GB2538949A

GB2538949A - A conduit device

Info

Publication number: GB2538949A
Application number: GB1508614.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Windebank Richard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-05-16
Filing date: 2015-05-16
Publication date: 2016-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-16
Also published as: GB2538949B; GB201508614D0

Abstract

A conduit device comprising a body, having a front and rear face 1, 3, top and bottom surface 4,5 and two opposing parallel ends 2. The conduit device has three continuous passages 6 from the rear face to the front face and they incline towards the bottom surface when passing from the rear face to the front face to encourage gravity flow. The passages are of a size to fit standard pipe and pipe fittings to reduce bespoke construction. The conduit device can comprise integral piping (13, 12, figure 4) rocker piping (7, figure 2), pipe stoppers (10, figure 5) and/or inspection chambers (11, figure 4b) for ease of construction. The conduit device can be dimensionally similar to a standard brick to prevent the requirement for a lintel and can be reinforced to improve the strength and support of the device.

Description

A CONDUIT DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a conduit device, in particular a device forming a conduit for the construction trades; more particularly but not exclusively a device forming a conduit for drainage rocker pipes.

Background

Increasing requirement for housing, as a result of increasing populations, and increasing desire to improve and extend existing housing stock means that much structural building work is in process at any one time.

In particular extra bathroom facilities are often seen as desirable in a general movement across societies for improved sanitation.

New sanitation facilities require new drainage systems. Drainage systems are required to be predominantly sited outside for hygiene and maintenance purposes.

As a consequence drainage piping needs to exit a house and will connect outside the house. The pipes typically connect at an inspection chamber to allow checking for blockages, and continue to external sewage systems. The pipes exiting the house need to be effectively directed to the inspection chamber, especially in situations of multiple such drainage pipes.

Typically configuration of the pipes at exit is arranged on-site and may involve render, muck, concrete, or other filler in a tailor-made, forming an imprecise and messy solution. These solutions can often allow ingress of animals or egress of heat, as well as leading to poorly directed pipes and consequently increased need for jointing pieces or corners to Join into the Inspection chamber. Often a lintel is required over the pipes to ensure structural rigidity.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: Chinese utility model CN 204 001 369 (YUHUA) discloses an air entrainment brick, including the brick body, brick body's one side is equipped with a through hole along the brick body's altitude direction, vertical installs underground to have a steel bar in another one side and through hole symmetrical position of brick body, the through hole center and steel bar the distance of between centers of circle is brick length of body half, the steel bar is not bigger than brick body high half to the altitude that of part the brick body high and low surface stretches out, the steel bar diameter is smaller than the through hole the diameter; When the brick bodies the interconnection builds a wall, the steel bar located below brick body enters located at its place above and staggers the arrangement with it in another brick body% through hole, the through hole and in the steel bar gap is equipped with the cement packing layer. This utility model's beneficial effect lies in: Installs underground the steel bar that passes through to be used to connect other brick bodies in the air entrainment brick, causes the brick body after being built is a wall connection to be more reliable, thus overcomes the air entrainment brick itself intensity bad flaw.

Chinese utility model CN 202 131 703 (LINGLING et al) discloses a pipeline brick. The pipeline brick comprises a brick body, wherein the brick body is provided with a plurality of through holes with different diameters; a through hole with larger diameter is formed at the center of the brick body; a plurality of through holes are symmetrically formed on the two sides of the larger through hole; and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes are prefabricated in the through holes. The through holes provided with the PVC pipes are formed in the brick body, and during pipe laying on a decoration site, various pipes are put into the through holes in a pipe laying brick body according to the size of each pipe, so that on-site construction is facilitated; the PVC pipes are prefabricated in the through holes, so that the various pipes are protected, and a hot water pipeline is avoided from being contacted with the ground surface directly, and thus the temperature of hot water in the hot water pipe is ensured.

United States patent application US 2 404 531 (ARCHIBALD) discloses a conduit supporting block, opposed block sections having complementary conduit-receiving channels extending transversely of opposed faces thereof, laterally extending flanges 35 on said sections, cushions of yieldable material mounted on said flanges and lining said opposed faces and said channels; and means for securing mid sections together to clamp the conduits therebetween.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a conduit device comprising a body having two opposing parallel faces, namely front and rear faces, two opposing parallel ends arranged orthogonal to the faces, a top surface and a parallel opposing bottom surface; characterised in that the body includes three continuous passages from the rear face to the front face.

Advantageously in this way the passages may be effectively fixed in placed in a plurality of sizings and dimensions of conduit and/or device; for example wherein the body is reduced in size and the passages are identical.

The passages are spaced apart in a fixed arrangement, for accommodation of the pipes into a fixed spatial arrangement and distancing. In this way the arrangement is able to ensure that a series of pipes are enabled to pass effectively through a wall.

In this way up to three pipes may be correctly and efficiently directed and transited from inside a building to outside a building.

The body is envisaged to be a standard brick dimension, so as to effect the transition within a known context, by simple replacement of a brick during construction. The 25 construction does not therefore require tailoring, bespoke work or a lintel over.

The body may be formed in a known building material such as clay, being a block or a single unit of a kneaded (alumina) day or clay-bearing soil, (silica) sand, iron oxide, magnesia and lime, or concrete material, fire-hardened or air-dried, as known and 30 commonly used in standard masonry construction.

In further embodiments the body comprises lightweight brick or lightweight blocks, made from expanded day aggregate.

Said passages are arranged to provide throughpassage of pipes.

In an embodiment the passages are filled with pipes at manufacture or retail. Such pipes are elongate and may be provided at either end with collars for attachment of further piping. The pipes comprise rocker pipes as known in the art of approximately 300-600mm in length that allow movement in a drainage system without imposing and stresses onto joints. In addition given fixed spacing between the pipes in the device, there is less requirement for bespoke joints onto an inspection chamber and reduced joints and angles in the drainage piping.

In some of such embodiments the piping may be displaced or displaceable in use 10 and/or replaced with known pipe caps or stoppers.

The pipes are envisaged to be spaced longitudinally along the faces, and consequently the body provides two intermediate spacers.

Said spacers may be provided by sections of the body left behind by forming the conduits.

In some further embodiments the spacers may be reinforced or provided by further material. Such material may comprise plastics or metals or alloys.

In some further embodiments the passages may be reinforced or provided by further material. Such material may comprise plastics or metals or alloys.

In some embodiments the faces differ in finish, for example wherein one face is finished for external or aesthetic purposes or faced so as to be suitable to be visible, 25 and the other face is finished for internal or non-visible facing or purposes.

The body may be common, perforated or hollow where the perforations are less than 25% of the body volume, keyed having indentations in at least one face and end so as to be used in rendering or plastering, ceramic glazed, thin having normal dimensions other than reduced ends, chemically or add resistant, engineering, Accrington, clinker, Dutch, Cream City, or other localised stock, wire cut, water struck, sand struck, sand surfaced, flashed, texture faced, or other specialised type of brick or block.

In an embodiment the passages decline from the rear face to the front face, in a manner configured to allow exit under gravity of contents internal to the pipes. For example the passages may include a declination of between 5 and 10 degrees.

The passages may include internal texture or finish which differs from the faces, ends, surfaces or body. For example in some embodiments the passages may have a smooth inner, which inner ensures that pipes passed therethrough are easily passed through, and repositioned.

In this way the passage tolerance may be improved so as to allow for tight fitting and provide maximal denial of entrance or exit of fluid, heat or animals; thereby effectively sealing a wall whilst permitting a series of pipes to pass therethrough.

In some embodiments therefore the passage may be advantageously lined or coated 15 with a friction minimising coating, paint or material. In some embodiments therefore the passage may be advantageously lined or coated with resiliently deformable material.

In some embodiments the bottom surface may be provided with an indentation or 20 frog.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the device according to the 25 present invention; Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figures 3 show sketches of known solutions in the prior art; Figures 4 show sketches of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention in use; And Figures 5 show sketches of embodiments of the device according to the present invention in use.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown a conduit device comprising a cuboid body having opposing parallel faces, namely front 3 and rear faces 1, two opposing parallel ends 2 arranged orthogonal to the faces, a top surface 4 and a parallel opposing bottom surface 5; characterised in that the body includes three continuous passages 6 from the rear face to the front face.

The passages incline towards the bottom surface from the rear face to the front face at a rate of 1/4 inch per linear foot.

The device comprises an autoclaved aerated block such as Thermalite (RTM). The pipes are polypropylene. The faces of the device are 700mm by 225mm, and the surfaces 100mm by 700mm.

The passages in the second embodiment comprise rocker pipes 7. The rocker pipes are between 300 mm and 600 mm and include end collars 8,9, the pipes extend 150mm from the faces.

The passages are approximately 100mm or larger in diameter wherein the pipes are 25 100mm in diameter. The passages may have ribs or texture internally so as to grip the pipes or may be substantially smooth.

As shown in Figure 4b the collars allow attachment of further pipes 13, leading to joints 12, which joints are used to attach to an inspection chamber 11.

The passages and/or collars may be capped with stoppers 10; as shown in Figures 5. Such stoppers are known in the art for stopping pipes. The stoppers consequently may be configured to stop pipes within the passages, or the passages themselves, where the passages are arranged to have a tolerance fit with the pipes.

In the first embodiment the body is placed on footings, the pipe or stopper placed in or through the passages as appropriate, keeping the pipes from the floor and spaced apart equally. The body is mucked into the surrounding building, stopping rats entering the building and minimising use of pipes, lintels, bricks and muck; as shown unnecessarily used in the prior art solutions shown in Figures 3.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A conduit device comprising a body having two opposing parallel faces, namely front and rear faces, two opposing parallel ends arranged orthogonal to the faces, a top surface and a parallel opposing bottom surface; characterised in that the body includes three continuous passages from the rear face to the front face.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the passages comprise pipes.
3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the pipes comprise rocker pipes.
4. A device according to claim 2 wherein the pipes comprise an inspection chamber.
5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the passages comprise stoppers.
6. A device according to any of any of the preceding claims wherein the passages incline towards the bottom surface when passing from the rear face to the front face.
7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the passages incline towards the bottom surface when passing from the rear face to the front face at a rate of 1/4 inch per linear foot.
8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the passages are spaced longitudinally along the faces, and the body provides two spacers intermediate the passages.
9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the spacers are reinforced.
10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the passages are internally bored smooth.
11. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the passages are internally lined.
12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the passages are internally lined with raised and lowered parts.
13. A device according to claim 11 wherein the passages are internally lined with antifriction lining.
14. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the body is formed as a construction lightweight aggregate block.
15. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the body is formed as a clay based house brick.
16. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the body is formed as a autoclaved aerated block such as Thermalite (RTM).Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A conduit device comprising: * a body, having: * a front face; * a rear face; * a top surface; * a bottom surface; * two opposing parallel ends; * 3 continuous passages from the rear face to the front face; wherein: * an orifice of the passages in the front face is closer to the bottom surface then an orifice of the passages in the rear face, to encourage gravity flow.2. A conduit device as claimed in claim I wherein the overall dimensions of the body are multiples of a standard brick dimension.3. A conduit device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the conduit device has integral piping.O 4. A conduit device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the conduit device has integral piping with rocker pipes.5. A conduit device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the conduit device has C\I integral piping including an inspection chamber.6. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one passage of the conduit device is stopped.7. A conduit device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the passage is stopped by a standard pipe cap.8. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the passages are of a size to fit standard pipe fittings and/or standard piping.9. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the passages are spaced with the same bottom of pipe elevation.10. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the passages are spaced with the same central axis of elevation.11. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein sections between the passages are reinforced 12. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the passages are: * internally bored smooth; or * internally lined with: * raised parts; or * lowered parts; or * raised and lowered parts; or * anti-friction lining.13. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body is formed as a construction lightweight aggregate block.14. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body is formed as a clay based house brick.15. A conduit device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the body is formed as an autoclaved aerated block such as Thermalite (RTM).16. A conduit device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.