US2770315A - Drain with valved trap - Google Patents

Description

1956 P. R. POWELL 2,770,315

DRAIN WITH VALVED TRAP Filed. Jan. 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Paul R. Powell A TTORNEYS.

P. R. POW ELL DRAIN WITH VALVED TRAP 2 Sheets-Shea?- 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1953 INVENTOR. Paul R. P0 well.

A mm ma M v Q.

A T TORNE VS.

United States Patent 2,770,315 DRAIN WITH VALVED TRAP Paul R. Powell, Kansas City, Mo.

Application January 7, 1953, Serial N 0. 330,061

1 Claim. (Cl. 182-15) This invention relates to floor drains and particularly to those of the type which include a back water trap and has for its principal object to provide a drain of this character, wherein the back water trap is fully submerged within a relatively large and deep water seal thereby assuring against escape of sewer gases.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a floor drain with a back water control mechanism adapted to be inserted and removed as a unit to facilitate cleaning of the water bowl and other sections of the trap, to pro vide a ground joint between the removable unit and the bowl portion of the trap, to provide a trap of large water capacity and having a limited open evaporating surface, to provide an external integrally formed Water seal in addition to the water seal of the back flow control, and to provide a water seal partition between the exterior water seal and the water bowl, thereby assuring sufficient water to seal the back flow control.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

'Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a floor drain constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts of which are broken away to better illustrate the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of the Fig.3. a

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the floor-drain particularly illustrating the water level in the exterior seal and in the lower bowl portions of the drain.

Fig. 4 is a section through a modified form of back flow trap unit.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a floor drain constructed in accordance with the present invention and which preferably includes "a casing 2 unitary construction which may be formed of cast metal. The casing 2 consists of an upper drain portion 3, a lower bowl portion 4, a water seal portion '5 and a clean-out portion 6. The drain portion includes 'an annular wall 7 having an outwardly extending flange 8 which extends part way around the circumference thereof and which cooperates with an inwardly extending flange 9 to accommodate an internal annular shoulder or ledge 10 which seats the peripheral portion of a strainer plate 11. Extending inwardly from the base portion of the wall 7 is an annular ledge 12 which encircles an opening 13 that is preferably concentric with the strainer plate 11 and which permits insertion of a back flow trap unit 14 to be later described.

The bowl portion 4 extends downwardly from the ledge portion 12 and is of substantially elongated cross section as shown in Fig. 3. The lower bowl portion 4 includes substantially parallel side walls 15 and 16 connected at one end by a substantially semi-cylindrical end wall 17 which is substantially concentric with the opening 13 and the strainer plate 11. The lower portions of the walls 15, 16, and 17, interconnect on rounding curves as indi- ,catedat to form a rounded bottom 19 for the lower 2,770,315 Patented Nov. 13, 1956 bowl portion 4 so as to facilitate cleaning thereof upon removal of the back flow trap unit as later described.

The end wall 20 of the lower bowl portion 4 opposite the wall 17 slopes downwardly and forwardly to cooperate with a transverse partition 21 in fonning an outlet 22 to the water seal portion 5 of the casing 2.

The bottom 19 joins with the partition 21 in a rounding curve 23 corresponding with the curvature 18 of the opposite end wall 17. The sloping end Wall 20 has a transversely arched upper portion 24 which joins with the lower portion of the cylindrical wall 7 of the drain portion of the trap while the lower portion of the wall 20 narrows as indicated at 25 to join with the water seal portion 5.

The water seal portion 5 is substantially U-shaped and has a down-leg 26 and an up-leg 27 that are connected by a substantially semi-circular connection 28.

The down-leg 26 is formed on one side by the partition 21 and on the opposite side by the restricted portion 25 of the wall 20 and a vertical wall portion 29 that joins therewith as best shown in Fig. 3. The other sides of the legs and the connecting portion 28 are formed by transversely rounding side walls 30 and 31, Fig. l, which are integrally joined to provide a U-shaped water duct 32 through the water seal portion 5. The duct 32 is therefore substantially oval in cross section as shown in Fig. 2 to give the required flow capacity and at the same time shorten the overall length of the floor drain.

The upper portion of the leg 27 joins with an outlet 33 having a conventional shaped end. 34 for connection with the usual soil pipe or soil pipe fitting (not shown) through which the drain is connected with a sewer line (also not shown).

The outlet portion 33 is preferably of circular cross section throughout the major length thereof and joins with the wider leg portion 27 of the seal by diverging wall portions 35 as shown in Fig. 2. Extending upwardly and rearwardly in substantially parallel relation with the downwardly inclined wall 20 and spaced therefrom in accordance with the spacing 36 between the leg portions 26 and 27 of the seal is the clean out portion 6. The clean out portion is preferably of cylindrical cross section for entrance of a clean out tool (not shown) in case the sewer connection should become clogged.

The clean out portion has a neck portion 37 having a flat top 38 in plane with the upper face 39 of the strainer plate 11, as best shown in Fig. 3. The top 38 of the clean out portion has an internally threaded opening 40 in which is inserted an externally threaded plug 41. The plug 41 has a socket portion 42 adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench (not shown) so that it may be readily turned within and removed from the opening 40 when required.

In order to strengthen the connection of the clean out and seal portions with respect to the bowl portion 4 of the casing, the clean out portion is connected with the downwardly inclined wall portion 20 of the bowl portion 4 by a relatively narrow Web or tie 43 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

With this arrangement all exterior wall portions of the floor drain are readily accessible for inspections as to any imperfections in the construction that might cause leakage of sewer gases into the water bowl section of the trap.

The leg portions 26 and 27 of the seal portion 5 and the water bowl portion 4 are of sufficient depth to accommodate at least a standard depth of water seal and in accordance with various plumbing codes.

The upper portion of the partition 21 preferably terminates in an inclined lip 44 extending parallel with the inclined wall portion 20 so as to direct any back flow that may occur through the seal section of the trap on top of the check valve of the back water control or trap unit 14, now to be described.

The back water control or trap unit 14 includes a circular head plate that cooperates with the ledge 12 in forming the bottom of the drain compartment 46 in the drain section 3 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Formed concentrically with the head plate 45 is an opening 47 to a duct 48 that depends into the water bowl portion of the casingas shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The duct 48 has an enlarged inlet 49 where it joins with the under side of the plate 45 and the lower end terminates in a laterally extending duct or terminal 59 which is supported in spaced relation With the bottom and end walls of the bowl portion 4 of the casing to provide ample space 51 for collecting any debris that may drop out of the liquid which flows into the bowl portion.

The duct may have a flat top 52 and substantially flat sides 53 and 54 that are joined in rounding end walls 55 and 56. The bottom 57 preferably joins with the side walls 5354 and the end walls 55-56 in rounding curves 58. Formed in the top 52 substantially concentric with the curved end wall 55 is an opening or outlet 59 for containing a check valve seat member 66*. The seat member 60 includes an annular collar 61 that is pressed into the opening 59 and engages an annular stop flange 62 with the upper face of the top 52 to provide a water-tight seal therebetween.

Extending upwardly from the flange 62 on the side of the seat member opposite the partition 21 is an ear 63 for pivotally mounting a yoke 64 of a lever 65 that pivotally carries a check valve 66.

The check valve 66 is preferably of disk shape and has a fiat bottom face 67 adapted to engage an annular upward extension 69 of the seat member as shown in Fig. 3.

The upper face of the check valve has spaced ears 7!) which receive the lever 65 therebetween for pivotal connection therewith by a pivot pin 71. The lever extends forwardly of the pivot connection to provide a stop 72 which cooperates with theopposite end of the lever to hold the check valve in substantially parallel relation with the arm and thereby provide for full opening of the outlet when the check valve is open.

The lug 63 has an upwardly directed stop 73 which limits the opening movement of the check valve and prevents swinging thereof past a position where it will not return vi to seated position when the flow is suspended. The trap unit 14 thus described is substantially L-shaped and is adapted for insertion through the drain portion 3 and opening 13 'by inserting first the duct 50 and then turning the unit 'so that the portion 48 passes substantially vertically through the opening 13 to seat the plate 45 upon the ledge 12.

In order to assure a gas-tight seal between the plate 45 and the ledge 12, the parts are preferably provided with inlaid rings 75 and 76 and which have'interengaging ground faces 77. The plate is anchored in position to retain the trap unit by fastening devices such as cap screws 78 that are inserted through openings 79 in the plate and into threaded sockets 80 that are provided in the ledge 12 as best shown in Fig. 3.

The drain as thus described is readily installed in the same manner as any conventional drain with the strainer plate and upper faces 38 and 39 of the cleanout portion 6 and drain portion in plane with the floor level and the outlet 33 is connected with the conventional soil pipe. When water is poured through the openings of the strainer plate 11, it flows from the drain compartment 46 through the opening 47 into the duct 48 of the back'fiow trap unit 14.

The hydrostatic head of the water in the ducts 43 and 50 cause the check valve 66 to swing open so that the water fills the bowlportion 4 to the point where the water flows over the lip 44. The check valve'66 is now covered with water'so that a water seal is formed about the'check valve. As the flow continues the water starts to'fillthe U-shaped trap of the seal portion 5 of the drain. If the water flow continues, the water flows through the discharge connection 33 into the soil pipe (not shown). When the flow stops, a water level 82 and 83 is established in the seal and bowl portions which is well above the level of the back flow check valve 66, even when the check valve 66 is swung to open position. The high level of liquid also assures ample water in the seal portion of the drain and over the check valve 66 even after substantially long periods between flow of water into the floor drain. Very little evaporation occurs because of the relatively small Water surfaces that are openly exposed. It is to be noted that the sloping wall 20 and vertical wall 29 together form a part of said casing that closes off the vapor space above the water level 83 and which extends below the level of the valved outlet of the back flow trap unit so that a seal is formed even though the water level should drop to the point where the outlet of the back flow trap is uncovered. The space above the liquid is thus a dead space in that it is sealed from the drain outlet 33, consequently the only surface of the liquid subject to evaporation is the surface of the liquid in the up-leg 27.

In case it becomes necessary to clean out the lower bowl portion, the back flow trap unit 14 is readily withdrawn upon removal of the strainer plate 11 and of the fastening devices 78. After the fastening devices 78 are removed, the plate portion 45 is lifted upwardly through the open top of the drain. The unit 14 may then be tilted so as to permit withdrawal of the lateral duct 50 through the opening 13. The trap unit may then be cleaned and any accumulations may be removed from the bowl portion of the casing through the opening 13. The latter cleaning operation is facilitated because of the rounded bottom of the bowl section.

The inlet to the down flow leg 26 is also readily inspected and cleaned; After the bowl portion 4 of the casing has been cleaned, the unit is readily replaced as above described and the water-tight seal is assured because of the ground faces 77 of the seal rings 75 and "76 and the retention "thereof by the fastening devices '78.

In case of back flow of the water from the sewer connection 33, the water flows through 22 and over the lip onto the top of the check valve 66. The back flow of water may substantially fill the bowl portion but the pressure of the water keepsthe check valve 66 seated toprevent any flow into the strainer portion of the casing.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of trap unit which has an inlet opening 84, sufficiently large to permit insertion of the hand. The outlet 85 of the unit is positioned so that the check valve seat 86 is fully submerged and is in convenient position to be reached by the fingers of the hand for cleaning purposes.

In places where the plumbing code does not allow a clean-out on the sewer side of the water seals, the cleanout section 6 may be omitted. In this case the sewer connection may be cleaned out after removal of the back water unit so that the clean out device such asa flexible cable (not shown), may be inserted through the U-trap 5 portion.

From the foregoing itis obvious that I have provided a floor drain which includes a back water trap having :-a substantially large water seal capacity and wherein the back flow unit 14 is maintained in submergence below the water seal under the most severe operating conditions. It is also obvious that a double seal is provided to assure against leakage of sewer gases into the house in which the drain is installed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters'Patent is:-

A floor drain including a casing having a lower bowl portion and an upper drain portion, 1a back-flow trapunit having a substantially vertical duct extending into the lower bowl portion and of a size relatively to said'lower bowl portion for providing a substantial space therebetween, and having a laterally disposedterminal provided with a valved outlet into said lower bowl portion for passing liquid from the upper drain portion into the said lower bowl portion and for preventing back-flow of liquid to said upper drain of the casing, said vertical duct portion having a flange seated in the upper drain portion to close the space surrounding said vertical duct portion, said casing having an outlet between the level of the valved outlet and said flange for maintaining the level of the liquid in said bowl portion above the valved outlet, said casing having a part extending thereaeross between the lower bowl portion and said outlet and terminating below the level of the valved outlet to form a liquid seal for establishing a dead-air space above the level of the liquid in the lower bowl portion :for retarding surface evaporation of said liquid, and a partition extending upwardly across the interior of the casing between the valved outlet and the said part of the casing and terminating at a level between the valved outlet and the outlet in the casing to cooperate with the outlet in assuring a Water seal over the valved outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 260,563 Greenleaf July 4, 1882 287,510 Du Bois Oct. 30, 1883 748,936 Edelen Jan. 5, 1904 1,908,819 Boosey May 16, 1933 2,617,491 Ross Nov. 11, 1952 2,630,875 Sachs Mar. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,294 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1885

Images