SIPHON

Abstract

The invention relates to a siphon arrangement (1) comprising a housing (2) with an inlet connection piece (3), an outlet connection piece (4), and a siphon seat (5) arranged between the inlet connection piece (3) and outlet connection piece (4), and a siphon element (6) arranged in the siphon seat (5), said siphon element having a siphon portion (7) and an inlet (8) facing towards the inlet connection piece (3) and an outlet (9) leading to the outlet connection piece (4). Water can be guided from the inlet connection piece (3) via the inlet (8) into the siphon portion (7) and from the outlet (9) to the outlet connection piece (4). The siphon element (6) is movable, in particular pivotable, in the housing (2) from a use position into a maintenance position, and when in the maintenance position can be removed, in particular pulled out, from the housing.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A siphon arrangement comprising a housing with an inlet connection piece, an outlet connection piece, and a siphon seat arranged between the inlet connection piece and the outlet connection piece, and a siphon element arranged in the siphon seat, said siphon element having a siphon portion and an inlet facing toward the inlet connection piece and an outlet opening into the siphon seat, wherein water can be guided from the inlet connection piece via the inlet into the siphon portion and from the outlet into the siphon seat and then to the outlet connection piece, wherein the siphon element is mounted in the housing in such a way as to be movable from a use position to a maintenance position, and, when in the maintenance position, can be removed, in particular pulled out, from the housing via an access opening, and wherein the siphon element has the form of a bent tube.

17. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein said siphon element is pivotable.

18. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the siphon arrangement furthermore has a mounting element, which can be connected to the housing, wherein the siphon element is mounted on the mounting element in such a way as to be movable within a predetermined play.

19. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the siphon arrangement furthermore has a mounting element, which can be connected to the housing, wherein the siphon element is mounted on the mounting element in such a way as to be movable within a predetermined play, and wherein the siphon element is connected to the mounting element by means of a longitudinal guide, wherein the mobility between the siphon element and the mounting element within the predetermined play is limited substantially to the longitudinal movement along the longitudinal guide.

20. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein the siphon element is connected to the mounting element by means of a latching connection, wherein the latching connection is part of said longitudinal guide or is formed separately from said longitudinal guide.

21. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein a seat, in particular a bayonet joint, for the mounting element is arranged in the region of the access opening, wherein the mounting element can be locked to the housing by means of the seat in the use position.

22. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein the mounting element is a lid which closes the siphon seat in the region of the access opening.

23. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein a seal is provided between the mounting element and the housing.

24. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one guide structure is arranged between the siphon seat and the siphon element, which at least one guide structure is designed in such a way that the siphon element is pressed against the inlet connection piece during the rotation from the maintenance position to the use position.

25. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 24, wherein the guide structure has a guide surface and a guide peg which strikes against the latter, wherein the guide surface is arranged in a fixed manner in the siphon seat and wherein the guide peg is arranged in a fixed manner on the siphon element and comes into contact with the guide surface and slides along the guide surface in the direction of the inlet connection piece during the movement into the use position.

26. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 24, wherein the guide structure has a guide surface and a guide peg which strikes against the latter, wherein the guide surface is arranged in a fixed manner in the siphon seat and wherein the guide peg is arranged in a fixed manner on the siphon element and comes into contact with the guide surface and slides along the guide surface in the direction of the inlet connection piece during the movement into the use position and wherein the guide surface slopes at an angle to the line of movement of the guide peg from the maintenance position to the use position, wherein the guide surface is oriented substantially in the same direction as said longitudinal guide when the siphon element is in the use position.

27. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein a seal, against which the inlet of the siphon element rests in a leak-tight manner, is arranged in the entry region of the inlet connection piece into the siphon seat, wherein the siphon element is pressed against the seal in the use position.

28. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein a seal, against which the inlet of the siphon element rests in a leak-tight manner, is arranged in the entry region of the inlet connection piece into the siphon seat, wherein the siphon element is pressed against the seal in the use position and wherein, shortly before or in the use position, respectively, the sealing surface of the seal is substantially at right angles to the movement of the siphon element provided by the guide structure.

29. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein a seal, against which the inlet of the siphon element rests in a leak-tight manner, is arranged in the entry region of the inlet connection piece into the siphon seat, wherein the siphon element is pressed against the seal in the use position and wherein, shortly before or in the use position, respectively, the sealing surface of the seal is substantially at right angles to the longitudinal movement along the longitudinal guide.

30. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cross section of the tube is oval or elliptical or circular and/or wherein the cross section of the tube is substantially constant over the entire tube length and/or wherein the tube is surrounded by a siphon wall.

31. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the siphon arrangement has a retention space, which is designed in such a way that an object, such as an object of value, situated in the tube can fall into the retention space during a rotation from the use position to the maintenance position, wherein the retention space extends outward from the siphon wall, preferably in the region of the outlet and/or of the inlet; or wherein the retention space is arranged in the region of the siphon seat.

32. The siphon arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein when viewed in the installed position, the inlet from the siphon seat into the outlet connection piece is lower than the access opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve only for explanation and should not be interpreted as restrictive. In the drawings:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a siphon arrangement having a siphon element in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the siphon arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a detail view of the siphon element;

[0056] FIGS. 4 to 6 show sectional illustrations of the siphon arrangement shown in FIG. 1, wherein the siphon element is shown at different positions.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0057] In the figures, a siphon arrangement 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The siphon arrangement 1 comprises a housing 2 with an inlet connection piece 3, an outlet connection piece 4, and a siphon seat 5 arranged between the inlet connection piece 3 and the outlet connection piece 4. The siphon arrangement 1 furthermore comprises a siphon element 6 arranged or mounted in the siphon seat 5, respectively, said siphon element having a siphon portion 7 and an inlet 8 facing toward the inlet connection piece 3 and an outlet 9 leading to the outlet connection piece 4. The siphon portion 7 acts as an odor trap. Water is guided from the inlet connection piece 3 via the inlet 8 into the siphon portion 7 and then passes through the siphon portion 7 and can then be carried out of the siphon portion 7 to the outlet connection piece 4 via the outlet 9. The water flows through the siphon portion 7. In FIG. 6, the direction of flow of the water has been indicated by a dashed line F.

[0058] The siphon element 6 is mounted in the siphon seat 5 in the housing 2 in such a way as to be movable from a maintenance position, as shown in FIG. 4, to a use position, as shown in FIG. 6. In the embodiment shown, the siphon element 6 can be pivoted about a pivoting axis A. The pivoting angle can be up to 120. From the maintenance position, the siphon element 6 can be removed from the housing 2. In the embodiment shown, it is pulled out of the siphon seat 5 along the pivoting axis A.

[0059] In FIG. 2, an exploded illustration of the siphon arrangement 1 is shown. The siphon element 6 has the form of a bent tube 28. Here, the tube 28 extends from the inlet 8 to the outlet 9. The tube 28 is of fundamentally U-shaped design, wherein the tube 28 extends slightly outward laterally before and after the actual siphon portion 7, giving rise to a kind of bulbous U shape.

[0060] The siphon arrangement 1 furthermore comprises a mounting element 29. In FIG. 2, the mounting element 29 is likewise illustrated at a distance from the housing 2. The mounting element 29 can be connected to the housing 2. The siphon element 6 is mounted on the mounting element 29 in such a way as to be movable within a predetermined play S.

[0061] The combination of the mounting element 29 and the siphon element 6 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. Here, the siphon element 6 is connected to the mounting element 29 by means of a longitudinal guide 30. The mobility between the siphon element 6 and the mounting element 29 within the predetermined play S is limited substantially to the longitudinal movement along the longitudinal guide 30. This means therefore that the siphon element 6 can move along the longitudinal guide 30 within the scope of the play S.

[0062] In the embodiment shown, the siphon element 6 is connected to the mounting element 29 by means of a latching connection 31. Here, the latching connection 31 is formed separately from said longitudinal guide 30. The latching connection 31 comprises latching tabs 37, which protrude from the mounting element 29 and engage in latching openings 38 in the siphon element 6. That is to say that the siphon element 6 can enter into a latching connection with the mounting element 29 via the latching opening 38 by means of the latching tabs 37.

[0063] The longitudinal guide in the embodiment shown is a guide peg 39 which likewise protrudes from the mounting element 29 and projects into a guide aperture in the siphon element 6. Here, the guide aperture 40 extends in the form of a slot in the direction in which longitudinal mobility is desired. In the embodiment shown, the geometrical design of the guide peg 39 and of the guide aperture 40 defines the play S.

[0064] In the embodiment shown, the guide aperture 40 and the latching opening 38 are arranged in a wall 43, which is situated in the interspace formed by the two tube sections of the tube 28. Reinforcing ribs 44 are arranged around the guide aperture 40 and around the latching opening 38.

[0065] The latching connection 31 between the mounting element 29 and the siphon element 6 likewise has a play, which allows said movement along the longitudinal guide 30.

[0066] In alternative embodiments, which are not shown here, it is also possible for the latching connection 31 to be an integral part of the longitudinal guide 30.

[0067] FIGS. 2 and 3 show that a seat 22 is arranged in the region of the access opening 24 into the siphon seat 5. The seat 22 serves to accommodate the mounting element 29, wherein the mounting element 29 can be locked to the housing 2 by means of the seat in the use position. In the embodiment shown, the seat 22 and the mounting element 29 are designed as a bayonet joint. That is to say that the mounting element 29 can be inserted into the seat 22 and is then pivoted relative to the fixed seat 22.

[0068] In the embodiment shown, the mounting element 22 is a lid which closes the siphon seat 5 in the region of the access opening 24. The cover 29 extends completely over said access opening 24. Here, a seal 16 is provided between the mounting element 29 and the housing 2. By means of the seal 16, the siphon seat 5 can be sealed off with respect to the outside. The seal 16 is a circular ring seal, which is preferably mounted on a shoulder 41 on the mounting element 29 and is pressed against an inner wall 42 in the region of the access opening 24.

[0069] A further seal is arranged in the entry region 35 of the inlet connection piece 3 into the siphon seat. This seal is shown in FIG. 3 and bears the reference numeral 17. The interaction of this seal with the inlet 8 of the siphon element is explained in greater detail in connection with FIGS. 4 to 6. The inlet 8 of the siphon element 6 rests leak-tightly against this seal 17, wherein the siphon element 6 is pressed against the seal 17 in the use position.

[0070] In the embodiment shown, the cross section of the tube 28 of the siphon element is of oval or elliptical design, respectively. The cross section of the tube 28 is substantially constant over the entire tube length. The tube 28 is surrounded by a siphon wall 10. It is also possible for the cross section of the tube 28 to be circular. In the embodiment shown, an oval structure has been chosen because this is advantageous for the space conditions and the compactness of the siphon element 6.

[0071] In the sectional illustration in FIG. 4, the siphon element is shown in the maintenance position. The siphon element 6 is then pivoted out of this maintenance position into the use position along the arrow V.

[0072] In FIG. 5, the siphon element 6 is just before the adoption of the use position. A guide structure 32 is arranged between the siphon seat 5 and the siphon element 6. In the embodiment shown, the guide structure 32 is situated in the region of the inlet connection piece 3 or of the inlet 8 into the siphon element 6, respectively. The guide structure 32 is designed in such a way that the siphon element 6 is pressed against the inlet connection piece 3, i.e. in the direction of the inlet connection piece 3, during the rotation from the maintenance position to the use position. That is to say that the guide structure 32 can be used to provide a movement of the siphon element 6 toward the inlet connection piece 3 in the direction of the arrow P. Here, the movement in the direction of the arrow P is oriented substantially in the direction of the longitudinal guide 30. That is to say that the siphon element 6 is pressed against the inlet connection piece 3 in the direction of the longitudinal guide 30. In the embodiment shown, the seal 17 is arranged in the entry region 35 of the inlet connection piece 3 into the siphon seat 5.

[0073] The seal 17 comprises a sealing surface 18. By means of the guide structure 32, the siphon element 6 is then pressed against the sealing surface. Here, the sealing surface 18 is oriented substantially at right angles to the longitudinal guide 30 when the siphon element 6 is in the use position. That is to say that the siphon element 6 is pressed onto the sealing surface 18 substantially at right angles. Here, the inlet 8 of the tube 28 is surrounded by an end face 19, and the end face 19 is pressed against the sealing surface 18.

[0074] In the embodiment shown, the guide structure 32 has a guide surface 33 and a guide peg 34 which strikes against the latter. The guide surface 33 is connected in a fixed manner to the siphon seat 5, and the guide peg 34 is arranged in a fixed manner on the siphon element 6. During the movement into the use position, the guide peg 34 then comes into contact with the guide surface 33 and slides along the guide surface 33 in the direction of the inlet connection piece 3 or in the direction of the seal 17, respectively. The siphon element 6 is thereby also pushed in the direction of the inlet connection piece 3.

[0075] The guide surface 33 slopes at an angle to the line of movement B of the guide peg from the maintenance position to the use position. Here, the guide surface 33 is oriented substantially in the same direction into said longitudinal guide 30 when the siphon element 6 is in or shortly before the use position. The impingement of the guide peg 34 on the guide surface 33 is shown in FIG. 5. During further pivoting, the siphon element 6 will slide within the play S of the longitudinal guide 30 along the guide surface 33 in the direction of the inlet connection piece 3 and then occupies the position shown in FIG. 6. The position shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the use position, in which water can flow into the siphon element 6 from the inlet connection piece 3. In the use position, the inlet 8 of the siphon element 6 is pressed against the sealing surface 19.

[0076] Comparison of the position of the siphon element 6 as between that in FIG. 5 and that in FIG. 6 shows clearly that the play S in the region of the longitudinal guide 30 or of the latching connection 31, respectively, has been fully exploited. That is to say that the siphon element is moved within the play S from the lower position shown in FIG. 5 to the upper position shown in FIG. 6.

[0077] In all the figures, it can readily be seen that a retention space 36 extends outward on the siphon wall 10 in the region of the inlet 8. This retention space 36 is advantageous during the movement of the siphon element 6 into the maintenance position, as shown in FIG. 4. An object, e.g. an object of value, situated in the lowermost region of the siphon element 6 can fall into the retention space 36 during the rotation of the siphon element from the use position to the maintenance position. That is to say that the object is retained in the retention space 36 and is not emptied out via the inlet 8. It is thus possible to prevent the object from moving in the direction of the outlet connection piece 4 and thus in the direction of the wastewater system.

[0078] It is readily apparent from FIG. 2 how the water is guided from the inlet connection piece 3 via the inlet 8 into the siphon portion 7 and can then flow from the outlet 9 to the outlet connection piece 4. The inlet into the outlet connection piece 4 is lower than the seat 22 or the access opening 24, respectively. This makes it possible to prevent water flowing out of the siphon portion 7 through the access opening 24 after the rotary movement. In the embodiment shown, a skirt 45 extends downward from the access opening 24, wherein said inlet is then situated at the lower end of the skirt 45.

[0079] FIGS. 4 to 6 show that the siphon element 6 is designed in such a way that, during a movement of the siphon element 6, at least some of the water lying in the siphon portion 7 flows to the outlet connection piece 4. In FIG. 6, the water lying in the siphon portion 7 is symbolized by a dashed line W. In FIG. 5, the siphon element 6 is shown in the use position. Here, the siphon portion 7 is filled with water up to the line W, which runs through the inlet 8 and the outlet 9. If the siphon element 6 is then pivoted from the use position to the maintenance position, the water lying in the siphon portion 7 can flow off in the direction of the outlet connection piece 4 via the outlet 9. This is symbolized in FIG. 4 by the arrow V. The water thus flows over the edge with the reference sign 14, which delimits the outlet 9, in the direction of the outlet connection piece 4.

[0080] The siphon element 6 is furthermore designed in such a way that any residual water in the siphon portion 7 cannot flow out of the siphon portion 7 during removal of the siphon element 6. That is to say that the siphon portion 7 is designed as a kind of cup, wherein the water then remains in this cup. In the embodiment shown, the siphon portion 7 is delimited by a wall 10. The wall 10 surrounds the siphon portion 7 substantially completely, apart from the inlet 8 and the outlet 9. Thus, by virtue of the wall 10, the siphon portion 7 is formed as a peripherally enclosed passage, whereby the cup just mentioned can be provided.

[0081] Further features of the embodiment under consideration will now be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 3.

[0082] In the use position, the inlet 8 of the siphon portion 7 is slightly higher than the outlet 9. During the movement from the use position to the maintenance position, the outlet 9 can be moved toward the outlet connection piece 4, wherein the outlet 9 then comes to lie lower than the inlet 8.

[0083] The siphon element 6 is mounted in the access opening 24 by means of a bayonet joint 15. Here, the bayonet joint 2 is arranged in such a way that it lies outside the water-carrying parts. In the embodiment shown, the bayonet joint 15 has two clamping lugs 26. Here, one of the two clamping lugs is of different design from the other of the two clamping lugs, thus ensuring that the siphon element 6 can be inserted into the housing 2 only in the correct position.

[0084] The siphon element 6 furthermore has an actuating element 23 that is accessible from the outside of the housing 2. Here, therefore, the actuating element 23 is designed as a web which can be grasped easily by a user.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 1 siphon arrangement 2 housing 3 inlet connection piece 4 outlet connection piece 5 siphon seat 6 siphon element 7 siphon portion 8 inlet 9 outlet 10 siphon wall 14 edge 15 bayonet joint 16 seal 17 seal 18 sealing surface 19 end face 22 seat 23 actuating element 24 access opening 26 clamping lugs 28 tube 29 mounting element 30 longitudinal guide 31 latching connection 32 guide structure 33 guide surface 34 guide peg 35 entry region 36 retention space 37 latching tabs 38 latching openings 39 guide peg 40 guide aperture 41 shoulder 42 inner wall 43 wall 44 reinforcing rib 45 skirt A pivoting axis B direction of movement W water level V arrow S pivoting axis P arrow F direction of flow