IL266463A

IL266463A - Ductwork conveying system

Info

Publication number: IL266463A
Application number: IL266463A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Dims Tech Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-05
Filing date: 2019-05-05
Publication date: 2020-11-30
Also published as: IL266463B2; IL266463B1; IL266463A0

Description

DUCTWORK CONVEYING SYSTEM TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD The presently disclosed subject matter concerns ductwork conveying systems for conveying ductwork through a wall, and particularly through a casted concrete wall of a blast resistant or a gastight structure.

BACKGROUND ART References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below: - IL247372 - IL218946 Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

BACKGROUND Shelters and other protected rooms, which should be gastight in times of emergency, are often installed in their interior with accessories communicating with the exterior of the room.

Such communication is often performed by some kind of ductwork running between the interior and the exterior of the room, often through the walls of the room.

To maintain the room gastight, a solution for sealingly passing this ductwork through the walls of the room should be provided, to avoid sealing or detaching of the ductwork in times of emergency.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The presently disclosed subject matter concerns penetration modules for conveying ductwork into/through a wall, and particularly with penetration modules 02635179\38-01 - 2 - configured to be installed in casted concrete walls, optionally, by casting the penetration modules together with the wall.

The wall can be any conventional wall, for example a wall of a blast resistant or a gastight structure, such as a protected/fortified room, a residential secure space, a shelter, etc. In this case, the penetration module should facilitate sealing of the room when installed.

The term "ductwork" as used herein refers to any utility line configured to pass through or into the wall, such as piping, wiring, plumbing, ducting, etc, and combinations thereof. According to an example of the present disclosure, the ductwork can be of an HVAC system, particularly, a condensate drain conduit, a gas conduit, and electrical wiring of an air conditioner.

According to a first aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided a system for conveying ductwork into a wall. The system comprises a housing configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall; said housing having a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, and an inside face defining a space together with the back wall, and is formed with a liquid drain passageway extending from the space through a drain wall of the housing; the system is further configured with a valve assembly disposed within the space, said valve assembly having at least three ports and is sealingly connected to the liquid drain passageway.

According to a second aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter there is provided a kit for conveying ductwork into a wall. The kit comprises a housing configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall; said housing having a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, and an inside face defining a space together with the back wall, and is formed with a liquid drain passageway extending from the space through a drain wall of the housing; the kit further comprises a valve assembly disposed within the space, said valve assembly having at least three ports and is sealingly connectable to the liquid drain passageway.

According to a third aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a system for conveying ductwork into a wall. The system comprises a housing configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall; said housing having a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, and an inside face defining a space together with the back wall, and is formed 02635179\38-01 - 3 - with a passageway extending from the space through a passageway wall of the housing configured to facilitate ductwork passage therethrough; The system is further configured with a wall covering frame, having a shape at least partially conformed with the inside face of the circumferential wall of the housing; the frame having a frame inside face, and is configured to snugly slide within the housing, so that the frame inside face define an extension for the space.

According to a fourth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a kit for conveying ductwork into a wall. The kit comprises a housing configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall; said housing having a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, and an inside face defining a space together with the back wall and is formed with a passageway extending from the space through a passageway wall of the housing configured to facilitate ductwork passage therethrough; The kit further comprises a wall covering frame configured to be fitted to the housing, having a shape at least partially conformed with the inside face of the circumferential wall of the housing; the frame having a frame inside face, and is configured to snugly slide within the housing, so that the frame inside face define an extension for the space.

According to a fifth aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a wall covering frame, configured to be fitted to a housing of a system for conveying ductwork into a wall, the housing being configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall, and has a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, and an inside face defining a space together with the back wall; the frame having a frame inside face, and is configured to snugly slide within the housing, so that the frame inside face define an extension for the space.

Any one or more of the following features, designs and configurations can be applied to any one of the kits, systems and the method according to the present disclosure, separately or in various combinations thereof:  A condensate port of the valve assembly can be configured to be connected to a condensate drain conduit of an air conditioner, and a drain port of the valve assembly can be configured to be connected, via the liquid drain passageway, to a drain conduit at least partially embedded in the wall. 02635179\38-01 - 4 -  The systems and the kits can further comprise an auxiliary conduit, configured to connect to an auxiliary port of the valve assembly, and be disposed separately from the wall.

 The connection between the ports of the valve assembly and the respective conduits can be sealed, to allow leak-free flow of condensate therethrough. According to a particular example, the valve assembly is integral with the liquid drain passageway, to further enhance the sealing.

 The valve assembly can be configured to selectively facilitate fluid communication at least between the condensate port and either the drain port or the auxiliary port, to convey condensate from the condensate drain conduit to either the drain conduit or the auxiliary conduit.

 When the kits and the systems are used in a room, which in times of emergency should be gastight, such as a residential secure space, the arrangement of the valve assembly can allow, in routine, condensate drainage through the wall, i.e. through the utility drain conduit, and in times of emergency (when the room should be gastight), in-room drainage, i.e. optionally through the auxiliary conduit, without any modification to the system or pipe disassembling in the system.

 The in-room condensate can be consumed by residents of the room, or be used for watering plants within the room.

 When the valve facilitates fluid communication between the condensate port and the auxiliary port, the drain port can be sealed, so as to prevent gasses from entering the room therethrough, i.e. through the auxiliary port or the condensate port.

 The housing can be shaped and sized to accommodate the auxiliary conduit within the space. According to a particular example, the auxiliary conduit is flexible and manipulable between a compacted state and a deployed state, and the housing is shaped and sized so as to accommodate the auxiliary conduit at least in a compacted state thereof.

 The drain wall can constitute a portion of either the back wall or the circumferential wall of the housing.

 The drain wall can be sloped with respect to the back wall, so as to allow easy reaching for connecting either the condensate drain conduit or the auxiliary conduit, to the valve assembly. 02635179\38-01 - 5 -  To facilitate drainage by gravity, the drain wall can be disposed at a portion of the housing, configured to be positioned at a lower part thereof during casting.

 The kit and the system can further comprise a wall covering frame, having a shape at least partially conformed with the inside face of the circumferential wall of the housing; the frame having a frame inside face, and is configured to snugly slide within the housing, so that the frame inside face define an extension for the space.

 When the wall covering frame snugly slide within the housing, at least a portion of the frame inside face at least partially overlap at least a portion of the inside face of the circumferential wall of the housing, which in turn define the space, such that the space extension is defined by the frame inside face and the inside face of the circumferential wall, without the overlapping part.

 The circumferential wall of the housing can have a housing rim defining an access opening for the space.

 The housing rim can be configured to be flush with the wall after casting, so that a plaster layer, or any other cover layer which is applied to the wall thereafter, renders the access opening, and the space, embedded within it.

 The housing can be uniform, and can be positioned during casting such, that the housing rim is disposed adjacent to a making mold used to cast the wall, so that the making mold seals the access opening, thereby preventing concrete from entering the space.

 The housing rim can include a flanging portion extending laterally from the circumferential wall.

 The housing rim can be formed with fastening bores, via which the housing is configured to be fastened to the making mold before casting.

 The wall covering frame can be configured to be fitted to the housing after casting, and optionally before the application of the cover layer to the wall, so as to extend the space, and define a new access opening for the housing, distal from the wall.

 When the wall covering frame is fitted to the housing, it can snugly slide therewithin from a first position thereof, in which the space extension is maximal, towards a second position thereof, in which the extension of the space is shorter than maximal, so as to bring the new access opening closer to the wall. 02635179\38-01 - 6 -  The wall covering frame can also have a frame rim configured to abut the cover layer of the wall after the snugly sliding of the wall covering frame to its second position.

 One of the wall covering frame or the housing can include a track element while the other can include a sliding element configured to slide within the track, thereby facilitating the snugly sliding of the wall covering frame within the housing.

 The track element can be in a form of a depression while the sliding element can be in a form of a mating protrusion.

 The wall covering frame can be fitted to the housing such that the space extension can be performed transversely to the access opening, i.e. transverse to the wall when the housing is installed thereto.

 Each of the kits and the systems can further comprise spacers, configured to maintain an offset distance between the covering frame and the housing at least when the covering frame snugly slide from the first position thereof to the second position, within the housing.

 The spacers can be integral with either the frame or the housing, or can be at least partially detachably attached thereto.

 This attachment can be weak to allow easy removal of the spacers by a user, possibly using one hand.

 This connection can be molded connection, and each spacer can be formed such that a portion thereof most proximal to the molded connection is narrower than a portion thereof distal from the molded connection.

 Each spacer can have a predetermined operative length, and after application of the cover layer, an appropriate number of spacers can be removed, which correspond to the final thickness of the cover layer divided by the spacers operative length, to allow the rim of the wall covering frame to abut the cover layer at the second state of the wall covering frame.

 The spacers can be attached to either the housing or the covering frame, and have a breakable portion configured to detach therefrom.

 The predetermined operative length can be 10mm.

 The frame can also be uniform, to prevent the cover layer from leaking to the space during application thereof. 02635179\38-01 - 7 -  Each of the kits and the systems described hereinabove can further comprise a fastening arrangement configured to fasten the wall covering frame to the housing when the frame is at its second state, while the spacers maintain an offset distance therebetween.

 The fastening arrangement can be a bolt-nut arrangement.

 The housing can include at least one concealed portion configured to prevent concrete from entering thereto during casting, the concealed portion can be configured to accommodate one of the bolt or the nut of the bolt-nut arrangement. According to a particular arrangement, the nut is integral with the concealed portion of the housing.  wherein at least a part of the fastening arrangement is disposed in the concealed portion.

 Each kit and system described hereinabove can further include an access cover, configured to snapingly connect to the housing, so as to at least partially block the access opening, and conceal at least a portion of the space in which the liquid drain passageway is disposed.

 The access cover can be used to support the auxiliary conduit as it is being accommodated in the space, optionally in a rolled-up state thereof.

 Each kit and system described hereinabove can further comprise a wall sleeve, configured to connect to a pre-formed sleeve passageway in the back wall of the housing, so as to facilitate ductwork passage from the space through the wall.

 The wall sleeve can be configured to be casted in the wall together with the housing, and can comprise reinforcement members configured to prevent the wall sleeve from collapsing under loads applied during casting.

 The reinforcement members can be disposed within the wall sleeve and be arranged in a cross like fashion, so as to allow ductwork to be conveyed through the wall sleeve.

 Each kit and system described hereinabove can further comprise a sealing plate connectable to the back wall of the housing, so as to seal the sleeve passageway to prevent gases from entering or blasts from propagating, therethrough.

 Each kit and system described hereinabove can further include at least one wall anchor connectable to the housing so that at least a portion thereof is disposed outside 02635179\38-01 - 8 - the space exposed to concrete during casting, the wall anchor being configured to be anchored in concrete during casting.

 The sealing plate can be connected to the at least one wall anchor so as to be anchored to the concrete togetherwith. Such an arrangement allows the sealing plate to withstand blasts propagating through the wall sleeve, and prevent them from propagating into the room.

 The sealing plate can have at least one utility passageway formed therein, configured to facilitate sealed ductwork passage therethrough to the wall sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a system for conveying ductwork into a wall, according to an example of the present disclosure; Fig. 1B is a bottom perspective view of the system of Fig. 1A; Fig. 1C is a perspective view of the system of Fig. 1A, connected with a condensate drain conduit, a utility drain conduit, and an auxiliary conduit in a compacted state; Fig. 1D is a perspective view of the system of Fig. 1A, connected with a condensate drain conduit, a utility drain conduit, and an auxiliary conduit in a deployed state, according to an example of the present disclosure; Fig. 1E is a perspective view of the system of Fig. 1A, connected with a condensate drain conduit, a utility drain conduit, and an auxiliary conduit in a deployed state, and embedded in a wall; Fig. 1E is a perspective exploded view of a valve assembly according to an example of the present disclosure; Fig. 2A is a front view of a system for conveying ductwork through a wall, according to another example of the present disclosure; Figs. 2B and 2C are opposite perspective views of the system of Fig. 2A, when connected with a sealing plate, and four wall anchors, according to an example of the present disclosure; 02635179\38-01 - 9 - Fig. 2D is a perspective view of the system of Figs 2B and 2C, when connected with the condensate drain conduit, the utility drain conduit, and the auxiliary conduit in a deployed state, and also with gas conduits, according to an example of the present disclosure; Fig. 2E is a side view of the system of Fig 2D, when embedded in the wall; Fig. 2F is a perspective view of the system of Fig. 2D, together with a sleeve extension; Fig. 3A is a perspective view of the system of Fig. 1, fitted with a wall covering kit, according to an example of the present disclosure; Fig. 3B is a close up view of area A in Fig. 3A; Fig. 3C is a perspective view of a wall covering frame, according to an example of the present disclosure; Fig. 3D is a side view of the system of Fig. 3A, when the wall covering frame is at its first position; Fig. 3E is a side view of the system of Fig. 3A, when the wall covering frame is at its second position; and Fig. 3F is a front view of the system of Fig. 3A, when the wall covering frame is fitted with an access cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Attention is first directed to Figs. 1A to 1F of the drawings, illustrating a system 1 for conveying ductwork into a wall 50 of a room [not illustrated], the room having an indoor face 50a and an outdoor face 50b.

The room can be any room which in times of emergency should be gastight, such as a residential or public secure space, and the ductwork can refer to a condensate drainage of an air conditioner in-door unit [not illustrated], installed within the room, optionally in proximity to the system 1.

The system 1 is configured to facilitate, in routine, condensate draining through the wall 50, i.e. through a utility drain conduit 13a, best seen in Figs. 1C to 1E, also configured to be embedded in the wall during casting thereof, and having an outdoor outlet 13a'. The system 1 is further configured, in times of emergency (when the room should be gastight), to facilitate in-room drainage of condensate, i.e. optionally through an auxiliary conduit 15a, best seen in Figs. 1C to 1E, as will be explained hereinafter. 02635179\38-01 - 10 - The condensate being drained in the room can be collected in a receptacle [not illustrated], so as to be later consumed by residents of the room, or by plants within the room.

The system 1 comprises a housing 20 configured to be embedded in the wall 50 during casting of the wall 50, as seen in Fig. 1E. The housing 20 having a back wall 21, and a circumferential wall 23 extending therefrom. The circumferential wall 23 is formed with an outside face 23b, an inside face 23a defining a space 25 together with the back wall 21, and a flanging portion constituting a housing rim 24, which defines an access opening 26 for the space 25.

The back wall 21 and the circumferential wall 23 are both uniform, accept for a liquid drain passageway 27 extending from the space 25 through a drain wall 21a of the housing 20, constituting a portion of the back wall 21, which is configured to sealingly receive therein a valve assembly, such as valve assembly 10.

After casting, the position of the housing 20 should be such, that the access opening 26 is adjacent to the indoor face 50a of the wall 50, facing the interior of the room. To achieve such, the housing rim 24 is configured, during casting of the wall 50, to be held in abutment to a making mold [not illustrated] used to cast the wall 50 which is associated with the indoor face 50a of the wall 50, such that the making mold seals the access opening 26 throughout the casting process, thereby preventing concrete from entering the space 25. The housing rim 24 further comprises fastening bores 24a, and the holding in abutment of the housing rim 24 can be facilitated by fasteners [not illustrated] configured to fasten the housing 20 through the fastening bores 24a.

The system 1 further comprises the valve assembly 10, best seen in Fig. 1F, which is configured to be sealingly received in the liquid drain passageway 27, and thus be partially disposed within the space 25. The valve assembly 10 comprises three ports – a first, condensate port 11, configured to be connected to a condensate drain conduit 11a, best seen in Figs. 1C to 1E, of an air conditioner [not shown]; a second, drain port 13 configured to be sealingly inserted into the liquid drain passageway 27, as will be explained hereinafter, and be connected therebeyond to the utility drain conduit 13a; and a third auxiliary port 15 configured to be connected to the auxiliary conduit 15a.

The valve assembly 10 further comprises a tap 17, configured to selectively establish fluid communication between the condensate port 11 and either the drain 13 port 02635179\38-01 - 11 - or the auxiliary port 15, to convey condensate from the condensate drain conduit 11a to either the utility drain conduit 13a or the auxiliary conduit 15a.

The valve assembly 10 further has a bearing portion 19, which is wider than the liquid drain passageway 27, and configured to bear thereon, and a threading [not illustrated] disposed beneath the bearing portion 19, corresponding to a nut 27a of the system 1. To prevent concrete from entering the space 25 through the liquid drain passageway 27, the receiving of the valve assembly 10 in the liquid drain passageway 27 should be performed in a sealed manner. This can be done by positioning the bearing portion 19 and the nut 27a in two opposite sides of the drain wall 21a, with sealing rubbers 19a between each of which and the drain wall 21a, in a manner demonstrated in Fig. 1F, and fastening the nut 27a to the bearing portion 19 on the threading.

The drain wall 21a herein is sloped with respect to the access opening 26, so as to allow easy reaching from the access opening 26, for connecting the condensate drain conduit 11a and the auxiliary conduit 15a, to the valve assembly 10. Further, the drain wall 21a is disposed at a lower portion of the housing 20, so as to facilitate condensate drainage by gravity, when a condensate output of the air conditioner is disposed above the condensate port 11, and beneath an uppermost portion of the housing 20.

The connection between the ports 11,13,15 of the valve assembly 10 and the respective conduits 11a,13a,15a is sealed, to allow leak-free flow of condensate therethrough, and, in the case of conduit 13a, to prevent concrete from entering through the drain port 13 and blocking the valve assembly 10.

Since the system 1 is configured for use in rooms which in times of emergency should be gastight, and since the utility drain conduit 13a has an outdoor outlet, exposed to outdoor gasses, it should be appreciated that when the tap 17 establishes fluid communication between the condensate port 11 and the auxiliary port 15, the drain port 13 is sealed, so as to prevent gasses from entering the room therethrough.

In routine, the tap 17 should be positioned at a first state, in which fluid communication between the condensate port 11 and the utility drain port 13 is established, so that condensate being drained from the air conditioner flows through the condensate drain conduit 11a, into the utility drain conduit 13a, and out of the room through the outdoor outlet 13a' thereof.

In times of emergency, the tap 17 should be turned to a second state, in which fluid communication between the condensate port 11 and the auxiliary port 15 is 02635179\38-01 - 12 - established, so that condensate being drained from the air conditioner flows through the condensate drain conduit 11a, into the auxiliary conduit 15a, which in turn can direct the condensate back into the room, optionally to a receptacle as previously described, thereby facilitating sealing of the room to outdoor gasses possibly entering through outlet 13a'.

The auxiliary conduit 15a herein is flexible and manipulable between a compacted, rolled-up state, shown in Fig. 1C, and a deployed state, shown in Figs. 1D and 1E. The housing 20 is shaped and sized so as to accommodate the auxiliary conduit 15a within the space 25 in the compacted state thereof, whereas at a deployed state, the auxiliary conduit 15a extends outside the space 25.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, there is no auxiliary conduit, and in times of emergency condensate being drained from the air conditioner freely flows within the space 25 and possibly falls therefrom to a floor of the room, or to the receptacle when the latter is being disposed therebelow.

Besides the requirement that the room will be gastight in times of emergency, there could be a requirement that the room will be blast resistant.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 2A to 2E illustrating a system 100 for conveying ductwork through and into the wall 50.

The system 100 is similar to the system 1, however, in addition to conveying condensate drainage into the wall 50, the system 100 is further configured to convey gas conduits and possibly electrical wiring conduits of an air conditioner, such as conduits 71a, 73a and 75a, through the wall 50.

Such arrangement can be useful to connect between an indoor and outdoor units of an air conditioner.

Similarly to the system 1, the system 100 comprises a housing 120 configured to be embedded in the wall 50 during casting of the wall, as seen in Fig. 2E, with a circumferential wall 23 identical to the circumferential wall of system 1, however with a back wall 121 defining together with the circumferential wall 23 the space 25, and with a wall sleeve 150, connected to the back wall 121, via which conduits 71a, 73a and 75a, are configured to be conveyed through the wall 50.

The wall sleeve 150 herein is uniform, to prevent concrete from entering thereto during casting, and further comprises reinforcement members 151, best seen in FIG. 2B, configured to prevent the wall sleeve 150 from collapsing under loads applied by the concrete during casting. As seen in Fig. 2B, the reinforcement members 151 are disposed 02635179\38-01 - 13 - in a cross like fashion so as to facilitate passing of the conduits 71a, 73a, and 75a, in the wall sleeve 150.

The wall sleeve 150 having an indoor inlet 150a formed at the back wall 121, and an opposite outdoor outlet 150b. During casting, when the housing rim 24 is being held in abutment to a making mold associated with the indoor face 50a of the wall 50, the outdoor outlet 150b of the wall sleeve 150 is configured to be held in abutment, or extend beyond, an opposite making mold [not illustrated], associated with the outdoor face 50b of the wall 50. Such arrangement renders the outdoor outlet 150b exposed to outdoor air, as after casting it is at least flush with the exterior face 50b of the wall, and possibly, protruding therefrom.

Similarly to the system 1, the system 100 is also configured for use in rooms which in times of emergency should be gastight, and even configured for use in rooms which in times of emergency should be blast resistant. Since the wall sleeve 150 has an outdoor outlet 150b, which can be exposed to outdoor gasses and outdoor blasts, means for sealing the sleeve 150 should be provided, to prevent the gasses from entering, and the blasts from propagating through the wall sleeve 150.

It can be appreciated that the system can further include a sleeve extension 152 for the wall sleeve 150, best seen in Fig. 2F, configured to be snugly fitted to the wall sleeve outlet 150b, so as to adapt the length of the wall sleeve 150 to extra thick walls.

The sleeve extension can include at least one fastening screw 152a, configured to fasten the sleeve extension 152 to the wall sleeve 150.

The system 100 further comprises a sealing arrangement, which includes a sealing plate 160, a sealing rubber [not seen] configured to be disposed in a rubber depression 121c in the back wall 121, and four wall anchors 162, each formed with a threading [not seen] and fitted with two fastening nuts 161 displaceable on the threading.

Each wall anchor 162 is configured to be received within a designated anchor bore 121b in the back wall 121, such that the two nuts 161 are disposed from either side of the back wall 121, rendering a portion of the wall anchor 162, which also include one nut 161 to be disposed outside the space 25, in an area which is exposed to concrete during casting, thereby anchoring the wall anchor 162 together with on nut 161 in the wall 50.

It should be appreciated that in addition to the wall anchors 162, other types of wall anchors, or even other anchoring means, can be fitted to the housing, for example to be received in anchor holes 121d, shown in Fig. 2B. 02635179\38-01 - 14 - The sealing plate 160 has four respective plate bores, each configured to receive therein an anchored wall anchor 162, so as to be held thereby. To perform the sealing of the wall sleeve 150, the sealing plate should be held by the wall anchors 162, within the space 25, between the four fastening nuts 161, also being held by the wall anchors, and the sealing rubber as the latter is disposed within the rubber depression 121c. A user should than tightly fasten the unanchored nuts 161 towards the anchored nut 161, to fasten the sealing plate 160 to the back wall 121, against the sealing rubber, and thereby seal the sleeve indoor inlet 150a.

Further, the entire sealing arrangement can be robust, to prevent blasts propagating through the sleeve 150 from propagating into the room. Such robustness can be facilitated by the wall anchors 162 as they are anchored in the wall 50 after casting.

The sealing plate 160 is further formed with three utility passageways 165a, 165b and 165c, each fitted with a sealing coupler configured to sealingly convey a conduit 71a, 73a or 75a therethrough to the wall sleeve 150.

It should be appreciated that blasts occurring just outside the room can propagate through the outdoor outlet 13a' of the utility drain conduit 13a and damage the valve assembly 10, or the connection of the drain port 13 with the utility drain conduit 13a.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the utility drain conduit 13a has a shape and structure within the wall 50 configured to restrain such propagations.

As mentioned, the housing rim 24 is configured to be held in abutment to the making mold used to cast the wall throughout the casting process. The result of this holding is that the housing rim 24 is flush with the wall after casting, so that a plaster layer, or any other cover layer which is applied to the wall thereafter, renders the access opening 26, and the space 25, embedded within it.

To solve this problem, each of the systems 1,100 described hereinabove can further comprise a wall covering frame, such as wall covering frame 30, possibly as a part of a wall cover kit which include other components as will be described hereinafter.

Attention is now directed to Fig. 3A to 3F, where a wall covering frame 30 is illustrated, in use with the system 1.

The wall covering frame 30 has a shape conformed with the inside face 23a of the circumferential wall 23 of the housing 20, and it is formed with a frame rim 34 imitating the housing rim 24, and defining a frame access opening 36. 02635179\38-01 - 15 - The wall covering frame 30 is configured to be fitted to the housing 20 after casting, and optionally before a cover layer, such as cover layer 51, is applied to the wall 50, so as to extend the space 25, and render the access opening 36 the new access opening for the housing 20, distal from the wall 50, and adjacent to the cover layer 51.

The conformed shape of the wall covering frame 30 allows it to snugly slide within the housing 20, from a first position, seen in Fig. 3D, in which the extent of space extension is maximal and the frame rim 34 is distal from the cover layer 51, towards a second position thereof (an example of which is shown in Fig. 3E), in which the space extension is shorter than maximal, thereby bringing the frame rim 34 closer to the housing rim 24, and optionally to abutment with the cover layer 51.

The wall covering frame 30 further has a frame inside face 33a configured to be parallel with and partially overlap the inside face 23a of the housing 20 when the wall covering frame 30 is being fitted thereto, such that the extent of space extension the wall covering frame 30 performs depend on the extent of overlapping between the frame inside face 33a and the inside face 23a of the circumferential wall 23 of the housing 20.

The wall covering frame 30 can be a part of a wall covering kit, which can further include spacers 40 configured to prevent the wall covering frame 30 from damaging the cover layer 51, when the wall covering frame 30 snugly slides to its second position.

The spacers 40 can be symmetrically disposed on the circumference of the wall covering frame 30, optionally within designated depressions 38 formed therein, between the housing rim 24 and the frame rim 34, so as to maintain a minimal offset distance therebetween.

Each spacer 40 can consist of four detachable members 40a,40b, 40c, and 40d, having predetermined operative lengths, e.g. 10 mm, each connected to an adjacent other by a breakable portion 40'.

After the cover layer 51 has been applied to the wall 50, a user of the system 100 can evaluate the wall thickness, i.e. the gap between the surface of the cover layer and the frame rim 34, when the wall covering frame 30 is fitted to the housing 20 at its first position with known in the art means, and break a respective breakable portion from each spacer 40 to remove a desired number of detachable members from each spacer 40, and thereby set a desired minimal offset distance between the housing rim 24 and the frame rim 34. When the evaluation is right, the remaining detachable members in each spacer 40, will render the frame rim 34 abutting the cover layer 51 at the second position of the 02635179\38-01 - 16 - wall covering frame 30. This evaluation can be performed by dividing the final thickness of the cover layer 51 by the detachable members operative length (10mm).

The system can further include tapping screws 42, each having a head 42' disposed within a designated depression in the wall covering frame 30, screw bores 42b configured to be snugly connected with the tapping screws, and optionally having a built in threading [not seen], and plugs 42a configured to be fitted to a rear portion of the screw bores so as to protect the screw bores 42b from concrete during casting.

When the wall covering frame 30 reaches its second position, the user can prevent the wall covering frame from snugly sliding backwards to its initial first position, by fastening the tapping screws 42 to the screw bores 42b , and thereby fasten the frame rim 34 to the housing rim 24, against the spacers 40.

It should further be appreciated that the extension to the space performed by the wall covering frame 30, can further facilitate larger accommodation room for the auxiliary conduit 15a.

The wall covering kit can further comprise an access cover 39, best seen in Fig. 3F, configured to support the auxiliary conduit 15a, as the latter is being accommodated in the space 25 and the space extension 35, in a rolled-up state. The access cover can be configured to snapingly connect to the frame rim 36, so as to partially block the access opening, and conceal at least a portion of the space in which the liquid drain passageway 27 is disposed. According to a particular example, the access cover 39 is also configured to snapingly connect to the housing rim 24.

The access cover can include finger grippers 39a configured to facilitate handling of the cover by a user, and can be further used According to another aspect of the present disclosure there is there is provided a method of providing condensate drainage for an air conditioner through the wall 50; the method includes the steps of: (a) Providing the wall penetration system 1,100 for conveying ductwork into the wall 50. (b) Connecting the condensate port 11 of the valve assembly 10 to the condensate drain conduit 11a of the air conditioner; (c) Connecting the second drain port 13 of the valve assembly 10, via the liquid drain passageway 27, to the utility drain conduit 13 which is embedded in the wall. 02635179\38-01 - 17 - The method can further include a step of connecting the auxiliary port 15 of the valve to the auxiliary conduit 15a which is disposed separately from the wall. 02635179\38-01

Claims

- 18 - CLAIMS:

1. A method of providing condensate drainage for an air conditioner through a wall; the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a wall penetration system for conveying ductwork into a wall; the system comprising a housing configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall; said housing having a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, and an inside face defining a space together with the back wall, and is formed with a liquid drain passageway extending from the space through a drain wall of the housing; the system is further configured with a valve assembly disposed within the space, said valve assembly having at least three ports and is sealingly connected to the liquid drain passageway. (b) connecting a condensate port of the valve to a condensate drain conduit of an air conditioner; (c) connecting a drain port of the valve, via the liquid drain passageway, to a utility drain conduit at least partially embedded in the wall.

2. The method according to Claim 1, further comprising a step of connecting an auxiliary port of the valve to an auxiliary conduit disposed separately from the wall.

3. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is configured to selectively facilitate fluid communication at least between the condensate port and either the drain port or the auxiliary port.

4. A system for conveying ductwork into a casted wall; the system comprising a housing configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall; said housing having a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, and an inside face defining a space together with the back wall, and is formed with a liquid drain passageway extending from the space through a drain wall of the housing; the system being further configured with a valve assembly disposed within the space, said valve assembly having at least three ports and is sealingly connectable to the liquid drain passageway. 02635179\39-01 - 19 -

5. A system according to Claim 4, wherein said drain wall constitutes at least a portion of said back wall.

6. A system according to Claim 4, wherein the valve assembly has at least condensate port configured to connect to a condensate drain conduit of an air conditioner, a drain port configured to connect to a utility drain conduit configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall, and an auxiliary port configured to connect to an auxiliary conduit disposed at least partially separate from the wall; wherein said valve assembly is configured to selectively establish fluid communication at least between the condensate port and either the drain port or the auxiliary port.

7. A system according to Claim 6, wherein the housing is shaped and sized to accommodate the auxiliary conduit within the space, at least in a compacted state thereof.

8. A system according to Claim 6, wherein said valve further comprises a tap configured to facilitate the selective establishment of the fluid communication.

9. A system according to Claim 4, wherein the circumferential wall of the housing comprises a housing rim defining an access opening for the space, and wherein the housing rim is formed with a flanging portion extending laterally from the circumferential wall; the flanging portion being formed with fastening bores configured to receive fasteners therein, for fastening the housing to an external surface, such that the access opening is blocked by the external surface.

10. A system according to Claim 4, further comprising a wall covering frame, having a shape at least partially conformed with the inside face of the circumferential wall of the housing; the wall covering frame having a frame inside face, and it is configured to snugly slide within the housing, so that the frame inside face define a space extension for the space.

11. A system according to Claim 10, wherein the wall covering frame is configured to snugly slide within the housing from a first position, in which the extended space is 02635179\39-01 - 20 - maximal, towards a second position, in which the space extension is shorter than maximal.

12. A system according to Claim 11, further comprising at least one spacer, configured to maintain a minimal offset distance between the wall covering frame and the housing, so as to maintain a minimal space extension, at least when the wall covering frame snugly slide from the first position to the second position.

13. A system according to Claim 11, wherein the at least one spacer is configured to be fitted to either the housing or the wall covering frame, and comprises a series of detachable members, each of the detachable members being configured to detachably attach to an adjacent other so as to define the size of the at least one spacer.

14. A system according to Claim 13, wherein the detachable members are pre- connected to each other by breakable portions therebetween, configured to break so as to detach two adjacent detachable members from each other..

15. A system according to Claim 13, wherein said detachable members has equal dimensions.

16. A system according to Claim 12, wherein the at least one spacer is connected to either the housing or the wall covering frame.

17. A system according to Claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a housing rim with a flanging portion, defining an access opening for the space, and the wall covering frame comprises a frame rim with a flanging portion defining a new access opening for the space when the wall covering frame is fitted to the housing, and wherein said at least one spacer is disposed between the frame rim and the housing rim.

18. A system according to Claim 12, further comprising fastening means for fastening the wall covering frame to the housing when the wall covering frame is at its second position, while the at least one spacer maintains an offset distance therebetween. 02635179\39-01 - 21 -

19. The system according to Claim 18, further comprising a concealed portion, configured to prevent concrete from entering thereto during casting; wherein at least one of the fastening means is disposed within the concealed portion during casting.

20. The system according to Claim 4, further comprising a wall sleeve connected to the back wall of the housing; the wall sleeve being configured to facilitate ductwork passage from the space through the back wall of the housing.

21. The system according to Claim 20, further comprising a sealing plate connectable to the back wall of the housing, so as to seal the wall sleeve, the sealing plate being formed with at least one utility passageway, configured to facilitate sealed ductwork passage through the sealing plate, to the wall sleeve.

22. The system according to Claim 21, further comprising at least one wall anchor configured to be anchored in concrete during casting, wherein said at least one wall anchor is connectable to the housing so that at least a portion thereof is disposed outside the space, and wherein the sealing plate is configured to connect to the at least one wall anchor so as to be anchored to the concrete togetherwith.

23. The system according to Claim 22, wherein said wall sleeve has a wall sleeve inlet formed in the back wall of the housing, configured to be sealed by the sealing plate, and wherein said at least one wall anchor is configured to protrude from an area on the back wall of the housing disposed around said wall sleeve inlet, outside the space.

24. A system for conveying ductwork into a wall; the system comprising a housing configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall; said housing having a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, an inside face defining a space together with the back wall, and is formed with a passageway extending from the space through a passageway wall of the housing, configured to facilitate ductwork passage therethrough; the system being further configured with a wall covering frame, having a shape at least partially conformed with the inside face of the circumferential wall of the housing; the frame having a frame inside 02635179\39-01 - 22 - face, and is configured to be fitted to the housing so as to snugly slide within the housing, so that the frame inside face define an extension for the space.

25. A system according to Claim 24, wherein the wall covering frame is configured to snugly slide within the housing from a first position, in which space extension is maximal, towards a second position, in which the space extension is shorter than maximal.

26. A system according to Claim 25, further comprising at least one spacer, configured to maintain a minimal offset distance between the wall covering frame and the housing, so as to maintain a minimal space extension, at least when the wall covering frame snugly slide from the first position to the second position.

27. A system according to Claim 26, wherein the at least one spacer is configured to be fitted to either the housing or the wall covering frame, and comprise a series of detachable members, each of the detachable members being configured to detachebly attach to an adjacent other so as to define the size of the at least one spacer.

28. A system according to Claim 27, wherein the detachable members are pre- connected to each other by breakable portions therebetween, configured to break so as to detach two adjacent detachable members from each other..

29. A system according to Claim 27, wherein said detachable members has equal dimensions.

30. A system according to Claim 26, wherein the at least one spacer is connected to either the housing or the wall covering frame.

31. A system according to Claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a housing rim with a flanging portion, defining an access opening for the space, and the wall covering frame comprises a frame rim with a flanging portion defining a new access opening for the space when the wall covering frame is fitted to the housing, and wherein the at least one spacer is disposed between the frame rim and the housing rim. 02635179\39-01 - 23 -

32. A system according to Claim 26, further comprising fastening means for fastening the wall covering frame to the housing when the wall covering frame is at its second position, while the at least one spacer maintains an offset distance therebetween.

33. The system according to Claim 32, further comprising a concealed portion, configured to prevent concrete from entering thereto during casting; wherein at least one of the fastening means is disposed within the concealed portion during casting.

34. The system according to Claim 24, further comprising a wall sleeve connected to the back wall of the housing; the wall sleeve being configured to facilitate ductwork passage from the space through the back wall of the housing.

35. The system according to Claim 34, further comprising a sealing plate connectable to the back wall of the housing, so as to seal the wall sleeve, the sealing plate being formed with at least one utility passageway, configured to facilitate sealed ductwork passage through the sealing plate, to the wall sleeve.

36. The system according to Claim 35, further comprising at least one wall anchor configured to be anchored in concrete during casting, wherein said at least one wall anchor is connectable to the housing so that at least a portion thereof is disposed outside the space, and wherein the sealing plate is configured to connect to the at least one wall anchor so as to be anchored to the concrete togetherwith.

37. The system according to Claim 36, wherein said wall sleeve has a wall sleeve inlet formed in the back wall of the housing, configured to be sealed by the sealing plate, and wherein said at least one wall anchor is configured to protrude from an area on the back wall of the housing disposed around said wall sleeve inlet, outside the space.

38. A wall covering frame, configured to be fitted to a housing of a system for conveying ductwork into a wall, the housing being configured to be at least partially embedded in the wall during casting of the wall, and has a back wall, and a circumferential wall extending therefrom with an outside face, and an inside face defining a space 02635179\39-01 - 24 - together with the back wall; the frame having a frame inside face, and is configured to snugly slide within the housing, so that the frame inside face define an extension for the space.

39. A wall covering frame according to Claim 38, wherein the wall covering frame is a part of a frame kit which further comprises at least one spacer, configured to maintain a minimal offset distance between the wall covering frame and the housing, so as to maintain a minimal space extension therebetween.

40. A frame kit according to Claim 39, wherein the at least one spacer is configured to be fitted to either the housing or the wall covering frame, and comprise a series of detachable members, each of the detachable members being configured to detachebly attach to an adjacent other so as to define the size of the at least one spacer.

41. A frame kit according to Claim 40, wherein the detachable members are pre- connected to each other by breakable portions therebetween, configured to break so as to detach two adjacent detachable members from each other.

42. A frame kit according to Claim 40, wherein said detachable members has equal dimensions.

43. A frame kit according to Claim 39, wherein the at least one spacer is connected to either the housing or the wall covering frame.

44. A frame kit according to Claim 39, further comprising fastening means for fastening the wall covering frame to the housing when the wall covering frame is at its second position, while the at least one spacer maintains an offset distance therebetween. 02635179\39-01