ZA200807659B - Drain - Google Patents

Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a drain for example of the kind commonly known as a gully trap.

[0002] A gully trap usually comprises a moulded cementitious body which forms a container with an outlet at a lower end. The outlet is normally covered by a grid. One or more waste pipes, for example from a bath, a kitchen sink, or the like are positioned so that they can discharge their contents into the trap.

[0003] The gully trap, in turn, is connected to discharge its contents into a waste handling system, typically .a sewage line.

[0004] The aforementioned arrangement works satisfactorily but, due to the nature of materials which are discharged and the connections which are made, it is common for a bad odour to come from a drain. Various techniques have been adopted to counter this type of unpleasant situation. For example it is known to make use of a liquid trap below the gully so that the generation of bad odours is limited. It is also known to make use of a plastic cover which is placed over the gully. The plastic cover is cut so that the waste discharge pipes can pass through the cover which is then positioned so that it rests on or slightly within the gully. This type of cover is useful in that it does restrict the emission of odours from the gully and it also limits the ingress of foreign material into the gully. However due to the materials from which the cover is made it is easily displaced or damaged and, in any event, an inadequate seal

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[0005] The invention is concerned with a drain which addresses, at least partly, the aforementioned situation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The invention provides a drain which includes a cementitious body which forms a dish-shaped container with an upwardly facing mouth, and an outlet at a lower end of the body, at least one pipe positioned to discharge waste into the container, and a cover, over the mouth, which is sealingly engaged with the body and the outer surface of the at least one pipe and which is formed from a settable material which is allowed to set in situ.

[0007] The cover is preferably made from a cementitious material.

[0008] The invention also provides a method of sealing a gully which includes a cementitious body which forms a dish-shaped container with an upwardly facing mouth and an outlet at a lower end of the body, the gully including at least one waste pipe positioned to discharge waste into the container, the method including the steps of positioning a shutter inside the body with a lower end of the waste discharge pipe below the shutter, placing a settable cementitious material on the shutter and allowing the cementitious material to set, in situ, to form a cover over the container which is in sealing contact with a surrounding edge of the body and with an outer surface of the waste discharge pipe.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical gully trap, and

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the gully trap of Figure 1 illustrating the use of the method of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view of a typical gully of the kind referred to hereinbefore.

[0011] The gully 10 is made from a cementitious material using an appropriate casting process. The gully has a body 12 with an upper rim 14 that surrounds a dished-shaped container 16. An outlet 18 is formed during the moulding process at a lower end of the body. In use the gully is positioned so that liquid waste in the container can flow through the outlet into a relatively large diameter discharge pipe (not shown) which may for example be connected to a sewage system. Usually this is done through the medium of a liquid waste trap.

[0012] Usually the outlet is covered by means of a grid 20 which permits the passage of liquid but which traps relatively large solid particles.

[0013] Waste discharge pipes 22 and 24 are directed to discharge their contents into the container 16. The waste discharge pipes can handle any

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: EE Page 5 appropriate liquid waste from a dwelling or the like for example bath water, water from a washing machine and so on.

[0014] The aforementioned arrangement is conventional and no novelty is claimed in respect thereof.

[0015] Figure 2 illustrates a drain 30 according to the invention. In order to prevent bad odours from escaping from the gully a cover 32 is formed over an upper mouth 34 of the container. To do this a shutter 36 of a relatively cheap disposable material, e.g. stiff cardboard, is placed inside the container resting on an inner edge 38 of the container. Holes are cut into the shutter to allow the pipes 22 and 24 to pass through the shutter. Lower ends 40 and 42 of the pipes are therefore positioned below the shutter.

[0016] A suitable cementitious mixture 44 is then placed on top of the shutter around the pipes. The mixture is levelled and smoothed, on its upper surface, to provide a neat and attractive finish to the cover. The mixture is then allowed to set in situ.

[0017] As the cementitious mixture sets it forms a seal which is effectively gas-tight between the cover and a surrounding surface of the gully and around an outer surface of each waste discharge pipe.

[0018] The cover is thus of a permanent nature and effectively provides a permanent seal. In the unlikely event that it becomes necessary to access the outlet it would be necessary to remove the cover. However as the cover is of a low cost this does not present a significant problem.

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[0019] Another benefit of the cover is that it restricts the possible ingress of foreign material into the outlet 18.

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Claims (5)

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1. A drain which includes a cementitious body which forms a dish-shaped container with an upwardly facing mouth, and an outlet at a lower end of the body, at least one pipe positioned to discharge waste into the container, and a cover, over the mouth, which is sealingly engaged with the body and the outer surface of the at least one pipe and which is formed from a settable material which is allowed to set in situ.

2. A drain according to claim 1 wherein the cover is made from a cementitious material.

3. A method of sealing a gully which includes a cementitious body which forms a dish-shaped container with an upwardly facing mouth and an outlet at a lower end of the body, the gully including at least one waste pipe positioned to discharge waste into the container, the method including the steps of positioning a shutter inside the body with a lower end of the waste discharge pipe below the shutter, placing a settable cementitious material on the shutter and allowing the cementitious material to set, in situ, to form a cover over the container which is in sealing contact with a surrounding edge of the body and with an outer surface of the waste discharge pipe.

4, A drain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying representations.

5. A method of sealing a gully substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2.of the accompanying representations. P21447/lg

= Dated this 5" day of SEPTEMBER 2008. 2 0 0 8 / 0 7 6 5 g / J) McCALLUM, RADEMEYER & FREIMOND Patent Agents for the Applicant P21447/ig