GB1586341A - Trapped gulleys - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TRAPPED GULLEYS (71) We, WAVIN B.V., a Dutch Body Corporate of 251 Handellaan, Zwolle, Holland, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to trapped gulleys.

According to the invention there is provided a trapped gulley comprising a body having an outlet and at least one inlet, and a baffle device removably mounted in the body such that the fluid path between the outlet and the or each inlet passes through a portion of the body which in use contains liquid, the baffle device including a mounting portion which is located in a locating groove beneath the outlet and being secured to the body above the outlet by removable fastenirg means such that a sealing means around the outlet is compressed between the mounting portion and the body.

In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational cross-section of a trapped gulley; Figure 2 is a top plan view of a body of the trapped gulley; Figure 3 is a top plan view of a baffle device of the trapped gulley; and Figure 4 is a top plan view of a cover element of the trapped gulley.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a trapped gulley 1 comprising a body 2, a baffle device 3 which forms part 4 of an apertured cover 5 for the body and a cover element 6 which forms a main cover portion within which the part 4 is disposed. The body 2, baffle device 3 and cover element 6 are formed of plastics material.

The illustrated gulley is for use in rainwater drainage systems and the body 2 is provided with one outlet 7, two opposed side inlets 8 and a main, top inlet 9 which is covered by the apertured cover 5 which forms a grid. As the side inlets 8 may not be required they are blanked off. Each side inlet com prises two concentric pipe couplings, shown as spigots, extending outwardly from a side portion 10 of the body, one coupling 11 being of larger diameter than the other coupling 12. Each inlet is blanked off by the side portion 10 of the body within the cour lings. The two couplings 11 and 12 enable pipes of two different diameter to be connected to the body.It will be understood that if a pipe corresponding to the larger diameter coupling 11 is to be connected to the body, the coupling 12 and the side portion 10 within the coupling 11 is removed, and that if a pipe corresponding to the smaller diameter coupling 12 is to be connected to the body only the side portion 10 within the coupling 12 is removed.

The baffle device 3 is removably mounted in the body 2 and is provided with a cowling 13 between the outlet 7 and the inlets 8 and 9 such that the fluid path between the outlet and the inlets passes through a lower portion 14 of the body which in use contains water which acts to seal off foul air from the main drain or sewer to which the outlet is connected.

In use flow through the body from the inlets to the outlet passes through the lower portion 14 of the body under the cowling 13.

Making the baffle device readily removable from the body enables any blockage in the gulley to be easily cleared.

The baffle device 3 is removably mounted in the body by means of its mounting portion 15 to which the cowling 13 is attached. The mounting portion extends adjacent to the side portion 10 of the body in which the outlet 7 is provided and has an aperture 16 which registers with the outlet 7. The mounting portion is also provided with a seal locating recess 17 for locating sealing means in the form of an O-ring 18 around the outlet 7. The mounting portion 15 is located in the body in a locating groove 19 beneath the outlet 7 and is secured to the body by means of removable fastening means 20, e.g. a self tapping screw, above the outlet such that the O-ring seal 18 around the outlet is compressed between the mounting portion 15 and the side portion 10 of the body to form a seal therebetween.The fastening means 20 is concealed by the cover element 6, as shown in Figure 1. To fit the baffle device in the body, the O-ring seal 18 is fitted in the recess 17, the mounting portion is located in the locating groove 19, and then the mounting portion is pivoted in the groove until the seal is brought into contact with the side portion 10 of the body. Thereafter the baffle device is aligned with the fixing hole for the fastening means, which causes the seal to be compressed, and the fastening means are secured in position. Thus, it will be appreciated that the arrangement is such that the chances of the seal becoming dislodged during fitting of the baffle device are reduced.

As mentioned earlier, the baffle device incorporates the part 4 of the cover 5. It is therefore apparent from a simple visual inspection whether the baffle device has been fitted in the gulley.

The cowling 13 and the inlets 8 are so arranged that the flow into the body through the inlets 8 is not unduly restricted by the cowling. Specifically the cowling 13 does not extend beyohd the centres, or axes, of the inlets. This is achieved in the embodiment by confining the baffle to one vertical half of the interior of the body and having the inlets 8 enter the body such that their centres or axes are in the other vertical half.

The cover element 6 includes an opening 21 for receiving the part 4 of the cover. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the part 4 and the cover element 6 are apertured so as to form a grid, illustrated as comprising concentric rings 22 interconnected by spokes 23.

The cover element is provided with a solid portion 24 adapted to be cut to receive and horizoPtally locate a rainwater pipe, which is shown in dotted line and referenced 25 in Figure 1. The body is provided with horizontally extending ribs 26 where such a pipe enters the body for vertically supporting the pipe and limiting its vertical extent in the body such that the pipe does not hinder removal of the baffle device 3 from the body.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A trapped gulley comprising a body having an outlet and at least one inlet, and a baffle device removably mounted in the body such that the fluid path between the outlet and the or each inlet passes through a portion of the body which in use contains liquid, the baffle device including a mounting portion which is located in a locating groove beneath the outlet and being secured to the body above the outlet by removable fastening means such that a sealing means around the outlet is compressed between the mounting portion and the body.

2. A trapped gulley as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle device includes a portion which forms part of a cover for the body.

3. A trapped gulley as claimed in claim 2, wherein said portion of the baffle forming part of the cover is disposed within a main cover portion which is separate from the baffle device.

4. A trapped gulley as claimed in claim 3, wherein said main cover portion conceals the fastening means securing the mounting portion of the baffle device to the body.

5. A trapped gulley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body is provided with support means for supporting a pipe extending vertically downwardly into said body such that the pipe does not hinder removal of the baffle device from the body.

6. A trapped gulley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or at least one of the inlets is a side inlet, and the baffle device does not extend beyond the axis of the side inlet.

7. A trapped gulley as claimed in claim 6, wherein said side inlet comprises a blanked off pipe coupling extending outwardly from a side portion of the body.

8. A trapped gulley substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tapping screw, above the outlet such that the O-ring seal 18 around the outlet is compressed between the mounting portion 15 and the side portion 10 of the body to form a seal therebetween. The fastening means 20 is concealed by the cover element 6, as shown in Figure 1. To fit the baffle device in the body, the O-ring seal 18 is fitted in the recess 17, the mounting portion is located in the locating groove 19, and then the mounting portion is pivoted in the groove until the seal is brought into contact with the side portion 10 of the body. Thereafter the baffle device is aligned with the fixing hole for the fastening means, which causes the seal to be compressed, and the fastening means are secured in position.Thus, it will be appreciated that the arrangement is such that the chances of the seal becoming dislodged during fitting of the baffle device are reduced. As mentioned earlier, the baffle device incorporates the part 4 of the cover 5. It is therefore apparent from a simple visual inspection whether the baffle device has been fitted in the gulley. The cowling 13 and the inlets 8 are so arranged that the flow into the body through the inlets 8 is not unduly restricted by the cowling. Specifically the cowling 13 does not extend beyohd the centres, or axes, of the inlets. This is achieved in the embodiment by confining the baffle to one vertical half of the interior of the body and having the inlets 8 enter the body such that their centres or axes are in the other vertical half. The cover element 6 includes an opening 21 for receiving the part 4 of the cover. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the part 4 and the cover element 6 are apertured so as to form a grid, illustrated as comprising concentric rings 22 interconnected by spokes 23. The cover element is provided with a solid portion 24 adapted to be cut to receive and horizoPtally locate a rainwater pipe, which is shown in dotted line and referenced 25 in Figure 1. The body is provided with horizontally extending ribs 26 where such a pipe enters the body for vertically supporting the pipe and limiting its vertical extent in the body such that the pipe does not hinder removal of the baffle device 3 from the body. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A trapped gulley comprising a body having an outlet and at least one inlet, and a baffle device removably mounted in the body such that the fluid path between the outlet and the or each inlet passes through a portion of the body which in use contains liquid, the baffle device including a mounting portion which is located in a locating groove beneath the outlet and being secured to the body above the outlet by removable fastening means such that a sealing means around the outlet is compressed between the mounting portion and the body.

2. A trapped gulley as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle device includes a portion which forms part of a cover for the body.

3. A trapped gulley as claimed in claim 2, wherein said portion of the baffle forming part of the cover is disposed within a main cover portion which is separate from the baffle device.

4. A trapped gulley as claimed in claim 3, wherein said main cover portion conceals the fastening means securing the mounting portion of the baffle device to the body.

5. A trapped gulley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said body is provided with support means for supporting a pipe extending vertically downwardly into said body such that the pipe does not hinder removal of the baffle device from the body.

6. A trapped gulley as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or at least one of the inlets is a side inlet, and the baffle device does not extend beyond the axis of the side inlet.

7. A trapped gulley as claimed in claim 6, wherein said side inlet comprises a blanked off pipe coupling extending outwardly from a side portion of the body.

8. A trapped gulley substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.