GB2267316A

GB2267316A - Pressurisable liquid dispenser for use relating to damp coursing of buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2267316A
Application number: GB9211260A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin John Byrne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-28
Filing date: 1992-05-28
Publication date: 1993-12-01
Also published as: GB9211260D0

Abstract

A pressurisable container (10) is provided with a plug member (11), which plug acts as the filling point for pressurisable fluid, the container (10) also being provided with a valve member (12) through which nitrogen or other inert gas, under pressure, is introduced into the container (10). Once the fluid contained within the container (10) has been pressurised, such fluid can pass out of the container (10) by means of a dip pipe or tube (13) and valve member (14). A suitable tube and nozzle arrangement is connected over member (14A) in order to enable the pressurised fluid to be transmitted to the area of a building or dwelling to be treated. If desired the gas input (at 12) can be disconnected before use of the device. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DAMP COURSING OF BUILDINGS The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to the damp coursing of buildings.

There are various ways in which damp coursing can be applied to buildings. In respect of existing buildings, there may well have been a breakdown in the original damp course where the building was constructed, which will require the damp coursing to be renewed. Also, a damp course is required in a new building when under construction.

There are four main procedures which are currently adopted for the damp coursing of buildings.

Such procedures may be summarised as follows:1. The mortar between the bricks at a particular level is removed and a seal of damp coursing material is provided. Such procedure is both time consuming and costly and the seal must extend right around the building or dwelling being treated.

2. An electro osmosis procedure has been utilised wherein a copper wire is provided around the building or dwelling being treated. An earth rod extends into the ground and static electricity is supposed to provide the necessary damp coursing.

3. A drip feed method has been adopted wherein a hole is drilled into the brickwork in the building or dwelling being treated and a container, which is filled with silicone fluid is left adjacent said drill hole over-night. The silicone gradually saturates into the mortar joints. Such procedure needs to be effected around the whole building or dwelling being treated and can be extremely time-consuming.

4. An injection method has been most commonly utilised wherein an electric pump is provided to build up a pressure to force silicone or other fluid into the brickwork of the building or dwelling being treated. A plurality of drill holes are provided around the house into which the silicone or other fluid is injected by pressure means. This method suffers from the disadvantage that the electric pump, which at maximum can generate 150 psig, does not really provide the necessary pressure to effect saturation of the brickwork to provide the necessary damp coursing. Whilst the electric pump will not often be able to generate the maximum pressure referred to above, such pump can also break down since same has to operate continuously over long periods.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a damp coursing procedure which at least minimises the disadvantages associated with the prior art procedures.

The present invention utilises a procedure based on an injection method but wherein the required material can be injected into the building or dwelling being treated in an appropriate manner at a sufficiently high pressure to saturate the brickwork in the region where the damp coursing is required, such saturation taking place around the whole building or dwelling being treated.

The present invention is based on the utilisation of a pressure vessel which contains silicone or other appropriate fluid therein, which fluid is subjected to pressure treatment whereby the silicone or like fluid is thereafter forced into the brickwork surrounding a building or dwelling to be treated, the silicone or other fluid being injected into the brickwork at the pressure of the order of 300 psig, which pressure can be increased to the order to 600 psig, if required.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in connection with the damp coursing of a building or dwelling, said apparatus comprising a pressurisable vessel or container, said vessel or container including means for permitting entry of a gas into said vessel or container, means for permitting silicone or like fluid to be introduced into the vessel or container and means for permitting the silicone or like fluid when under pressure to pass out from said vessel or container, and means for permitting transfer of said pressurised fluid into means for forcing said pressurised silicone or like fluid into selected holes provided in the wall of a building or dwelling to be treated.

The vessel or container is suitably formed of stainless steel although any other suitable strong material could be utilised.

A plug member, suitably made of bronze or like material, said plug preferably having wings, constitutes the means for permitting silicone or like fluid to be introduced into the vessel or container. The plug member is suitably located in the top portion of the container and the wing members are provided to assist in removal of the plug from the container to permit the silicone or like fluid to be added, and for attachment to the container in a form locking manner.

The means for permitting gas to be introduced into the container and the means for enabling the pressurised silicone or like fluid to be removed from the container suitably comprise valves, formed of suitable metallic material.

A dip tube or pipe is suitably provided within the container, one end of said pipe being located in the base region of the container and the other end being connected to the means for permitting the pressurised silicone or like fluid to pass out of the container.

The apparatus of the invention is also suitably provided with a pressure gauge as well as with one or more manual relief valves, and a pressure regulator for regulating or selecting a desired pressure. The pressure gauge indicates the pressure within the container.

Nitrogen is the preferred gas for introduction into the container, although any inert gas can be utilised.

The nitrogen or inert gas is preferably contained in a suitable pressurised container and a tube member extends from such pressurised gas container to the relief valve so that such nitrogen or other inert gas can be introduced into the container to pressurise same.

The duly pressurised silicone or like fluid within the container, once same is at the desired pressure, can then be allowed to leave the pressurised container and is directed into a suitable means for forcing such silicone or like fluid into the wall of a building or dwelling to be treated at selected locations. Preferably, such means comprises a plurality of tubes and nozzles so that a number of locations can be treated at one and the same time.

It will thus be seen that the apparatus of the present invention, which has no moving parts, cannot break down and is capable of operating at pressures higher than heretofore for a prolonged period.

The invention also provides a method for damp coursing a building or dwelling comprising utilisation of the apparatus described above. In this connection, the pressurisable container is filled with suitable fluid such as silicone to act as the damp coursing medium. Thereafter, the container is sealed and nitrogen or other gas is introduced into the container to pressurise same. Once the desired pressure has been achieved within the container, then the pressurised fluid is allowed to leave the container and it is then directed into pre-drilled holes in a wall via a tube and nozzle arrangement. The silicone or like fluid is forced into such holes and then saturates the brickwork so as to provide a complete damp course seal around the building or dwelling.

Once the container is emptied of silicone or like fluid, the nitrogen line is closed and then a relief valve is operated to permit the nitrogen to escape until the container has been depressurised. The plug member is then removed and the container refilled.

The various operations described above are then carried out once again.

It is to be noted by utilisation of the apparatus of the present invention, one avoids the use of a constantly operating electric pump as in the prior art. Moreover, by varying the length of the tube between the nitrogen container and the pressurisable container, as well as the length of the tube between the pressurisable container and the nozzle arrangement, the method and apparatus of the present invention can be carried out over large areas without having to keep moving the pressurisable container and the nitrogen container as well as the nozzle means.

It is also possible to utilise the apparatus of the present invention within a building and without the need for the nitrogen line to be constantly attached.

In this connection, once the container has reached the required pressure and the regulator has been fixed to ensure that the fluid will be emitted from the pressurisable container at the desired pressure, then the nitrogen line can be detached and then the pressurisable container and the tube and nozzle arrangement can be taken into the building or dwelling and the required work carried out within the building or dwelling.

It is to be noted that the method and apparatus of the present invention operates at any desired pressure which is selected by the regulator. For example, if a pressure of 300 psig is required then the regulator is set accordingly and once such pressure is achieved then the silicone or like fluid, at the required pressure, can be forced into the wall of a building or dwelling.

The present invention will be further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a pressurisable container utilisable in the apparatus and method of the present invention, and Figs. 2A and 2B are side and plan views respectively of the top of the container showing the orientation of the various connections located in the top of the pressurisable container.

As illustrated a pressurisable container, generally referenced 10, is suitably formed of stainless steel. Such container 10 is provided with a plug member 11, suitably formed of bronze and being provided with wings. Such plug acts as the filling point wherein suitable fluid is introduced into the container 10.

The container is also provided with a valve member 12 through which nitrogen or other inert gas, under pressure, is introduced into the container 10.

Once the fluid contained within the container 10 has been pressurised, same can pass out of the container 10 by means of dip pipe 13 and valve member 14. A suitable tube and nozzle arrangement will be connected over the hose member 14A in order to transmit the pressurised fluid to the area of the building or dwelling to be treated.

The container 10 may also be provided with appropriate means 15, 15' to permit the container to be picked up by a user.

As illustrated in Figs. 2A and 2B, in addition to the members 12 and 14, it is also possible to provide manual and automatic relief valves 21 and 22, as well as a pressure gauge 23.

In operation, nitrogen or other inert gas under pressure is introduced into the container 10 via valve 12. When the pressure shown on the gauge 23 as at the desired pressure, suitably 300 psig, although it may be up to 600 psig, the container 10 is duly pressurised and is ready for operation. Pressurised fluid located in the container 10, upon operation of appropriate valve means, then passes up the dip pipe 13 and the valve member 14 and thereafter passes via the tube to a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle is operable independently of the others and, when such nozzles are made operational, silicone or like fluid is forced out of the container via the nozzles into pre-drilled holes provided in a wall region of a building or dwelling to be treated.

Due to the apparatus being capable of operating at higher pressures than heretofore, the time taken to damp course a building or dwelling is substantially reduced having regard to prior art processes.

Once the silicone or like fluid has been injected into the building or dwelling to be treated, appropriate damp coursing of such building or dwelling is achieved and the damp coursing should remain operational for 20-25 years.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in connection with the damp coursing of a building or dwelling, said apparatus comprising a pressurisable vessel or container, said vessel or container including means for permitting entry of a gas into said vessel or container, means for permitting silicone or like fluid to be introduced into the vessel or container, means for permitting the silicone or like fluid when under pressure to pass out from said vessel or container, and means for permitting transfer of said pressurised silicone or like fluid into means for forcing said pressurised silicone or like fluid into selected holes or apertures provided in the wall of a building or dwelling to be treated.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for permitting silicone or like fluid to be introduced into the vessel or container comprises a plug member.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the plug member has wings and is suitably formed of bronze or like material.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the plug member, in use, is located in the top portion of the vessel or container and the wing members are provided to assist in removal of the plug from the vessel or container to permit the silicone or like fluid to be added, and for attachment to the vessel or container in a form locking manner.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which valve means constitute the means for permitting gas to be introduced into the vessel or container as well as for the means for enabling the pressurised silicone or like fluid to be removed from the vessel or container.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a dip tube or pipe is provided within the vessel or container, one end of said tube or pipe being located in the base region of the container and the other end being connected to the means for permitting the pressurised silicone or like fluid to pass out of the vessel or container.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, additionally including a pressure gauge and one or more relief valves, as well as a pressure regulator for regulating or selecting a desired pressure.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which nitrogen or other inert gas is utilised as the gas introduced into the vessel or container to pressurise same.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the nitrogen or other inert gas is contained in a suitable pressurised container and a tube member extends from such pressurised container to a relief valve provided on the vessel or container so that such nitrogen or other inert gas can be introduced into the vessel or container to pressurise same.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said means for forcing said pressurised silicone or like fluid into the wall of a building or dwelling to be treated at selected locations, comprises a plurality of tubes and nozzles.

11. An apparatus for use in connection with the damp coursing of a building or dwelling, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method for damp coursing a building or dwelling utilising an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the pressurisable vessel or container is filled with silicone or like fluid to act as the damp coursing medium, the vessel or container is thereafter sealed and nitrogen or other inert gas is introduced into the vessel or container to pressurise same, the pressurised fluid being allowed to leave the vessel or container once the desired pressure has been achieved therewithin, said pressurised fluid being directed into pre-drilled holes in a wall via a tube and nozzle arrangement.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein once the container is emptied of silicone or like fluid, the nitrogen or like inert gas line is closed and a relief valve operated to permit the nitrogen contained within the vessel or container to escape, thereby depressurising the vessel or container; removing the plug member thereafter and refilling the container with silicone or like fluid, and thereafter repressurising the vessel or container.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.