WO2009101402A1

WO2009101402A1 - A connector and a system incorporating same

Info

Publication number: WO2009101402A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/000383
Authority: WO
Inventors: Darren Webb; Nigel Capon
Original assignee: Polypipe Terrain Ltd
Priority date: 2008-02-14
Filing date: 2009-02-12
Publication date: 2009-08-20
Also published as: GB0802755D0; EP2255041A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (1) for connecting a waste water delivery device such as a W.C. (not shown) with a float or conduit of a sanitary pipework system. The connector (1) comprises in the embodiment a first body part (5) and a second body part (6) which are relatively rotatable so that the connector (1) can be installed at any desired position along the float, and so provide a desired distance, which is constant for all connectors (1) when a plurality are used in parallel from a datum such as a wall of a building in which the system and connector (1) is installed.

Description

A CONNECTOR AND A SYSTEM INCORPORATING SAME

The invention relates to a connector and a system incorporating same, the connector being particularly for connecting a waste water delivery device with a float having a fall from one end to the other for delivery of waste water to an outlet and the system being particularly a sanitary pipework system having a plurality of waste water delivery devices connected with the float in use.

Waste water delivery systems such as W.C.s, showers or baths (hereinafter W.C.s) are often installed in numbers in a building such as schools, hospitals, public and commercial buildings such as sports arenas, cinemas, theatres, service stations and on board ships such as cruise ships. In these locations, the system has to provide a flow of waste water from each individual W.C., which water has to be lead away to an outlet which is a main pipe leading out of the building to a sewer.

The W.C.s can be installed in front of a substrate such as a wall, or in a duct, and are usually above floor level. However, since the W.C.s themselves are spaced apart, ideally they have to have a consistent distance from the wall in order to provide for a minimum space to be occupied whilst allowing for ease of installation. This has hitherto led to expensive and time-consuming installation operations including cutting of connectors to provide a required angle of connection.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages. According to a first aspect, the invention provides a connector for connecting a waste water delivery device with a float having a fall from one end to he other for delivery of waste water to an outlet, the connector comprising a first body part and a second body part, which parts are relatively rotatable so that the connector can be installed at any desired position along the float and so provide a desired distance from a datum whatever the fall of the float.

Using the invention it is possible to provide a connector for a W.C. (as hereinbefore defined) which can be installed in a building adjacent a wall or duct with similar connectors to accommodate a plurality of W.C. s.

The first body part may be adapted to connect with a water delivery device in use and the second body part may be adapted to be connected with the float. This provides for ease of installation.

The first and second body parts may be a push fit to provide for relative rotation, or alternatively may be welded together at a desired relative rotation. These alternatives are equally suitable, when welded the respective body parts may be solvent-welded together to provide the desired angular rotation. This is particularly suitable when the respective body parts may be made of PVC.

There may be indicia adapted to indicate relative angular rotation between the respective body parts, which indicia may suitably comprise a scale on one body part and an indicator means on the other.

The scale may be on the first body part.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a sanitary pipework system having a plurality of spaced waste water delivery devices connected with a float having a fall from one end to the other for delivery of waste water to an outlet, comprising a plurality of connectors as hereinbefore defined spaced apart along the float with each one having respective desired angular rotations between the first and second body parts so that the system can be installed at a desired constant distance from a datum whatever the fall of the float.

The datum may comprise a wall of a building. This provides for ease of installation in a building.

The outlet may comprise a pipe to a sewer, and there may be a stack from the pipe, which stack may be blanked off or may include a rodding position.

The system is suitably mounted on a frame, for example a metal frame located behind a partition in front of which the W.C.s are mounted.

There may be eight waste water delivery devices spaced apart along the length of the float, and each waste water delivery device may comprise a W.C. pan, and the connector may comprise a W.C. pan connector.

Alternatively, each waste water delivery device may comprise a shower or bath.

A connector for connecting a waste water delivery device such as a W.C. with a float having a fall from one end to the other for delivery of waste water to an outlet and a sanitary pipework system having a plurality of waste water delivery devices connected to a float having a fall from one end to the other for delivery of waste water to an outlet are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Figs. IA to ID show respective plan, end elevational, side elevational and transverse cross-sectional views of a connector according to the invention, Fig. ID being a section on line A — A of Fig. 1 B; and

Figs. 2A to 2H being respective elevational, plan, perspective and fragmentary or sectional views of a system according to the invention, Fig. 2D being a section on line A - A of Fig. 2A, Fig. 2E being a section on line B - B of Figs. 2A, Figs. 2F and 2G being fragmentary enlarged views of C and D on Fig. 2A and Fig. 2H being an end elevational view of the system.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. IA to ID show a connector 1 for connecting a waste water delivery device such as a W.C. (not shown) with a float or conduit 2 of a sanitary pipework system 3 as shown in Figs. 2A to 2H, there being a plurality, in the embodiment eight of W.C.s installed in parallel along the float 2, which has a fall along its length of in the embodiment 1° to ensure passage of waste water from each W.C. on flushing to an outlet 4 such as a pipe which leads to a sewer. The connectors 1 and float 2 thus form a manifold system, the float 2 comprising a common conduit for waste water from each W.C.

Referring now to Figs. IA to ID, the connector 1 comprises in the embodiment a first body part 5 and a second body part 6 which are relatively rotatable so that the connector 1 can be installed at any desired position along the float 2, and so provide a desired distance, which is constant for all connectors 1 when a plurality are used in parallel from a datum such as a wall 8 of a building in which the system 3 and connector 1 is installed.

The connector 1 is made of a suitable plastic material such as PVC, the first body part 5 being adapted to be connected to an exit 9 for dirty water from the W.C. and to the second body part 6, which is itself connected to the float 2.

The first and second body parts 5, 6 are rotatable with respect to one another, the angle of relative rotation being set by indicia 10 in the form of a scale on the first body part 5 and a datum 11 on the second body part 6, the first body part 5 also having an arrow 12 indicating the direction of rotation, in the embodiment there also being an instruction "ROTATION" adjacent the arrow 12. The indicia 11 are embossed during a moulding process by which the body parts 5, 6 are made. The body parts may be a push fit and may be secured in a desired relative rotation by welding such as by solvent welding. There are scale points 10' equivalent to the number of positions along a float 2 which the connector 1 may occupy. Thus for eight positions, there will suitably be eight scale points 10'.

In a typical system 3, shown in Figs. 2A to 2H, there may be eight W.C.s each arranged in its own cubicle in a building in a front of a partition 13 and each connected by a connector 1 of Figs. IA to ID to a float 2. In the embodiment, the float 2 has a fall of 1° from left to right, Fig. 2A, and this forms a common receptacle for waste water from each W.C., which debouches into a common outlet such as the pipe 4 leading to a sewer. There is also suitably a stack 14 which may be blanked off or may have a rodding point for providing a facility to clear blockages. The W.C.s (not shown in Fig. 2H), are positioned to the left of the partition 13 as viewed in Fig. 2H.

It will be understood that each of the eight connectors 1 are identical. By rotating the first part 5 relative to the second part 6, the discharge pipes 9 from the eight W.C.s, which are all at the same height, can be connected with the float 2 without altering the height of the W.C.s or their distance from a wall, which distance always remains constant whatever the position of the W.C. along the float 2. Thus the "fall" of the float is accommodated in situ as an installer has only to rotate the first body part 5 to allow it to be offered up to the W.C. (or vice versa) so that the W.C. can be installed without intervening pipes or any strain being exerted on the pipe system 3. The relative rotation can be simply effected in situ, without any cutting of pipes or connectors to desired angles to accommodate the fall, typically 1°, but it can vary depending on location, of the float 2.

The system 3 is suitably incorporated in a frame 15, such as a metal frame which can be delivered purpose-built to the site.

There may be a secondary vent valve for each W.C, each of which has its own cistern.

Thus using the invention, by adjusting the position of the first body part of the connector, which is a W.C. pan connector, there is always a consistent distance from a wall of a building whatever the fall of the float or soil pipe, this being accommodated by the position of the first body part 5 an inlet 16 of which "rotates" or "progresses" from a lowest position to a highest position along the float 2 as shown in Fig. 2A, whilst the left hand (as viewed) connector is at the lowest position and the right hand connector is at the highest position.

Moreover, a single connector as shown in the drawings is essentially universal in that it can be used at any desired position in the system by simple relative rotation of the first and second body parts.

It will be understood that although PVC is referred to as a material from which the connector may be made, other materials may also be used, for example High Density Polyethylene, HDPE.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a waste water delivery device with a float having a fall from one end to the other for delivery of waste water to an outlet, the connector comprising a first body part and a second body part, which parts are relatively rotatable so that the connector can be installed at any desired position along the float and so provide a desired distance from a datum whatever the fall of the float.

2. A connector according to Claim 1 , the first body part being adapted to connect with a water delivery device in use and the second body part, and the second body part being adapted to be connected with the float.

3. A connector according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the first and second body parts being a push fit to provide for relative rotation.

4. A connector according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the first and second body parts being welded together at a desired relative rotation.

5. A connector according to Claim 4, the respective body parts being solvent- welded together to provide the desired angular rotation.

6. A connector according to Claim 5, the respective body parts being made of PVC.

7. A connector according to any preceding claim, comprising indicia adapted to indicate relative angular rotation between the respective body parts.

8. A connector according to Claim 7, the indicia comprising a scale on one body part and an indicator means on the other.

9. A connector according to Claim 8, the scale being on the first body part.

10. A sanitary pipework system having a plurality of spaced waste water delivery devices connected with a float having a fall from one end to the other for delivery of waste water to an outlet, comprising a plurality of connectors according to any preceding claim spaced apart along the float with each one having respective desired angular rotations between the first and second body parts so that the system can be installed at a desired constant distance from a datum whatever the fall of the float.

11. A system according to Claim 10, the datum comprising a wall of a building.

12. A system according to Claim 11, the outlet comprising a pipe to a sewer.

13. A system according to Claim 12, comprising a stack from the pipe.

14. A system according to Claim 13, there being a rodding position of the stack.

15. A system according to any of Claims 10 to 14, mounted on a frame.

16. A system according to any of Claims 10 to 15, there being eight waste water delivery devices spaced apart along the length of the float.

17. A system according to any one of Claims 10 to 16, each waste water delivery device comprising a W.C. pan, and the connector comprising a W.C. pan connector.

18. A system according to any of Claims 10 to 16, each waste water delivery device comprising a shower or bath.