GB2297110A - Corrosion-resistant channel drain system - Google Patents

Abstract

A channel drain comprises a channel portion (1) of circular cross sectional area, and a pair of sidewardly extending opposing side flanges (3,4) joined to the channel portion (1) by risers, which together with the flanges (3,4) define a gap (6) which forms an access slit (6) to the channel portion (1), the access slit (6) extending the length of the channel drain. The flanges (3,4) define land surfaces (5), which when the drain is installed should be flush with the ground surface. Respective ends of the channel drain terminate in respective female and male couplings for engaging corresponding male and female couplings of adjacent channel drains.

Description

"A corrosion-resistant channel drain system" The present invention relates to a channel drain system made of sheet material such as stainless steel, or other corrosion-resistant material, in particular to a system suitable for draining hard floor areas which are subject to a frequent washing with strong cleaning agents, such as factory floors in food processing plants or abattoirs, or in factory or hotel kitchens, for example.

In hard floor areas mentioned above where very high standards of cleanliness and hygiene must be maintained, it has increasingly been the practice to install stainless steel drainage channels or troughs below the floor level which are covered by a grille flush with the floor level. Alternatively, a drainage channel is sunk just below the floor level which includes a raised access slit along its length of sufficient width to allow drainage from the floor to the channel below.

Stainless steel drainage channels have hitherto been pressed from sheets, bent at angles to give a channel of hexagonal cross-section with an open slit along its length. However, these are difficult to mate with exterior drainage pipes of different cross-section, and the internal angles give rise to locations where dirt may lodge.

Another disadvantage of known stainless steel drainage channel systems is that the channel sections generally must be cut to size or made specially for each particular layout, and often require to be welded together on-site. The present invention seeks to provide an inherently more hygienic channel design and a system which is easy to install at any site or which allows for variations to be made to the layout without difficulty.

According to the present invention, there is provided a drain comprising a channel portion made of corrosionresistant sheet material of arcuate cross-section, and an integrally-formed raised access portion defining a slit extending at least partially along its length.

A corrosion-resistant channel drain system in accordance with the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a stainless steel channel in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-section of a stainless steel channel in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 is a side elevation to a smaller scale of the channel section shown in either of Figures 1 or 2, Figure 4 shows a coupling between two channel sections, in side elevation, Figure 5 shows in perspective view, partially cut away, a section of a hard floor in which the drainage channel of Figure 1 has been installed, Figure 6 shows a schematic plan view of a drainage system layout, Figure 7 shows a gully trap, in longitudinal cross-section viewed from one side, for use in the drainage system shown in Figure 6, Figure 8 shows the gully trap arrangement of Figure 7, in plan view from above, and Figure 9 is a cross-section of the channel viewed on section line A-A of Figure 7.

Figures 1 and 2 show a stainless steel drainage channel drain section in accordance with the invention, pressed from a flat strip of stainless steel sheet material.

The longitudinal edges of the strip are formed into two opposing flange portions 3, 4 defining coincident land surfaces 5 and a gap 6 therebetween, which gap forms an access slit along the length of the channel section.

The outside diameter of the circular channel section 1 is preferably 110 millimetres and the gap 6 is preferably 25 millimetres (Figure 1) or 50 millimetres (Figure 2).

Typically, the sections are made in standard size lengths, for example, of 3 metres. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the pipe section 1 is formed at a slight incline relative to the land surface 5, for example, with a fall of 20 millimetres between point A and point B. A fall of 1:1.50 is typically provided for a satisfactory drainage flow. The edges of the strip of sheet material from which the channel section is pressed are therefore not exactly parallel.

One end of the length of the channel section is formed with a female coupling 7 which defines an internal groove 8 for seating a flexible sealing ring. The other end of the length of channel section includes an integrally formed male coupling member 9 which is a push-fit with the female coupling member 7.

The coupling is more clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

It will be appreciated that lengths of the channel section are made with an increasing incline, and thus non-identical sections can be fitted together, end-toend. A special colour-coding or marking on mating male and female members may be provided for ease of assembly.

Figure 5 shows two stainless steel drainage channels which have been installed in a hard floor area, such as a tiled floor in a kitchen or factory. It will be seen that the lands 5 of the flange portion of the channel lie flush with the tiled surface and perfectly level therewith along the length of the section. Drainage is enhanced by the built-in incline in the channel section referred to above. The ends of the sections may be welded together, on-site, but preferably a coupling system is provided which makes this unnecessary.

Figure 6 shows a layout of a drainage system in accordance with the invention. This system comprises standard lengths 11, 12, 13. Each of these lengths is non-identical with an increasing incline. Thus, in the arrangement shown, a "high point" C is provided with drainage away from this point to each side to a gully trap 16. The gully trap communicates with a waste drainage pipe, such as drainage pipe 17, to the exterior of the building. Branches may be provided with a tee member 15, or right angles may be provided by elbow sections 14.

The gully trap 16 may also be made in stainless steel material and an example of a suitable gully trap is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. An inlet channel section 11 communicates with the trap 16 at a higher level than the outlet drainage pipe 17 and an arrangement of two inclined baffles 18 and 19 provides the trap. A perforated cover plate 20 is placed on top of the trap.

Claims (11)

1. A drain comprising a channel portion made of corrosion-resistant sheet material of arcuate crosssection, and an integrally-formed raised access portion defining a slit extending at least partially along its length.

2. A drain as claimed in claim 1, comprising a channel of substantially circular cross-section and an access portion defining a slit along the whole of its length.

3. A drain as claimed in claim 2, wherein the slit is defined between two flanges extending from the access portion.

4. A drain as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the sheet material is of stainless steel.

5. A drain as claimed in claim 4, in which the sheet material is of a high nickel content or otherwise rendered corrosion-resistant.

6. A drain as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each channel section defines at opposite ends thereof, integrally-formed male or female coupling sections.

7. A drain as claimed in claim 6, wherein one coupling section is adapted to be a push-fit with the other.

8. A drain as claimed in claim 7, wherein the coupling includes a flexible sealing ring.

9. A drainage system comprising, in combination, different lengths of channel drains as defined in any of the preceding claims, curved or angled union sections and a gully trap, all made in stainless steel and adapted to be a push-fit one with the other.

10. A method of forming a stainless steel channel drain section as defined in any of claims 1 to 8 comprising the steps of: a) forming a flange or curl along the longitudinal side edges of a strip of sheet stainless steel material; b) pressing the strip between a mandrel and a die to form a channel of arcuate cross-section, wherein the said flanges approach each other leaving a gap or slit therebetween.

11. A drain or drainage system substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.