WO1996010117A1

WO1996010117A1 - A water trap

Info

Publication number: WO1996010117A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1995/000094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Albert Edward Worthington; Cavan John O'connell
Original assignee: Albert Edward Worthington; Connell Cavan John O
Priority date: 1994-09-28
Filing date: 1995-09-27
Publication date: 1996-04-04
Also published as: AU3621495A

Abstract

A water trap (2, 102, 42, 62) with a top (3, 103) and a bottom (5, 105) including one or more inlet openings (113) and one or more outlet openings (117) wherein the trap includes a chamber (110) for water retention, and in which the outlet opening is preferably situated on a side (104) of the trap (102) with the lowest point of any outlet (117) being lower than the lowest point of any of the inlet openings (113), and with a common wall between the chamber inlet (11) and the chamber outlet (112). Preferably the bottom of the trap is flat, with an inspection tab that forms part or all of the bottom. The trap (2, 102), or the bulk of it, is formed integrally.

Description

TITLE: A WATER TRAP

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a water trap incorporating a water seal for plumbing and sewerage fittings for any one of domestic commercial and industrial uses.

BACKGROUND ART

Water seals are used in plumbing and sewer pipe work to prevent the back flow of foul air and gases to the plumbing system of a building. A water trap may serve one or more outlets in combination. Two known methods of locating a water trap are the S trap and the P trap. Both involve the entrapment of water in a bend in a pipe between the inlet of waste water to the pipe and the outlet therefrom. Generally there is a health requirement that such traps be as close as possible to the inlet of the waste water to the pipe. The amount of room or height an S or a P trap takes up, by virtue of its construction, is of the order of 200 millimetres, not allowing for the necessary straight piping above, below or to one side of the trap.

However it is often difficult to make this space available for such a trap immediately under some fixtures or fittings. Sometimes the use of the space under a fixture for this trap is extremely inconvenient, or an eye-sore, for example an open hand basin with no cupboard underneath.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is the provision of a water trap that takes up considerably less space than existing water traps and can be fitted in a small space under plumbing fixtures. A further object of the present invention is the provision of a water trap that can have a plurality of inlets and in addition or alternatively a plurality of outlets, and which can be at a point remote from the plumbing fixtures attached to the trap.

The present invention provides a water trap with a top, sides and a bottom, which includes: one or more inlet openings positioned on the top or adjacent the top of the trap; one or more outlet openings positioned on the top or adjacent the top of the trap, the lowest point of at least one outlet opening being lower than the lowest point of the or each inlet opening; a chamber positioned in the lower portion of the trap, said chamber being capable of retaining water therein, said chamber having one or more inlet openings and one or more outlet openings, said chamber openings being positioned at or adjacent the top of said chamber; wherein the or each chamber inlet opening is connected to the or each trap inlet opening and the or each chamber outlet opening is connected to the or each trap outlet opening such that any liquid flowing through the trap must pass through a trap inlet opening, the chamber and a trap outlet opening.

Preferably the chamber is of a uniform shape and cross-section, but need not be so. Preferably the chamber and chamber inlet and outlet opemngs and the channels to the trap inlet and outlet openings (respectively) are formed integrally.

Preferably there is a common wall between at least one chamber inlet and at least one chamber outlet.

The material of which the trap is made may be any appropriate material but is preferably polyvinyl chloride, white nylon or other rigid plastics material which will not deteriorate when in contact with waste liquids.

The water trap will most commonly include one inlet and one outlet trap opening, each connected to one pipe only and each being contiguous with the respective chamber inlet and outlet opening. Preferably also, the water trap of the present invention will include a resealable inspection cover positioned in a base portion of the chamber, or forming the base portion of the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a section view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a side section of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan section of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a domestic bathroom using the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig.s 1 and 2 of the drawings, a water trap 2 of uniform circular outline is thereshown. The trap 2 includes a top 3, side 4 and bottom 5. Inserted into the bottom 5 is a base 7 with an inspection tab 8. The base 7 is sealed in position, for example by gluing, with the tab 8 being releasably secured into the base 7 (for example, with a screw thread, or twist lock action). The join between the base 7 and tab 8 must be waterproof. If so desired, the tab 8 can include a slot 9 for ease of removal of the tab 8. If so desired, the base 7 may be releasably secured to the trap 2, eg by a screw thread (not shown).

Adjacent the bottom 5, interior to the trap 2, is a water chamber 10. The chamber 10 includes an inlet opening 11 and an outlet opening 12. The chamber 10 is circular in cross-section and of uniform shape, but need not be so. For example, the height of the chamber 10 to the openings 11 and 12 may differ.

The water trap 2 includes an inlet opening 13 positioned in the top 3 of the trap 2. The opening 13 can incorporate a screw thread 14 by which a pipe (not shown) can be attached to the trap 2. The inlet opening 13 is connected to the chamber opening 11 by an inlet channel 15. The inlet channel 15 may be of the same cross-sectional shape and size as the trap opening 13 and chamber opening 11. However, this need not be the case. The cross-sectional profile of all these parts, the trap inlet 13, the inlet channel 15 and chamber inlet 11, may be the same but the dimensions may vary, as is desired. Alternatively, the inlets 11 and 13 may be circular in cross-section while the inlet channel 15 is of a different profile. Other variants of the shapes and dimensions are also possible. The inlet channel 15 is shown in Fig 1 as being parallel with the side 4 of the trap

2. However this may vary. Additionally, the inlet channel 15 may not be of a uniform cross-section along the length thereof. Similarly, as is shown in Fig. 2, the central axis of the inlet channel 15 may be offset from the central axis of the trap opening 13. A short transitional portion 16 with sloping sides joins the trap inlet 13 to the inlet channel 15. The trap inlet 13 has been described above as incorporating a section of screw thread 14 for attachment of a pipe (not shown). If so desired, this may be replaced with some other means of attaching a pipe to the trap inlet 13. Alternatively, the trap inlet 13 may be smooth-sided with a pipe being a push fit into place, if so desired.

The trap 2 includes an outlet opening 17 in the side 4 of the trap 2, adjacent the top 3. As with the trap inlet 13, the trap outlet 17 may include screw threading 18 for the attachment of an outlet pipe (not shown) or pipe adaptor 19. The variations possible on the shape of the trap outlet 17 are the same as those described above for the trap inlet

13.

The trap outlet 17 is connected to the chamber outlet 12 by an outlet channel 20, with a connecting portion 21 to allow for the change of orientation between the chamber outlet 12 and the trap outlet 17. The outlet channel 20 may be of uniform cross-section, but may vary in the same manner as described above for the inlet chamber 15.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 the inlet and outlet channels 15, 20 have a common wall 21. The position of the bottom-most portion of the wall 21 relative to the bottom 5 of the trap 2 will depend on the size of the chamber 10 and to some extent may help in defining the size of the chamber 10. The distance from the bottom of the chamber 10 to the start of the common wall 21 must be sufficient for water (and waste) to flow freely through the trap 2.

The trap outlet 17 has been described with reference to being placed in the side 4 adjacent the top 3. Under some circumstances it may be appropriate for the trap outlet 17 to be positioned in the top 3 of the trap 2. Also, if so desired, that portion of the top 3 of the trap 2 adjacent the trap outlet 17 may be lower than the portion of the trap 2 adjacent the trap inlet 13, so that the top 3 of the trap 2 is at two different levels relative to the bottom 5 of the trap 2.

Wherever the trap outlet 17 is positioned, the height of the lowest point of the outlet 17 must be above the top of the chamber 10, so that water can be trapped in the chamber 10. With the configuration of trap outlet 17 as shown in Fig. 1, the water level when the trap 2 is not in use is shown in dotted outline 22. Thus it will be appreciated that, depending on the lowest point of the wall 21, the position of the lowest point of the trap outlet 17 may be lower than that shown in Fig. 1.

In practice it has been found that the overall height of the trap 2 can be of the 5 order of 120 millimetres, with the height of the lowermost point of the trap outlet 17 above the chamber outlet 12 being of the order of 40 millimetres. These dimensions may be varied to suit particular location requirements or to meet any necessary health standards. The external dimensions of the trap 2 may be varied to suit production processes for the trap 2, but can be the dimensions of the trap inlet 13 and outlet 17 plus 0 sufficient wall thickness for the trap 2 to be self supporting under operating conditions. The trap 2 shown in Fig.s 1 and 2 is shown as being circular in cross-section. However, if so desired, other cross-sections may be used, eg square or rectangular; and the trap 2 need not be uniform in cross-section along its length.

The water trap 2 (and subsequent embodiments) can be made from any appropriate 5 material. The best examples are polyvinyl chloride of sewer standard, or white nylon or brass. Any appropriate material may include any material that can be worked into the shape of the trap 2 and which does not deteriorate when in contact with waste water. For example, in an extreme case, wood may be used (and plastics-coated when the finished shape is achieved). The trap 2 may be formed integrally (for example by injection 0 moulding of a plastics material) and/or may be machined.

Referring to Fig.s 3 and 4, a second preferred embodiment of the water trap 102 is thereshown. Parts not described below are the same as for the first preferred embodiment. The bottom 105 includes a slop 108. The bottom 105 is screw threaded for releasable attachment to the side 104. A rubber O ring 105a is positioned adjacent the 5 base of the screw thread to provide a water-tight seal between the base 105 and the side

104. The bottom portion of the chamber 110 is screw threaded also (that is, the interior of the side 104). This arrangement of the base 105 may be used as an alternative to the base 5 of the first embodiment of the trap 2 (or any other embodiment), if so desired.

The chamber 110 includes an inlet opening 111 and an outlet opening 112. o Whereas in the first embodiment these openings are essentially circular, the cross-sectional profile of the openings 111, 112 are contoured to the exterior shape of the trap 102. The connecting portion 121 is essentially uniform in cross-sectional thickness, and is chord or diameter of the trap 102. Thus the shape of the openings 111 and 112 are semicircular or sectional in cross-section.

The water trap 102 includes an inlet opening 113 positioned in the top 103 of the trap 102. The opening 113 incorporates a screw thread 114 by which a pipe (not shown) can be attached to the trap 102. The inlet opening 113 connects directly into the inlet opening 111 of the chamber 110. As will be appreciated there may be more than one inlet opening either through the top 103 of the trap 102, or in the top of the side 104 of the trap 102. If there are many incoming pipes it may be desired that there be an inlet channel (not shown but similar to the channel 15 of the first embodiment) between the inlet opening 113 and the chamber opening 111.

The trap side 104 may be pre-prepared for the addition of extra inlets by the addition of a pre-weakened circular area 116, which can be easily pushed out or removed for the insertion of further inlet pipes (not shown). The pre-weakened area may be pre- prepared so that such insertion of extra pipes can be done either when the trap 102 is installed, or at a later time, after installation.

The trap inlet 113 has been shown as incorporating a section of screw thread 114 for attachment of a pipe (not shown). Alternatively, if the opening 113 is not of a diameter which matches that of the incoming pipe, an adaptor with a screw thread to fit the inlet 113 at one end and the pipe at the second end, may be inserted into the trap 102. The trap outlet 117 is connected to the chamber outlet 112 directly, in the same manner as above described for the chamber inlet 111 and the trap inlet 113. The outlet opening 117 is in the side 104 of the trap 102.

The bottom most portion of the common wall 121, relative to the bottom 105 of the trap 102 again defines to some extent the size of the chamber 110. Again, wherever the outlet 117 is positioned the lowest point of the outlet 117 must be above the top of the chamber 110 so that water can be trapped in the chamber 110. The water level is shown in dotted outline by numeral 122. The lowest point of the trap inlet 113 (or extra inlets 116) must be above the lowest point of the trap outlet 117. As will be appreciated, the water level 122 can be considerably lower than that shown in Fig. 3, thus allowing the position of the trap outlet 117 to be lower than as shown in Fig. 3. The pipe adaptor 19 of the first embodiment is shown in the second embodiment as integrally formed with the trap 102. Either arrangement may be used in either the first or second embodiments. Once again, if the diameter of the pipe (not shown) to be attached to the outlet 119 is of a different diameter, an adaptor (not shown) can be added to the trap 102, in known manner.

The trap 102 is shown as circular in cross-section and with an internal essentially circular profile (aside from the common wall 121). This shape is one that can be formed integrally, if so desired. Alternatively portions of the trap 102 may be formed separately and the portions secured together in the shape of the trap 102. Referring to Fig.s 5, 6 and 7, third, fourth and fifth preferred embodiments of the present invention are thereshown. In Fig. 5 the water trap 32 is essentially the same as the water trap 2 of the first preferred embodiment. Parts not described below are the same. The major difference is that there are two inlet openings 43, one positioned on the top 33 of the trap 32 and one positioned on the side 34. Both trap inlets 43 open into the inlet channel. The trap 32 includes only one trap outlet 47 with a pipe adaptor 49.

In Fig. 6 the fourth preferred embodiment of the water trap 62 includes three inlets 73, one of which is positioned in the top 63 of the trap 62. The other two inlets 73 are positioned in the side 64 of the trap 62. All the inlets 73 open into the inlet channel. The trap 62 has one outlet channel 77 with pipe adaptor 79. Parts not described are the same as those of the first preferred embodiment of the trap 2.

Whilst the first four embodiments are described with reference to the trap outlet (17, 117, 47 or 77) it will be appreciated that more than one trap outlet may be used. Also, it will be appreciated that the invention has been described with reference to one inlet channel 15 and one outlet channel 20 from the chamber 10. This may be varied so that the trap has two or more trap inlets (13, 113, 43 or 73) each connected to two or more inlet channels. Similarly there may be two or more outlet channels connecting the chamber 10 to the trap outlets (17, 117, 47, 77). The only limitations on the number of trap inlets, trap outlets and channels are the dimensions of the external dimensions of the trap (2, 102, 32, 62), the dimensions of the channels and the minimum thickness of the walls between adjacent channels.

Referring to Fig. 7 a fifth preferred embodiment of the water trap 92 is thereshown. The trap 92 is rectangular in cross-section with a plurality of trap inlets 113, four of which are in the top 93 of the trap 92 and four of which are in the side 94 of the trap 92. The trap 92 has one trap outlet 107. Five of the trap inlets or outlet (113, 117) are shown with pipe adaptors 109 attached. Apart from these differences the remaining features of the trap 102 are the same as those described with reference to the first preferred embodiment of the trap 92.

Referring to Fig. 8, a schematic representation of the waste pipes for a bathroom are thereshown. Waste pipes 200 are connected between each of a shower 201, bath 202, basin 203 and cistern 204 and a water trap 92. With the commonality of the water chamber, the trap 92 need only be of sufficient size to accommodate the array of pipes leading into the trap 92. The height of a trap 92 with multiple inlets (and/or outlets) need be no more than the height of the trap 2 of the first preferred embodiment.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A water trap with a top, sides and a bottom, which includes: one or more inlet openings positioned on the top or adjacent the top of the trap; one or more outlet openings positioned on the top or adjacent the top of the trap, the lowest point of at least one outlet opening being lower than the lowest point of the or each inlet opening; a chamber positioned in the lower portion of the trap, said chamber being capable of retaining water therein, said chamber having one or more inlet openings and one or more outlet opemngs, said chamber opemngs being positioned at or adjacent the top of said chamber; wherein the or each chamber inlet opening is connected to the or each trap inlet opening and the or each chamber outlet opening is connected to the or each trap outlet opening such that any liquid flowing through the trap must pass through a trap inlet opening, the chamber and a trap outlet opening.

2. A water trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a common wall between at least one chamber inlet and at least one chamber outlet.

3. A water trap as claimed in claim 2 wherein said common wall is of uniform thickness along substantially all its length and extends from one side of the trap to another.

4. A water trap as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the bottom of the trap is flat.

5. A water trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chamber is of a uniform shape and cross-sectional profile.

6. A water trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the exterior shape of the trap is cylindrical.

7. A water trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chamber, the chamber inlet and outlet openings and the trap inlet and outlet openings are formed integrally.

8. A water trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the chamber has one inlet and one outlet opening, and the shape of the chamber inlet opening is contiguous with that of the or each trap inlet openings and the shape of the chamber outlet is contiguous with that of the or each trap outlet openings.

9. A water trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the bottom includes a removable inspection tab.

10. A water trap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the bottom is removably secured to the sides, with a water-tight seal therebetween, said bottom thereby forming an inspection plate.

11. A water trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the trap is made from a material selected from polyvinyl chloride, white nylon, and other sewer grade rigid plastics materials, brass, copper, and wood.

12. A water trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sides and top of the trap further include one or more pre-weakened circular portions which can be easily pushed out or removed for insertion of additional inlet pipes.