Floor Drain Vapour Block Apparatus and Methiod for Using Same

Abstract

A floor drain vapour block apparatus and method for providing a dependable water level in the vapour block to prevent backflow gases or odours from infiltrating into the area above the floor drain. The apparatus is a two-part assembly having an outer reservoir housing and an inner drain catch cylinder forming a water sealing reservoir space for holding or retaining a plumbing code enforced water level to block gases and odours from infiltrating above the floor level in which the assembly is inserted.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing a dependable vapour blocking water valve in a floor drain for prevention of sewer gas and/or vapour from coming back through the drainage system and infiltrating into the building structure or area above the floor drain. The apparatus and method may be utilized in residential and/or commercial applications and is applicable for any drainage system, not only sewer systems. Additionally, the present invention may include a removable filter member in a catch basin section of the apparatus to collect solid sediments and heavy particles, preventing them from entering the drainage system and potentially causing blockage downstream.

In most drainage systems, a J or P trap (a U-shaped bend) is provided to catch or collect materials passing through the system. Such traps are also intended to act as a dam to block vapours and/or sewer gases from bleeding back into the structure where the drain originates. However, current traps often accumulate excessive amounts of debris which builds up, blocking drainage flow through the system. These current traps are susceptible to outside wind currents which cause the water or liquid in the bight of the trap to rock within the bight, causing premature evaporation of the trapped blocking water or liquid from the bight.

There have been numerous prior art devices, apparatuses, and methods which attempt to solve the problems associated with cleaning or clearing a build-up in a vapour trap. These include U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,107,634, 7,875,172, 8,347,906, and 9,021,628.

The existing devices are cumbersome and ineffective and are vulnerable to wind draft pulsation which causes water column evacuation and evaporation. Any prior art device which restricts the full volume flow through the bight of the trap when not in use and/or loses its water sealing volume causes more problems than it solves. The prior art devices are messy during cleaning and allow odours to invade the immediate area during such cleaning operations.

The present invention allows for a generally straight, vertical, fluid flow of drainage, without any flow curves, and a dependable water level in the vapour block to prevent back flow gases or odours. The location of the device in the drain system is located immediately under the floor grate or screen and is easily accessible by removing the floor screen and conveniently reaching the filter for dumping into the trash. Sewer gases are not encountered during the filter cleaning operation.

While the present invention is described and illustrated in the preferred embodiment within a plumbing/sewer environment, it will be understood that the present invention could be adapted for use in industrial situations where the same drain line could use more than one invention with accessible filters when the grade allows for a strong drain flow. In such situations the present invention is intended to function as a door backflow control and a sediment filter which does not impede the drain line with curves or other typical geometries associated with existing P traps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a floor drain vapour block apparatus and method for providing a dependable water level in the vapour block to prevent backflow gases or odours from infiltrating into the area above the floor drain.

The apparatus is a two-part assembly having an outer reservoir housing and an inner drain catch cylinder forming a water sealing reservoir space for holding or retaining a plumbing code enforced water level to block gases and odours from infiltrating above the floor level in which the assembly is inserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above recited advantages and features of this invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates an elevation view of the present invention with a filter element in the catch basin of the inner catch cylinder and a plumbing code enforced water level within the outer reservoir housing.

FIG. 2A shows the vapour block apparatus disposed within a drain pipe in a floor drain.

FIG. 2B illustrates the vapour block apparatus with the sealing water level at a code enforced level preventing gases from passing through the block and invading the area above the floor drain.

FIG. 3 shows the block apparatus of FIG. 1 installed in a floor drain pipe with drain water flooding the apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates a vapour block apparatus with an alternate compression sealing member retaining the apparatus within the drain pipe and preventing gases within the drain pipe from invading the area above the drain while drain water fills the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an elevation view of a floor drain vapour block apparatus 10 with a removable filter element 12 situated in a catch basin section 14 of an inner drain catch cylinder 16. The catch cylinder 16 is attached inside of and to an upper end 18 of an outer reservoir housing 20 by screw 32. As will be further disclosed below (see FIGS. 1, 2B, and 4), the outer reservoir housing 20 is vertically received in and retained in a floor drain pipe 22 below a floor 24 level.

The apparatus 10 has an elastomeric compression seal 26 sandwiched between an outer flange 28 at the top 29 of the inner catch cylinder 16 and an outer flange 30 at the top 31 of the reservoir housing 20. The seal 26 is held between these flanges 28 and 30 by a compression seal adjustment screw 32. Screw 32 further connects the inner catch cylinder 16 to the outer housing 20. Tightening of the screw 32 squeezes the elastomeric seal 26 outwardly, urging it against the inner wall surface 34 of the drain pipe 22, as noted further below.

FIG. 1 also illustrates that inner catch cylinder 16 has downwardly depending side walls 36 which extend downwardly into the outer reservoir housing 20. Outer reservoir housing 20 has outer side walls 38 and a bottom 40 forming an enclosed reservoir space 42 there between.

As will be discussed below, the reservoir space 42 maintains a water level therein as required by most plumbing codes to block or prevent sewer gases and odorous vapours from back flowing through the drainage system and infiltrating above the floor level. FIG. 1 shows that required and enforced water level in the reservoir with reference letter d1. This level is between 2″ and 4″.

Outer reservoir housing 20 has a plurality of drain water outlet orifices 44 in the outer walls 38 to allow excess drain water entering the apparatus 10 through a floor drain cover 46, shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3, and 4, into the catch basin section 14, and passing between the downwardly depending side walls 36 into the reservoir space 42 to be discharged into the floor drain pipe 22. This overflow is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the bottom 40 of the outer reservoir housing 20 is a cleanout plug 50 and port 52. The inner portion 53 of the port is raised to create a deflection profile to interrupt the typical wind currents that enter the drain system and rock the fluid level within the reservoir. When installing the apparatus 10 in the drain pipe 22, the installer may thread an elongated threaded rod through the port 52 to hold the apparatus in the pipe 22 as the compression seal is urged against the inner wall 34 of the pipe 22. Once the apparatus 10 is securely retained and sealed in the drain pipe 22, the installer simply reverses the threading and inserts a threaded plug 50 into the port 52.

Turning now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 is shown installed beneath the floor level 24 below a floor drain cover 46. Cover 46 has a multiplicity of holes 60 or a mesh construction to allow water or liquid at floor level to enter the reservoir space 42 via the catch cylinder 16, the catch basin 14, and the downwardly depending outer side walls 36.

FIG. 2A illustrates the apparatus 10 without drain water flowing into the apparatus 10. The plumbing code required level of water d1 is shown filling the reservoir space 42. This water 43 is shown as extending below to the bottom edge 62 of the drain water outlet orifices 44, but not spilling over the edge into the drain pipe 22.

FIG. 2B illustrates how the sealing water 43 in the reservoir space 42 blocks or prevents sewer gases and odorous gases 70 from passing out of drain pipe 22, the outer reservoir housing 20, into the inner drain catch cylinder 16, out the holes 60 in the drain cover 46, and invading the area or space above the floor drain level 24.

FIG. 3 shows the apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 installed in a floor drain pipe with screws 32 tightened to urge seal 26 against the inner wall surface 34 of drain pipe 22. Drain water 11 is shown flooding into the apparatus 10. It may be seen that as excess drain water 13 fills the reservoir space 42 it is discharged through orifices 44 and into drain pipe 22. The excess drain water 13 has raised the water level d2 in the reservoir space 42 to above the bottom edge 62 of the outlet orifice 44.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative vapour block apparatus 100 with an alternative compression sealing member 33 retaining the apparatus 100 within the drain pipe 22. A catch cylinder 116 is integrally attached inside of and to an upper end 118 of the outer reservoir housing 138. The alternate compression sealing member 33 may be constructed in a number of ways as is well known by one of ordinary skill in the art.

It is therefore clearly evident that the present invention is one well adapted to obtain all of the objects and advantages hereinabove set forth together with other objects and advantages that are inherent from a description of the apparatus itself.

It will be understood that certain combinations and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the present invention.

As many possible embodiments may be made of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof it is to be understood that all matters hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

Claims

1. A floor drain vapour block apparatus comprising: an outer reservoir housing adapted to be vertically received and retained in a floor drain pipe below a floor level, said outer housing having an upper end having a compression means for sealing and retaining said apparatus in said drain pipe, outer walls and a base forming a reservoir space there between, said reservoir space for retaining a plumbing code enforced water level to block or prevent sewer gases and odorous vapours from infiltrating above said floor level, said outer reservoir housing having a plurality of drain water outlet orifices in said outer walls of said reservoir housing; andan inner drain catch cylinder attached inside of and to said upper end of said outer housing, said cylinder having a basin for catching and directing drain water into said reservoir space, said cylinder having downwardly depending side walls extending below said code enforced water level in said reservoir space, said plurality of drain water outlet orifices allowing an excess of said drain water entering said basin and passing between said downwardly depending side walls into said reservoir space to be discharged into said floor drain pipe.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a removable filter assembly adapted to fit within said basin.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wind profile deflector in said base of said outer reservoir housing and projecting into said reservoir space.

4. A method of sealing a vertical floor drain wherein said apparatus of claim 1 is placed inside said floor drain pipe below said floor level, said compression sealing means is compressed to seal and retain said apparatus in said drain pipe to block or prevent said sewer gases and odorous vapours from infiltrating above said floor level.