IMPROVED SELF-DISINFECTING DRAIN TRAP HAVING A COATING

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-disinfecting drain trap in wastewater drains, having an automatic cleaning through an electromagnetic oscillator and an automatic disinfection through heat, UV-C radiation, antibacterial coating, or ultrasound. The inner wall of the drain trap may be coated with a titanium dioxide nano-coating, on which a catalytic oxidizing reduction of organic substances that can be oxidized takes place, and microorganisms are killed. The titanium dioxide nano-coating may be activated through irradiation with at least one light source located inside or outside the drain trap. When the cleaning and disinfection functions are inactive, a retrograde microbial contamination of the barrier fluid is prevented both on the part of the wastewater drain as well as through the ambient air, through the oxidizing disinfecting effect of the titanium dioxide nano-coating.

Claims

1. A self-disinfecting drain trap for providing a barrier function in wastewater drains, comprising a drain trap body coated with a titanium dioxide nano-coating; an electromagnetic oscillator for automatic disinfection and cleaning the drain trap body during use and without interruption of the barrier function; a device for disinfecting the drain trap, the device selected from the group comprising heating elements, UV-C lamps, antibacterial coating, and ultrasonic transducers; and a light source arranged inside or outside the drain trap body, where the coating may be activated by the light sources.

2. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 1, where the titanium dioxide nano-coating is chemically altered through doping with chemical additives, such that the coating is also activated by light radiation with wavelengths above the UV-A range.

3. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 1, where the wall of the drain trap is made of opaque materials, where said opaque materials is one of either metal or ceramics.

4. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 1, where one or more surface enlargers are disposed in the drain trap interior, where the surface enlargers are made of either opaque material, transparent material, or both, and where the surface enlargers have a titanium dioxide nano-coating on the interior, the exterior, or both.

5. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 1, where titanium dioxide nano-coated baffles are placed in the drain trap interior.

6. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 1, where the self-disinfecting drain trap is connected to the sanitary component by valves, where the valves are either relief valves, bleeder valves, or both, and where the valves have an interior having a titanium dioxide nano-coating.

7. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 6, where the titanium dioxide nano-coating in the valves is activated either from the interior through light sources installed therein, the exterior through an irradiating unit, comprising at least one light source, placed on the opening of the valve, or from both simultaneously.

8. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 1, where a catalytic oxidizing, super-hydrophilic titanium dioxide nano-coating is applied to the inner wall of the drain trap body.

9. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 1, where the wall of the drain trap body is first provided on the inside with a primer coating, to which the titanium dioxide nano-coating is applied.

10. The self-disinfecting drain trap of claim 1, where the wall of the drain trap is made of materials through which UV-C and/or UV-A radiation can pass, where said materials are selected from the group comprising silica glass, glass, and plastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

[0044] FIGS. 1A and 1B show diagrams depicting exemplary coated walls of exemplary drain trap bodies.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a diagram depicting an exemplary self-disinfecting drain trap.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a diagram depicting an exemplary self-disinfecting drain trap with a UV-C lamp.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a diagram depicting another exemplary self-disinfecting drain trap with surface enlargers.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a diagram depicting an exemplary self-disinfecting drain trap with an oscillator.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a diagram depicting an exemplary self-disinfecting drain trap with baffles.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a diagram depicting an exemplary self-disinfecting drain trap with baffles and a UV-C lamp.

[0051] FIG. 8 shows a diagram depicting an exemplary self-disinfecting drain trap with a UV-C lamp, an oscillator, and a light projector.

[0052] FIG. 9 shows a diagram depicting an exemplary self-disinfecting drain trap with a UV-C lamp, an oscillator, baffles, and a light projector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0053] The invention shall be explained in greater detail below based on numerous exemplary embodiments.

Exemplary Embodiment 1

[0054] The construction of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 is depicted in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B based on a schematic section through the coated wall of the drain trap body 1. The wall of the drain trap body 1, which is composed of metal 1A or transparent glass 1B or transparent plastic, is provided on the interior with a primer coating 2, which enables the permanent adhesion of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 on the hydrophobic inner wall of the drain trap body 1A, 1B through its hydrophilic properties.

[0055] The initially inactive titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 in FIG. 1A is activated through irradiation with light by means of a light source 9 (FIG. 1B).

Exemplary Embodiment 2

[0056] A self-disinfecting drain trap is depicted in FIG. 2, constructed from a drain trap body 1, at least one heating element for thermal disinfection 6 and one electromechanical oscillator 5 for mechanical cleaning, in which the inner wall 1A of the drain trap is provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 is obtained through LED lamps 4.

[0057] The LED lamps 4 are placed in the wall 1A of the drain trap body and extend into the barrier fluid 7. They fully irradiate the interior space 12 of the drain trap. In addition, further LED lamps 4 are arranged in the intake 10 and drain 11.

Exemplary Embodiment 3

[0058] A self-disinfecting drain trap is depicted in FIG. 3, composed of a drain trap body 1 made of silica glass 1B through which UV-C light can pass, a UV-C lamp 8 for disinfection through ultraviolet light (UV-C radiation), and an electromechanical oscillator 5 for cleaning. The inner wall 1B of the drain trap is provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating is obtained through LED lamps 4.

[0059] The LED lamps 4 are placed in the wall of the drain trap body 1B, and extend into the barrier fluid 7. In addition, further LED lamps 4 are arranged in the intake 10 and the drain 11.

Exemplary Embodiment 4

[0060] A self-disinfecting drain trap is depicted in FIG. 4, constructed from a drain trap body 1, at least one heating element for thermal disinfection 6, and one electromechanical oscillator 5 for cleaning, in which the inner wall 1A of the drain trap is provided with a primer 2 and a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 is obtained through LED lamps 4.

[0061] The LED lamps 4 are placed in the wall 1A of the drain trap body and extend into the barrier fluid 7. In addition, further LED lamps 4 are arranged in the intake 10 and drain 11. In order to increase the available oxidation capacity in the barrier fluid 7, surface enlargers 13 are introduced into the drain trap interior 12, the surfaces of which are likewise provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3.

Exemplary Embodiment 5

[0062] A self-disinfecting drain trap is depicted in FIG. 5, composed of a drain trap body 1, at least one heating element for thermal disinfection 6, and one electromagnetic oscillator 5 for cleaning, in which the inner wall 1A of the drain trap is provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 is obtained through LED lamps 4. The LED lamps 4 are placed in the wall 1A of the drain trap and extend into the barrier fluid 7. In addition, further LED lamps 4 are provided in the intake 10 and drain 11. In order to increase the available oxidation capacity of the barrier fluid 7, baffles 14 are introduced into the drain trap interior 12, which are likewise provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3.

Exemplary Embodiment 6

[0063] A self-disinfecting drain trap is depicted in FIG. 6, composed of a drain trap body 1B made of silica glass through which UV-C light can pass, a UV-C lamp 8 for disinfection through ultraviolet light (UV-C radiation), and an electromechanical oscillator 5 for cleaning. The inner wall 1B of the drain trap is provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating is obtained through LED lamps 4.

[0064] The LED lamps 4 are placed in the wall 1B of the drain trap body and extend into the barrier fluid 7. In addition, further LED lamps are arranged in the intake 10 and drain 11. In order to increase the available oxidation capacity in the barrier fluid 7, baffles 14 are introduced into the drain trap interior 12, the surfaces of which are likewise provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating.

Exemplary Embodiment 7

[0065] A self-disinfecting drain trap is depicted in FIG. 7, composed of a drain trap body 1B made of a silica glass through which UV-C light can pass, a UV-C lamp 8 for disinfection of the drain trap interior 12 through ultraviolet light UV-C radiation, and an electromechanical oscillator 5 for cleaning. The inner wall 1B of the drain trap is provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 is obtained through LED lamps 4. The LED lamps 4 are placed in the wall 1B of the drain trap and extend into the barrier fluid 7. In addition, further LED lamps are arranged in the intake 10 and drain 11. In order to increase the available oxidation capacity in the barrier fluid 7, baffles 14 are introduced into the drain trap interior 12, the surfaces of which are likewise provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating.

[0066] The connection of the self-disinfecting drain trap to the sanitary components, preferably the sinks 15, the rinsing basins, the bathtubs, the showers, and the delivery tubs, is obtained through relief valves, or bleeder valves 16, the interiors of which are likewise provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 in the relief valve or bleeder valve 16 is obtained both on the inside by means of LED lamps 4 installed in the drain trap, as well as on the outside by an irradiation unit 17, equipped with at least one light source 4, which can be placed on the opening of the relief valve or bleeder valve 16.

Exemplary Embodiment 8

[0067] A self-disinfecting drain trap is depicted in FIG. 8, composed of a drain trap body 1B made of silica glass through which UV-C light can pass, a UV-C lamp 8 for disinfection through ultraviolet light (UV-C radiation), and an electromechanical oscillator 5 for cleaning. The inner wall 1B of the drain trap is provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 is obtained through a light projector 18 installed outside the drain trap.

Exemplary Embodiment 9

[0068] A self-disinfecting drain trap is depicted in FIG. 9, composed of a drain trap body 1B made of silica glass through which UV-C light can pass, a UV-C lamp 8 for disinfection of the drain trap interior 12 through ultraviolet light (UV-C radiation), and an electromechanical oscillator 5 for cleaning. The drain trap body 1B made of silica glass is provided on the inside with a titanium dioxide nano-coating 3. The activation of the titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 is obtained through a light projector 18 installed outside the drain trap. In order to increase the available oxidation capacity in the barrier fluid 7, baffles 14 are introduced into the drain trap interior 12, the surfaces of which are likewise provided with a titanium dioxide nano-coating.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0069] Drain trap body 1 [0070] Wall of the drain trap body made of metal 1A [0071] Wall of the drain trap body made of transparent glass 1B [0072] Primer coating 2 [0073] Titanium dioxide nano-coating 3 [0074] LED lamp 4 [0075] Electromechanical oscillator 5 [0076] Heating element for thermal disinfection 6 [0077] Barrier fluid 7 [0078] UV-C lamp 8 [0079] Light source 9 [0080] Intake 10 [0081] Drain 11 [0082] Drain trap interior 12 [0083] Surface enlarger 13 [0084] Baffle 14 [0085] Sink or tub 15 [0086] Relief valve or bleeder valve 16 [0087] Attachable irradiating unit 17 [0088] Light projector 18