FR2896292A1 - Non-return system for e.g. sinks has flexible section, allowing it to be temporarily bent into curve when fitting it - Google Patents

Abstract

The non-return system for sinks, washbasins, baths and showers comprises a sleeve (2) containing a dry siphon (1). The sleeve has a flexible section (8), allowing it to be temporarily bent into a curve when fitting it.

Description

Non-return device intended to be mounted between two ducts

  fluid discharge, including a dry siphon and comprising a flexible body. The field of the invention is that of hydraulics in general and evacuation in particular. More specifically, the invention relates to a non-return cispositif intended to be mounted as a bypass between two fluid discharge lines. The invention applies in particular, but not exclusively, to sanitary installations, for example for the evacuation of water from a sink, a sink, a bath, a shower tray. It is noted that the invention can also be applied in industrial fields, in particular in an installation for discharging oils or other effluents. In the field of the invention, it is conventional to implement, in a water discharge pipe, a siphon for removing odors from the pipes. Classically, in the sanitary sector, the siphons are connected on the one hand to the drain opening of a sink, sink or other sanitary appliance and on the other hand to a drain pipe.

  According to a widely used siphon approach, these come out designed to allow water retention. This water guard has the function of preventing the rise of unpleasant odors. The water guards, different according to the national standards in force, can vary from 5 to 10 cm.

  A disadvantage of the current siphons with water guard is related to their high height which tends to occupy all the space under 1 sanitary apparatus, thus limiting the useful volume of this space. This clutter proves most often undesirable insofar as the space in which the siphon is present is generally used as storage space, as is the case for example in a sink under.

  However, it is not technically required to have water to ensure a seal between the upstream and downstream of the odor separation device. Indeed, systems of siphons without water guard have been proposed by the prior art. These siphons comprise a membrane or valve system. Diaphragm siphons connect horizontally or vertically directly to the drain or drain pipe. The assembly is secured to the discharge opening of the sanitary appliance by means of a nut system or rapid snap-fit assembly.

  Diaphragm siphons, commonly referred to as dry siphons, have been described several times in the state of the art, and in particular in the patent documents published under the numbers FR -1.027.609, FR - 2.539.779 , FR - 1.109.095, GB - 232.031, GB - 2.137.247 or EP - 0.941.433.

  The general principle of dry siphons therefore rest on the implementation of a membrane, the latter comprising two flexible walls which deviate from one another under the influence of the flow (thus providing a passage for the flow ), and flatten against each other in the absence of flow. When they are pressed against each other, the contact of the two flexible walls allows a seal to the rise of odors. The walls of the membrane must be sufficiently flexible to ensure a seal by an intimate contact of the material. They must also be flexible enough to allow the evacuation of fluid. while avoiding the attachment of the evacuated materials.

  In addition, the diaphragm siphons are mounted in a body in which they are positioned and maintained appropriately. However, as appears in particular in the patent published under the number EP - 0.941.433, this body is constituted by a rigid pipe whose end openings are coaxial (or whose axes are parallel), more or less form evolved according to the functions sought.

  The existing devices are therefore designed to extend between two coaxial ducts, or even slightly offset with respect to the au: but extending along parallel axes. However, in practice, it is common to have to assemble a siphon between two non-coaxial or non-parallel ducts (it is for example frequent to have to mount a siphon between two perpendicular ducts between them). The current devices are not adapted to this configuration and require, if necessary, the implementation of an additional piece for the purpose of ensuring the connection between the body of the siphon and one of the two ducts.

  This tends to increase substantially the cost of installations due to the need for additional parts, and to lengthen the assembly time. Moreover, the design of the current dry siphons involves mounting difficulties. Indeed, the rigid body in which the membrane is mounted has a predetermined length. Also, to proceed with the assembly of the body between two ducts having a given spacing between them, the installer must temporarily increase the spacing between the two ducts to accommodate the body and the securing means that it carries. This entails tedious manipulations, often in uncomfortable conditions. In any case, the editing times tend to increase again as a result. The same goes for the dismantling of the siphon for a possible maintenance intervention, or even replacement. The invention particularly aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, the object of the invention is to propose a nonreturn device which can be mounted directly between two ducts, this also when the ducts are non-coaxial or non-parallel to each other. The invention also aims to provide such a non-return device which is adapted to the operation of a dry siphon.

  The invention also aims to provide such a non-return device that is easy and quick to install. Another object of the invention is to provide such a non-return device which is compact for a given pipe diameter to which the device must be associated. The invention also aims to provide such a non-return device which is simple in design and easy to implement. These objectives, as well as others which will appear later, are achieved thanks to the invention which has for object a non-return device intended to be mounted between two conduits for discharging a fluid, including a siphon said device comprising a sleeve inside which said dry siphon is mounted, characterized in that said sleeve comprises a flexible body so as to take two configurations: a straight configuration according to which said sleeve extends along a substantially rectilinear axis; a curved configuration according to which said flexible body forms a bent portion. Thus, thanks to the invention, a dry siphon anti-return device 'could be installed between two coaxial or parallel ducts between them, but also between non-coaxial or non-parallel ducts between them. Of course, it is understood that the device according to the invention can be installed by forming an elbow defining an angle which can vary according to the facilities to be equipped, this thanks to the flexibility of the body which allows to adapt the device according to the angle formed by the two ducts to which the device must be associated. In other words, it is sufficient for the installer to present the non-return device according to the invention opposite the ducts in question and to act on the ends of the device to bend the body and bend it in function with the position of the free ends of the ducts.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, said flexible body is compressible longitudinally elastically. Such a characteristic makes it possible to assemble and dismount the device according to the invention more easily and more quickly compared to the anti-return devices of the prior art.

  Indeed, to accommodate the device between two ducts (aligned or not), it is possible to compress the body of the device so as to reduce its length sufficiently to insert it between the two ducts. It is then sufficient to release the body so that it extends over the entire space between the two ducts. Advantageously, said dry siphon comprises a flexible membrane whose two walls are flexible, said membrane being capable of taking two configurations: a sealing configuration in which the two walls are pressed against each other throughout their width, the absence of fluid flow; an opening configuration, according to which, under the thrust of said fluid, said walls elastically apart from each other to form a passage for the flow of said fluid, said flexible walls extending at least partially inside said flexible body.

  It is thus possible to coincide longitudinally the length of the dry siphon and that of the flexible body. In other words, it is not necessary to preserve a straight portion in which the dry siphon extends and, for this, to deport, along the length of the device, the position of the flexible body. It is therefore possible to propose a device according to the invention with a relatively short length. According to an advantageous solution, said flexible body comprises a section defined by at least two dimensions: a first dimension extending along said width of said walls and provided to allow them to be plated in their entire width in said configuration of said sealing; a second dimension extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to that of said first dimension, said second dimension being substantially smaller than said first dimension. In this way, it is possible to allow the installation, inside the body, of a dry siphon while ensuring the sealing function of the latter, while reducing the overall bulk of the latter. Indeed, according to a traditional approach to the design of the exhaust ducts and / or siphons, it is proposed elements whose section is circular.

  However, in a body with a circular circulation of reduced section, the risk is that the walls of the dry siphon curl up inside the body, to the point of deviating from one another and therefore no longer ensure their sealing function. This is illustrated by FIG. 11 which shows a body 110 of circular section inside which is mounted a dry siphon comprising said walls 111, 112. As it appears, the internal space of the body 110 forces the walls 111, 112 to marry the inner wall of the body 110, curling slightly, resulting in a partial separation of the walls 111, 112 between them.

  This phenomenon causes the formation of a passage 113 between the walls, including in the absence of flow, which, therefore, destroys the sealing function of the dry siphon. Of course, this is unacceptable. To avoid this problem, an obvious solution is to increase the diameter of the body, so that the walls can extend more easily, pressed against each other. However, this would greatly increase the overall size of the device, which is undesirable. The particular shape of the body of a device according to the invention thus allows to preserve a sufficient space to ensure the tightness of the dry siphon, this without detrimentally increasing the size of the device. According to a preferred solution, said flexible body has an ovoid section. With such a shape, a very good compromise is obtained between the reduction in size and the bending behavior of the body. Advantageously, said flexible body has a corrugated structure. In this case, said annular structure preferably comprises a plurality of rings distributed with a pitch of between about 3 mm and about 7 mm.

  According to another advantageous characteristic, said dry siphon includes an intake portion of said fluid upstream, in the direction of flow of said fluid, said flexible walls, said intake portion having at its free end a collar intended to cooperate with a shoulder formed in said sleeve to maintain said dry siphon dr.ns said sleeve. In this way, the means of cooperation between the body of the dis-ositive and the dry siphon are directly integrated in the latter. This limits the number of parts composing the device, which reduces the assembly time thereof.

  In this case, a stiffening core is embedded in said flange. This ensures a reliable and durable maintenance of the dry siphon in the body of the device, without the need to bring a complementary holding piece. According to a conceivable variant, said sleeve has between its two ends at least one air intake and / or external connection. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and of several of its variants, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and attached drawings among which: - Figure 1 is a sectional view of a non-return device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a non-return device according to the invention; FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of a dry siphon intended to equip a non-return device according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a view of an asti-return device according to the invention in a bent configuration; - Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of one end of a non-return device according to the invention; - Figure 6 is a partial view of a collar of a dry siphon for equipping a non-return device according to the invention; - Figure 7 is a sectional view of a socket of a non-return device according to the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a male end of a non-return device according to the invention; - Figures 9 and 10 are end views of the outlet of a dry siphon for equipping a non-return device according to the invention; - Figure 11 illustrates the position that can take the walls of a dry siphon inside a flexible body of circular section. As indicated above, the principle of the invention lies in the fact of associating, in a non-return device, a dry siphon and a flexible body in which the dry siphon is mounted, this to allow the device to take alternatively a straight configuration or a bent configuration. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it is recalled that dry siphon denotes a membrane comprising an amission portion 11 extending by two flexible and resilient walls 13 capable of forming a passage 12 for a flow. The flow enters the end 3 of the device, penetrates the inlet portion 1 1 of the siphon and leaves it from the opening 12. FIG. 3 illustrates a dry siphon at rest, it is to say in the absence of flow. As soon as the upstream pressure increases because of the arrival of the effluent, the walls 13 deviate to allow the flow to pass through the opening 12. As soon as there is no more effluent, the walls 13 resuming their original position, that is to say contiguous against each other, ensuring the sealing function of the siphon. It is noted that the walls 13 can be smooth (Figure 9). Scion a possible variant, the walls have one or more longitudinal ribs 19 (Figure 10) to give them a certain rigidity in the flow direction of the flow, while maintaining the flexibility sought for the opening 12 in the perpendicular direction of flow. These ribs 19 may be present staggered offset on the faces or facing the walls 13. It is also possible to have a single rib, the number of which may evolve according to the desired rigidity.

  Also, it is possible to have a section of the wall 13 progressive (Figure 9), the thickness of the wall 13 being in this case more important in the center than on its ends. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, a non-return device according to the invention consists, on the one hand, of a siphon 1 as described previously (ensuring the imperviousness of odor recovery) and of a sleeve 2 presenting two ends 3 and 4 for connecting the siphon A to the exhaust ducts (not shown). The non-return device A can be installed vertically as horizontally, respecting of course the assembly direction of the dry siphon.

  At the ends 3 and 4 are the openings for receiving the conduits, the latter each being inserted into a seal (not shown) housed in cavities 5 and 6. Another possible method of connection can be obtained by the implementation of a socket (such as that illustrated in Figure 7), or by the use of a male end (Figure 8) to be fitted, the seal being in this case provided by an O-ring 20. Without O-ring, this male end can be glued according to a conceivable variant. It is specified that, in general, it is advantageous to have a non-return device having at least one removable connection.

  According to the present embodiment, the sleeve comprises a flexible body 8 consisting of a corrugated structure. This annular structure preferably comprises a plurality of rings 81 distributed with a pitch of about 3 mm, and more generally a pitch of between about 3 mm and about 7 mm.

  As shown in Figure 2, the body 8 has a section having a diameter 14 very substantially greater than the diameter 15, perpendicular to the diameter 14. Preferably, the body section 8 has an ovoid shape. The largest part of the section of the body 8 (corresponding to the diameter 14) is provided to allow the width of the walls 13 of the dry siphon 1 to be positioned in width. According to the principle of the invention, the flexible body 8 allows the device return to take a curved configuration such as that illustrated in Figure 4.

  Note that, in this bent configuration, the body 8 and the siphon 1 bend at the same time (the walls of the siphon extending inside the flexible body and following the curvature of the latter), a space of freedom allowing in this geometry to the membrane to open in the presence of a flow. Of course, a non-return device according to the invention can also be installed in a straight configuration such as that illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition, the annular structure of the body 8 is provided to allow longitudinal compression of the sleeve. Thus, it can proceed to a rapid assembly and disassembly by compression of the body, which allows in particular the visit and the possible maintenance of the dry siphon 1.

  Furthermore, the siphon 1 comprises a flange 7 intended to abut on the shoulder 9 extending the inner face of the input flange 3 (Figure 5). This collar 7 comprises an overmolded rigid annular core 10 which allows the siphon 1 to be held securely in the sleeve 2. According to the present embodiment, the rigid core 10 is embedded in the collar 7 by overmoulding during manufacture. of the siphon, which makes the rigid soul invisible on the finished product. Maintaining the siphon in the sleeve is obtained by providing the outside diameter of the flange 7 greater than the inside diameter of the shoulder 9 of the body 2. In addition, the flange 7 carries a sealing lip 16 (FIG. take place by compression in the sleeve. The siphon is mounted in the sleeve 2 either by pulling the walls 13 through the opening 4, or by pushing the flange 7 through the opening 3. It should be noted that the siphon 1 may have specific thickness / width ratios. width being measured in a direction transverse to the, Direction of fluid flow. In particular, it is possible to have an extremely thin membrane 13, similar to a film, whose wall thickness represents, for example, 0.06% of its width (for example of the order of 50 mm). To obtain this extreme fineness, the material of the film of the siphon 1 may be polyethylene (or other PET). According to another conceivable embodiment, it is also possible to provide a thicker membrane while effectively providing the sealing and evacuation function (even for very small fluxes), the thickness of the walls of the membrane being, for example, represent 3.3% or more of their width. According to one conceivable variant, an air intake system 17, 13 (FIG. 5) can also be provided for the installation of an air or water intake, an anti-vacuum device such as a nozzle fluted for connection of a flexible tube for example, an air intake to accelerate the flow by venturi effect, oa still for the connection of an overflow sink. This air intake 17 may be upstream of the flange 7 for the connection of an overflow or a pipette intended for the injection of any product, or downstream of the flange 7, a suitable place for the laying of an anti-vacuum.

  A non-return device according to the invention is intended to be connected on the one hand to the discharge opening of a sanitary apparatus such as a sink or a sink and on the other hand to the drain pipe. The body integrates indifferently at its ends is a double quick connection system (as shown in Figure 1) or a single quick-connect system and a male end (attached or sliding with O-ring) for connecting the device to evacuation pipes (upstream and downstream). Other applications of the invention, for example in industrial fields, can be envisaged.

Claims (10)

  1. Anti-return device (A) intended to be mounted between two fluid discharge ducts, including a dry siphon (1), said device comprising a sleeve (2) inside which is mounted said dry siphon (1), characterized in that said sleeve (2) comprises a flexible body (8) so as to take two configurations: - a straight configuration according to which said sleeve (2) extends along a substantially rectilinear axis; a curved configuration according to which said flexible body (3) forms a bent portion.   2. Non-return device according to claim 1, characterized in that said flexible body (8) is compressible longitudinally elastically. 15   3. Non-return device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said dry siphon (1) comprises a flexible membrane, two walls (13) are flexible, said membrane being capable of taking two configurations: a configuration sealant wherein the two walls (13) are pressed against each other throughout their width, in the absence of fluid flow; an opening configuration, according to which, under the force of said fluid, said walls (13) elastically apart from each other to form a passage for the flow of said fluid, said flexible walls (13 ) extending at least partially within said flexible body (8).   4. Non-return device according to claim 3, characterized in that said flexible body (8) comprises a section defined by at least two dimensions: a first dimension extending along said width of said walls (13) and provided to allow these to be plated dais all width width in said sealing configuration; a second dimension extending in a direction that is sensibly perpendicular to that of said first dimension, said second dimension being substantially smaller than said first dimension.   5. Non-return device according to claim 4, characterized in that said flexible body (8) has an ovoid section.   6. Non-return device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said flexible body (8) has a corrugated structure.   7. Non-return device according to claim 6, characterized in that said annular structure comprises a plurality of rings distributed with a pitch of between about 3 mm and about 7 mm.   8. Non-return device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said dry siphon (1) includes an intake portion (11) of said fluid upstream, in the flow direction of said fluid, said flexible walls (13), said intake portion having at its end a flange (7) intended to cooperate with a shoulder (9) formed in said sleeve (2) for maintaining said dry siphon in said sleeve.   9. Anti-return device according to claim 8, characterized in that a stiffening core (10) is embedded in said flange (7).   10. Non-return device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said sleeve has between its two ends at least one air intake and / or external connection (17), (18).