together by means of screws or in some other way. The panels are made of composite material and are composed of an internal layer 132 made of plastic reinforced with glass fibres, a middle layer of expanded or fibrous material and an external layer 133 made of sheet metal. The internal layer 132 consists of a layer of self-extinguishing gel coat (for example of the series 391, DSM ITALIA), a layer of mat of density 225 g/m², a layer of mat of density 450 g/m² and reed-matting of density 600 g/m², which are impregnated with a self-extinguishing resin, for example of the type NEOXIL 825 FRTA (DSM ITALIA), and have a volumetric mass of 2.9 kg/m² and a thickness of 2 mm. The middle layer consists of rock wool treated with resins and having a volumetric mass of 100 kg/m³ (such as, for example, Rockwool 759 of Rockwool Isolatio S.A.). The external layer 133 consists of galvanized steel with a thickness of between 0.5 and 1 mm.
With reference to the corner zone of the prefabricated cubicle B, Figure 4 shows the means for fixing the panels together. Two adjacent wall parts are connected together, in the region of the internal layer 132, 132', by means of the flanges 232 and, in the region of the external layer 133, 133', by means of overlapping of the facing end edges 233 thereof. The overlapping edges 233 of the external layers 133, 133' are provided respectively opposite stiffening profiles 35 fixed to the inner side of the internal layer 132 and are tightened together and against the corresponding stiffening profile 35 for example by means of screws or the like.
The stiffening profiles 35 have a metal core 135 with a channel-shaped cross-section which is directed with its open side towards the internal layer 132' and which rests against it by means of two peripheral side flanges 235. The metal core 135 is fixed to the internal layer 132' by means of a fibreglass layer 335 which lines it externally and which is fixed, for example glued, to the corresponding side of the internal layer 132', with a section projecting beyond the flanges 235 thereof. On the side directed towards the external layer 133, 133', the stiffening profile 35 may have an additional spacing layer 435 which has the additional function of a heat bridge. Furthermore, the hollow internal compartment of the metal core may also be filled with expanded or fibrous insulating material, or the like, in particular rock wool. The bottom overlapping edges of the external layers 133 are provided moreover along the edge parallel to the stiffening profiles 35 with a transverse lug 333, 333' which also engages laterally with the said stiffening profiles 35. The stiffening profiles 35 form a suitable support for fixing the external layers 133' and 133 together and a connection between the outer shell 33 and the inner shell 32, providing the prefabricated cubicle B with considerable structural rigidity.
According to a further characteristic feature, the panel may be provided with means for connecting to the structures, for example to the pre-existing walls of the ship, in particular to the pre-existing buffer panels of the so-called B15 type which are generally commercially available. These connecting means 36 consist of metal profiles provided with seats for engagement with the corresponding free end edges of pre-existing panels of the ship. In particular, the connecting means consist of pairs of metal profiles 136 with a cross-section in the form of an "L", right-angled or with mutually complementary angles other than 90°, which are fixed to the external layer 133, 133' of the panels of the cubicle B by means of screws or the like, in a mutually parallel position and with the arms projecting outwards and located at a distance from one another corresponding to the thickness of the ship's panel with which they are to be engaged.

Claims

Prefabricated cubicle for sanitary facilities, in particular intended to be installed in the cabins of ships, or the like, which consists of a box-like structure (2, 3) which has prefixed or preformed therein the sanitary devices (7, 9, 10) such as, for example, W.C. pans, shower trays, wash-basins, baths or the like, and which has incorporated therein at least the installations (14) for supplying and distributing the sanitary water to the delivery devices (310), the installations (207, 210, 13; 109, 17, 18, 19) for discharging the lavatory and washing waste-water from the said sanitary devices (7, 9, 10), as well as, where necessary, the electrical installations (15) also, with branch lines being provided for connection to the corresponding main ducts and lines (12, 16) resident in the ship, characterized in that the prefabricated cubicle (B, B') has incorporated therein the devices (20) for conditioning the cabin's environment and the devices for regenerating and changing the air, inside the cabin and the cubicle (B, B') itself, as well as the associated automatic regulating systems.
Cubicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that it has associated with it a conditioning device (20) with the corresponding automatic regulating system and with at least one intake opening (21, 121) communicating with the cabin and at least one opening (22, 122) for reintroducing the conditioned air, also communicating with the cabin.
Cubicle according to Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the conditioning device (20) may have associated with it a device for regenerating at least part of the ambient air of the cabin, with the associated automatic regulating system.
Cubicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cubicle itself has associated with it at least one air extraction and/or intake point (24) which can be connected to a main extraction duct (25) resident in the ship, which extraction point (24) is provided preferably inside the cubicle and/or also in the cabin.
Cubicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the prefabricated cubicle also comprises a duct (322) for supplying clean fresh air which can be connected to a duct (23) for distributing said air which is resident in the ship, which supply duct (322) communicates with the cabin environment via an outlet opening (22, 122).
Cubicle according to Claim 5, characterized in that the delivery duct (222) for the regenerated air in the conditioner (20) and the supply duct (322) for the clean fresh air both emerge in a mixing unit (22) which communicates with the cabin itself via a re-entry opening (122).
Cubicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intake opening (121) communicates with the intake of the conditioner/regenerator (20) by means of an intake unit (21) and two successive intake ducts (221).
Cubicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that preferably one of its walls adjacent with the facing walls of the cabin has formed in it at least one vertical niche (5) which extends over the entire height of the cubicle (B) itself and is open or can be opened on at least one side thereof directed towards the outside, for housing and conveying, inside the said niche (5) or in the region of the said niche (5), ducts (11, 207, 210, 109, 15, 124) for connection to the main installations (12, 16, 23, 25, 26, 27) for supplying, discharging, evacuating and extracting the air and water, as well as to the main electricity line, which are resident in the ship, as well as for housing the conditioner/regenerator device (20).
Cubicle according to Claim 8, characterized in that a corner zone, preferably a corner zone intended to be arranged in the corner of a cabin, has an internal-angle recess which forms a niche (5) in the manner of a vertical column extending over the entire height of the cubicle (B) itself and which is open on the peripheral sides (2) of the cubicle (B) adjacent to the walls of the cabin or forming the extensions of the corresponding sides of the cabin.
Cubicle according to Claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the niche (5) has passing through it the vertical riser (12) for discharging the washing waste-water and at the bottom of the latter there is a Y-branch (11) connected to the outlets (207, 210) of the sanitary devices (7, 10) as well as the duct (320) for discharging the condensed water of the conditioner/regenerator device (20), directly or via a trap (13).
Cubicle according to one or more of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the riser (16) for discharging the lavatory waste-water, preferably of a vacuum-type system, extends vertically inside the niche (5), the niche (5) itself housing all the accessories (109, 17, 18) of the lavatory pan (9) which is of the vacuum type.
Cubicle according to one or more of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the niche (5) has extending through it the ducts (124) for connecting the air extraction opening (24) to the main extraction duct (25) resident in the ship, as well as the duct for connection to the main duct (23) supplying clean fresh air.
Cubicle according to one or more of Claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the niche (5) has arranged inside it the ducts (221) connecting the intake of the conditioning/regenerating device (20) to the intake unit (21), as well as the ducts (120, 220) supplying and discharging the operating water for the conditioner/regenerator (20) itself and connected above the niche (5) to main ducts (26, 27) for supplying and discharging the water, resident in the ship.
Cubicle according to Claim 13, characterized in that the shower tray (7) is arranged between a wall of the angled recess forming the niche (5) and the opposite parallel wall (2) of the cubicle (B), laterally with respect to the said angled recess itself, while the W.C. pan (9) is arranged opposite the angled recess itself.
Cubicle according to Claim 14, characterized in that the floor (3) is raised and forms a free compartment (103) which has arranged inside it, underneath the shower tray (7), the intake unit (21) which extends between the wall separating the shower tray (7) and the niche (5) and the opposite peripheral wall (2) of the cabin, having in the region of this latter wall the intake opening (121) and being connected in the region of the opposite wall to at least one intake duct (221) of the conditioning/regenerating device (20).
Cubicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet unit (22) for the regenerated air and fresh air and the associated outlet opening (122) are provided at the upper end of one of the two peripheral walls (2) directed towards the inside of the cabin, said unit (22) being formed in the manner of an internal casing, while the ducts (222, 322) for connection to the delivery point of the conditioning/regenerating device (20) supplying clean fresh air run parallel to one another along the internal upper perimeter of the cubicle itself and themselves are also formed in the manner of an internal casing.
Cubicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the niche (5) may be provided in either corner zone of the cubicle (B, B') on the side adjacent to the wall of the cabin, corresponding to the corner therein for installation of the cubicle (B, B'), the respective cubicles (B, B') being arranged alongside each other in two adjacent cabins, in the adjacent corner zones of the said two cabins, so that, via an opening in the intervening wall (30) separating the two cabins, the niches (5) of the said two cubicles (B, B') are arranged alongside each other, forming a common niche.
Cubicle according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of two shells (32, 33) which are preferably made of plastic and which are separated from each other by a cavity (34) filled with expanded or fibrous material, the corner zone at least of the inner shell (32) and outer shell (33) consisting of corner panels (132', 133') which can be fixed to the panels or flat-wall parts (132, 133) by means of overlapping (233) or by means of peripheral transverse flanges (232).
Cubicle according to Claim 18, characterized in that the panels consist of composite material and comprise an internal layer (132, 132') forming the inner shell (32) made of plastic reinforced with glass-fibre, in particular with an internal finishing layer of gel coat, two successive layers of mat and successive glass-fibre reed-matting, which are impregnated with self-extinguishing resin of about 2 mm overall thickness, a middle layer of rock wool, where necessary impregnated with resin, and an external layer (133, 133') made of sheet steel, in particular galvanized steel, with a thickness of 0.5 to 1 mm.
Cubicle according to Claims 18 or 19, characterized in that the internal layer (132, 132') and the external layer (133, 133') of panels have between them profiles for stiffening and fixing said two, respectively internal and external, layers (132, 132', 133, 133') together, which stiffening profiles are provided so as to coincide with the overlapping edges (233) of the external layers (133, 133') of the outer shell (33), said overlapping edges (233) being tightened together and against the corresponding profile (35) via fixing means such as screws or the like.
Cubicle according to one or more of Claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the stiffening profiles (35) have a tubular or preferably channel-shaped metal core (135) with lateral bearing flanges (235) and can be filled with expanded or fibrous material, in particular rock wool, while they are fixed to the internal layer (132, 132') of the inner shell (32) by means of a coating layer (335) of plastic, for example fibreglass, which forms two gluing flanges, laterally with respect to the said cores (135).
Cubicle according to Claim 21, characterized in that the stiffening profiles (35) and the external layers (133, 133') of the outer shell (33) of two adjacent panels have between them an additional spacing layer (435) of plastic, for example fibreglass or the like, with the functions of a heat bridge.
Cubicle according to one or more of Claims 18 to 22, characterized in that the bottom overlapping edge (233) of the external layers (133, 133') of two adjacent panels is provided with a transverse projecting lug (333) for engaging with the corresponding side of the stiffening profile (35).