EP1059391B1

EP1059391B1 - Aeration valve fitted to a swage network

Info

Publication number: EP1059391B1
Application number: EP00500117A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Paul Talec
Original assignee: Jimten SA
Current assignee: Jimten SA
Priority date: 1999-06-11
Filing date: 2000-06-02
Publication date: 2009-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-02
Also published as: ES1043234U; EP1059391A3; ES2325114T3; PT1059391E; ES1043234Y; ATE427387T1; DE60041899D1; EP1059391A2

Abstract

This concerns a valve for preventing the total or partial vacuum that sometimes occurs in sewage piping. Normally it is installed close to the anti-siphon traps that accompany sewage piping, though they may also be fitted in sewage piping systems that do not incorporate anti-siphon traps, it also being possible to fit them in part of said traps. This valve guarantees the hydraulic seal of the traps, as well as preventing unpleasant odours from reaching the outside. <IMAGE>

Description

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.
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

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.
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.
In buildings which are already standing, installing ventilating lines is practically impossible, while fitting aeration valves usually involves major structural work.
US-A-4518014 discloses an aeration valve having the features of the preamble of claim 1 and describes an aeration valve setting forth the problem presented by the previous devices in which an elastomeric valve element closes an annular inlet defined by inner and outer concentric seats. The solution proposed consists in the introduction of a support element surrounded by the elastomeric valve that relies in an only seat, and which should enlarge the interval between two operations of manteinance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To remedy the problems and drawbacks mentioned in the foregoing section, the invention proposes an aeration valve adapted to a sewage network having the features of claim 1 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.
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.
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 retaining element.
The upper chamber is closed on its top side by means of a threaded cap and an intermediate airtight gasket.
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.
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.
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.
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

Figure 1 .- Shows a perspective of an anti-siphon trap which includes the aeration valve, object of the present invention.
Figure 2 .- Shows a partly sectioned elevation of that illustrated in the previous figure.
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

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 disc 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.
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 disc 7 of the flexible seal 8.
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.
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.
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 disc 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.
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.
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.
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.
Finally, it is also possible to fit the valve at other points of the sewage piping.

Claims

Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, 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 a mouth (6) of the tubular segment (5) a flexible seal (8) held in place by a retaining element (10), wherein the flexible seal (8) comprises a thin ring-shaped disc (7) and the retaining element (10) includes a spindle (11) characterised in that the flexible seal (8) further includes a tubular body (9), coaxially arranged with the thin ring-shaped disc (7) and the spindle (11) extending through a central hole, in the flexible seal (8), with the upper part of the spindle (11) being fitted to the tubular body (9) of the flexible seal (8), whilst by its lower part the spindle (11) fits inside a tubular prolongation (12) coaxial with the tubular segment (5), and a flat disc (13) integral with the upper end of the spindle (11), and an annular wall (14) joined to the edge of said flat disc (13), the free edge of said annular wall (14) being in close proximity to the thin ring-shaped disc (7) which forms part of the flexible seal (8).
Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the thin ring-shaped disc (7) has the form of a dome.
Aeration valve adapted to a sewage network, in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the thin ring-shaped disc (7) is flat in form.
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).