The invention relates to a drain for discharging a liquid, and particularly to a drainage channel to be placed in for instance a finished floor of a wet area in a building, such as for instance a bathroom or a shower cubicle.
Bathrooms usually are provided with tiled floors. Such tiled floors are placed slightly inclined, so that water on such floors flows into the direction of a drain. For a correctly sloping incline to this drain from various positions around a drain, the floor has a fall in several directions.
A recent trend seems to have been set by providing floors with large-sized tiles. Practice has shown that laying such a floor with sufficient fall in several directions will then be difficult. As a result it may occur that at some locations on such a floor water does not flow naturally to the drains and therefore remains on the floor.
By using a drainage channel such as for instance known from community designs 36314 or 107834, a fall in several directions is at least partially no longer necessary. The drainage channel known from said community designs comprises a reservoir that is open at the upper side, comprising a bottom wall and upright side walls that fully enclose the open reservoir. In the middle, the bottom side is provided with a discharge opening for successively connecting a siphon and a discharge pipe thereto. At the upper side of the reservoir a cover grid provided with inflow openings for the liquid, is placed between the upper side of the upright side walls.
By placing such a known drainage channel for instance along a side wall of a wet area in a building, such as for instance a bathroom or a shower cubicle, only a fall sloping transverse to the drainage channel and in the direction of the drainage channel is necessary. A fall in one direction can also easily be realised with large tiles, as a result of which the entire floor is enabled to dewater naturally in the direction of the drainage channel.
A drawback of the known drainage channels is that they require a large build-in depth. As a result the possible placement of such drainage channels already has to be taken into account at an early stage, preferably already during the design of a construction project.
It is an object of the invention to improve on this.
To that end the invention provides a drainage channel for discharging a liquid comprising:
The stench-trap according to the invention placed in the duct part offers the advantage that no stench-trap, such as for instance a siphon, needs to be placed between the duct part and the discharge pipe. The discharge pipe can be connected directly to the discharge opening of the drainage channel according to the invention. As a result the build-in depth of the drainage channel can remain limited and the drainage channel according to the invention is highly suitable to be placed in a finished floor or to be used in a renovation of a wet area in a building, such as for instance a bathroom or a shower cubicle.
German patent application 23 35 870 describes one or more drainage channels placed in a floor for discharging waste water. The one or more drainage channels debouch in a drain provided with a double water seal serving as stench trap. Of the assembly of one or more drainage channels connected to a drain according to German patent application 23 35 870 the drain in particular needs a large build-in depth.
English patent application 2.297.110 as well describes a drainage channel placed in a floor for discharging water. For discharging water to the sewer the drainage channel at one of its end is connected to a drain placed there. Said drain is special in the sense that besides the usual drain cover at the upper side, it has a sideward opening for connecting the drainage channel thereto. The drain is furthermore provided with a water seal serving a stench-trap. Of the assembly of the drainage channel connected to a drain according to English patent application 2.297.110 particularly the drain has a large build-in depth.
The drawbacks of the assemblies according to the German patent application and the English patent application are at least partially solved by the drainage channel according to the invention, wherein the stench-trap is placed in the duct part of the drainage channel.
In an embodiment the discharge opening is situated in one of the upright longitudinal side walls. Thus no projecting parts and/or connections are necessary at the lower side of the drainage channel according to this embodiment, as a result of which the build-in depth of this drainage channel can be further limited. Preferably the build-in depth of the drainage channel is smaller than or equal to the thickness of a standard finished floor.
In a simple embodiment the stench-trap comprises a first edge raising from the bottom wall, a lid placed above the first edge, which lid is provided with a second edge extending in the direction of the bottom wall, wherein the second edge extends over the first edge at a side of the first edge facing away from the discharge opening, and flow-through openings for the liquid between the first edge and the lid, the first edge and the second edge, and the second edge and the bottom wall. Preferably the first edge and the second edge are substantially transverse to the longitudinal side walls. Preferably the first edge extends substantially over the full width of the bottom wall.
Preferably the lid is detachably placed in the drainage channel. The stench-trap according to the invention can thus easily be cleaned by removing the lid.
A further drawback of the known drainage channels is that they require an accurate and/or laborious placement with respect to the floor surface. On the one hand the drainage channel needs to be accurately built in at the correct level, so that the upper side of the upright side walls is placed in the plane of the floor surface. If the drainage channel is placed too high, the liquid around the drainage channel will not naturally flow into the drainage channel and liquid will thus remain on the floor. Moreover a drainage channel projecting above the floor will be an obstacle over which the user may trip. If the drainage channel is placed too low, the drainage channel may form a local hollow in the floor over which the user may trip. On the other hand a sealing, such as a border of cement, has to be provided between the upper side of the upright walls and the surrounding floor, so that the liquid does not flow into the floor at the outside of the drainage channel. Such a sealing is visibly provided at the floor surface, and may get dirty during use. In practice such sealings, and particularly borders of a sealing cement such as silicon paste, prove to be difficult to clean and keep clean.
For at least partially solving this further drawback, the invention according to a second aspect provides a drainage channel for discharging a liquid comprising:
As the cover means at least partially projects above the duct part, the duct part can be placed below the floor level, wherein the upper side of the cover means can be placed substantially in the plane of the floor. On the one hand the sealings have been provided below the floor surface between the upper side of the upright walls and the surrounding floor, particularly the surrounding finished floor, and said sealings can be covered with the cover means and/or the floor covering surrounding the drainage channel. During normal use such a sealing is not visible on the floor surface. On the other hand the floor covering surrounding the drainage channel can be placed over the upright walls of the duct part, as a result of which a liquid will flow directly from the floor covering into the drainage channel. A sealing between the upper side of the upright walls and the surrounding floor can be left out, as a result of which the above-mentioned problems of the sealing no longer occur.
A further advantage of the device according to the invention is that the floor covering surrounding the drainage channel can be placed adjacent to the cover means, as a result of which a liquid can flow directly from the floor covering to the cover means and flow into the drainage channel via the inflow openings in the cover means.
In an embodiment the cover means projects above the duct part over a distance that is substantially equal to the thickness of the floor covering, such as for instance a tiled floor, surrounding the drainage channel. When placing the drainage channel according to this embodiment the upper sides of the upright walls of the duct part can be placed substantially in the plane of the concrete finished floor. As a result the upper side of the cover means will be substantially in the plane of the floor covering placed on the concrete finished floor.
Preferably the cover means is formed out of a mesh or grid which preferably can be detachably placed in the drainage channel. Apart from being crude dirt filter, such a cover means also ensures a to the user visible, preferably aesthetic, finishing of the drainage channel. A detachably placed cover means further offers the advantage that this cover means can be taken out for easily cleaning the duct part and/or the cover means.
In a simple embodiment the cover means comprises a cover wall and side walls connecting to the longitudinal sides of the cover wall, wherein the side walls extend substantially from the cover wall in the direction of the bottom wall, wherein the cover wall preferably is provided with the inflow openings. Preferably the cover wall and the side walls of the cover means are formed as a profile having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein the side walls preferably are placed substantially perpendicular to the cover wall.
Preferably the side walls of the cover means at least partially rest on the bottom wall. Because the cover means rests on the bottom wall, no support means and/or attachment means for the cover means are necessary in the drainage channel, and particularly at the upright longitudinal side walls of the duct part.
In an embodiment the side walls of the cover means substantially abut the upright longitudinal side walls of the duct part. The cover means may thus be substantially secured by the longitudinal side walls, at least in a direction transverse to the longitudinal side walls.
In an embodiment the drainage channel with the cover means that at least partially projects above the duct part may, according to the second aspect of the invention, also be provided with a stench-trap placed between the upright longitudinal side walls, as described above.
In a further embodiment at least one of the longitudinal side walls, at least at an end thereof facing away from the bottom wall, comprises an edge extending substantially parallel to the bottom wall and facing away from the opposite longitudinal side wall. When placing the drainage channel according to this embodiment said edge sits near the upper side of the finished floor. Said edge may subsequently be covered by the tiles of the floor. Said edge placed between the tiles and the finished floor ensures a firm anchoring of the drainage channel in the floor.
In an embodiment one of the longitudinal side walls comprises a retaining wall projecting substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall and above the drainage channel. Such an embodiment is particularly suitable for placement along a wall, wherein the retaining wall is placed against the skirting board of the wall.
Preferably said retaining wall is placed offset at the longitudinal side wall, at least at an end thereof that faces away from the bottom wall. Said retaining wall placed offset can after placement be covered by tiles of the wall along which the drainage channel has been placed.
In an embodiment the duct part is open at its ends so that further duct parts can be coupled thereto. As a result an assembled drainage channel of any desired length can be achieved. Such an assembled drainage channel may for instance extend along nearly the full length of the floor along a wall.
For use in floors or floor parts having a standard size, such as for instance shower cubicles, the length of the duct part preferably corresponds to said standard sizes and the duct part preferably comprises upright transverse side walls at its ends.
In a further embodiment the bottom wall comprises a wall section sloping to the discharge opening. As a result a better discharge of the water into the drainage channel in the direction of the discharge opening is achieved. Furthermore the quantity of water that is in the drainage channel for optionally forming a water seal of the stench-trap, can be reduced.
In a further embodiment at least one longitudinal side wall, at least considered in cross-section of the drainage channel, comprises a leaning wall section. Preferably the leaning wall section of the at least one longitudinal side wall, at least considered in cross-section of the drainage channel, leans towards the opposite longitudinal side wall. In other words, the opening at the side of the drainage channel facing away from the bottom wall where water flows from the floor into the drainage channel is narrower than a section of the drainage channel situated below the floor. Because of this section, which at least in cross-section of the drainage channel is wider near the bottom wall of the drainage channel, the discharge capacity of this embodiment of the drainage channel according to the invention can be increased. Preferably this embodiment is further combined with a discharge opening and a discharge pipe connectable thereto having an inner diameter of more than 4 cm, preferably having a diameter of 5 cm.
Preferably the leaning wall section of the at least one longitudinal side wall, at least considered in cross-section of the drainage channel, comprises a dovetail profile. As a result the drainage channel, at least considered in cross-section of the drainage channel, has its largest width near the bottom wall. Such a dovetail profile may also contribute to an improved anchoring of the drainage channel in the finished floor.
In an advantageous embodiment the drainage channel is made entirely or partially of a rustproof material. Preferably the rustproof material comprises synthetic material or stainless steel.
In an embodiment the discharge opening comprises a non-return valve and/or dirt collection filter. Such a non-return valve may at least partially prevent sewage water from flowing back as well as/or prevent a sewage stench in the drainage channel in case of an overpressure in the sewage pipe. Such a dirt collection filter may catch dirt particles in the water to be discharged and thus reduce the risk of blockage of the sewage pipe.
In an embodiment the width of the duct part is smaller than 3 cm, preferably substantially equal to 2.5 cm.
In an embodiment the stench-trap, when operative, comprises a water seal.
Although a water seal may form a simple and effective stench-trap, the inventor acknowledged that using such a water seal in a drain, such as a drainage channel or floor drain, placed in a floor with floor heating, no longer is an adequate sealing within a relative short period of time. The floor heating warming up the floor may namely result in a quicker evaporation of the water of the water seal.
For at least partially solving this further drawback the invention, according to a third aspect, provides a drain for discharging a liquid comprising:
Because of the insulation means the heating of the stench-trap, and particularly the evaporation of the water in the water seal, can at least be slowed down, for forming an adequate stench sealing during a longer period of time.
In an embodiment said drain according to this third aspect, may be formed as a drainage channel, wherein the drainage channel is also provided with a stench-trap placed between the upright longitudinal side walls, as described above.
Preferably the bottom wall and/or the upright longitudinal side walls of the duct part of said drainage channel comprise the insulation means, at least near the stench-trap.
Preferably the duct part, at least near the stench-trap, comprises a double-walled bottom wall and/or double-walled upright longitudinal side walls, comprising spaced double walls for forming an insulation layer in between them. Said insulation layer may comprise an air layer, but may also comprise known insulation materials, such as for instance rock wool, glass wool, or synthetic materials and synthetic resins (for instance foamed).
The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:
An exemplary embodiment of a drainage channel 1 according to the invention is provided with a duct 2 that is built up from a bottom wall 3 and longitudinal side walls 4, 5. In one of the upright longitudinal side walls 5 a discharge opening 10 is furthermore provided with a connecting sleeve 6 for connecting the drainage channel 1 to a discharge pipe (not show). In the exemplary embodiment as shown in
In the duct part 2 of the drainage channel 1 a stench-trap is placed. A view in cross-section of said stench-trap is shown in
The drainage channel 1 with integrated stench-trap can thus be made of small height h so that said drainage channel can easily be placed in a finished floor of a concrete floor. Therefore such a drainage channel is highly suitable for use during renovation of a wet area in a building, such as for instance a bathroom or shower cubicle. Preferably said height h is 0.5 cm larger than the diameter of a discharge pipe connectable to the connecting sleeve 6. If the connecting sleeve 6 is adapted for a discharge pipe of 4 cm connectable thereto, then the height h is substantially equal to 4.5 cm. When use is made of a discharge pipe of 5 cm, then the height h is substantially equal to 5.5 cm.
The drainage channel 1 with integrated stench-trap can furthermore be made of a small width b. Preferably the width b of the duct part 2 is smaller than 3 cm, preferably substantially equal to 2.5 cm.
In
The exemplary embodiment as shown in
This exemplary embodiment is furthermore provided with a lid 13 provided with a second edge 14 which extends to near the bottom wall 3 and which is provided with an opening 16 for allowing water through to the discharge opening via the first edge 11. An advantage of such a lid 13 is that no supports have to be provided for it in the duct part 2; the lid 13 rests on the bottom wall 3 with the two edges 14, 15.
The view in longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment as shown in
A fourth exemplary embodiment of a drainage channel 1 according to the invention, as shown in the
In this exemplary embodiment as shown in
As shown in
In the duct part 2 a cover means 9 is placed, which projects above the duct part 2 over a distance d that is substantially equal to the thickness of a floor covering, such as for instance a tiled floor 20 (see
The cover means 9 is formed like a profile having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and comprises a cover wall 91 and side walls 92 connecting to the longitudinal sides of the cover wall 91, wherein the side walls 92 are placed substantially perpendicular to the cover wall 91. The side walls 92 of the cover means 9 rest at least partially on the bottom wall 3.
At least the cover wall 91 of the cover means 9 is formed out of a mesh or grid provided with openings for allowing a liquid to flow therethrough into the drainage channel 2. In a simple exemplary embodiment the entire cover means 9 is formed out of a mesh or grid bent into a U-shaped profile. Thus also the connecting side walls 92 may also be provided with openings for allowing a liquid to flow therethrough into the drainage channel.
In the exemplary embodiment as shown in
It is observed here that the embodiments of the invention described above are intended as an illustration of the invention and not as a limitation of the invention. An expert will certainly be capable of designing alternative embodiments that fall within the scope of protection of the attached claims.
For instance in a variant of the embodiment as shown in
Furthermore the invention of a water seal wherein the walls, at least near the water seal, are provided with insulation means for thermally insulating the water seal with respect to the floor surrounding the drain, cannot only be used for drainage channels as shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1025765 | Mar 2004 | NL | national |
1027175 | Oct 2004 | NL | national |