OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention, as stated in the title piece of this descriptive specification
relates to an aeration valve adapted to a sewage network. In the anti-siphon traps
presently in existence, when a drawdown or vacuum is created at their outlet, either
through toilets being flushed or for some other reason, since there is no way to offset
this vacuum, the liquid intended for the hydraulic seal of the trap is sucked towards
the outlet, resulting in the partial or complete loss of its effectiveness, through
the reduction or disappearance of said hydraulic seal with the ensuing emission of
disagreeable odours to the exterior.
[0002] Hence, the object of the invention in question is directed at overcoming the problem
described in the foregoing paragraph in a simple manner, so that when the drawdown
vanishes, from the sewage pipes, the aeration valve returns to its closed, idle position,
whereby the bad and unpleasant odours that build up in the sewage pipes are also avoided.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] At present, in existing anti-siphon traps, when a drawdown or vacuum is formed at
their outlet, either through the flushing of toilets or for some other reason, since
there is no way to relieve this vacuum, the liquid intended for the hydraulic seal
of the trap is sucked towards the outlet, resulting in the partial or complete loss
of its effectiveness, through the reduction or disappearance of said hydraulic seal
and the ensuing emission of disagreeable odours to the exterior.
[0004] At present, to overcome these effects, sewage systems are fitted with parallel ventilating
lines or aeration valves. In the case of newly constructed buildings, installing parallel
ventilating lines is straightforward but expensive. Aeration valves are also costly.
[0005] In buildings which are already standing, installing ventilating lines is practically
impossible, while fitting aeration valves usually involves major structural work.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] To remedy the problems and drawbacks mentioned in the foregoing section, the invention
proposes an aeration valve adapted to a sewage network with the intention of obviating
a situation of total or partial vacuum that sometimes arises in sewage pipes, including
the anti-siphon traps fitted in said sewage pipes.
[0007] Thus, to counteract the suction effect produced by the vacuum, the valve of the invention
has been developed which shall be installed in a short vertical tubular duct which
communicates essentially with an outlet pipe from an anti-siphon trap. Notwithstanding,
the short vertical duct in which the valve of the invention is installed, could also
be mounted in other points of the sewage piping network.
[0008] The vertical duct mentioned communicates with an upper chamber, inside which there
is a tubular segment which communicates with the exterior through its underside, while
over the mouth of this tubular segment is fitted a flexible seal which normally keeps
said mouth shut. This flexible seal is held in position by means of a supporting or
fastening element.
[0009] The upper chamber is closed on its top side by means of a threaded cap and an intermediate
airtight gasket.
[0010] With the arrangement described, when a vacuum or drawdown is formed inside the sewage
piping, it happens that the vacuum itself serves, by suction, to position the flexible
seal upwards, thereby freeing the mouth of the tubular segment on which said flexible
seal is normally seated, so avoiding the liquid being emptied from the anti-siphon
trap thanks to the admission of air which is produced through the tubular segment.
[0011] Once the drawdown or vacuum has been removed from the sewage piping, the flexible
seal immediately returns to its normal, closed position, seated once again on the
mouth of the short tubular segment which communicates via the underside with the exterior
thereby blocking the admission of air, so avoiding unpleasant odours by preventing
these from penetrating to the exterior.
[0012] It is to be pointed out that anti-siphon traps with aeration valve incorporated can
replace any other trap which does not have said valve with no need for complicated
jobs or works.
[0013] Herebelow, to assist in a better understanding of this descriptive specification
and forming an integral part thereof, a number of drawings are attached in which in
an illustrative and not restrictive manner, the object of the invention is shown diagramatically.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Figure 1.- Shows a perspective of an anti-siphon trap which includes the aeration valve, object
of the present invention.
[0015] Figure 2.- Shows a partly sectioned elevation of that illustrated in the previous figure.
[0016] Figure 3.- Shows a perspective of an accessory which is connected to the piping or anti-siphon
trap which forms part of the sewage system. Said accessory incorporates the valve
of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] With reference to the numbering scheme adopted for the figures, the aeration valve
adapted to a sewage network is advantageously installed in a short vertical duct 1
which communicates essentially with an outlet pipe 2 of an anti-siphon trap 3. The
short vertical duct communicates in turn with an upper chamber 4, inside which there
is a tubular segment 5 which communicates with the exterior through its underside.
Over the mouth 6 of the tubular segment 5 is seated a thin dome-shaped piece 7 which
forms part of a flexible seal 8 which also includes a cylindrical, tubular body 9,
the flexible seal 8 assembly, in its idle position, closing the mouth of tubular segment
5.
[0018] The flexible seal 8 is correctly positioned by means of a retaining element 10 which
essentially comprises a spindle 11, on the upper part of which is fitted the flexible
seal 8 through the centrally located hole in the cylindrical tubular body 9, whilst
the lower part is attached to and fits inside a narrow tubular prolongation 12 arranged
coaxially with tubular segment 5. Moreover, the upper end of the retaining element
10 has a flat disc 13, the edge of which is extended downwards forming an annular
wall 14, the free edge of which is situated close to the upper face of the thin dome-shaped
piece 7 of the flexible seal 8.
[0019] The upper chamber 4 is closed at the top by means of a threaded cap 15, with the
insertion of an intermediate airtight seal 16.
[0020] Thanks to threaded cap 15, it is possible to gain access to the inside of upper chamber
4, not only for fitting the valve assembly of the invention, but also for access to
the valve interior when necessary.
[0021] With the arrangement described above, when a vacuum or drawdown occurs in the sewage
piping, the very vacuum effect mentioned serves to provide the suction which draws
the thin dome-shaped piece 7 pertaining to flexible seal 8 upwards thereby freeing
mouth 6 of tubular segment 5 on which said flexible seal 8 is normally seated, avoiding
in this manner the emptying of the liquid from the corresponding trap 3.
[0022] Once the drawdown or vacuum in the sewage piping has been removed, the flexible seal
8 immediately returns to its normal closed position, seated once more on the mouth
of short tubular segment 5 which communicates on the underside with the exterior,
so preventing the admission of air.
[0023] The valve of the invention can also be installed in anti-siphon traps by using a
standard accessory 17 (male-female or female-female), as is illustrated in figure
3.
[0024] This facility permits direct installing of the valve of the invention on normal anti-siphon
traps as is shown in figures 1 and 2, and also on traps already installed, via the
accessories (17) mentioned in the preceding paragraph, which incorporate the respective
valve.
[0025] Finally, it is also possible to fit the valve at other points of the sewage piping.
1. Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, essentially characterised in that it is
formed from an upper chamber (4) which communicates with a sewage pipe (2), whilst
inside said upper chamber (4) there is a tubular segment (5), through the lower part
of which there is communication with the exterior, there being seated on the mouth
(6) of the tubular segment (5) a flexible seal (8) held in place by a means of retention;
all of this so that when a vacuum or drawdown occurs in the sewage piping, the flexible
seal (8) frees the mouth (6) of the tubular segment (5), the flexible seal (8) returning
to its normal position when the vacuum or drawdown in question is removed.
2. Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, in accordance with the preceding claim,
characterised in that the means of retention of the flexible seal (8) consists of
a retaining element (10) which includes a spindle (11) to the upper part of which
the flexible seal (8) is fitted, whilst by its lower part the spindle is fixed to
a tubular prolongation (12) coaxial with the tubular segment (5).
3. Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, in accordance with the preceding claim,
characterised in that the flexible seal (8) comprises a thin ring-shaped disc (7)
and a body (9) in the form of a tubular cylinder.
4. Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, in accordance with the preceding claim,
characterised in that the thin ring-shaped disc (7) has the form of a dome.
5. Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, in accordance with claim 3, characterised
in that the thin flexible disc (7) is flat in form.
6. Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, in accordance with claims 2 and 3, characterised
in that the retaining element (10) of the flexible seal (8) includes a flat disc (13)
integral with the upper end of the spindle (11), as well as an annular wall (14) joined
to the edge of said flat disc (13), the free edge of the annular wall (14) being in
close proximity to the thin piece (7) which forms part of the flexible seal (8).
7. Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, in accordance with claim 1, characterised
in that the upper chamber (4) includes a cap (15) for access to its interior, said
cap (15) fitting over a mouth of the upper chamber (4) with an intermediate airtight
gasket (16).