[0001] This invention is in particular related to drains or, traps outlets in floors of
the kind that exist in for instance bath-rooms, wash-rooms etc. Today it is very usual
with water damages in connection with floor outlets of this kind. They do not only
serve to drain away water that so to say intentionly get on the floor but shall also
often be able to take care of comparatively large amounts of drained water, that is
let out from bathtubs, washing machines, wash basins etc. Frequently the water trap
or its connecting piping is unable to divert the water with the same speed that it
for instance flows out of a bathtub or is pumped out of a washing machine. The result
is that the water is retained on the floor surface, which i.a. can lead to water damages
on gods stored on the floor as for instance articles that are to be washed. Due to
the difficulties of obtaining absolutely tight joints between the floor coating or
carpet and the floor outlet it is also easy for water to pierce out into underlying
floor materials giving rise to water damages. It is certainly intended that these
connections shall be absolutely tight, but in reality this is rarely the case.
[0002] At a stop in the outlet tube or overload water coming also from the sewage system
in general can be pushed up through the floor outlet, including such outlet water
that comes from toilets, which as i easily understood not only means the same risks
of water damages as above, but also an increased risk of fouling. Furthermore this
means an infection risk since sewer or outlet water can include bacteria, virus etc.
It is thus not only water damages that can be a problem in connection with floor outlets.
[0003] An additional uptil now hardly considered problem at floor outlets is the drying
of these. Many floor outlets stand for a long time without being fed with water, the
water evaporates and'the water trap of the floor outlet will become empty. This leads
to smell from the sewage system being able to pass up through the water trap and up
into for instance bath-rooms, washing-rooms etc. Regretfully it is not only the smell
that can come through, but also bacteria, virus, fungous spores, as well as allergy
provoking substances can be transferred in this way. In this connection it should
also be noted that also contaminating substances from other houses and even hospitals
can be spread in this way.
[0004] The primary object of the invention is to avoid the above mentioned risks of flooding
and other inconveniencies thereby reducing the risk of water damages, foul air and
contaminations. It is further desired from the invention that it shall be possible
to use in already existing floor outlets.
[0005] The object of the invention is in accordance with the invention solved by drain insert
or the drain itself having one (or several) additional parallel connection for the
connection of for instance bathtub, washing machine etc, and that the floor outlet
tself (for water on the floor) includes a non-return valve, preferably in the shape
of a ball floating on the water in the water trap. This ball and its seat is preferably
so arranged in relation to the water surface or the ball is given such a specific
weight that the non-return valve in its normal position is closed. In this way water
can be fed to the floor outlet housing from for instance a bathtub without water going
backwards into the floor outlet so that this floods and water floods out on the floor.
Preferably the floor outlet connection as well as the connection for the bathtub or
the like, is extended down to such a level in the floor outlet housing that a water
trap function is established.
[0006] The closing by means of a non-return valve for instance in the shape of a floating
ball efficiently closes the floor outlet thereby preventing evaporation from the water
trap. Tests have shown that during the time that a normal water trap is entirely emptied
by evaporation the evaporation from a water trap closed in this way, will be practically
nonexisting. The evaporation through the additional parallel connection will in the
normal case be very small since so to say a moisture gradient is obtained along the
connected piping.
[0007] In a further development of the invention one can however consider to arrange also
in the additional connection a non-return valve of similar type as in the floor outlet.
In this way the evaporation is not only prevented even more efficient, but also water
is prevented from streaming back up into for instance a bathtub at a stop further
away in the system and furthermore the risk of foul air at a longer time of non-use
is reduced further.
[0008] Within the frame of the inventive thought the additional connection can include an
extension that extend down into the housing or the well so that also for this connection
a water trap is established. A non-return valve in the shape of a seat and a sphere
or ball can be arranged in this extension. Preferably in accordance with the invention
non-return valve and/or water trap for this additional connection for for instance
bathtub, wash basin, wash machine etc, can be arranged at another location for instance
in the case of the wash basin directly below this. This later variety can for instance
be suitable when an existing floor outlet installation with limited space possibilities
is to be made more secure and hygenic in accordance with the invention.
[0009] The non-return valves prevents evaporation very efficiently and consequently the
risk of foul air is diminished as from the outlet escaping unhealthy air in for instance
intermittently used facilities as for instance hotel rooms, changeing rooms in shools
etc.
[0010] In order to secure the sealing ability of the non-return valve or the non-return
valves a ground plastic ball is preferably used. A water level of a few centimeters
is sufficient to push down the ball so far into the water in the water trap that water
can stream out through the floor outlet connection. As has been said above the floor
outlet and the additional connection respectively can themselvels constitute parts
of the water trap. For those cases where an already existing floor outlet is to be
provided with a floor outlet insert in accordance with the invention the floor outlet
housing in some cases has an unremoveable water trap device, the water trap function
of the floor outlet connection and the additional connection respectively are thus
not necessary. Instead the reduced flow capacity due to the original water trap in
series with the non-return valves can be compensated by for instance the lower end
of the floor outlet connection being provided with wall parts that can be broken away
but still guide the ball in the water trap but provides a more free water flow.
[0011] Further advantages and aspects of the invention are apparent from the following description
of an embodiment shown in the drawings. In the drawings
Fig 1 shows in cross-section an insert for floor outlets in accordance with the invention,
fig 2 an installed floor outlet with insert, fig 3 a known floor outlet with the floor
outlet insert according to the invention, fig 4 the insert of fig 3 seen from above
and fig 5 the floor outlet of fig 3 and 4 seen from above without insert.
[0012] The floor outlet with insert shown in figs 1 and 2 includes a housing 29 located
in the floor for connection to outlet tubing and sewer net. Between the floor outlet
housing 29 and the sewer connection a wall or lip 32 extends from the bottom, to dam
up water to a water trap. In the housing of the floor outlet a floor outlet insert
is lowered that in its entirety is designated as 25. An unsymmetrical funnel part
28 transcend into a cylindrical vertical tube piece 31 constituting,upper water trap
lip. In the tube piece 31 is arranged a seating 34 for a ball 33 located below. The
level 30 of the water trap keeps the ball 33 up against the seating 34. The specific
weight of the ball 33 is however so chosen or adjusted, possibly by water being pumped
into the ball that merely a water level of a few centimeters above the ball is capable
of pushing this aside so that water easily can flow down through the water outlet.
[0013] In the funnel part 28 there is a connecting hole 27, below which an extension 26
for a connection extends down to the same level as the vertical tube piece 31 so that
also for this connection a water trap is obtained. In the hole 27 a connecting tubing
2 for for instance a wash basin can be connected. The hole 27 can in fabricated, delivered
status of the insert 25 be closed but provided with a fractural impression so that
a disk corresponding to the hole 27 simply can simply be broken away or cut away.
This for use at those floor outlets where this additional connection is not needed.
[0014] Preferably the seat 34 include a sealing ring for contact against the ball that preferably
is ground. This seal can for instance be of rubber. Also the connecting hole 27 can
include a rubber seal intended to secure absolute seal against the inserted connection
tubing. Within the frame of the invention a seat for a non-return valve ball can be
arranged in the water trap tube 26. For instance this seat can be constituted by the
lower end of an inserted connection tubing, alternatively by a seat similar to that
of the floor connection itself.
[0015] The water trap insert according to the invention can also be arranged in already
existing floor outlets or drains, as is shown in figs 3-5. The floor outlet housing
41 includes a connection 42 to the sewer net and a lower water trap lip 43 and an
upper water trap lip 44. On its upper side the floor outlet in a known way has a flange
45 for contact against a floor and a shoulder 46 in which a clamping ring 48 can be
introduced to clamp the floor carpet or coating 46 and then the entire upper side
of the floor outlet is covered by a grid 49.
[0016] Below the clamping ring 48 has been inserted or lowered into the well a floor outlet
insert in accordance with the invention. This includes a collecting funnel part 50
that at its outer edge transcends into a flat flange. The funnel part 50 slopes excentrically
against a seat portion 51 below which a ground sphere or ball of plastic floats on
the water level in the water trap. In the seat a rubber seal 53 is arranged to increase
tightness. Below the seat a water trap constituting and ball retaining and guiding
extension 54 is arranged. The funnel part 50, the seat 51 and the extension 54 are
suitably integrated in one piece.
[0017] In the funnel part 50 a stud pipe 55 or a so called "knock-out" (removable hole)is
arranged extending upwards, to which an additional connection 56 has been connected,
preferably with the insertion therebetween of a seal and that in the shown case extends
a distance down into the floor drain or outlet but not down to water level due to
the limited space of the well or housing. The streaming of the water from the additional
connection has schematicly has been shown with arrows.
[0018] In order to secure a good tightness or seal for floor drain and insert the contact
surface between the floor drain insert and the shoulder 46 of the floor drain is preferably
sealed with a floating silicon seal or the like. The tunnel 50 of the floor drain
is intended in particular for secondary splash or rinsing water while the connection
56 is intended for primary water from a bath tub outlet or the like. In the same way
as in the previous embodiment a small water pressure from the upper side is efficient
to push aside the sphere or ball 52.
[0019] The invention reduce the overflow risk at stop in the outlet tubings, and. Prevent
water from wash basin, wash machine or bath tub to pour out on the floor, which in
turn also drastically reduces the risk of water entering below the floor coating or
carpet. Furthermore the risk of smell and contamination forcing their way up through
the outlet due to dried out water traps is reduced. Since the floor drain according
to the invention essentially only differ from the floor drains of today by the shape
and look of the insert the invention is also applicable in already installed floor
drains or outlets, which considerably reduces the costs for an increased security
against water damages.
[0020] Tests with wells or drains in accordance with the invention have shown that the floor
drain in accordance with the invention can cope with considerable pressure from the
outlet water tubing without any leakage at all and this despite the fact that only
a few centimeter of water level is enough to allow water to pass.
[0021] The small amount of water that normally remain above the ball can at a possible sub-pressure
in the outlet system fill upp the water trap so that this is not evacuated. In this
direction works also the tact that the ball has a pretension upwards corresponding
to this water level and that consequently the water trap can stand a certain bleeding
if the worst should come and despite this be capable of holding the ball in its place.
Should at pressure variations after subpressure an overpressure be established the
water and the ball is pushed up in the corresponding tube and against the seat so
that no gases can escape. Even in the extreme case with a forceful sucking subpressure
in the outlet tubings sufficient water will remain in order to enable the lifting
of the ball when an overpressure is once again established. If after such a pressure
variation the ball is no longer pushed against the seat, it will however with its
guiding and seat provide a reduction of the evaporation due to the diminished ventilation
down to the water surface.
1. Floor drain insert, characterized in that it includes a non-return valv (33, 34) in the connection for water coming from
the floor and an additional connection (27) for for instance bathtub, wash basin and
wash machines that is coupled in parallel or coupled past the non-return valve of
the floor connection.
2. Floor drain insert according to claim 1, characterized in that also in the additional connection is a non-return valve arranged (35, 36).
3. Floor drain insert according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the non-return valve is constituted by a seat (36) for a ball (35) floating
there below in the water.
4. Floor drain insert according to claim 3, characterized in that the ball is a ground plastic ball.
5. Floor drain including an insert according to any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that it includes a lip extending from the bottom upwards and that either or both
of the connections constitute upper water trap lips establishing water traps.
6. Floor drain according to claim 5, characterized in that the non-return valve or valves are constituted by a ball floating on water in
the water trap and pressed respectively upwards towards a seat by the water.
7. Floor drain according to claim 1-5, characterized in that the additional connection extends down into the water in the water trap.
8. Floor drain according to any of the claims 5-7, characterized in that a specific weight of the water trap ball or balls (33, 35) is adjusted by this
being filled with water in sufficient degre so that a desired resistance against a
push downwards in combination with the corresponding seat level over the water trap
level is obtained.