GB2339829A

GB2339829A - Leak control

Info

Publication number: GB2339829A
Application number: GB9915000A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Howie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-30
Filing date: 1999-06-29
Publication date: 2000-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-29
Also published as: GB9813963D0; GB2339829B; GB9915000D0

Description

2339829 Leak Control This invention relates to a means and a system for

leak control, and a method of leak control.

The invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a means, system and method of leak control which is particularly useful in relation to domestic plumbing installations.

It is an unfortunately common event that a domestic water storage tank or fitting secured to a tank will deteriorate due to ageing, or other causes such as vibration, and then have a tendency to leak- The usual location of a domestic water storage tank in a loft space, or at first floor level, in consequence means that the ceiling materials beneath the loft space or first floor storage tank, as well as carpets and soft furnishings, are exposed to damage by any water that leaks from the tank. Inconvenience and the need for expensive repairs and redecoration thus arises in the event of a leak.

Many attempts have been made to improve the quality of joint connections, whether of the soldered type, or of the type Mich employs compression fittings. Also attempts have been made to improve the longevity of water storage tanks per se, usually by the choice and quality control of material for fabricating the tank or provision of special leak resisting means such as an internal plastic lining of potable water quality material.

Whilst the aforedescribed attempts to reduce the occurrence of leakage have been of some benefit, they are not entirely successful and reliable, and it is necessary to accept that in some cases damaging leaks can occur.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved system, means and method for use in safeguarding against leak damage.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for leak control whereby material may be protected from contact by liquid contained in liquid storage means and leaking therefrom, said system comprising a liquid storage means, a structural support for the liquid storage means, and a collection means positioned between the liquid storage means and structural support, said collection means comprising a base portion which lies between the liquid storage means and the structural support, a wall portion which extends upwards from a peripheral region of the base portion to define, in combination with the base portion, an opentopped liquid collection zone the top of which is sufficiently large in relation to the liquid storage means, as considered in a horizontal plane, whereby liquid leaking from the liquid storage means is received by said liquid collection zone, and drain means connected to the collection means and extending to a drain position to allow drainage of the collected liquid without contact by the material to be protected from contact by said liquid.

2 The present invention provide also a method for control of leakage from a liquid storage means to protect material from contact by liquid contained in the liquid storage means, said method comprising providing liquid collection means between a liquid storage means and a structural support for the liquid storage means, said collection means comprising a base portion wbich lies between the liquid storage means and the structural support, a wall portion which extends upwards from a peripheral region of the base portion to define, in combination with the base portion, an opentopped liquid collection zone the top of which is sufficiently large in relation to the liquid storage means, as considered in a horizontal plane, whereby liquid leaking from the liquid storage means is received by said liquid collection zone, and said method further comprising arranging drain means in communication with said collection means whereby liquid leaked from the liquid storage means and received by the collection means is drained without contacting the material to be protected from contact by said liquid.

Preferably, as considered in plan in a horizontal plane, the open top of the collection means is larger than the liquid storage means. Preferably, the mhole length of the upper edge of the wall portion lies outwards of the liquid storage means. The system and method of the invention may provide also that the collection means serves also to collect any liquid that drips directly from a pipe joint connection at or close to a surface of the liquid storage means.

Shield means may be provided to surround the side wall(s) of the tank or like liquid storage means and to direct dovm into the liquid collection means any liquid issuing from the tank in a generally sidewards direction.

The shield means may rest on the base portion of the collection means or, for example, on an upper edge of the wall portion of the collection means. In the latter case the shield means preferably comprises an overhang portion such as a lip to extend downwards inside the collector means, below the upper edge of the wall portion, whereby it prevents liquid flovAng over the top of the wall portion and dom an outer side of the collector means.

The shield means may comprise one or more sections of sheet material. It may comprise a section having a pair of opposite edges adapted to allow a pair of said edges to be connected together, preferably to form a fluid seal therebetween. The edges of said pair may be shaped such that two such edges can be directly interconnected for example as a snap fit, or they may be interconnectable by a connector device such as a pin, e.g.. in the form of a hinge pin, extending through passages formed in said edges. Thus in the case of a shield formed from one sheet section of square or rectangular shape, a sheet of material which is of, say, initially flat form may 3.

be formed to a cylindrical shape with adjacent edges then being interconnected. Alternatively, for example, a plurality of at least three flat panels may be interconnected to form a shield of polygonal shape as viewed in plan. The edges preferably are directly interconnectable as a snap fit, e.g. by interengageable tongue and groove formations, or may be interconnected by insertion of a separate locking member.

The shield means may comprise thermal insulation material.

The shield means may be surmounted by a lid which also may comprise thermal insulation material.

The lid may comprise an internal lip whereby pressurised liquid impinging on an underside of the lid is directed to run down the inside of the shield means without escape to outside the shield means.

The material to be protected may be the material of the structural support. Additionally or alternatively it may be the material of another item such as a ceiling board, or soft furnishings or carpeting, or material of an electricity supply or electrical equipment. The liquid storage means typically may be a water storage tank of a domestic plumbing installation. The collection means may serve to prevent water leaking to domestic electrical power and lighting circuits.

The drain means may lead to a position external of a building. Preferably, instead of being coupled to a ground drain, it terminates above ground such that a visual indication is provided of leakage from the liquid storage means.

The drain means may comprise a one-way restriction such as a flap, which may for example be gravitationally or spring biased to a closed position over an end of a drain pipe, thereby to restrict flow of cold air to the base region of the liquid storage means from an external environment.

The system may comprise a drain outlet for use in planned drainage of the liquid storage means, and said outlet may be arranged close to the liquid storage means so as to be able to drain directly into the collection means.

The drain outlet preferably is provided in a region of the wall portion of the collector means which lies at or is movable to a position Mich lies substantially perpendicular to the base portion. Thus that region may lie inclined relative to the base portion for ease of stacking and storage prior to use, but in use may lie substantially vertically to allow a drain pipe to extend therefrom in a substantially horizontal direction without any need to employ an angled connector.

4 The invention provides also liquid collection means comprising a substantially planar base portion, a wall portion which extends around the base portion in a direction away from a side face of the base portion, and drainage connection means in said wall portion, said base portion comprising reinforcement members which are of elongate form and extend parallel with one another in a spaced apart side-by-side configuration.

The invention further provides a liquid collection means comprising a substantially planar base portion, a wall portion which extends around the base portion in a direction away from a side face of the base portion, and drainage connection means in said wall portion, said wall portion being inclined at an angle between 5 degrees and 45 degrees relative to a direction perpendicular to said face of the base portion.

The features of an inclined wall portion and reinforcement member may be provided in combination with one another in a liquid collection means of the invention.

The system and method aspects of the invention may be applied to support of a water tank on ceiling rafters. The invention provides that for a liquid storage means supported on spaced apart members, use is made of a liquid collection means comprising reinforcing members extending substantially perpendicular to the support members.

The liquid collection means may be formed from, for example, moulded plastics. Reinforcing members may be moulded integrally with the base portion, and may contain embedded reinforcing elements such as of metal wire or relatively rigid plastics.

The wall portion may be tapered at least sufficiently in relation to the thickness dimensions of the collection means whereby collection means may be stacked in a nested configuration with the successive base portions of the stacked collection means in direct contact with one another.

At least a section of the wall portion may be inwardly deformable whereby it may be temporarily deflected inwards towards the base portion for retrofit purposes in a method in which a liquid storage means is at least partly emptied, elevated slightly, and the collection means then slid into position underneath the liquid storage means. In the case of a square or rectangular shape collection means one side length of the wall portion may be inwardly deflectable. The inwardly deflectable material may be resilient whereby it inherently tends to revert to a upstanding position following installation, or it may be deformable back to an upstanding position.

The drainage connection means may be comprised by an opening preformed in the wall portion. Alternatively it may be comprised by at least one locally relieved zone of the wall portion which in consequence can relatively easily be ruptured by local pressure or cut away to allow connection of a drain pipe in a conventional manner, e.g. with a screw threaded connector and sealing washers.

The liquid collection means may be, for example, of circular, square or rectangular shape. In a plumbing installation comprising a cold water storage tank and a separate expansion tank for a hot water system, those tanks may be arranged side by side on a single liquid collection device ofthe invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:Figure 1 is a schematic view of a system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a collection tray of the invention for use in the system of figure 1, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of part of a system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention and, Figures 4 and 5 show details of the system of figure 3.

A domestic hot and cold water system 10 comprises a hot water storage tank 11 above wfiich is positioned a cold water reservoir tank 13 for supply of cold water to the bottom of the hot tank 11 via a feed pipe 12.

An expansion pipe 9 has an outlet 8 over the cold tank 13. A hot water supply pipe 14 allows hot water to be drawn from the top of the tank 11.

A drain cock 15 is positioned at the lower end of feed pipe 12 to allow the hot and cold tanks to be drained.

Water in the tank 11 is heated by conventional means such as a heat transfer coil ( not shown) located in the tank and connected to a central heating boiler.

The tanks 11,13 are supported on a plurality of mutually parallel, spaced apart ceiling joists 16.

6.

In accordance vi/ith the present invention a moulded plastics leak tray 17 (see figure 2) is positioned between the bottom of the hot tank 11 and the joists 16.

The tray 17 is of a circular shape and comprises a flat base 18 bounded on one side by a rim wall 19 at 20 degrees to the vertical as shown in figure 1.

The base 18 is formed integrally with three mutually parallel reinforcing ribs 29 moulded integrally and arranged in a spaced apart sideby-side configuration.

The 20 degrees angle in combination with the thickness dimensions of the base ( and reinforcing ribs) and rim thickness enables a plurality of the trays to be stacked, with the bases in contact, in a warehouse or store.

The rim wall 19 has an opening 20 at which an overflow pipe 30 is connected and leads away, downwardly, to an outlet position 21 external of the dwelling. A spring loaded flap 22 at the outlet end protects against an incoming cold draft.

The upper edge 23 of the rim wall 18 is sufficiently large that, as considered in plan view, it lies outwards of the tanks, feed pipe 12 and drain cock15. Inconsequence any water leakage from the tanks 11,13, orfrom the pipes and their connections with the tank, is collected by the tray and can drain away writhout damage to the ceiling boards 24 attached to the joists 16. The tray is also available for use when draining the tanks via drain cock 15.

Whilst the invention has been illustrated and described with reference to a leak tray of a circular shape in plan, it is to be understood that the tray alternatively may be of a square or rectangular shape.

In the embodiment shown in figure 3 four plastic panels 41 rest on respective upper edges 42 of a collector base 43. Each panel has a lov, /er edge 44 formed with a U section profile 45 (see figure 4) that sit$ over an upper edge 42 so that an inner lip 46 of that profile directs into the collector base any water running down an inner surface 47 of the panel.

The vertical edges of the panels have complementary edge formations 48,49 (see figure 5) respectively of snap-fit tongue end groove shapes so that the panels can be assembled together to create a fluid seal therebetween.

Optionally a lid (not shown) can be provided to sit on the top of the assembled panels. Thermal insulation sheets (also not shown) of polystyrene can be adhered to the inner surfaces 47 of the panels, hwkie4 7.

Claims

Claims:

1. System for leak control whereby material may be protected from contact by liquid contained in liquid storage means and leaking therefrom, said system comprising a liquid storage means, a structural support for the liquid storage means, and a collection means positioned between the liquid storage means and structural support, said collection means comprising a base portion which lies between the liquid storage means and the structural support, a wall portion which extends upwards from a peripheral region of the base portion to define, in combination with the base portion, an opentopped liquid collection zone the top of wbich is sufficiently large in relation to the liquid storage means, as considered in a horizontal plane, whereby liquid leaking from the liquid storage means is received by said liquid collection zone, and drain means connected to the collection means and extending to a drain position to allow drainage of the collected liquid without contact by the material to be protected from contact by said liquid.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the collection means has an open top Mich as considered in plan is larger than the liquid storage means.

3. System according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the upper edge of the wall portion lies outwards of the liquid storage means.

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collection means is arranged also to collect liquid issuing from a pipe joint connection means in proximity to a surface of the liquid storage means.

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drain means leads to a position external of a building.

6. System according to claim 5, wherein the drain means terminates above ground level in an arrangement in which liquid issuing from the drain means is visible.

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid storage means has a drain outlet associated therewith and arranged to be drainable into the collection means.

8.

8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein shield means is provided to surround side wall(s) of the liquid storage means and is arranged to direct down into the liquid collection means liquid leaking from the tank in a generally sidewards direction.

9. System according to claim 8, wherein the shield means comprises a panel having an edge formation adapted to connect with another edge formation of the shield means.

10. System according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the shield means rests on an upper edge of the wall portion of the collector means and comprises an overhang portion which extends downwards inside the collector means.

11. System according to claim I and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Liquid collection means comprising a substantially planar base portion, a wall portion which extends around the base portion in a direction away from a side face of the base portion, and drainage connection means in said wall portion, said base portion comprising reinforcement members wbich are of elongate form and extend parallel with one another in a spaced apart side-byside configuration.

13. Liquid collection means according to claim 12, wherein the wall portion extends away from a side face of the base portion at an angle in the range 5 degrees to 45 degrees relative to a direction perpendicular to the base portion.

14. Liquid collection means comprising a substantially planar base portion, a wall portion which extends around the base portion in a direction away from a side face of the base portion, and drainage connection means in said wall portion, said wall portion being inclined at an angle between 5 degrees and 45 degrees relative to a direction perpendicular to said face of the base portion.

15. Liquid collection means according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein reinforcing members are moulded integrally with the base portion.

9.

16. Liquid collection means according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the base portion is reinforced by reinforcing members which contain an embedded reinforcing element.

17. Liquid collection means according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein a plurality of the collection means are stackable in a nested configur9tion with successive base portions in direct contact with one another.

18 Liquid collection means according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein at least a section of the wall portion is inwardly deformable towards the base portion.

19. Liquid collection means according to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein the drainage connection means is comprised by an opening preformed in the wall portion.

20. Liquid collection means according to any one of claims 12 to 19, wherein the drainage connection means is comprised by at least one locally relieved zone of the wall portion.

21. Liquid collection means according to claim 12, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. System for leak control as recited in claim 1 wherein the liquid collection means is a liquid collection means in accordance with any one of claims 12 to 21.

23. Method for control of leakage from a liquid storage means to protect material from contact by liquid contained in the liquid storage means, said method comprising providing liquid collection means between a liquid storage means and a structural support for the liquid storage means, said collection means comprising a base portion which lies between the liquid storage means and the structural support, a wall portion which extends upwards from a peripheral region of the base portion to define, in combination with the base portion, an open-topped liquid collection zone the top of which is sufficiently large in relation to the liquid storage means, as considered in a horizontal plane, whereby liquid leaking from the liquid storage means is received by said liquid collection zone, and said method further comprising 10.

arranging drain means in communication with said collection means whereby liquid leaked from the liquid storage means and received by the collection means is drained without contacting the material to be protected from contact by said liquid.

25. Method according to claim 24 wherein use is made of a liquid collection means in accordance with any one of claims 9 to 18.

26. Method according to claim 24 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

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