Drainage device

Abstract

A drainage device comprising a flexible tray 10 for use in collecting water from a pipe. The tray has a base 11 and a surrounding wall 12 in which rebates 12a are formed. A flange 13 is located above

Description

This invention relates to a drainage device for use in, for example, the plumbing industry. When, for example, a central heating radiator is to be removed from its supporting wall, it is necessary to drain the radiator prior to its removal from the wall. This involves draining the water in the radiator through one or both of the unions by which the radiator is connected to the supply and return pipes of the central heating system. During draining of the water, a receptacle is placed beneath the or each union to collect the water that is being discharged. This can be a messy business and a number of proposals have accordingly been made to facilitate the drainage of water from a radiator. One example is that shown in GB 2489061. According to the present invention there is provided a drainage device according to Claim 1. Further advantageous features are set out in the dependent claims. The present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a tray designed to be engaged with a substantially vertical water pipe adjacent a union to facilitate the collection of the water that may escape when the union is disconnected, showing three flow tubes; Figure 2 is a plan view of the tray of Figure 1, with the flow tubes omitted; Figure 3 is a side view of the tray of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an isometric view of part of the tray of Figure 1 together with a connector; Figure 5 is a detail view of one corner of the tray of Figure 1; Figure 6 is another detail view of one corner of the tray of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a cross section through the clip at one corner of the tray when the clip is engaged; Figures 8a, 8b and 8c show isometric, top and side views respectively of a flow tube; Figures 9a and 9b show cross sections through part of the tray and one flow tube, with a connector engaged and disengaged respectively; and Figure 10 shows a connector and overflow vessel. A drainage device in accordance with the present invention comprises a tray 10. The tray 10 shown may be formed from rubber or from a synthetic plastics material, such as a mixture of polyvinylchloride and low density polyethylene, as a one-piece moulding. The tray 10 is sufficiently flexible that it can be distorted, as described below, to enable it to be engaged with a pipe (not shown). The particular tray 10 shown in the drawings is of triangular form in plan view, though other configurations are possible, for example, circular, elliptical, square or other polygonal or multi-sided form. The tray 10 has a generally flat base 11 and an up-standing perimeter wall 12, which is preferably inclined at a small acute angle to the vertical. At each corner of the triangular tray 10, the perimeter wall 12 is formed with a part-cylindrical first rebate 12a protruding inwardly into the tray 10. For a tray of another shape, such a square or other multi-sided form, a rebate may be provided in each corner. For a circular or elliptical tray, two or more rebates may be provided at spaced intervals around the wall. At the top of each first rebate 12a is a flange 13 in which a substantially circular opening 14 is formed. Each flange 13 is also formed with a radially outwardly extending slit 14a that extends from the associated opening 14 to the outer edge of the tray 10. Preferably the direction in which the slit 14a extends is not along a line which intersects the centre of the opening 14s, i.e. it does not extend perpendicular to a tangent at the edge of the opening 14. Rather, the direction in which the slit 14a extends is along a line which is at an angle to a tangent at the edge of the opening 14. As best seen in Figure 5 and 6, a portion 15 of the flange 13 adjacent to the slit 14a slopes downwardly towards the edge of the slit 14a. the arrangement is such that, when the tray 10 is moved into engagement with a pipe, the parts of the flange 13 on either side of the appropriate slit 14a can be distorted so that the tray 10 can be moved into a position in which the pipe is received in the opening 14. The perimeter wall 12 includes wall portions 16 that extend upwardly from the outer edges of the flanges 13. At each corner, the part of each wall portion 16 on one side of the slit 14a includes at least one outwardly facing vertical rib 17. The rib 17 continues along the underside of the sloping portion 15. The part of each wall portion 16 on the other side of the respective slit 14a includes at least one inwardly facing channel 18. The channel 18 continues into the upper surface of the flange 13. The rib 17 along the edge of each slit 14a has a height approximately equal to the depth of the associated channel 18. The arrangement is thus such that, when the tray 10 has been engaged with a pipe and the pipe is received in an opening 14 of the appropriate diameter, the parts of the flange 13 adjacent the respective slit 14a can be distorted so that the rib 17 on one side of the respective slit 14a can be engaged in the channel 18 on the other side of the slit 14a, as shown in the cross section of Figure 7. Secure engagement of the tray 10 with the pipe is thus obtained. The three openings 14 at the three corners of the triangular tray 10 are preferably of different diameters. These may correspond to three different standard pipe diameters. For example, the openings 14 may be of such sizes that they can receive, for example, pipes of diameters 10 mm, 15 mm and 22 mm. Thus, when a plumber wishes to disconnect a pipe union, he can position the tray 10 so that the appropriate size of opening 14 is adjacent the pipe 10 and can then distort the flange 13 so as to open up the slit 14a and engage the flange 13 and wall portions 16 around the pipe, with the pipe securely fitting in the respective opening 14. The thickness of the flange 13 and the elastic properties of the rubber or synthetic plastics material from which the tray 10 is formed are so chosen as to ensure a secure engagement with the pipe. Water drained from the pipe can then be collected in the tray 10. Preferably, the surface of the flange 13 surrounding each opening 14 is in the form of a frustoconical surface 13a. The surface 13a thus slopes downwardly from the edge of the opening 14 towards the rest of the flange 13. The surface 13a may be an oblique frustoconical surface, so that the opening 14 is not in the centre of the surface 13a, and widest part of the surface 13a extends to the inward edge of the flange 13 where it meets the vertical wall of the rebate 12a. The frustoconical surface 13a encourages liquid to drain away from the hole 14 towards the interior of the tray 10. The thickness of the material forming the tray 10 decreases from the bottom of the frustoconical surface 13a towards the top edge which defines the opening 14. This gives additional flexibility to the frustoconical surface 13a and allows it to accommodate different pipe diameters. Thus, while one opening 14 may be generally intended for a pipe diameter of 15mm, the frustoconical surface 13a is able to accommodate a range of diameters around this, e.g. 14-16mm. In some situations, the capacity of the tray 10 may not be sufficient to hold the full volume of liquid within a radiator. Therefore, in the present invention, the tray 10 is additionally provided with means to connect the tray 10 to another vessel to thereby increase the capacity and accommodate a larger volume of liquid. Accordingly, in the present invention, the tray 10 is further provided with at least one port 20 in the wall 12. In this example, three ports 20 are provided, one in each side of the triangular tray 10. Preferably, the wall 12 comprises a second rebate 12b located in each side wall, midway between the first rebates 12a at each corner. Each second rebate 12b defines a port 20 through the wall 12. A flow tube 22 is engageable in each port 20. As shown in Figures 8a, 8b and 8c, each flow tube 22 comprises a first limb 24 with a first open end 26 and a second limb 28 with a second open end 30. The two limbs 24,28 are substantially perpendicular to each other so that the flow tube 22 is generally L-shaped. The first limb 24 of each flow tube 22 is engageable in a port 20 from the interior side of the tray 10, as shown in Figure 1. The first limb 24 preferably includes a circumferential groove 32. As shown in Figures 9a and 9b, the groove 32 receives an annular rim 38 which projects inwardly at the mouth of the port 20. The material of the tray 10 is sufficiently flexible to allow engagement of the flow tube 22 in the port 20 in this way and the rim 38 forms a seal against the flow tube 22. The first limb 24 of each flow tube 22 is freely rotatable with respect to the respective port 20 so that the orientation of the second limb 28 can be changed. In a first position, the second limb 28 may be generally upright, projecting upwardly and away from the base 11 of the tray 12 as shown by the flow tubes 22 at the bottom and left-hand side of Figure 1. The length of the second limb 28 is preferably such that the second open end 30 is a short distance below the top edge of the wall 12. In a second position, the second limb 28 is rotated so that it projects laterally. For example, it may extend generally horizontally and parallel with the base 11 as shown by the right-hand connecting tube 22 in Figure 1. However, the second limb 28 is freely rotatable to any angle. The first open end 26 of the first limb 24 is substantially circular in cross-section. The second open end 30 of the second limb 28 in the example illustrated is non-circular and is preferably an elongated, flattened shape of a rectangle with semi-circular ends, which is sometimes referred to as stadium shaped. However, any cross-sectional shape can be used. As shown in Figure 4, a connector 34 may also be provided which can be inserted into a port 20 from the exterior side of the wall 12 in order to connect the tray 10 to another vessel. The connector 34 may be connected directly to another vessel 40, such as a plastic bag as shown in Figure 10, or to a hose. Figures 9a and 9b show cross sections through a flow tube 22 in a port 20, with a connector 34 shown engaged and disengaged. The connector 34 is generally tubular, with a slight taper, such as a Morse taper, so that it can be easily engaged with and disengaged from the port 20 and is watertight when engaged. An annular flange 34a may be provided around a proximal end of the connector 34 to help a user grip the connector 34 during insertion and removal. At the distal end 34b the connector 34 preferably tapers inwardly at a sharper angle to facilitate water flow into the connector 34. In use, a flow tube 22 is present in each port 20. Each flow tube 22 is placed in a first, substantially upright position. The flange 13 at one corner of the tray 10 can be fitted to a pipe as described above and liquid drained into the tray 10. Provided that the second limb is in a position in which the second open end 30 of each connecting tube 22 is above the water level in the tray 10, liquid cannot enter the flow tube 22 and is contained within the tray 10. To drain water from the tray 10 to prevent overflowing, a connector 34 can be fitted into one port 22. The flow tube 22 in that port 20 is then rotated to move the second limb 28 into a second, lateral or fully horizontal position in which at least part of the second open end 30 is below the level of water in the tray 10. Liquid is now able to flow into the flow tube 22 through the second open end 30 and pass via the port 20 into the connector 34 and on to the overflow vessel 40 (or a hose). In this way, at least part of the volume of liquid contained within the tray 10 can be drained away to increase the holding capacity of the overall drainage device and to prevent the tray 10 from overflowing. Thus, the flow tub 22 acts a tap which can be turned on and off by rotation of the first limb 24 in the port 20. Due to the elongated, non-circular cross-section of the second open end 30 of the flow tube 22, a substantial amount of liquid can be drained out of the tray 10 before the level of liquid in the tray 10 falls below the level of the open end 30. However, as noted above the flow tube 22 can be of any shape and size which allows a sufficient quantity of water to drain from the tray 10 quickly enough to prevent the tray 10 overflowing as a radiator is drained. Depending upon the location in which the drainage device is used, one or more than one port 20 can be connected to an overflow vessel 40 (or a hose) via a connector 34, in order to drain as much liquid as possible from the tray 10. In further advantageous developments of the invention, the base 11 of the tray 10 may be provided with a series of depressions 36 along its perimeter, adjacent to the wall 12. A depression 36 is present adjacent to each straight portion of the wall 12, between the rebates 12a and 12b. Due to these depressions 36, when water is present in the tray 10, the weight of the water slightly distorts the tray 10 at each corner, which helps to ensure secure engagement of the rib 17 in the channel 18. Each flange 13 may slope downwardly from the wall portion 16 on one side of the slit 14a towards the wall portion 16 on the other side of the slit 14a. When the rib 17 is engaged in the channel 18 to close the slit 14, this slope encourages any liquid which falls onto the flange 13 to drain into the main body of the tray 10. If desired, more than one rib 17 and / or more than one channel 18 may be provided at each corner. This provides alternative positions in which one rib 17 can engage in one channel 18 to ensure that the wall portions can be fitted securely around a pipe with as tight a fit as possible. The work undertaken by the plumber in, for example, replacing a central heating radiator (or other work involving disconnection of a water pipe union, is thus simplified and can be carried out with minimal likelihood of causing a mess. 28 09 23

Claims

1. A drainage device comprising a flexible tray for use in the collection of water from a pipe, the tray having a base and a surrounding wall in which a plurality of rebates5 are formed, and that part of the wall at which each rebate is located being provided with a flange in which a substantially circular opening is formed, and each flange being formed with a slit extending from the respective opening to the outer edge of the tray, wherein the drainage device further comprises at least one port in the surrounding wall and a tube rotatably mounted in the port, the tube being substantially L-shaped with a first limb10 mounted in the port and a second limb substantially perpendicular to the first limb, such that rotation of the first limb with respect to the port changes the orientation of the second limb.

2. A drainage device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the tray is of triangular or 15 square form in plan view and wherein one of the plurality of rebates is provided at each corner.

3. A drainage device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one port comprises a port provided in the surrounding wall between each corner.

204. A drainage device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first limb of the or each tube has a circular cross-section and the second limb of the or each tube has a non-circular, elongated cross-section.25 5. A drainage device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second limb has a crosssection which is the shape of a rectangle with semicircular ends.

6. A drainage device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first limb of the or each tube further comprises an annular groove on an exterior surface which seals30 against an annular rim on an inner surface of the port.

7. A drainage device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a sloping surfaceextends along one side the slit in each flange, and at least one outwardly extending rib extends along the underside of the sloping surface and up the exterior of the surrounding 35 wall, and along the other side of the slit at least one channel is formed in the flange and the interior of the surrounding wall to receive a respective rib28 09 238. A drainage device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each flange further comprises a frustoconical surface surrounding the opening and sloping downwardly from a perimeter of the opening.

9. A drainage device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the frustoconical surface extends to meet the rebate.

10. A drainage device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each flange slopes downwardly from the surrounding wall on one side of the flange to the surrounding wall on the other side of the flange.

11. A drainage device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base further comprises a series of depression around its perimeter, adjacent to the surrounding wall and between the rebates.

12. A drainage device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a connector releasably engageable in a port on an exterior side of the surrounding wall, wherein the connector is in communication with an overflow vessel.

13. A drainage device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tray is formed of rubber or other flexible plastics material.

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