GB2319270A

GB2319270A - Floor drain connected to a vacuum system

Info

Publication number: GB2319270A
Application number: GB9722842A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leif Eskil Anderson
Original assignee: SJOEBO BRUK AB
Current assignee: SJOEBO BRUK AB
Priority date: 1996-10-30
Filing date: 1997-10-29
Publication date: 1998-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-29
Also published as: SE9603960D0; SE9603960L; GB9722842D0; GB2319270B; SE509058C2; DK174868B1; DE19748019A1

Abstract

A floor drain is connected to a vacuum system for sucking out the content from the floor drain. The vacuum system is continuously in operation to effect said sucking-out. The floor drain (1) includes a valve device (2) with a valve seat (4) at the outlet (3) of said floor drain (1) connecting said floor drain (1) with the vacuum system, and with a movable valve body (5) in the floor drain (1). The valve body (5) cooperates with the valve seat (4) and closes the outlet (3) when the floor drain (1) is empty, and is affected by liquid which flows down into the floor drain (1) so that the outlet (3) is opened by movement of the valve body (5) relative to the valve seat (4), such that the negative pressure in the vacuum system can suck out said liquid from the floor drain (1). In order to provide a compact floor drain with a low structural height and yet a simple, by the liquid in the floor drain directly controlled, quick-acting valve device, said valve body (5) includes a part or member (5a) which is located eccentrically in relation to the valve seat (4) and which is moved when it is affected by liquid such that it, against the force from the negative pressure in the vacuum system wrenches the valve body (5) from its sealing engagement against the valve seat (4).

Description

1 2319270 Floor drain.

The present invention relates to a floor drain which is connected to a vacuum system for sucking out the content from the floor drain, whereby the vacuum system is continuously in operation to effect said sucking-out and whereby the floor drain includes a valve device compri sing a valve seat which is mounted at the outlet of said floor drain and which connects said floor drain wit the vacuum system, and a valve body which is movably mounted in the floor drain, whereby the valve body coope rates with the valve seat and closes the outlet when the floor drain is empty, and is affected by liquid which flows down into the floor drain so hat the outlet is opened by movement of the valve body relative to the valve seat, such that the negative pressure in the vacuum system can suck out said liquid from the floor drain.

Floor drains connected to a vacuum system are found e.g. in railroad cars and on boats and ships, but other applications are also possible. The object of the vacuum systems is, inter alia, to suck out the content from e.g. toilets or the water from shower cabinets or similar for further transport for collection in a tank. The negative 2.

pressure is relatively high, and it is therefore, for several reasons, important to be able to break the connection between the floor drain and the vacuum system when the floor drain is empty. Closing devices of many different types are used for this purpose; also automatic valve devices controlled by liquid flowing down into the floor drain.

In SE,B, 398 654 there is consequently shown and described a floor drain of the abovementioned type. In order to attain safe, automatic opening and closing of the valve device in the floor drain, the sealing plane of the valve seat is inclined in relation to the water surface in the valve housing (floor drain), whereby the valve body, engaging the valve seat, will be removed from said valve seat by a breaking or rolling motion. The required force for removing the valve body is hereby substantially smaller than if the valve body must be removed perpendicular to the water surface.

The object of the present invention is also to provide a floor drain in which the connection to the vacuum system is opened and closed automatically in a simple manner, and the floor drain according to the invention uti lizes essentially also a breaking principle for removal of the valve body from the valve seat, but the structural embodiment herefore is substantially different.

Thus, the floor drain according to the present invention is characterized by the fact that the valve body in the valve device of the initially defined floor drain includes a part or member which is located eccentrically in relation to the valve seat and which is moved when it is affected by liquid such that it, against the force from the negative pressure in the vacuum system which contributes in keeping the outlet closed, wrenches the valve body from its sealing engagement against the valve seat.

3.

According to the invention, the required force for overcoming the negative pressure in the vacuum system so that the valve device is automatically opened for sucking out liquid from the floor drain, is hereby obtained in a quick and simple manner. Furthermore, with this embodi ment it is easier to adapt the floor drain to the requirements of today for a low structural height with maintained large through-flow capacity.

The abovementioned and other characterizing features of the invention as well as other objects and advantages therewith, will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 is a view from above of a floor drain having a valve device according to the invention; and figs. 2-4 are vertical sections through the floor drain with the valve device of fig. 1 and illustrate said valve device in various functional or operative positions.

Thus, in the drawings, there is shown a floor drain 1 which is connected to a vacuum system (not shown) of conventional type for sucking out the content from the floor drain. The vacuum system is continuously in operation for said sucking-out or extracion. The floor drain 1 may be of any suitable type for connection to a vacuum system and of any suitable material.

A valve device 2 is provided in the floor drain 1. The valve device 2 closes the connection of the floor drain 1 with the vacuum system, i.e. the outlet 3 from said floor drain, and opens said connection when it is affected by liquid which flows down into the floor drain, such that the negative pressure in the vacuum system can suck out said liquid from the floor drain.

4.

The valve device 2 includes a valve seat 4 which is mounted at the outlet 3 of the floor drain 1 and a valve body 5 which is movably mounted in the floor drain. The valve body 5 thereby cooperates with the valve seat 4 and closes the outlet 3 when the floor drain 1 is empty with water. The valve body 5 is also affected by liquid flowing down into the floor drain 1, so that the outlet 3 is opened by displacement of the valve body relative to the valve seat 4.

The negative pressure in the vacuum system contributes in keeping the outlet 3 closed and when the valve body 5 is affected by liquid flowing down into the floor drain 1 to open the outlet 3, this occurs against the force from the negative pressure in the vacuum system. The outlet 3 and the valve device 2 can be located at any suitable spot in the floor drain 1, e.g. at the bottom of said floor drain, whereby the negative pressure in the vacuum system and the liquid flowing down into the floor drain respectively, are allowed to affect the valve body 5 as mentioned above. In order to, by means of a simple, directly controlled and quick-acting valve device, quick and easy facilitate opening of the outlet 3 against the force from the negative pressure in the vacuum system, the valve body 5 has according to the invention, one part or member Sa which is located eccentrically relative to the valve seat 4 (preferably a distance of at least 10 cm between said part or member 5a and the centre of said valve seat 4) and which is moved when it is affected by liquid such that it with a kind of breaking effect which is reinforced by the eccentricity, wrenches the valve body from its sealing engagement against the valve seat. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the valve body 5 is thereby moved or displaced from the position according to fig. 2 to the position according to fig. 3. In the position of fig. 3, the valve body 5 has through the wrenching been brought from its sealing en- 5.

gagement with the valve seat 4 at one side of said valve seat, so that liquid now can start to flow out through the outlet 3. The valve body 5 is provided to be lifted completely from the valve seat 4 after the initial wrenching (to the position of fig. 3) relative to the valve seat and when the liquid further lifts said part or member 5a of the valve body and/or the valve body. The position wherein the valve body 5 thus has completely left its sealing engagement with or against the valve seat 4, is illustrated in fig. 4. Liquid can now flow freely into the outlet 3, which is completely open.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the valve body consists of a hollow body 5 which on one side of a centre line CL forms said part or member 5a and on the other side of said centre line CL includes a second part or member 5b which cooperates with the valve seat 4. The valve body/hollow body 5 is preferably, as in the drawings, shaped as a plate and preferably located lying (most preferably horisontally or substantially horizontally) in the floor drain 1. The hollow body 5 is preferably also circular in shape, i.e. in the e.bodiment with a platelike hollow body 5, the plate is consequently round. However, the hollow body 5 may also have another, for the function suitable or to the floor drain adapted shape, e.g. be otherwise than plate-like, e.g. spherical, and be otherwise than rond, e.g. rectangular or square, respectively. Alternatively, it is also possible, particularly if the valve body is shaped as a thin plate of a suitable low-weight material, e.g. an aerated plastic, not to provide the valve body 5 as a hollow body. The hollow body 5 is in the illustrated e-mbodiment provided in a circular portion la of the floor drain 1. The hollow body 5 is preferably also provided centered with said floor-drain portion la (the centre line CL is common to both said parts or portions) and thereby preferably also designed having an only slightly 6.

smaller diameter than the floor-drain portion, so that the hollow body 5 during its lifting and lowering movements to a certain extent is guided by said floor-drain portion and is always situated in correct position during return to sealing engagement with the valve seat 4 irrespective of where at the bottom laa of the floor drain 1 the valve seat is located. The valve seat 4 however, is for said opening of the outlet 3 in two steps preferably provided eccentrically in relation to the circular portion la of the floor drain 1 and thus, also in relation to the valve body/hollow body 5. The design of the valve body as a hollow body is of course brought about by the fact that liquid thereby more readily can affect said valve body. The hollow body 5 principally floats on the liquid surface, thus quickly reacting on liquid starting to flow down into the floor drain 1.

In the preferred embodiment according to the drawings, the valve seat 4 is defined by a pipe member 6 protroding into the floor drain 1 (portion la thereof) and connected to the vacuum system, i.e. also defining the outlet 3 from the floor drain. The pipe member 6 protrudes here into the floor drain 1 from below, through the bottom laa of said floor drain. An end edge 6a of the pipe member 6 andlor a sealing ring 7 provided on the pipe member hereby define(s) the valve seat 4. The sealing ring 7 of course provides a better ealing, since it is elastic and can yield somewhat when the valve body 5 by means of particularly the negative pressure in the vacuum system is held in sealing engagement with or against the valve seat 4.

The pipe member 6 can be located so that its end edge 6a or the sealing ring 7 principally is in level with, in the embodiment shown, the bottom laa of the floor drain 1. The pipe member 6 can also protrude somewhat into the floor drain 1, into the circular portion la thereof. Since 7.

the pipe member 6 due to its function as a valve seat in the embodiment shown preferably is located eccentrically in the floor-drain portion la, protruding upwards from the bottom laa of the floor drain 1, and the valve body 5 during engagement with the valve seat 4 thereby ought to be located in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position in the floor drain for maximum sealing against the valve seat, preferably at least two spacers 8 are located in the floor drain. These spacers 8 are located at the bottom laa of the floor drain 1 and protrude upwards therefrom to a height corresponding to the distance the pipe member 6 protrudes into the floor drain. Thus, the valve body 5 has at least three points on which it rests horizontally or substantially horizontally when the floor drain is empty, namely the two spacers 8 and the valve seat 4, defined by the pipe member 6 (the end edge 6a of the pipe member and/or the-sealing ring 7 thereon).

The movement or displacement of said one part or mendber 5a of the valve body 5 for wrenching said valve body out of its sealing engagement against or with the valve seat as well as the subsequent lifting movement of the valve body, is preferably limited by a stop means 9 provided in the floor drain 1. In the embodiment shown, the stop means consists of a somewhat curved and circular cap-like member 9 which from above covers th entire valve body. The cap shaped member 9 is clamped up in said circular portion la of the floor drain 1. This is accomplished preferably by bending the edge portion 9a of the cap shaped member 9 downwards and pressing said edge portion down into said circular portion la of the floor drain, whereby the edge portion, due to the prestressing therein, engages the side wall lab of said circular portion of the floor drain with a certain press power. Thus, starting from the downwardly bent edge portion 9a, the cap member 9 has a diameter which substantially corresponds with 8.

the diameter of said circular portion la of the floor drain 1. The remaining portions 9b of the cap member 9 extend, in the illustrated embodiment, upwards and into the circular portion lb of the floor drain 1 including clamping ring 10 and strainer 11. The stop means 9 is cap shaped and covers the entire valve body 5 from above preferably for protecting said valve body from fouling and for permitting required displacement thereof in the floor drain 1 (preferably in the circular portion la of the floor drain). In order to allow liquid to flow past the stop means in the floor drain 1, the edge portion 9a of the cap shaped member 9 is also provided with recesses 12. These recesses 12 are consequently provided peripherically and are to a certain extent limited in radial direction in order to prevent fouling of the valve body 5 as far as possible, but or course, if desired, the recesses can be shaped differently and/or holes be made in other portions 9b of the cap shaped member 9.

Additionally, irrespective of whether a stop means is provided or not and irrespective of whether the stop means is shaped as a cap or in another way, it is possible to provide the strainer 11 with corresponding peri pheral recesses or holes 13 (see fig. 1) and for the rest without gaps or holes for preventing fouling of the valve body 5. Without a separate stop means, the strai ner 11 also functions as such and limits the upward move ment or displacement of the valve body 5.

It is obvious to a skilled person that the present invention can be modified and changed within the scope of the following claims without departing from the idea and purpose of the invention. Thus, it is obvious that location and design of the valve device in the floor drain can be different from what is described above and illustrated in the drawings as well as of course the design of the floor drain itself. The valve body of the 9.

Valve device can be shaped differently and so can particularly also the part thereof affected by the liquid level in the floor drain. The valve seat of the valve device can also be designed and located otherwise than described and shown, and to a certain extent also the mutual location of the valve body and the valve seat. The outlet of the floor drain can also be located and designed differently. Regarding the selection of material for the floor drain and the valve device, there is also a certain space provided, i.e. a suitable plastic or metal.

10.

Claims

Claims:

or fl or 9 it 0 1. Floor drain which is connected to a vacuum system for sucking out the content from the floor drain, whereby the vacuum system is continuously in operation to effect said suckingout and whereby the floor drain (1) includes a valve device (2) comprising a valve seat (4) which is mounted at the outlet (3) of said floor drain (1) and which connects said floor drain (1) with the vacuum system, and a valve body (5) which is movably mounted in the floor drain (1), whereby the valve body (5) cooperates with the valve seat (4) and closes the outlet (3) when the floor drain (1) is empty, and is affected by liquid which flows down into the floor drain (1) so that the outlet (3) is opened by movement or displacement of the valve body (5) relative to the valve seat (4), such that the negative pressure in the vacuum system can suck out said liquid from the floor drain (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the valve body (5) includes a part or member (5a) which is located eccentrically in relation to the valve seat (4) and which is moved or displaced when it is affected by liquid such that it, against the force from the negative pressure in the vacuum system which contributes in keeping the outlet (3) closed, wrenches the valve body (5) from its sealing engagement against or with the valve seat (4).

11.
2. Floor drain according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the valve body (5) is provided to be lifted completely from the valve seat (4) after the initial wrenching relative to the valve seat (4) and when the liquid further lifts said part or member (5a) of the valve body (5) and/or the valve body (5).
3. Floor drain according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the valve body (5) is shaped as a plate.
4. Floor drain according to any of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the valve body is a hol low body (5) which on one side of a centre line (CL) forms said part or member (5a) and which on the other side of said centre line (CL) cooperates with the valve seat (4).
5. Floor drain according to any of claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the valve body is a circular hollow body (5) which is movable or displaceable in a circular portion (1a) of the floor drain (1) and which is substantially centered with this portion (1a) and that the valve seat (4) is provided eccentrically in relation to the circular portion (1a) of the floor drain (1) and thereby also in relation to the valve body (5).
6. Floor drain according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the diameter of the hollow body (5) is only somewhat smaller than the diameter of the circular portion (1a) of the floor drain (1), so that the hollow body (5) is guided by said portion (1a) during its lifting and lowering movements.
7. Floor drain according to claim 5 or 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the valve seat (4) is located eccentrically at the bottom (laa) of the circular portion (1a) of the floor drain (1).

12.
8. Floor drain according to any of claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the valve seat (4) is defined by a pipe member (6) which protrudes into the floor drain (1) and which is connected to the vacuum system.
9. Floor drain according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that an end edge (6a) of the pipe member (6) and/or a sealing ring (7) provided on said pipe mem- ber (6) define(s) the valve seat (4).
10. Floor drain according to claim 8 or 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that at least two spacers (8) are provided in the floor drain (1), the height of which corresponds with the distance said pipe member (6) pro trudes into the floor drain (1) and against which, be yond the pipe member (6), the valve body (5) rests when the floor drain (1) is empty.
11. Floor drain according to any of claims 110, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the movement or displace ment of said portion (5a) of the valve body (5) for'wren- ching said valve body (5) and the subsequent lifting movement of the valve body (5) are limited by a stop means (9) located in the floor drain (1).
12. Floor drain according to claim il, c h a r a c t e - r i z e d i n that the stop means consists of a cap shaped member (9) which from above covers the entire valve body (5).
13. Floor drain according to claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the cap shaped member (9) is clamped up in a circular portion (1a) of the floor drain (1).
14. Floor drain according to claim 13, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the diameter of the cap member (9) 13.

substantially corresponds with the diameter of said cir cular portion (1a) of the floor drain (1), but that the cap member (9) has peripheral holes or recesses (12) to permit passage therethrough of liquid flowing down into the floor drain (1).
15. Floor drain substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 and Figures 2 - 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 b