Component for a pipe-line waste-water system

Abstract

A component (1) for a pipe-line system for waste-water in a building is described. The component includes an inlet (2) connected to an outlet (3) by a tube (4) shaped such that there is no straight-line path passing uninterrupted through the tube between the inlet (2) and outlet (3). The tube (4) includes a portion which follows a U-shaped path. The tube (4) is shaped such that it can be aligned relative to gravity with the inlet (2) above the outlet (3) and every part of the tube sloping downwards. The tube (4) includes, or take the form of, anti-microbial material or is internally lined with anti- microbial material.

Description

The abstract describes a component (1) for a building wastewater piping system. The component includes an inlet (2) connected to an outlet (3) via a pipe (4), the shape of which ensures there is no uninterrupted straight path through the pipe between the inlet (2) and the outlet (3). The pipe (4) includes sections following a U-shaped path. The shape of the pipe (4) allows it to be aligned relative to the direction of gravity, ensuring the inlet (2) is above the outlet (3), and that each section of the pipe slopes downwards. The pipe (4) includes, or is in the form of, an antimicrobial material, or is lined with an antimicrobial material.

Claims

Claims1. A component for a pipe-line system for waste-water in a building, comprising an inlet connected to an outlet by a tube shaped such that: there is no straight-line path passing uninterrupted through the tube between the inlet and outlet, the tube comprises a portion which follows a U-shaped path; the tube can be aligned relative to gravity with the inlet above the outlet and eveiy part of the tube sloping downwards; and wherein the tube comprises anti-microbial material or is internally lined with anti-microbial material.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a structure proximate to the inlet and configured to reduce or prevent generation of backsplash droplets in response to fluid incident through the inlet.

3. The component of claim 1 or 2, wherein the structure comprises a slope and / or a curvature of the tube wall following the inlet.

4. The component of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the structure comprises a plurality of protrusions supported on a portion of the tube wall onto which a fluid incident through the inlet impacts.

5. The component of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the structure comprises a mesh and / or a grating spanning the tube.

6. The component of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tube comprises a portion which follows a helical path.

7. The component of claim 6, wherein a pitch and / or a radius of the helical path varies along an axis of the helical path.

8. The component of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tube comprises a portion which follows a serpentine path.

9. The component of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the anti-microbial material is a metal.

10. The component of claim 9, wherein the metal comprises copper.

11. The component of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the tube is composed of the metal.

12. The component of claim 11, wherein a length of the tube is such that when a midpoint of the tube is raised to a temperature between 60 and too degrees Celsius, the maximum of a temperature at the inlet and a temperature at the outlet remains at least 10 degrees Celsius lower than the temperature at the midpoint of the tube.

13. A pipe-line system for waste-water in a building, comprising a component according to any one of claims 1 to 12 connected between a drain and a trap.

14. A pipe-line system for waste-water in a building comprising a component connected between a drain and a trap, the component comprising an inlet connected to an outlet by a tube shaped such that: there is no straight-line path passing uninterrupted through the tube between the inlet and outlet; the tube is arranged relative to gravity with the inlet above the outlet and eveiy part of the tube sloping downwards.

15. A system according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the inclusion of the component increases a path length between the drain and the trap by a factor of at least 1.5 compared to connecting the drain directly to the trap.

16. The pipe-line system for waste-water in a building according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein water is not retained in any portion of the component during normal use.

17. A kit of parts comprising: the component of any one of claims 1 to 12; a first connector for connecting the inlet of the component to a drain; and a second connector for connecting the outlet of the component to a trap.

18. A method of fitting the component of any one of claims 1 to 12 to a pipe-line system for waste-water in a building comprising a drain connected to a trap, the method comprising: replacing all or part of a connection between the drain and the trap with the component.

19. A method for a system according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the tube of the component is formed of metal, comprising using a heat source to heat the tube to a temperature between 60 and too degrees Celsius for a time period at least long enough to cause diying of the interior surface of the tube.

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