GB2384251A

GB2384251A - Telescopic bottle trap

Info

Publication number: GB2384251A
Application number: GB0200899A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ray Wolfenden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-01-16
Filing date: 2002-01-16
Publication date: 2003-07-23
Also published as: GB0200899D0

Abstract

A telescopic bottle trap comprises a lower body portion (3) telescopically mounted within an upper body portion (4) such that waste water will normally flow through the trap. During back-surge or flood conditions, the lower body portion may be fully inserted into the upper portion, and optionally rotated, such that a seal is made between the base (12) of the lower body and the end (10) of an internal feed pipe (11) extending downwardly from the upper body portion.

Description

FLOODWATER I SEWAGE PROTECTION FOR BUILDINGS This invention relates to floodwater/sewage protection for buildings.

Global climatic change is increasing the amount of rainfall in many parts of the world. More importantly, it is increasing the intensityof rainfall, leading to more frequent flooding of those areas with an established flood risk, and to the flooding of new areas with little or no flooding history. Such effects are bringing abject misery to large numbers of people unable to defend their buildings against floodwater penetration, unable to sustain repeated clean-up and repair operations, and unable to secure insurance to mitigate their loss.

Drainage pipes provide an important secondary means of floodwater/sewage entry into buildings.

Large volumes of floodwater entering main sewers under roads and streets via gullies and manhole covers for example, result in serious overloading of the sewerage system. Consequent internal pressures within the system cause venting of the combined floodwater/sewage mixture via gullies and manhole covers for example in other parts of the system, and the backflow of sewer contents into buildings via connecting drainage pipes.

Backflow will always enter a building first through the lowest drainage outlet. For example, in a domestic building without cellars this would normally be the outlet to a ground floor bath or shower tray, progressing to the outlet of a toilet or bidet, then to a sink or basin etc gradually up the building as the internal pressure within the sewerage system rises. However, such venting and backflow can initially take the form of a high-pressure back-surge which occurs just before wholesale flooding of an area, and can therefore provide a warning of imminent inundation. Any method of preventing backflow into a building will need to counteract these pressures.

Backflow preventer valves installed in the underground sewer or sewer connecting pipe leading from a building have been available for some time, but are expensive to purchase, install and maintain, are prone to blockage without warning and are notoriously unreliable in the event they are required to operate. Furthermore, in sewerage applications which naturally involve the transport of semi-solids in addition to fluids in horizontal or near horizontal underground pipes, clogging of the valve aperture and closure means by trapped semi-solids and accumulated slime is inevitable, monitoring and access is difficult, and clearance is unpleasant.

For these reasons their use is restricted.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to prevent the entry of floodwater and sewage into a building via above-ground drainage pipes during back-surge and during flood conditions, and for such prevention means to withstand the pressures arising within these pipes without distortion, dislocation or leakage for a protracted period of time at least as long as those conditions shall last.

It is another object to provide such prevention means which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to install in both new-build and retrofit situations.

Another object is to provide such prevention means which is user-friendlyvisible, accessible, controllable, secure, dependable, and quick and easy to operate using one hand.

Another object is to provide such prevention means which is robust and durable in construction, positive in location and seal, and needing no maintenance.

Another object is to provide alternative variations of such prevention means for application according to need, from the simples to the most technically sophisticated.

Another object is to ensure harmonisation of all components with relevant British Standards.

According to the present invention there is provided a floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings in which a telescopic bottle trap is installed into the drainage pipe leading from a water appliance or water appliances, the trap optionally having a standard upper body in common with other known bottle traps but always having a special lower body such that wastewater will normally flow through the trap, but when the lower body is telescoped inwardly and optionally rotated an internal seal is made between the base of the lower body and the end of the internal feed pipe extending downwardly from the upper body, the trap is sealably locked shut, and when subjected to the pressure of sewer contents backing up the drainage system during back-surge or during flood conditions existing for a protracted period of time, the seal is not displaced or broken thereby preventing floodwater/sewage from entering buildings by this means.

The lower body may comprise a upper barrel section and a lower bowl section in mutual salable sliding and interlocking disposition involving the placing of one or more resilient compressible waterproof ring-seals therebetween, and the seal between the base of the bowl and the end of the internal feed pipe may be similarly made using a resilient compression seal.

Where a ring-seal is fitted to both the barrel and bowl sections so as to provide a double-acting seal, each may be of opposing generally-tapered cross-section so that when optionally lubricated the seals will slide over one another so as to bring both sections into interlocking disposition during sub-assembly yet resist such sections separating in use, or the interlock may be built up during sub-assembly by fitting components together in a prescribed sequence.

Optionally, according to application, the ring-seals and compression seal may be moulded as separate parts or as an integral part of the barrel and/or bowl, and each entire integrated moulding manufactured from rubber, synthetic rubber, or plastics, thereby simplifying manufacture and assembly.

The lock-out mechanism may comprise several alternative methods of securing temporary fixed engagement between the sliding components in the open and

closed positions.

The push-and-turn operation of the trap is such as to cut through and tear across any accumulated sediment or slime deposited on the bottom of the bowl, or indeed through and across any semi-solids which may be present, in such a way as to avoid these elements restricting the operation of the trap or preventing its proper closure. This feature enables the valve to be specified confidently, and IS particularly important in ensuring operation on demand.

The compact nature of the trap which may be no larger than a standard bottle trap, makes it suitable for insertion into internal drainage runs, and particularly for installation in retrofit situations.

A standard upper body or alternative upper bodies may be used and telescopic traps may be configured so as to have the inlet socket horizontally aligned and generally at the same level as the outlet socket, or so as to have the outlet socket vertically aligned and in parallel disposition to the inlet socket, or indeed in any suitable alignment and disposition according to application and need but always so as to enable operation as a trap and/or as a line valve when inserted into new or existing pipework.

With telescopic traps to ground-floor water appliances closed in conjunction with the temporary salable closure of drainage pipes leading from other such ground-floor water appliances, the building is protected from the penetration of sewage and floodwater via the drainage system whilst at the same time allowing mainline drainage via the soil stack and sewer connecting pipe to remain open, thereby enabling water appliances to upper floors such as baths, basins, toilets etc to remain in use and when other apertures in the building envelope are also suitably sealed, the building interior to remain dry and habitable during floodwater conditions outside.

Internally located telescopic traps are always accessible for operation, where necessary, after the onset of flooding.

A specific embodiment of this invention will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a part cross-sectional elevation of a telescopic trap according to this invention showing the trap in the open position and the seals indicated in solid black.

Figure 2 is a part cross-sectional elevation of the lower portion of a telescopic trap according to this invention showing the trap in the closed position and the seals indicated in solid black.

Figure 3 is an exploded part cross-sectional elevation of the telescopic portion of a telescopic trap according to this invention showing an alternative method of providing a sliding sealed interlock between the moving parts together with an alternative method of locking-out the trap in the closed position, and the seals indicated in solid black.

Referring to the drawings, in a first method of preventing floodwater and sewage from entering buildings via above-ground drainage pipes shown in Figures 1-3, Figure 1 shows a bowl section 1 in sliding salable contact with a barrel section 2 these two parts forming the special telescopic lower body 3 screwed onto the standard upper body 4 via mutually-engaging threads 5. The socket in the lower body has a resilient compressible waterproof ring-seal 6 around its lowermost internal perimeter such that when the upper and lower bodies are screwed together the final stage of rotation is to compress the ring-seal 6 and thereby hold the two bodies together in salable disposition. A groove may be provided in the base of the socket both to retain the ring-seal 6 and to provide a shoulder to contact with the rim of the upper body to prevent overcompression, distortion or dislocation of the ring-seal.

A second ring-seal 7 is held in place around the external circumference of the barrel 2 by a lip 8 extending around the same external circumference and the lip being sealably attached to the barrel or moulded as an integral part thereof. A

reciprocal lip 9 extends around the internal circumference of the bowl section 1 at its rim, and is similarly sealably attached to the bowl or moulded as an integral part thereof.

The purpose of the ring-seal 7 is to prevent leakage of wastewater from the interior of the trap to the exterior of the trap via the route between the two sliding components 1 and 2 and, in combination with the lip 9, to retain the bowl section 1 on the barrel section 2. The purpose of the lip 9, in addition, is to limit the extent of sliding movement between the bowl section and the barrel section, in combination with the shoulder 13. In this condition, the trap is open and wastewater may flow normally from the waste outlet via the internal feed pipe 11 and the bowl, up into the displacement cavity 14 and thereby via the tail socket into the drainage pipe.

When the lower body is telescoped inwards, the inner surface of the bowl section slides sealably over the ring-seal 7, as shown in Figure 2. At the point where the end 10 of the internal feed pipe 11 compresses the compression seal 12 in the base of the bowl section, the lip 9 contacts the shoulder 13 of the barrel so as to prevent overcompression of the seal 12, and a seal is thereby made within predetermined sealing pressure limits. In this condition, the trap is fully closed, the sealing pressure is sufficient to sustain such seal for a protracted period of time at least until the threat of flooding recedes, and the building is protected against the penetration of floodwater or the backing-up of sewer contents via this route.

The internal feed pipe is shown in Figure 1 to be centrally located about the principal axis of the trap, but the pipe may take the form of any division of the internal space within the trap so as to transport wastewater from the inlet socket into the bowl.

A lock-out mechanism is also shown in Figure 1 comprising any number of raised sections 15 arranged around the sliding surface of the barrel locating with reciprocal cut-outs in the lip 9 such that the barrel and bowl may slide together but not rotate, except just before the lip 9 contacts the shoulder 13 where the ends of the raised sections may be partly cut away in a ramped formation translating into a

flat formation to allow that part of the lip adjoining each cut-out to enter a ramped slot when the bowl is rotated slightly, for the lip to then enter the ensuing flat slot at the same time as contacting the shoulder, and for the sliding components to be captured together in fixed disposition assisted by the tension created therebetween by the resilient compression seal seeking to return to its uncompressed state. The raised sections 15 may equally be replaced by depressed sections, and the reciprocal cut-outs in the lip may be replaced by reciprocal projections to the lip.

The action therefore to lock the trap closed is to push and turn, and the action to unlock the trap open is to counter-turn and pull. Optionally, the lock-out mechanism may be replicated at the lower end of the barrel so as to enable the trap to be alternatively locked open, although such facility is not critical to its operation and clearly the mutual fixed engagement between sliding components would not be assisted in this case by the compression seal.

The lock-out mechanism may comprise alternative methods of securing temporary fixed engagement between the sliding components in the open and closed positions. For example, the head of the barrel underneath the shoulder may have a thread or threads which engage with reciprocal threads on the inward-facing edge of the lip 9, and such threads may be replicated at the base of the barrel. Threads located at opposite ends of the barrel in this way may be separated by an unthreaded portion therebetween enabling the barrel and the bowl to slide harmoniously, or such threads may be continuous in which case the operating action would be replaced by a wholly rotational screwing and unscrewing action to open and close the trap. Where the threads are separated they may take the form of a single starter thread, or multiple starter threads, to make the engagement and lock-out action quicker and more-positive.

Alternatively, the lip 9 and the shoulder 13 may be provided with a lug, or lugs, on one component engaging linearly and/or rotationally with a slot or slots or a clip or clips on the other component so as to lock-out the trap in the open or closed position. Equally, the rim of the feed pipe and the rim of the socket holding the compression seal may be provided with a lug, or lugs, on one component

engaging linearly and/or rotationally with a slot/slots or a clip/clips on the other component so as to lock-out the trap in the closed position. Also alternatively, the rim of the barrel and the inside of the bowl may be provided with a lug, or lugs, on one component engaging linearly and/or rotationally with a slot/slots or a clip/clips on the other component so as to lock-out the trap in the closed position.

Materials for the telescopic trap may preferably be plastics or metal, or a combination of the two, and rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics may preferably be used for the ring-seals and compression seal. Any metal components would need to be of a non-rusting or corroding type, or be permanently coated or encapsulated to avoid such effects. Optionally, the ring-seals and compression seal may be moulded as an integral part of the barrel and/or bowl and the entire integrated moulding manufactured from rubber, synthetic rubber, or plastics.

The bowl may be provided with an arrow or other indication permanently etched, moulded, or machined onto it so as to indicate the position of the trap, either open or closed, and the bowl may also incorporate pegs, holes, slots or other engagement means to locate with a dedicated short-handled lever or with a screwdriver or other tool in common usage, to assist the process of rotation particularly in applications involving larger diameter drainage pipes or tighter seals. Alternative socket jointing methods may be specified to meet installation and operation requirements, for example solvent-weld, ring-seal, compression-seal and twist-lock types in common usage, and obviously socket and trap size will vary in the same way. Socket dimensions and other material criteria may preferably be such as to meet relevant British Standards.

In the first embodiment, the bowl section may be forced over the ring-seal 7 using a power press or similar tool so as to bring the barrel section into interlocking disposition with the bowl section. To assist this process the ring-seal may first be optionally bonded or mechanically secured onto the lip 8, and that part of the lip 9 in contact with the ring-seal during sub-assembly sympathetically shaped and lubricated so as not to tear or dislocate the ring-seal. Additionally or alternatively,

the bowl section may be expanded by heating and/or the barrel section may be cooled, and the ring-seal may be specified from material most compliant to the selected method of sub-assembly in terms of compressibility for example, resistance to momentary heating, and resistance to tearing.

Equally, the lip 9 may be fitted with a ring-seal, or replaced by a ring-seal, either together with the ring-seal 7 or in place of it, and where both ring-seals are fitted each may be of opposing generally-tapered cross-section so that when optionally lubricated the seals will slide over one another so as to bring the barrel section into interlocking disposition with the bowl section during sub-assembly, yet resist such sections separating in use. In addition to facilitating sub-assembly methodology, this double-acting seal may be used to ensure no leakage at the sliding joint in more exacting applications, for example those involving the transport of hightemperature wastewater, and where integrated mouldings for barrel and bowl are specified including the seals.

In a second embodiment shown in Figure 3, threaded rings A and B may be used to enable sliding interlocking engagement between the barrel and bowl sections.

The lock-ring A is a sliding fit onto the barrel, and the lock-ring has external threads 16 and an optional lip 17 extending around its circumference. The carrier-ring B has internal threads 18 and a resilient compressible waterproof ring-seal 19 held in tension in a groove extending around its circumference.

With the A-ring slid onto the barrel, the B-ring may be screwed onto reciprocal threads 20 around the rim of the barrel and torqued-up tight to the end. The bowl section may then be slid over the ring-seal 19 onto the barrel, and the A-ring screwed onto reciprocal threads 21 inside the rim of the bowl until the optional lip 17 is tightened onto the rim. In this condition, barrel and bowl may slide sealably together and are prevented from dislocating by the shoulder 13 at the upper end of the barrel and contact between the A and B rings at the lower end of the barrel. For additional security, either or both the rings may be bonded to their respective engagement threads.

Figure 3 also shows threads 22 inside the bowl which engage with reciprocal threads 20 around the rim of the barrel when the bowl is pushed and turned so as to lock-out the trap in the closed position, but the lock-out mechanism may also be facilitated by threads around the rim of the feed pipe engaging with reciprocal threads around the rim of the socket holding the compression seal 12 although in this case the upper body of the trap would no longer be a standard component and some economies of production may be lost. In either case, the engagement threads may be reduced to a single starter thread, or multiple starter threads, to enable the lock-out action to be quicker and more-positive.

A standard upper body or alternative upper bodies may be used in the case where a circular groove is optionally located in the base of the bowl so as to accept the rim of a standard unthreaded feed pipe when the trap is in the closed position, and such groove may accommodate a ring-seal and/or be tapered in cross-section so as to temporarily seal the junction between bowl and pipe in this condition. Indeed, the sealing and lock-out mechanisms specified for the second embodiment may be any of those described for the first embodiment, and the lock-out mechanisms described herewith for the second embodiment may be applied to the first embodiment. Equally, socket configurations and any of the features and aspects described relative to the first embodiment are interchangeable with the second embodiment, and vice versa.

Materials for the second embodiment may also be the same as for the first, with the A and B rings made from metal or plastics. Alternatively, either or both the rings may be made from rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics and the B carrier-ring optionally expanded to also fill the space occupied by the ring-seal so as to make possible a double-acting sliding seal together with economies of production.

Optionally, as an alternative to threads, either or both rings might be fitted to their respective barrel and bowl components using a circumferential socket on one to house a complementary circumferential plug or lip on the other, and for additional security the plug or lip may be bonded into the socket.

The telescopic trap is intended for installation on an above-ground drainage pipe

leading to a soil pipe. Transport speeds here may be significantly higher than on sewer connecting pipes leading away from buildings where backflow preventer valves are conventionally located, and branch pipes therefore are comparatively self-cleaning. The push-and-turn or turn-push-and-turn operation of the trap however, is such as to cut through and tear across any accumulated sediment or slime deposited in the bowl, or indeed through and across any semi-solids which may be present, in such a way as to avoid these elements restricting the operation of the trap or preventing its proper closure. This feature enables the trap to be specified confidently, and is particularly important in ensuring operation on demand-vital in the event of anticipated flooding.

Inside the building, drainage pipes leading to the soil pipe are more easily accessible for installation and operation of the telescopic trap, and the compact nature of the trap which may be no larger than a standard bottle trap, makes it suitable for installation in both new-build and retrofit situations. Where installation into existing pipework is required, an existing trap may be simply replaced by the special trap. However, telescopic traps may be configured so as to have the inlet socket horizontally aligned and generally at the same level as the outlet socket, or so as to have the outlet socket vertically aligned and in parallel disposition to the inlet socket, or indeed in any suitable alignment and disposition according to application and need but always so as to enable operation as a trap and/or as a line valve when inserted into new or existing pipework. Telescopic traps may be brightly coloured to assist location in the event of operation, and to identify their special function distinctively within the drainage system.

When a specific flood warning is received by any of the range of methods now in place, the telescopic traps to ground-floor water appliances may be closed in conjunction with the temporary salable closure of drainage pipes leading from other such ground-floor appliances and in conjunction with the bringing into place of other flood protection measures to seal external ground floor openings such as doors, windows, and service apertures, for example those set out in patent application nos. GB 0125230.3 and GB 0128540. 2. In this condition, the building is protected from the penetration of sewage and floodwater via the drainage system

whilst at the same time allowing mainline drainage via the soil stack and sewer connecting pipe to remain open, thereby enabling water appliances to upper floors such as baths, basins, toilets etc to remain in use and the building interior to remain dry and habitable during floodwater conditions outside.

Internally located telescopic traps are always accessible for operation, when necessary, after the onset of flooding.

Claims

CLAIMS (1) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings in which a telescopic bottle trap is installed into the drainage pipe leading from a water appliance or water appliances, the trap optionally having a standard upper body in common with other known bottle traps but always having a special lower body such that wastewater will normally flow though the trap, but when the lower body is telescoped inwardly and optionally rotated an internal seal is made between the base of the lower body and the end of the internal feed pipe extending downwardly from the upper body, the trap is sealably locked shut, and when subjected to the pressure of sewer contents backing up the drainage system during back-surge or during flood conditions existing for a protracted period of time, the seal is not displaced or broken thereby preventing floodwater/sewage from entering buildings by this means.

(2) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claim 1, in which the lower body may comprise a upper barrel section and a lower bowl section in mutual salable sliding and interlocking disposition enabled by the placing of one or more resilient compressible waterproof ring-seals therebetween.

(3) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-2, in which the salable sliding and interlocking disposition may take the form of a ring-seal held in place around the external circumference of the barrel by a first lip extending around the same external circumference and a second reciprocal lip extending around the internal circumference of the bowl section such that the ringseal prevents the leakage of wastewater from the interior of the trap to the exterior of the trap via the route between the two sliding components and, in combination with the second lip, retains the bowl section on the barrel section.

(4) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claim 3,

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in which the second reciprocal lip may be fitted with a ring-seal or replaced by a ring-seal as an alternative to the fitting of a ring-seal to the first lip but so as to fulfil the same purposes.

(5) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claim 3, in which the second reciprocal lip may be fitted with a ring-seal or replaced by a ring-seal in addition to the fitting of a ring-seal to the first lip so as to provide a double-acting seal which may be used to ensure no leakage at the sliding joint in more exacting applications, for example those involving the transport of hightemperature wastewater, and where integrated moulding for barrel and bowl are specified including the seals.

(6) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-2, in which the salable sliding and interlocking disposition may take the form of a lock-ring A being a sliding fit onto the barrel and the lock-ring having external threads extending around its circumference, and a carrier-ring B having internal threads and a resilient compressible waterproof ring-seal held in tension in a groove extending around its circumference, such that with the A-ring slid onto the barrel, the B-ring may be screwed onto reciprocal threads on the barrel and torqued-up tight to the end, and the bowl section may then be slid over the ringseal onto the barrel and the A-ring screwed onto reciprocal threads inside the bowl.

(7) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-6, In which the materials used for the barrel and bowl components and for the A and B rings may be metal or plastics, and materials for the ring and compression seals may be rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics.

(8) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-5, in which optionally, according to application, the barrel and/or the bowl may be made from the same range of materials as the ring and compression seals, and the barrel and/or bowl expanded to take the place of such seals, thereby simplifying manufacture and assembly.

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(9) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claim 6, in which either or both the A and B rings may be made from rubber, synthetic rubber or plastics and the B carrier-ring optionally expanded to also fill the space occupied by the ring-seal so as to make possible a double-acting sliding seal together with economies of production.

(10) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-5,7 and 9, in which optionally either or both rings or ring-seals may be fitted to their respective barrel and bowl components using a circumferential socket on one to house a complementary circumferential plug or lip on the other, and for additional security the plug or lip may be bonded into the socket.

(11) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-10, in which a threaded socket may be provided in the open end of the barrel section engaging with threads around-the open end of the upper body, the socket optionally having a resilient compressible waterproof ring-seal around its lowermost internal perimeter such that when the upper and lower bodies are screwed together the final stage of rotation is to compress the ring-seal and thereby hold the two bodies together in salable disposition.

(12) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-10, in which an unthreaded socket may be provided in the open end of the barrel section into which the open end of the upper body may be fitted, the socket optionally having a resilient compressible waterproof ring-seal around its lowermost internal perimeter such that when the upper and lower bodies are held together by lugs or pins on one body engaging with clips, slots or sockets on the other the ring-seal is compressed and the two bodies are engaged in salable disposition under predetermined sealing pressure.

(13) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 11 and 12, in which a groove may be provided in the base of the socket both to retain the ring-seal and to provide a shoulder to contact with the rim of the upper body to prevent overcompression, distortion or dislocation of the ring-seal.

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(14) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-13, in which when the lower body is telescoped inwards, the barrel and bowl sections slide sealably up to the point where the end of the internal feed pipe compresses a compression seal in the base of the bowl section at the same time as the second lip, ring-seal or A-ring contacts the shoulder forming the underside of the barrel socket, thereby preventing overcompression, distortion or dislocation of the compression seal and providing a trap closure seal within predetermined sealing pressure limits.

(15) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claim 14, in which a circular groove may be alternatively located in the base of the bowl so as to accept the rim of the feed pipe, and such groove may accommodate a compressible seal and/or be tapered in cross-section so as to bind against the internal and/or external surfaces of the feed pipe and to seal the trap shut in this condition.

(16) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-15, in which the internal feed pipe may take the form of any division of the internal space within the trap so as to transport wastewater from the inlet socket into the bowl.

(17) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16, in which a lock-out mechanism may comprise any number of raised sections arranged around the sliding surface of the barrel locating with reciprocal cut-outs in the second lip, ring-seal or A-ring such that the barrel and bowl may mutually slide but not rotate, except just before the second lip, ring-seal or A-ring contacts the shoulder where the ends of the raised sections may be partly cut away in a formation to allow a complementary part of the lip, ring-seal or A-ring adjoining each cut-out to enter a slot when the bowl is rotated slightly at the same time as contacting the shoulder, and for the sliding components to be captured together in fixed disposition assisted by the tension created therebetween by the resilient compression seal seeking to return to its uncompressed state.

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(18) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 17, in which the raised sections may equally be replaced by depressed sections, and the reciprocal cut-outs in the lip may be replaced by reciprocal projections to the lip.

(19) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-18, having a lock-out mechanism in which the action to lock the trap closed is to push and turn, and the action to unlock the trap open is to counter-turn and pull.

(20) A floodwater I sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-18, in which the lock-out mechanism may additionally be inversely replicated at the lower end of the barrel so as to enable the trap to be alternatively locked open.

(21) A floodwater I sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-18 and 20, in which the action to lock the trap closed is to counter-turn, push and turn, and the action to lock the trap open is to counter-turn, pull and turn, or the action to lock the trap closed is to turn, push and turn, and the action to lock the trap open is to counter-turn, pull and counter-turn.

(22) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16 and 19, in which the lock-out mechanism may comprise a thread or threads at the head of the barrel underneath the shoulder engaging with reciprocal threads on the inward-facing edge of the second lip, ring-seal or A-ring.

(23) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16,21 and 22, in which a thread or threads at the head of the barrel underneath the shoulder may be replicated with a thread or threads at the base of the barrel so as to enable the trap to be alternatively locked open, and threads located at opposite ends of the barrel in this way may be separated by an unthreaded portion therebetween enabling the barrel and the bowl to slide harmoniously.

(24) A floodwater I sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16, in which threads on the barrel may be continuous and the operating action

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would be a wholly rotational screwing and unscrewing action to open and close the trap.

(25) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16 and 19 or 21, in which the second lip, ring-seal or A-ring and/or the shoulder or external circumference of the socket may be provided with a lug, or lugs, on one component engaging linearly and/or rotationally with a slottslots or a clip/clips on the other component so as to lock-out the trap temporarily in the open or closed position.

(26) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16 and 19, in which threads around the inside of the bowl engage with reciprocal threads around the rim of the barrel when the bowl is pushed and turned so as to lock-out the trap in the closed position.

(27) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16 and 19, in which threads around the rim of the feed pipe engage with reciprocal threads around the rim of a socket holding the compression seal when the bowl is pushed and turned so as to lock-out the trap in the closed position.

(28) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 22-23 and 26-27, in which the lock-out threads may take the form of a single starter thread, or multiple starter threads, to make the engagement and lock-out action quicker and more-positive.

(29) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16, in which the rim of the barrel and/or the inside of the bowl may be provided with a lug, or lugs, on one component engaging linearly and/or rotationally with a slot/slots or a clip/clips on the other component so as to lock-out the trap temporarily in the closed position.

(30) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 1-16, in which the rim of the feed pipe and/or the rim of the socket holding the

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compression seal may be provided with a lug, or lugs, on one component engaging linearly and/or rotationally with a slottslots or a clip/clips on the other component so as to lock-out the trap in the closed position.

(31) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the push-and-turn or turn-push-and-turn operation of the trap is such as to cut through and tear across any accumulated sediment or slime deposited in the bowl, or indeed through and across any semi-solids which may be present, in such a way as to avoid these elements restricting the operation of the trap or preventing its proper closure thereby ensuring operation on demand.

(32) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which telescopic traps may be configured so as to have the inlet socket horizontally aligned and generally at the same level as the outlet socket, or so as to have the outlet socket vertically aligned and in parallel disposition to the inlet socket, or indeed in any suitable alignment and disposition according to application and need but always so as to enable operation as a trap and/or as a line valve when inserted into new or existing pipework.

(33) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which with telescopic traps/line valves serving ground floor water appliances closed, the building is protected from the penetration of sewage and floodwater via the drainage system whilst at the same time allowing mainline drainage via the soil stack and sewer connecting pipe to remain open, thereby enabling water appliances to upper floors such as baths, basins, toilets etc to remain in use and when other apertures in the building envelope are also suitably sealed, the building interior to remain dry and habitable during floodwater conditions outside.

(34) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the external surface of the bowl may incorporate pegs, holes, slots or other engagement means to locate with a dedicated shorthandled lever or with a screwdriver or other tool in common usage, to further assist

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the process of operation particularly in applications Involving larger diameter drainage pipes or tighter seals.

(35) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having a telescopic trap/line valve of external dimensions no larger than a conventional bottle trap so as to render it suitable for the replacement of existing bottle traps, and for installation into existing drainage systems.

(36) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in Claims 5,6 and 8-10, in which each ring-seal may be of opposing generally-tapered crosssection so that when optionally lubricated the seals will slide over one another so as to bring the barrel section into interlocking disposition with the bowl section during sub-assembly, yet resist such sections separating in use.

(37) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having internally located telescopic traps or valves accessible for operation, when necessary, after the onset of flooding.

(38) A floodwater/sewage protection means for buildings substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.