Free outlet over a drainage device

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a free outlet above a drainage object according to DIN EN 1717:2011-08 and a device for such a free outlet.

[0002] A device having the preamble features of claim 1 and a free outlet having the preamble features of claim 6 are known, for example, from EP 0 905 327 A1. Another free outlet above a drainage object according to DIN EN 1717:2011-08 is known from DE 20 2016 100 854 U1. Furthermore, an alignment device for a siphon of a drainage system is known from US 2014 / 048147 A1, wherein the alignment device is intended to provide an unobstructed air path for the fluid. US 6,513,543 B1 relates to a device with a valve that is intended to be easily accessible for the purpose of simple maintenance and repair.

[0003] To protect drinking water from contamination, all appliances connected to a drinking water installation and connected to a drainage pipe must be connected to the pipe via a free outlet. This free outlet must meet the requirements for a "free outlet above a drainage object" described in DIN EN 1717:2011-08. The present invention provides such a free outlet above a drainage object that meets these requirements.

[0004] At an outlet point in a drinking water system, drinking water can become contaminated due to backflow or backpressure. Backflow is usually caused by a drop in pressure in the drinking water installation or the public water supply network to which the drinking water installation is connected. Triggers for such a drop in pressure can be a pipe burst or large pressure fluctuations, for example due to the operation of booster pumps or excessive water demand. Backpressure is usually caused by backpressure coming from a non-drinking water system to which the drainage line is connected and in which the pressure is temporarily higher than in the drinking water system. A free outlet above a drainage object must therefore separate an outlet opening of a drinking water system from a drainage line completely or by means of ventilation openings.In other words, the free outlet above a drainage device transfers drinking water from a drinking water system to a drainage pipe and prevents water from the drainage pipe from being sucked back or forced back into the drinking water system. The drainage pipe is usually connected to the public sewer system. The water contained therein is therefore classified as a Category 5 liquid according to the aforementioned . Standard classified and poses a health risk to humans due to the presence of microbial or viral pathogens that cause communicable diseases. Mixing with drinking water must therefore be avoided at all costs.

[0005] A free outlet above a drainage object according to the specified standard has an outlet opening of a drinking water system which is arranged in the direction of gravity above an inlet opening of a drainage pipe. In the event of backpressure or back suction, the edge of the drainage pipe which defines the inlet opening of the drainage pipe usually represents an overflow edge. The distance of this overflow edge from the outlet opening of the drinking water system is at least 20 mm in the vertical direction. The diameter of the drainage pipe is at least as large as or larger than the diameter of an outlet pipe forming the outlet opening. The free outlet above a drainage object according to the standard is designed in such a way that drinking water passing through the outlet opening falls freely for at least 20 mm before passing the overflow edge.To maintain this free fall distance, the drinking water system housing can be physically separated from the drainage pipe housing. The two housings can also be connected to each other, provided that at least one ventilation opening is provided between the drinking water system outlet opening and the drainage pipe inlet opening. The ventilation opening must have a smallest diameter of at least 4 mm. The sum of all air passage areas defined by ventilation openings (S1 + S2 + ...) must be equal to or greater than the diameter (G) of the drainage pipe times 20 mm times 2 π divided by 3, i.e. S 1 + S 2 + … ≥ 20 mm × 2 π 3 .

[0006] Another requirement for a free outlet above a drainage object is that the drainage pipe can accommodate the maximum outflow from the outlet opening. Conventional free outlets above a drainage object sometimes fail to meet this requirement. Today, drinking water installations are flushed using flushing devices to prevent stagnation of the drinking water. Often, this involves replacing the entire water volume of the drinking water installation with fresh water. This releases a large amount of water into the drainage pipe in a short period of time, which can lead to overflow in the drainage pipe.

[0007] The present invention aims to remedy this problem. To solve this problem, the present invention provides a device with the features of claim 1 and a free outlet above a drainage object with the features of claim 6, which is designed according to DIN EN 1717:2011-08 and has an outlet opening of a drinking water system arranged above an inlet opening of a drainage line. The free outlet according to the present invention has means for jet and flow rate regulation. This allows the outflow from the outlet opening to be regulated to a level that can be safely absorbed by the drainage line. As a rule, the maximum flow rate is adjustable by the means(s). Furthermore, the jet regulation prevents the water from splashing out of the drainage line and / or through the ventilation openings.

[0008] The free outlet according to the present invention comprises a cartridge having a regulating component as a means for regulating the jet and flow rate, which is provided between the outlet opening of the drinking water system and the inlet opening of the drainage line. The cartridge can be designed as an integrated part known from EP 2 597 213 B1 and have a thread for attachment to a mating thread provided on the outlet opening of the drinking water system. Alternatively, the cartridge can be fastened in the outlet opening of the drinking water system via a bayonet connection or plug connection. The regulating component comprises a jet regulator and a flow rate limiter. These are usually provided as separate components and inserted into a sleeve that forms an external thread on an outer wall.The sleeve can usually be screwed into the outlet of the drinking water system in such a way that the flow limiter is positioned upstream of the aerator in the direction of flow. However, the aerator and flow limiter can also be designed as an integral component.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the free outlet is designed such that a jet and flow rate regulated water jet falls unhindered over a free, vertical path immediately surrounded by air before the jet and flow rate regulated water jet passes the inlet opening of the drainage line, and such that this free path is at least 20 mm but no longer than 10 cm. The free vertical path generally extends from the lower end of the jet and flow rate regulation means to the inlet opening of the drainage line. Air directly surrounds this path due to the separation of the drinking water system from the drainage system in the form of ventilation openings, as required by the standard. The outlet opening is usually provided coaxially to the inlet opening of the drainage line.

[0010] A free vertical path longer than 10 cm results in a higher falling speed and higher momentum of the water. Since the volume of the noise when water hits the drainage line increases with increasing momentum, the maximum vertical extension of the free path should be limited to 10 cm to avoid noise pollution. More preferably, the maximum vertical extension of the free path should not exceed 5 cm. Limiting the maximum extension of the vertical free path also reduces the likelihood of objects becoming caught between the outlet opening of the drinking water system and the inlet opening of the drainage line, which could impede proper drainage into the drainage line.

[0011] According to a further preferred development of the present invention, a shut-off device is arranged upstream of the outlet opening of the drinking water system in the direction of flow, wherein each shut-off device arranged upstream of the inlet opening is separated from the inlet opening by a line section of at least 30 cm, more preferably at least 50 cm and particularly preferably at least 70 cm.

[0012] According to a further preferred development of the present invention, a funnel is assigned to the drainage line, the wider end of which forms the inlet opening, wherein the diameter of the inlet opening is not greater than three times the diameter of the drainage line. The funnel increases the collecting area for the jet and flow-regulated water jet that has fallen over the free vertical path. Since the required installation space and the material expenditure should generally not be larger than necessary, the diameter of the inlet opening should be limited to this dimension. More preferably, the diameter of the inlet opening should not be larger than twice and particularly preferably not larger than 1.5 times the diameter of the drainage line. The funnel can be formed as a single piece from the drainage line by an end that widens conically towards the inlet opening.The funnel can also simply be attached to the drainage pipe, or the drainage system can be attached to the funnel. A screw or bayonet connection is also conceivable. The geometric shape of the funnel does not necessarily have to be conical, as long as a wider end of the funnel forms the inlet opening of the drainage pipe.

[0013] According to the present invention, the outlet opening of the drainage system and the inlet opening of the drainage line are connected to one another via a housing that forms at least one ventilation opening for air passage. The housing of the drinking water system can merge integrally into the housing of the drainage line at the location of the free outlet, wherein a housing section provided between the outlet opening and the inlet opening of the drainage line has the at least one ventilation opening, which meets the aforementioned normative requirements for ventilation openings of a free outlet above a drainage object. Alternatively, the at least one ventilation opening can be formed by a separate housing that forms a housing inlet opening connectable to the outlet opening of the drinking water system and a housing outlet opening connectable to the inlet opening of the drainage line.

[0014] The free outlet according to the invention is thus more robust against environmental influences, such as impacts. The housing also makes it more difficult for objects to become trapped between the outlet opening of the drinking water system and the inlet opening of the drainage line, thus impeding proper drainage into the drainage line.

[0015] The cartridge is detachably connected to the housing and can be inserted into the housing through the ventilation opening. The ventilation opening is preferably designed such that a hand or a tool for securing the cartridge in the housing can be inserted into the housing through the ventilation opening. As a rule, the cartridge has an external thread that is attached to an internal thread of the housing. The housing, in turn, usually also has an external thread that is attached to an internal thread of the outlet opening. Preferably, the housing has at least two ventilation openings, which are usually identical. However, the ventilation openings can be of different sizes, with at least one of the ventilation openings being dimensioned such that the cartridge can be passed through it and a hand or a tool for securing the cartridge can be inserted.Typically, the cartridge is aligned concentrically to a straight line connecting the housing inlet opening and the housing outlet opening.

[0016] This allows the cartridge to be easily removed from the housing for cleaning and / or maintenance or replacement without having to disconnect the housing from the outlet opening of the drinking water system or the inlet opening of the drainage pipe.

[0017] According to the present invention, the free outlet has an overflow monitor associated with the overflow edge. The overflow monitor typically includes a float whose position changes when water overflows from the drainage pipe, thus indicating an overflow. The housing preferably houses the overflow monitor. For this purpose, the housing typically has a receiving chamber laterally adjacent to the inlet opening of the drainage pipe, the floor of which is below the inlet opening of the drainage pipe and which fills above the overflow edge in the event of an overflow. The change in position of the float can be converted into an electronic signal and output remotely.In the case of a flushing process of a drinking water system, this signal can be used to interrupt the flushing process, i.e. to close the flush valve, at least as long as the drainage pipe can no longer absorb any further amounts of water.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge is secured to the free outlet via a retaining strap. The retaining strap is generally made of plastic. It usually comprises two annular discs that are connected to one another via a web. One of the annular discs usually engages in a circumferential recess in the cartridge. The other annular disc is usually attached to the housing or to the outlet line forming the outlet opening. In the axial direction of the cartridge, the retaining strap is therefore framed by two flange sections and thus positively connected to the cartridge. This prevents the cartridge from falling into the drainage line if the connection between the cartridge and the housing is released.

[0019] The device for a free outlet above a drainage object according to DIN EN 1717:2011-08 comprises a housing that forms a housing inlet opening connectable to an outlet opening of a drinking water system, a housing outlet opening connectable to an inlet opening of a drainage line, and at least one ventilation opening provided between the housing inlet opening and the housing outlet opening for air passage. The regulating component also comprises a jet-regulating and flow-rate-limiting regulating component. The regulating component is arranged in the housing in such a way that it regulates a jet and a flow rate of water flowing between the housing inlet opening and the housing outlet opening, and comprises a jet regulator and a flow rate limiter. The regulating component is preferably accommodated in a cartridge or configured as a cartridge, which is generally attached to the housing below the housing inlet opening.The fastening is, in particular, detachable. Possible connection types include a screw connection, bayonet connection, or plug connection. Naturally, the ventilation opening in the device's housing meets the aforementioned normative requirements for ventilation openings of a free outlet above a drainage object. At least one of the ventilation openings is designed such that the regulating component can be inserted into the housing through the ventilation opening. If the housing inlet opening is arranged vertically above the housing outlet opening, the device ensures a free vertical path with a length between 20 mm and preferably 10 cm. The funnel is preferably formed as one piece from the housing. The overflow edge is usually formed by the wider end of the funnel and also corresponds to the lower limit of the at least one ventilation opening.The free vertical travel is generally defined as the vertical distance between the lower edge of the regulating component and the overflow edge. The device according to the present invention has an overflow monitor associated with the overflow edge.

[0020] Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a free outlet over a drainage object according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a side view of a cartridge having a regulating component and regulating jet and flow rate, Fig. 4 an exploded view of the cartridge from Fig. 3 .

[0021] The Fig. 1shows a free outlet above a drainage object according to DIN EN 1717:2011-08.

[0022] The free outlet has an outlet line 2 connected to a drinking water system, which forms an outlet opening 4. A drainage line 6 is arranged vertically below this outlet opening 4. A housing 8 is inserted into the drainage line 6 with a connecting piece 10. At a lower end in the vertical direction, the connecting piece 10 forms a housing outlet opening 12. At the end arranged vertically above the connecting piece 10, the housing 8 forms a housing inlet opening 14. At this end, the housing 8 is screwed to the outlet line 2 by means of a union nut 18. The housing 8 is designed and connected to the outlet line 2 of the drinking water system and the drainage line 6 in such a way that a water jet from the outlet line 2 passes through the housing 8 along a vertical line from the housing inlet opening 14 to the housing outlet opening 12.

[0023] As a means of regulating the jet and flow rate, the free outlet has a cartridge 20 which forms an external thread 22 which is screwed to an internal thread 24 of the housing 8. The cartridge 20 is inserted into the Figs. 3 and 4 shown in detail and has a sealing ring 26 for external sealing against the housing 8. A flow limiter 28 and a jet regulator 30 are inserted into the cartridge 20. The cartridge 20 is screwed into the housing 8 in such a way that the flow limiter 28 is positioned upstream of the jet regulator 30 in the direction of flow. The flow limiter 28 is generally loosely inserted into the cartridge, with the flow limiter 28 resting on an inwardly projecting flange 32 of the cartridge 20. The jet regulator 30 carries a sealing ring by means of which it is screwed circumferentially into the cartridge 20 to form a seal.

[0024] In the Fig. 2It can be seen that the housing 8 merges into an annular section 34 above the connecting piece 10, wherein the annular section 34 has a larger diameter than the connecting piece 10. In this respect, the annular section 34 forms a funnel with the connecting piece 10. The funnel is connected to the upper part of the housing via a bracket 36 in the shape of an inverted U. The housing 8 forms two window openings as ventilation openings 38, 40 above the annular section 34. The window openings are dimensioned such that the cartridge 20 can be passed through. The cartridge 20 is secured to the housing 8 by means of a retaining band 42. One end of the retaining band 42, designed as a ring, completely encompasses the cartridge 20. The other end of the retaining band 42 is also designed as a ring and is connected to the aforementioned end via a web 44.The other end of the retaining strap 42 surrounds the housing 8 above the cartridge 20. The web of the retaining strap 42 extends through one of the window openings. This prevents the cartridge 20 from falling into the drainage line 6 when it is unscrewed from the housing 8. Instead, the cartridge 20 can be securely folded out of the window opening using the retaining strap.

[0025] The annular section 34 of the housing defines with its upper end an overflow edge K. This is circumferentially in the direction shown in Fig. 1left side interrupted by a leg of the bracket 36. On the opposite side, the overflow edge K forms the lower boundary of an opening 46 to a receiving chamber in which an overflow monitor 48 is arranged. The overflow monitor 48 includes a float that rises in the receiving chamber if a backflow forms in the drainage pipe 6, such that water overflows over the overflow edge K. In this case, water flows through the opening 46 into the receiving chamber. The overflow monitor 48 also includes a signal converter that converts a rise in the float into an electrical signal that is sent via a cable 50 to an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit can be provided near the free outlet and issue a warning signal on site.Alternatively, the evaluation unit can be linked to a control unit, which, in response to this signal, can close a valve upstream of the free outlet to prevent further water from overflowing or to stop the overflow. In any case, the ventilation openings 38, 40 are dimensioned such that, in the event of an overflow, no water can be sucked back from the drainage line 6 into the outlet line 2. The vertical distance V of the overflow edge K to the lower edge of the cartridge 20, the width B of the window openings, the height H of the window openings, and the nominal diameter of the drainage line 6 are dimensioned such that the free outlet complies with DIN EN 1717:2011-08. List of reference symbols

[0026] 2 Outlet line 4 Outlet opening 6 Drainage line 8 Housing 10 Connection piece 12 Housing outlet opening 14 Housing inlet opening 18 Union nut 20 Cartridge 22 External thread 24 Internal thread 26 Sealing ring 28 Flow limiter 30 Aerator 32 Flange 34 Annular section 36 Bracket 38, 40 Ventilation openings 42 Retaining strap 44 Retaining strap web 46 Opening 48 Overflow monitoring 50 Wiring K Overflow edge V Free vertical path BC Window width HC Window height

Claims

1. Device for free flow over a drainage object in accordance with DIN EN 1717:2011-08, comprising a housing (8) with a housing inlet opening (14) connectable to an outlet opening (4) of a drinking water system, a housing outlet opening (12) connectable to an inlet opening of a drainage pipe (6) arranged below the outlet opening (4) of the drinking water system, and at least one ventilation opening (38, 40) with a minimum diameter of at least 4 mm for air to pass through, wherein the relationships S1 + S2 + ... ≥ (20 mm x 2πG) / 3 and G ≥ E are satisfied, where S1 + S2 + ... is the sum of all air passage areas defined by the ventilation openings (38, 40), G is the diameter of the drainage pipe (6), and E is the diameter of an outlet pipe (2) forming the outlet opening (4) of the drinking water system, and a jet-regulating control component with a jet regulator (30), wherein the regulating component is arranged in the housing (8) in such a way that it regulates a jet of water flowing between the housing inlet opening (14) and the housing outlet opening (12), wherein the regulating component is detachably connected to the housing (8) and can be inserted into the housing (8) through one of the ventilation openings (38, 40), characterized in that the regulating component comprises a flow rate limiter (28) for limiting the flow rate, and in that the device has an overflow monitor (48) which is assigned to an overflow edge (K) formed by an edge of the housing (8) corresponding to a lower boundary of the at least one ventilation opening (38, 40) and over which the water from the drainage pipe (6) can overflow when pushed back or sucked back, thus leaving the housing (8).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is designed such that a jet and flow-regulated water jet falls unhindered over a free vertical path immediately surrounded by air before the jet and flow-regulated water jet passes through the inlet opening of the drainage pipe (6), and that this free path is at least 20 mm but no longer than 10 cm.

3. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the housing (8) accommodates the overflow monitor (48).

4. Free flow over a drainage object in accordance with DIN EN 1717:2011-08 with a drainage opening (4) of a drinking water system for connecting the drinking water system to a drainage pipe (6), with an inlet opening of the drainage pipe (6) arranged below the drainage opening (4) of the drinking water system, with a housing (8) which connects the outlet opening (4) of the drinking water system and the inlet opening of the drainage pipe (6) to one another and forms at least one ventilation opening (38, 40) with a minimum diameter of at least 4 mm for air to pass through, and with a cartridge (20) having a regulating component as a means for regulating the jet and flow rate, which is provided between the outlet opening (4) of the drinking water system and the inlet opening of the drainage line (6), is detachably connected to the housing (8) and can be inserted into the housing (8) through one of the ventilation openings (38, 40), wherein the regulating component comprises a jet regulator (30) for jet regulation, and wherein the relationships S1 + S2 + ... ≥ (20 mm x 2πG) / 3 and G ≥ E are satisfied, where S1 + S2 + ... is a sum of all air passage areas defined by the ventilation openings (38, 40), G is a diameter of the drainage pipe (6), and E is a diameter of an outlet pipe (2) forming the outlet opening (4), characterized in that that the regulating component comprises a flow limiter (28) for limiting the flow rate and that the free flow has an overflow monitor (48) which is assigned to an overflow edge (K) formed by an edge of the housing (8) which corresponds to a lower boundary of the at least one ventilation opening (38, 40) and over which the water from the drainage pipe (6) can overflow in the event of back pressure or back suction and thus leave the housing (8).

5. Free flow according to claim 4, characterized in that the free flow is designed in such a way that a jet of water with regulated flow and flow rate falls unhindered over a free vertical path immediately surrounded by air before the jet of water with regulated flow and flow rate passes through the inlet opening of the drainage pipe (6), and that this free path is at least 20 mm but not longer than 10 cm.

6. Free flow according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a shut-off device located upstream of the inlet opening is at least 30 cm away from the inlet opening.

7. Free flow according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by a funnel assigned to the drainage pipe (6), the other end of which forms the inlet opening, wherein the diameter of the inlet opening is not greater than three times the diameter of the drainage pipe (6).

8. Free flow according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the housing (8) accommodates the overflow monitor (48) within itself.

9. Free flow according to any of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the cartridge (20) is secured to the free flow by a retaining band (42).