WO1999013172A1

WO1999013172A1 - A device at a sink

Info

Publication number: WO1999013172A1
Application number: PCT/SE1998/001586
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertil Eriksson
Original assignee: Split Vision Development Ab
Priority date: 1997-09-08
Filing date: 1998-09-08
Publication date: 1999-03-18
Also published as: SE513928C2; AU9100998A; SE9703219D0; SE9703219L

Abstract

A device at a sink (1) in a kitchen with a drain water conduit (7) receiving drain water from the sink has this drain water conduit through at least a first conduit portion (10, 16, 17) having no water trap preventing passage of air flow in air communication connection to the kitchen space (13). The device comprises also members adapted to generate an air flow from the kitchen space into and away through the drain water conduit.

Description

A device at a sink

FI ELD OF TH E I NVENTION AN D PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a device at a sink in a kitchen with a drain water conduit receiving drain water from the sink.

In conventional kitchens there are a series of possible sources to different problems, which results from the loads usually put on a kitchen as a consequence of the different apparatuses arranged therein, such as dish-washers, kitchen ranges, ovens, kitchen fans and also waste handling systems. These different sources are usually gathered immediately under or in the prox- imity of a sink.

Primarily a risk of fires may arise because of air containing grease or fat is exhausted by suction through the kitchen fan and a ventilation system from the region over a kitchen range, but it is also possible that a moisture damage occur as a consequence of water coming out when dishing by hand or in the form of steam at the very drying procedure of a dish-washer. Furthermore, the air under the sink will easily be bad as a consequence of waste stored there, and this may give rise to odours propa- gating out into the kitchen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type defined in the introduction, which makes it possible to solve the problems mentioned above to a large extend. This object is according to the invention obtained by the fact that said drain water conduit receiving drain water from the sink, is in air communication connection with the kitchen space through at least a first conduit portion having no water trap preventing passage of air flow, and that it comprises members adapted to generate an air flow from the kitchen space into and away through the drain water conduit.

The problems mentioned above may be solved in an advantageous way by enabling transport of air away from the kitchen space in this way through the drain water conduit already located in connection to the sink. Thus, ventilation of the kitchen space may in this way take place through the drain water con- duit instead of through normal ventilation channels, which reduces the risk of fires considerably, since it is substantially indelicate to transport air containing grease through a drain water conduit. Moreover, it will be easier to remove exactly the air desired to be removed from the kitchen space, since such air, such as bad air, smell of roasting and so on, normally arises in close connection to a sink, so that an efficient such transport away may take place when said first conduit portion is appropriately designed . Another advantage is that the drain water conduit already there is utilised for conducting air away from the kitchen and ventilation thereof, so that other ventilation conduits will be superfluous. Another important advantage obtained consists in the fact that the environment in the drain water conduit will be that dry, i.e. the relative humidity therein will be that low that the conditions for growth of bacteria, mould and fungus in the drain water conduit will be extremely bad and the risk of moisture damage and odours in the drain water conduit will by that be considerably reduced.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises one said first conduit portion adapted to discharge into the kitchen space through at least one opening in the upper region of a dish-pan of the sink adapted to function as spillway and the dish-pan is through an opening in the bottom thereof also connected to said drain water conduit through the second conduit portion having a water trap preventing passage of air flow. Several advantages are obtained thereby. Said opening in the dish-pan may at the same time function as exhaust air means for ventilating the kitchen space and as spillway, which prevents an overflow as a consequence of taps forgotten turned on or the like. Air is also in this way led away from the kitchen space exactly where it is often not particularly pleasant.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a first conduit portion adapted to extend from a dish-washer arranged in the kitchen to a drain water conduit, said dish-washer having an opening towards the kitchen space for a flow of air between the kitchen space and the drain water conduit through a dish-washer. By conducting a flow of air in this way from the kitchen space to the drain water conduit through a dish-washer, it is possible to obtain a drying of object dished therein in a considerably more favourable way than in conventional dish-washers, since both a comparatively large amount of energy is saved and the risk of moisture damage as a consequence of steam to the environment resulting in conventional drying is reduced considerably with respect to said way al- ready known to dry the objects dished.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a first conduit portion adapted to extend from a kitchen fan arranged in the kitchen in connection to a kitchen range and/or an oven for conducting air containing grease and sucked in through the kitchen fan to the drain water conduit. By conducting this air in this way through the drain water conduit the risk of fire is remarkably reduced with respect to conducting this air away through conventional ventilation channels. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises members for taking in ai r from the kitchen space adapted to be arranged in the immediate proximity of a kitchen range arranged i n the kitchen, and these air intakes are connected with one or more first conduit portions for conducting air containing grease from the kitchen space region adjacent to the kitchen range to said drain water cond uit. The transport away of the air containing grease may take place in a considerably more efficient way by arranging "poi nt-suction" of this type than throug h suction thereof through a kitchen range fan arranged at a not neg lectable distance to the sou rce. This means that the risk that such air containing g rease will reach the kitchen space is also reduced considerably. Furthermore, the risk of fire is also reduced in this embodiment in the same way as in the previous embodiments.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises an exhaust air means adapted to be arranged in the space immediately u nder said sink, and this exhaust air means is through a said first cond uit portion connected to a d rain water conduit for conducting air present u nder the sink to the d rai n water condu it. A ventilation of the kitchen space may in this way be combined with leading air away exactly where it is the worst, i.e. the air existing in connection to garbage.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a valve member which may be regu lated between at least two positions, namely a first position allowing a flow of air to the drai n water conduit and a second position pre- venting such a flow of air. It will be possible to prevent ai r emanating from the drain water cond u it to be led out throug h the back way into the kitchen space at a possible failure of a member arranged to generate said air flow by arranging such a valve member. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a said valve member adapted to be located so that the regulation thereof leaves the flow of drain water to a drain water conduit unaffected. The function of leading drain water away of the drain water conduit will by this not be disturbed in the case of a breakdown of a member generating said flow of air, or if it for any other reason would be necessary to close said valve member.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises a member adapted to generate a negative air pressure in said drain water conduit for exhausting air by suction from the kitchen space through the drain water conduit through said first conduit portion. Ventilation of the kitchen space may by this be carried out through a drain water conduit in an advantageous way.

Further advantages as well as advantageous features of the invention appear from the following description and the other de- pendent claims.

BRI EF DESCRIPTION OF TH E DRAWING

With reference to the appended drawing, below follows a de- scription of preferred embodiments of the invention cited as examples.

In the drawing :

Fig 1 is a very schematic view of a device according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention , and

Fig 2 is a view corresponding to fig 1 of a device according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBOD IMENTS OF TH E I NVENTION

A sink 1 with a dish-pan 2 and a secondary dish-pan 3 is sche- matically illustrated in fig 1 . Conduits run in a conventional way from the dish-pan and the secondary dish-pan through openings 4, 5 in the bottom thereof through a water trap 6 in common to a drain water conduit 7 for leading drain water away from the dish- pan and the secondary dish-pan. The outlet conduit from a pos- sible dish-washer is preferably also discharging into the drain water conduit 7. This is conventional technique and the new and characteristic features of the invention will now be described.

Openings 8, 9 are arranged in the upper region in the dish-pan 2 and the secondary dish-pan 3, in which these are in air communication connection through a first conduit portion 10 and a valve member 1 1 with the drain water conduit 7. Furthermore, the device has a member 12 arranged in connection to the drain water conduit 7 and generating a negative air pressure in the drain water conduit 7 which is only shown in the embodiment according to fig 2 but is also there in the embodiment according to fig 1 further downstream in the drain water conduit. This means that the openings 8 and 9 may function both as spillway for preventing overflows in the secondary dish-pan and the dish- pan and as exhaust air means, so that air from the kitchen space 1 3, in which the sink is arranged, may be sucked therethrough to the drain water conduit 7. The valve member 1 1 may at the same time whenever desired be closed and the dish-pan and the sink will function in an usual way, in which these are then in a desired way separated from the drain water conduit through the water trap 6 in place all the time.

The device has also an exhaust air means 14, which is arranged in the space immediately under the sink, and this exhaust air means is also connected to the drain water conduit 7 through a conduit portion 15 for conducting air present under the sink away to the drain water conduit. Bad air from garbage and the like may by this be led away for ventilating the kitchen space in an advantageous way.

Two additional conduit portions 16, 17 are also connected to the drain water conduit 7 through a valve member 18, 19 each. These two conduit portions may be connected to for example a kitchen fan and air intake members of a kitchen range, in accordance with the illustration of fig 2 and as it will be explained furtheron. Ventilation of the kitchen space may then also take place through these conduit portions.

Thus, it gets through a device according to fig 1 possible to achieve an acceptable ventilation of the kitchen space without any requirement of a conventional ventilating equipment, and the air is sucked away exactly in the places where this has a tendency to receive a nature not desired.

A device according to a second preferred embodiment of the in- vention is schematically illustrated in fig 2 and it differs from that according to fig 1 primarily by the illustration of how also a dish-washer 19, which is provided with a lid member 20 arranged in the upper part of the front thereof, is through a conduit portion 21 , which is in common with the conduit portion 10 from the openings 8 , 9, in air communication with the drain water conduit 7 through the valve member 1 1 . A lid member is preferably arranged to open when the dishing is terminated for drying the objects dished through flows of air schematically indicated through dashed lines 22 to the drain water conduit 7 and then be closed after the end of such drying .

It has been shown in this figure how members 23 for taking in air from the kitchen space are arranged in the immediate proximity of a kitchen range 24 arranged in the kitchen, and these air intakes are connected to a conduit portion 25, which through the valve member 1 1 is connected to the drain water conduit 7 for conducting air containing grease from the kitchen space region adjacent to the kitchen range to said drain water conduit. A possibility to suck in air containing grease exactly where it is formed and by that the concentration of grease is highest is by this ob- tained in a very advantageous way. It is also illustrated how a conventional kitchen fan 26 is connected to a drain water conduit 7 through the conduit portion 25 for conducting air sucked in thereinto away to the drain water conduit instead of to traditional ventilation channels, which is usually the case. By transporting the air containing grease in this way to the drain water conduit the risks for fire are reduced considerably, and it gets also possible to recover the greases if desired . The exhaust air channel formed by the conduit portion 25 from the kitchen fan may be designed so that clean flushing thereof by hot grease solving water may be carried out in the direction away towards the drain water conduit. The messy manual work now carried out for cleaning by means of steelstrips is by that avoided.

Finally, a member 27 in the form of a tap provided with an outlet arranged in the drain water conduit in the region of the sink and which may have many tasks and functions is very schematically illustrated in fig 1 . This may be arranged for connecting means for exhausting toxic gases, fire gases and the like by suction from the kitchen space in an emergency situation, in which then a stronger fan may be connected thereto in a suitable place and such gases may be forced out through the drain water conduit 7. This member could also be adapted for connection of the exhaust side of a conventional vacuum cleaner to the drain water conduit, so that dust not sticking in the vacuum cleaner and normally blown out into the room surrounding the vacuum cleaner together with the exhaust air from the vacuum cleaner now will instead be led away through the drain water conduit 7. The member could also be adapted for enabling supply of fire fighting means supplied in the back way of a drain water conduit out of the drain water conduit for fire fighting purpose. Water, foam or the like could by this be pumped back-way in the drain water conduit 7 and be taken out through the member 27 in a fire situation.

The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the preferred embodiments described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof would be apparent to a man with skill in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention .

It is for example completely possible to remove any of the different exhaust air means shown in fig 1 and 2, and it would also be conceivable to add other exhaust air means not shown. It would also be possible to have some of the exhaust air means switched in or turned on only at certain points of time, such as the lid member of the sink shown in fig 2.

When it is mentioned that means are arranged to lead air containing grease away this does not mean that these members have no ability to lead other air away, and these members may very well continuously function as exhaust air means and then in connection with cooking lead said air and otherwise "usual" air away.

Claims

1. A device at a sink (1) in a kitchen having a drain water conduit (7) receiving drain water from the sink, characterised in that said drain water conduit is in air communication connection with the kitchen space (13) through at least a first conduit portion (10, 15-17, 21, 25) having no water trap preventing passage of air flow, and that it comprises members (12) adapted to generate an air flow from the kitchen space into and away through the drain water conduit.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises one said first conduit portion (10) adapted to discharge into the kitchen space through at least one opening (9) in the upper region of a dish-pan (2) of the sink adapted to function as spillway, and that the dish-pan is through an opening (5) in the bottom thereof also connected to said drain water conduit (7) through a second conduit portion having a water trap (6) preventing passage of air flow.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises a first conduit portion (21) adapted to extend from a dish-washer (19) arranged in the kitchen to the drain water conduit (7), said dish-washer having an opening ( 20 ) towards the kitchen space for a flow of air between the kitchen space and the drain water conduit through the dish-washer.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises a first conduit portion (25) adapted to extend from a kitchen fan (26) arranged in the kitchen in connection to a kitchen range and/or an oven for conducting air containing grease and sucked in through the kitchen fan to the drain water conduit (7).

5. A device according to any of claims 1-4, characterised in that it comprises members (23) for taking in air from the kitchen space adapted to be arranged in the immediate proximity of a kitchen range (24) arranged in the kitchen, and that these air intakes are connected with one or more first conduit portions (25) for conducting air containing grease from the kitchen space region adjacent to the kitchen range to said drain water conduit (7).

6. A device according to any of claims 1 -5, characterised in that it comprises an exhaust air means (14) adapted to be ar- ranged in the space immediately under said sink (1 ), and that this exhaust air means is through a said first conduit portion (15) connected to the drain water conduit (7) for conducting air present under the sink to the drain water conduit.

7. A device according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that said first conduit portions (25) from the kitchen fan (26) and the air intakes (23) at the kitchen range are adapted to discharge into the drain water conduit through a conduit portion in common.

8. A device according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the first conduit portions emanating from the dish-pan (2) of a sink and the dish-washer (19) are adapted to charge into the drain water conduit (7) through a conduit portion in common .

9. A device according to any of claims 1 -8, characterised in that it comprises a valve member (1 1 ), which may be regulated between at least two positions, namely a first position allowing a flow of air to the drain water conduit (7) and a sec- ond position preventing such a flow of air.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterised in that it comprises one said valve member (1 1 ) adapted to be located so that the regulation thereof will leave the flow of drain water to the drain water conduit (7) unaffected.

1 1 . A device according to claims 2 and 10, characterised in that said first conduit portion (10) connected to the dish-pan (12) of the sink is adapted to discharge into a prolongation upwardly of the drain water conduit with respect to the dis- charging of said second conduit portion into the conduit last mentioned, and that a said valve member (1 1 ) is arranged in said prolongation of the drain water conduit.

12. A device according to any of claims 1 -1 1 , characterised in that it comprises a member (12) adapted to generate a negative air pressure in said drain water conduit (7) for exhausting air by suction from the kitchen space (1 3) to the drain water conduit through said first conduit portion.

1 3. A device according to claim 12, characterised in that said member (12) generating a negative air pressure is adapted to be placed in a basement plan located on a lower level than the plan for said kitchen.

14. A device according to any of claims 1 -1 3, characterised in that a drain water conduit (7) is provided with members (27) arranged in the region of the sink for connecting members for exhausting toxic gases, fire gases and the like by suction from the kitchen space in an emergency situation.

1 5. A device according to any of claims 1 -14, characterised in that the drain water conduit (7) has members (27) arranged in the region of the sink for connecting the exhaust side of a conventional vacuum-cleaner to the drain water conduit.

16. A device according to any of claims 1 -1 5, characterised in that the drain water conduit (7) has members (27) arranged in the region under the sink for enabling a supply of fire fighting means supplied in the reverse direction of the drain water conduit out of the drain water conduit for fire fighting purpose.