Drain Assembly, Drain Body for Use in Such an Assembly and Odor Trap of Use in Such an Assembly

Abstract

The invention pertains to an odor trap, which comprises a first drainage channel situated between an inlet and an outlet, comprising, viewed in the flow direction, a first closing wall for the closing off of an uppermost part of the drainage channel and a second closing wall for the closing off of a lowermost part of the first drainage channel. The first and second closing walls, viewed in a horizontal direction, overlap. The odor trap comprises an elongated main body. The inlet substantially extends over the length of a first planar surface of the main body, which first planar surface is determined by the first closing wall. The second closing wall is situated in the main body. The outlet is situated in a second planar surface, situated opposite the first planar surface. The invention also pertains to a drain body and a drain assembly.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An odor trap for use in a drain assembly, which odor trap comprises a first drainage channel situated between an inlet and an outlet, comprising, viewed in the flow direction, a first closing wall for the closing off of an uppermost part of the drainage channel and a second closing wall placed at a distance from the first closing wall, for the closing off of a lowermost part of the first drainage channel, wherein the first and second closing walls, viewed in a horizontal direction, overlap; wherein the odor trap comprises an elongated main body; wherein the inlet substantially extends over the length of a first planar surface of the main body, which first planar surface is determined by the first closing wall; wherein the second closing wall is situated in the main body; and wherein the outlet is situated in a second planar surface of the main body, situated opposite the first planar surface and distant from the second closing wall, whereby water will flow inside the main body over the barrier formed by the second wall towards the outlet in the second planar surface, the second planar surface forming a boundary of the main body.

12. The odor trap according to claim 11, wherein the main body is substantially box-shaped.

13. The odor trap according to claim 11, wherein the distance between the first planar surface and the second planar surface is less than 20 mm.

14. The odor trap according to claim 11, wherein the height of the substantially box-shaped main body is less than 50 mm.

15. The odor trap according to claim 11, wherein the main body is provided with positioning means.

16. The odor trap according to claim 11, wherein the outlet is round, and provided with a sealing means to make possible a water-tight connection with a drainage pipe.

17. The odor trap according to claim 11, provided with at least two compartments, which each have an inlet and an outlet, whereby the at least two compartments are situated abreast.

18. A drain assembly, comprising: an odor trap according to claim 11; and a drain body for building into a floor, provided with a recess for receiving said odor trap, wherein the recess is so configured that the or each outlet of the odor trap connects to a second drainage channel provided on the drain body, wherein the drain body is so shaped that after it has been built in, the odor trap can be removed from the recess, and wherein the recess connects to a collection zone situated at the side of the inlet, which collection zone is situated at least partially under the floor covering after the drain body has been built in.

Description

[0031] These and other technical effects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a known odor trap of the “swan neck” type;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a known odor trap of a compacter type;

[0034] FIG. 3 schematically shows the functioning of the odor trap of FIG. 2;

[0035] FIG. 4 schematically shows the functioning of the odor trap according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of an odor trap according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows perspectives of an odor trap according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] FIGS. 7a and 7b show a drain body according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a perspective of an odor trap according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0040] FIG. 9 shows a perspective of a drain pipe connector for a drain assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a known odor trap of the “swan neck” type.

[0042] The illustrated odor trap 100 is placed under the drain body 200 (only shown in part), in such a way that the drain of the drain body is brought into the cylindrical inlet 110 of the odor trap 100. From there the odor trap 100 forms a channel with a barrier 120, which connects to the outlet 130, to which the drainage channel 220 is connected.

[0043] If sufficient water enters into the drain body, water will flow in the odor trap 100 over the barrier 120 when the liquid column above the inlet opening 110 is higher than the barrier 120. This water will reach the drainage pipe 220 via the outlet 130. As a result of the geometry of the swan neck during use a quantity of water always remains in the odor trap, upstream from the barrier 120. As long as this is the case, it is impossible for air from the drainage pipe 220 to escape to the use side via the odor trap.

[0044] The channel between the inlet 110 and the outlet 130 is flattened, to minimize the required overall height. It is a disadvantage of this flattening, that the water being drained off encounters a change in the cross-section both upon flowing into the odor trap and upon flowing out of the odor trap. These points turn out to be extremely susceptible to accumulation of impurities, which are found in the drainage water, so that in the long term significant obstructions can be formed here. Furthermore, after building in of the drain body the odor trap is situated under this body and cannot be removed without breaking out the drain body, which makes the cleaning and maintenance of the odor trap more difficult or even impossible.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a known odor trap 100, as used in the drain of the “Carrodrain” type.

[0046] The illustrated odor trap 100 comprises an undermost component 100a (in use it rests on the bottom of a recess in the drain body) and an uppermost component 100b which is slid over the undermost component. FIG. 2a shows the odor trap 100 in perspective in a mounted situation. FIG. 2c shows the odor trap 100 in cross-section in a mounted situation.

[0047] Over the whole circumference of the odor trap 100 there is an open space between the foot of the undermost component 100a and the overhanging part of the uppermost component 100b. This open space serves as inlet 110. The odor trap 100 can also be realized in a single component, without deviating from the working principle. However, with pre-existing odor traps, intake over substantially the whole circumference is always chosen, to guarantee a sufficient drainage flow rate. In this way it is also avoided that water, which enters from different sides into the drain body 200, would have to traverse a very different route to eventually flow through the odor trap 100. The outlet 130 is round and intended to be connected to the drainage pipe of the drain body in which the odor trap 100 is situated.

[0048] The working principle of the odor trap of FIG. 2 is schematically shown in FIG. 3.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of a drain body 200 that is integrated into a floor, such as, for example, the floor of a walk-in shower. The drawing in not to scale and components which are not necessary to an understanding of the working, such as the covering grating of the drain body, are not shown in the drawing.

[0050] Upon using the shower, water runs off over the floor to run into the drain body 200 via the edges thereof (curved arrows). The water that collects there, forces its way into the odor trap 100 via the inlet 110, where according to the principle of communicating vessels it assumes the same height as the water which is present around the odor trap 100. The maximum height which can be thus attained, is determined by the height of the barrier 120. If sufficient water comes into the drain body 200, water in the odor trap 100 will flow over the barrier and will reach the drainage pipe 220 via the outlet 130. After use water remains in the drain body up to the height of the barrier 120. The water level will drop over time due to evaporation. However, as long as the water stands higher than the upper edge of the inlet 110, it is impossible for air to escape from the drainage pipe via the odor trap 100.

[0051] The geometry of the pre-existing removable odor traps entails that a distance W.sub.1 must be bridged at floor level by means of a grating to cover the odor trap 100. Presently, this distance is the limiting factor to making the drains for walk-in showers narrower, because a narrower opening would make it impossible to remove the odor trap 100.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section of a drain body 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, provided with an odor trap 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drawing is not to scale and components which are not necessary to an understanding of the working, are not shown in the drawing. For corresponding elements the same reference numbers are used as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0053] In general, the odor trap 100 according to the invention comprises a drainage channel between an inlet 110 and an outlet 130 communicating therewith. The odor trap 100 comprises, viewed in the direction of flow, a first closing wall 115 for closing off an uppermost part of the first drainage channel and a second closing wall 125, situated at a distance from the first closing wall, for closing off an undermost part of the first drainage channel, wherein the first and second closing walls, looked at horizontally, overlap. This combination of partial closing walls forms the actual trap. According to the invention the odor trap 100 is formed as an elongated main body. The odor trap 100 is always designed to be as narrow as possible, so that a particular length is necessary to guarantee a sufficient flow rate.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment the main body is substantially box-shaped. The main body can but need not be a perfect box-shape in the geometrical meaning of the word; with “substantially box-shaped” is meant that shape of the body is determined by a pair of parallel planes (the left-side 115 and the right-side 135 of the odor trap in FIG. 4), connected at the top by an upper planar surface which in use is horizontal, and provided at the ends with parallel end surfaces (not visible in FIG. 4). The term “substantially box-shaped” does not exclude the provision of the main body with positioning means, handles, supporting elements for a grating, and such like; that ribs of the main body are rounded or beveled; that the cross-section of the main body at certain places a shape other than a right angle; or that opposing planar surfaces are not perfectly parallel.

[0055] The inlet 110 extends over substantially the length of a first planar surface (i.e. an external planar surface) of the main body, which first planar surface is defined by the first closing wall. The inlet may be provided with means to prevent the flowing in of impurities (in particular hair and undesirable objects); which can be a grating or one or more bars. The first plane is thus not fully closed; the absent undermost part constitutes the inlet 110. The second closing wall 125 is situated in the main body. The outlet 130 is situated in a second planar surface of the main body, lying opposite the first planar surface (curved arrows).

[0056] When the shower is used, the water runs over the floor, entering the drain body 200 over its whole length across the edges (curved arrows). The water is collected in the collection zone 210, which connects to the recess in which the odor trap is situated, specifically on the side of the inlet 110. The water enters into the odor trap via the inlet 110 at the bottom of the first closing wall 115, where according to the principle of connecting vessels it will attain the same height as the water present in the collection zone 210. The maximum height that can be attained is determined by the height of the barrier 120, which is formed by the second closing wall 125. If sufficient water enters into the drain body 200, water will flow over the barrier 120 in the odor trap 100 and reach the drainage pipe 220 via the outlet 130.

[0057] In other words, the barrier 120 in use is higher than the highest point of the inlet 110.

[0058] After use water remains in the drain body up to the height of the barrier 120. The water level will drop over time due to evaporation. However, as long as the water is higher than the upper-side of the inlet 110, it is, as a result of the cooperation of the first closing wall 115 and the second closing wall 125 (which, viewed horizontally, overlap), impossible for air from the drainage pipe 220 to escape via the odor trap 100.

[0059] In the presented embodiment, the outlet 130 is situated on one side of the odor trap 100, and the inlet 110 extends completely over the opposite side of the odor trap 100.

[0060] The geometry of the odor trap according to the invention entails that on floor level only a distance W.sub.2 (smaller than W.sub.1) has to be bridged using a grating to cover the odor trap 100. Thus a significantly narrower drain is realized.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of an odor trap according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. The used reference numbers correspond to those explained in connection with FIG. 3. Since the drawing is meant to illustrate the configuration of the main body, the outlet 130 is not explicitly shown, to avoid the drawing being unnecessarily complicated. The odor trap shown comprises positioning means 140, which in this case are stepped (this is the hatched part in FIG. 5, of which preferably one or more instances with low thickness are provided over the length of the main body, so as not to hinder the above-mentioned working of the odor trap). These positioning means 140 cooperate with a complementary element 240 (see FIG. 7) to ensure that the odor trap is inserted at the correct position, and in particular upon insertion to compress a sealing ring of the outlet sufficiently against a flange of the drainage channel 220 of the drain body or vice versa. Stepped positioning means 140 have the advantage that they provide an automatic and gradual horizontal pressing on of the odor trap as it is pushed down by the user into the recess provided in the drain body 200. Compared with mere beveled positioning means, stepped positioning means 140 have the additional advantage that the resulting normal forces have no significant vertical component, so that the odor trap is not pushed of itself upwards by the forces generated by the gripping.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows perspectives of an odor trap 100 according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. The reference numbers used correspond to those explained in connection with FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. The uppermost perspective shows the odor trap 100 viewed from the outlet side 135, with the outlet 130. The undermost perspective shows the odor trap from the inlet side 115, with the inlet 110.

[0063] FIGS. 7a-b show a drain body according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7a the drain body 200 is partly shown, without odor trap. In FIG. 7b, the complete drain body 200 is shown, with an odor trap 100 inserted in the space provided for that purpose. It can be seen that the odor trap 100 has a length that it is substantially less than that of the drain body 200. Despite this difference in length, an even flow of water can be accommodated over the entire length of the drain body 200 thanks to the presence of the collection zone 210, which collects water arriving from all sides of the drain body 200 at the appropriate side of the odor trap 100, i.e. at the side of the inlet 110. Preferably, the length of the odor trap 100 is less than half of the length of the drain body 200; more preferably, the length of the odor trap 100 is less than one third of the length of the drain body 200. As a result, the part of the drain body 200 which is most susceptible of gathering impurities, and which must be capable of being cleaned easily, is limited to the relatively short zone of the recess and the collection zone 210.

[0064] The drain body 200 is intended for building into a floor. It is provided with a recess for receiving an odor trap 100 as described above. The recess is so configured that the outlet(s) 130 of the odor trap connect(s) to a second drainage channel 220 provided in the drain body. Without loss in generality the proposed embodiment has two connections to the drainage channel, with an eye to the use of a compartmentalized odor trap. The drain body 200 is so configured that after building in, the odor trap can still be removed for cleaning, maintenance or replacement. The drain body shown comprises positioning elements 240 which are designed to work together with the positioning means 140 of the odor trap (see FIG. 5).

[0065] In the presented embodiment the recess further connects to a collection zone 210 situated at the side of the inlet 110 of the odor trap 100 that is to be inserted. After the drain body has been built in, the collection zone 210 is situated at least partially under the floor covering, so that the opening of width W.sub.2 that has to be bridged is not influenced thereby. Nonetheless the drain body 200 is configured in such a way that the collection zone is easy to clean, for example with a brush or a water jet, after removal of the odor trap 100 via the recess in the drain body.

[0066] According to the present invention an assembly is provided of a drain body 200 according to the invention and an odor trap 100 according to the invention.

[0067] The illustrated drain body 200 has a peripheral flange with an upper surface 250 extending substantially in a horizontal plane from its periphery, above which the floor is fitted, for example a tiled floor, a cast floor, or other suitable floor covering. On this upper surface 250 a water sealing layer can be adhesively provided, such as described in greater detail in the above-cited Belgian patent BE 1018522 A5, which is incorporated by this reference.

[0068] FIGS. 8a and 8b show perspectives of an odor trap according to another specific embodiment of the present invention. The view illustrated in FIG. 8a represents the substantially box-shaped odor trap from its bottom side. The reference numbers used correspond to those explained in connection with FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6. The odor trap comprises, viewed in the direction of flow (top to bottom in this illustration), the first closing wall 115 for closing off the uppermost part of the first drainage channel and the second closing wall 125, situated at a distance from the first closing wall, for closing off the undermost part of the first drainage channel. A further planar surface 135 provides another boundary of the substantially box-shaped main body, and accommodates the outlet openings 130. The second closing wall 125 is thus situated in the main body. The inventors have found that the flow characteristics of the odor trap can be improved by adequate shaping of the second closing wall 125. In the illustrated embodiment, the second closing wall 125 is not a perfect plane parallel to the first closing wall 115 or the outer boundary 135, but presents a change in orientation, directed towards the outlet side, from an inflection point 127 outwards. The second closing wall 125 thus presents a slightly convex surface to the water entering the odor trap from the inlet side. Other arrangements in which the second closing wall 125 presents a convex surface to the water entering the odor trap from the inlet side may be used to obtain a similar improvement of the flow characteristics of the odor trap. FIG. 8b shows another perspective of the same odor trap, as viewed from the side of its planar surface 135, which accommodates the outlet openings 130. The shape of the outlet openings 130 is designed to cooperate with the funnel-like connector of FIG. 9.

[0069] FIG. 9 illustrates a connector 225 designed to connect an odor trap installed in a drain body to a cylindrical drainage tube. The inventors have found that the flow characteristics of the drain assembly may be further improved by combining a judicious shaping of the outlet orifices 130 of the odor trap, for example according to the shape illustrated in FIG. 8, with a funnel-like connector (instead of the traditional Y-piece). The connector 225 provides a transition from an elongate inlet (connecting to the outside of the drain body 200, in direct communication with the outlets of an installed odor trap 100) to a circular outlet, with minimal flow resistance. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the pair of outlets 130 of the odor trap 100 has the same general shape as the inlet of the connector, except for the presence of the wall that divides the odor trap 100 into compartments. The flow resistance is minimized by making the transition in cross-sectional shape as gradual as possible, and by avoiding a large difference in total cross-sectional area between the inlet and the outlet.

[0070] While the invention has been described hereinabove with reference to specific embodiments, this was done to clarify and not to limit the invention. The skilled person will appreciate that modifications of the described arrangements are possible without leaving the scope of the present invention, the scope of which is to be determined by reference to the accompanying claims.