Referring firstly to
Referring also to
The waste fitting body 12 defines a throughbore 30 and a trough member 32 that extends from a body inner surface 34 into the throughbore 30. The body 12 and the member 32 are injection moulded from ABS of PVC as a unitary component. The member 32 and the inner surface 34 collectively define a trough 36 around the internal circumference of a portion of the throughbore 30, the purpose of which is described below.
The waste fitting outlet 40 is adapted to receive an end of a waste pipe 28. As can be seen from
The body inner surface 34 also defines a lip 48 for supporting the filter grid 14.
The fitting 10 is secured within a shower outlet by sandwiching a portion of the shower outlet 50 between a mounting flange 20 radially extending from an upper part of the body and a removable collar 22. The removable collar 22 defines an internal thread, which engages a corresponding external thread on the body 12.
In use, water draining from the shower tray will pass into the throughbore 30. Some of the water will pass straight through the fitting 10 into the waste pipe 28, however some will be caught by the trough 36. Once the trough 36 has filled, the water will overflow into the narrowed section of the throughbore 30 surrounded by the trough 36.
Although not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the action of the water cascading out of the trough 36 and flowing radially inwardly into the opening surrounded by the trough facilitates the elimination of the air core from the water passing through the bore 30, permitting a siphonic drainage condition to be established.
Once the siphonic condition has been established, greater discharge rates through the shower outlet are achievable compared to a conventional waste outlet of similar cross-sectional area.
Various modifications and improvements may be made to this embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the trough member is shown formed integrally to the waste fitting. It will be understood the member could be manufactured separately and secured within the waste fitting in a separate operation, or retrofitted to an existing waste.
Reference is now made to
The body 62 also accommodates a removable internal strainer 68 comprising a cylindrical wall and a relatively fine grid. The strainer sits on a shoulder formed on the inner wall of the body 62.
A decorative apertured stainless steel cover 70 is removably attached to the upper end of the body 62, the cover concealing the flange 64 and strainer 68. In the illustrated embodiment the edge of the cover lies on the flange 64, but in other embodiments such as described in
The elements of the fitting body adapted for location below the shower tray include a well portion 72 having two primary components, a generally circular cover 74 and a dished base 76. The cover 74 includes an internal threaded downwardly extending spigot 78 adapted to cooperate with the external thread 66 formed on the waste body 62, and capable of accommodating shower bases of different thickness.
The base 76 includes a flange 80 including threaded blind bore 82 which allow the cover 74 to be secured to the base 76 using four screws 84. The base 76 defines a central flow opening 86 which accommodates an upwardly extending spigot 88. Thus, a trough 90 surrounds the opening 86.
In use, water will flow through the waste body 62 and the shower tray outlet and into the well portion, the well portion being capable of accommodating a significant volume of water (in the illustrated embodiment the dished base has an internal depth in the region of approximately 75 mm and an internal diameter of approximately 280 mm). Water will flow directly into the flow opening 86 but will also flow into the trough 90. Once the trough 90 has filled the water will flow over the upper end of the spigot and into the opening 86. As with the first embodiment, it is believed that this flow pattern assists in eliminating the central air core normally present in plumbing fitting wastes, and encourages the creation of a siphon effect, which provides for a significantly greater flow rate of waste water away from the shower tray. In any event, testing has demonstrated that the illustrated outlet configuration provided significantly greater flow rates than conventional outlets.
The illustrated embodiments are suitable for use in applications where a seal or trap may be provided remote from the fitting outlet. In other embodiments, a one-way valve may be incorporated in the fitting.
The present invention is not restricted to a waste outlet featuring a trough, and encompasses other outlets configured to facilitate creation of siphonic flow conditions. For example, in certain outlets provision of a venturi or other flow area restriction may provide the desired effect. Other arrangements for directing waste water radially inwards in a waste outlet throughbore, and thus eliminating the air core from the flow in the outlet, are also within the scope of the invention.
Those of skill in the art will also recognise that the above described embodiment of the invention provides a waste fitting which has an improved water discharge capability.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
GB 0614987.6 | Jul 2006 | GB | national |