Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02236005 2001-04-19
HORIZONTAL-FLOW OIL-SEALANT-PRESERVING DRAIN ODOR TRAP
a.cal Field
The present invention relates to sealed odor traps
for waterless urinals, anti-evaporation floor drain
traps, and the like, and it is more particularly
directed to improvements in the internal structure of
oil-sealed odor traps for prolonging sealant retention
and for protection against high pressure water
flushing.
Background of the Invention
With increasing emphasis on water conservation,
there is renewed interest in toilets and urinals
designed to minimize the amount of water consumed in
flushing to mitigate excessive demands on water
supplies as well as on wastewater disposal systems,
both of which have tended to become overloaded with
increasing populations.
Sanitation codes require urinals to provide an
odor seal to contain gasses and odors which develop in
the drain system: this function is conventionally
performed by the well known P-trap or S-trap in which
the seal is formed by a residual portion of the
flushing water. This seal effectively locks in sewer
odors from the drainpipe beyond the trap, however the
upward-facing liquid surface communicates freely with
the user environment, so that the trap must be kept
free of residual urine by copious flushing to prevent
unacceptable odor levels from the liquid in the trap;
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therefore a large amount of water is consumed in
flushing these conventional urinals. Especially in the
U.S. over many years when water was cheap and
plentiful, conventional flushing type urinals and
water-wasteful toilets held an unchallenged monopoly.
However more recently, threatened and real water
shortages have aroused new environmental concerns and
heightened conservation awareness as evidenced by the
introduction of low flush toilets.
As the cost of water increases and budgets
tighten, the prospect of a viable waterless urinal
system becomes extremely attractive to a wide range of
public agencies, cities, states, penal institutions,
defence establishments, recreational and parks
departments and the like. Waterless urinals utilizing
oil-sealed odor traps are becoming viable. However,
the present =n~Jentor has discovered that a key factor
in their potential is the attainment of low
maintenance, and that this is largely dependent on the
longevity of the liquid sealant, which in turn is
related to the internal structure of the odor trap.
Thus, the present inventor has recognized that
improvements are desirable both in the rate of
depletion under normal service conditions and in
protection against catastrophic sealant loss due to
high pressure water flushing, which though not
required, can occur inadvertently.
It is a primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved oil sealed odor trap for a
flushless urinal or an anti-evaporation floor drain
that not only meets the usual objectives of eliminating
the need for a P-trap in the drain line while complying
with U.S. sanitation standards, being economical and
easy to manufacture and install, and performing
reliably and efficiently with low maintenance
requirements, but more particularly with regard to
depletion of oily liquid sealant, it is a primary
CA 02236005 1998-04-27
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,. ., ; ,
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3
object to structure the trap in a manner to largely
prevent escape of sealant by causing stray droplets of
sealant drifting buoyantly in the flow path to return
to the main sealant body.
It is a further object to configure the odor trap
such that it can be easily installed and removed from a
permanent drain terminal plumbing fixture.
It is still further object that the odor trap
should be constructed and arranged to prevent loss of
sealant in the event of high pressure flushing with
water.
;aoEO SHE
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4
Statement of th Prior Art
The use of oil in toilets to form an odor trap has
been disclosed in German Patent No. 121356 (Beck, et
al.) and in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,050,290 (Posson) and
4, 028, 747 (Newton) .
Other examples of oil-sealed traps are found in
German Patent No. 2816597.1, and Swiss Patent No.
606,646 (Ernst), practiced under the trademark
SYSTEM-ERNST.
German Patent No. 2816597.1 appears to show an
oil-sealed trap located in the sewer drain of a urinal
system that is capable of holding an oil sealant. The
'597 reference appears to show a large vertical baffle
separating the trap into entry and discharge sections
and inlet openings in the entry section adjacent the
large vertical baffle. In addition, the '597 reference
appears to show an overflow standpipe extending down
below the floor portion of the trap.
A unitized cylindrical cartridge odor seal for a
waterless urinal was disclosed by the present inventor
as a joint inventor in German Patent No. 72361, in the
category of an oil-sealed coaxial edge-entry trap
having a cap part with an attached downward-extending
tubular vertical partition.
A key parameter of oil-sealed odor traps for
waterless urinals is the amount of sealant depletion
that takes place under normal service conditions over
periods of time and frequency of usage. Related to
this is the possible partial or complete loss of
sealant due to the abnormal condition of unnecessary
but unavoidable high pressure flushing with water.
While some modern oil-sealed odor traps are
considerably improved over early versions, there
remains an unfulfilled need for further improvements
in the above-described aspects of seal preservation:
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S
such improvements are provided by the present
invention.
Statement of the Invention
The above and other objects have been met in the
present invention of a unitized plastic oil-sealed odor
trap that departs from conventional practice of
predominantly vertical liquid flow through the trap,
instead the trap is constructed and arranged in a
special manner such that a substantial portion of the
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AMG~~i-~ Jiiti.~
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total flow path is made to be generally horizontal and
to be located in a region where stray droplets of
sealant, due to buoyancy, will migrate upwardly back to
the main sealant body, either directly or as guided by
a sloping baffle configuration. Thus, escaping of
sealant down the drain is largely prevented.
The odor trap is configured such that it can be
economically made from two molded plastic parts, i.e.,
a main compartment part and a cap/baffle part, that can
be molded from plastic and joined by thermal bonding
into a. unit configured as a replaceable cylindrical
cartridge that can be charged with sealant and sealed
with a sticker for shipment so that upon installation
it is necessary only to install the cartridge and
remove the sticker.
In service, required maintenance, i.e. sealant
checking and replenishment, if and when needed, can be
easily performed with the unit in place.
The cartridge is shaped to be easily pushed into
place by hand and held frictionally in a mating recess
provided by a casing that can be installed as part of
the host plumbing, either in a urinal or in a floor
drain. For drain cleaning or replacement purposes, the
odor trap can be removed with a special simple hand
tool.
The shape of the entry compartment provides a
sheltered region to which sealant tends to be
temporarily displaced in the event of high pressure
water flushing, thus avoiding catastrophic sealant
loss.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The above and further objects, features and
advantages of the present invention will be more fully
understood from the following description taken with
the accompanying drawings in which:
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FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an oil-sealed
coaxial odor trap of known art;
FIG. lA is functional diagram representing the
left hand half of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is a functional diagram illustrating the
principles of the present invention utilizing
predominantly horizontal flow;
FIGS. 3~and 4 are functional diagrams illustrating
two different baffle configurations in edge-entry
coaxial trap structures according to the present
invention;
FIGS. 5-8 are functional diagrams illustrating
different baffle configurations in center-entry coaxial
odor trap structures according to the present
invention;
FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view of a
center-entry cylindrical odor trap cartridge;
FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional cutaway view of an
embodiment of a horizontal-flow odor trap cartridge of
the present invention having a cylindrical container
and a non-coaxial internal configuration with vertical
and horizontal baffle portions and an offset tubular
drain stand;
FIG. 11 shows an alternative illustrative
embodiment derived from FIG. 10 with a flat-partitioned
drain stand;
FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, similar
to FIGS. 10 or 11, but having the lower baffle portion
sloped for additional recovery of stray sealant;
FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of another
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 shows an example of a wall mounted urinal
in which an odor trap can be incorporated;
FIGS. 15-18 show one preferred construction of the
preferred embodiment of FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a bottom
view of a top member thereof; FIG. 16 is a perspective
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side view of a middle member thereof; FIG. 17 is a
perspective side view of a bottom member thereof !with
upper and middle members represented in part in dotted
lines); and FIG. 18 is a perspective side view of a
plug-handle member capable of being included in this
embodiment.
pPra;~ed Description of the Invention
FIG. 1 is a mid cross-sectional view of an odor
trap l0A of the edge-entry trap configuration of known
art as described above, configured as a cylindrical
cartridge.
Odor trap l0A has a main liquid container 14
extending from an outer wall to an inner wall that
forms a drain stand pipe 14A defining at its upper edge
the overflow level of liquid in the container 14. An
overhead cap portion 16 is formed to provide a vertical
baffle 16A extending down into container 14 dividing it
into an inner discharge compartment and a surrounding
entry compartment. A body of residual urine 18 extends
up to the overflow level at the top of stand pipe 14A,
and in conjunction with the overhead plenum region
formed by the cap portion 16, the residual body of
urine 18 serves to trap sewer gasses from the external
drain line in accordance with plumbing codes.
A body of oily liquid sealant 20, lighter than
water or urine, floating in the entry compartment on
top of the trapped body of urine 18, serves to trap
odors from the urine 18 from escaping from trap 10A.
In operation of the urinal, urine from above, near
the outer edge separates into droplets that permeate
through the layer of sealant 20 and then join the main
body of urine 18. As additional urine enters the body
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9
of urine 18, it overflows the stand pipe 14A and the
overflow portion gravitates down the drain.
Known oil-sealed odor traps are configured as in
FIG. 1 with a vertical baffle 16A. From actual
experience, traces of sealant can escape during usage.
Such depletion occurs as follows: in a form of
turbulence or emulsification during each usage event,
despite the inherent buoyancy of the sealant 20 due to
its low density and the non-affinity to water/urine,
some droplets of sealant. can separate from the main
body and get swept downward along with the main flow of
urine in the outer chamber. These stray droplets will
tend to decelerate due their inherent buoyancy and,
depending on downward urine flow velocity and travel
depth, some of them may come to rest and then reverse
and rise against the flow to return to the main sealant
body above, and are thus recovered. However, any
droplets that get dragged by the urine flow past the
bottom of the baffle 16A, will then accelerate upwardly
in the inner compartment 18 due to their buoyancy and
will then escape down the drain conduit in stand tube
14A.
The present invention, operating on a modified
form of the basic principle described above and
teaching novel internal structure, can be implemented
with the same general cylindrical exterior shape as
that of the odor trap shown in FIG. 1, and can be made
to fit into a cavity receptacle that is part of a
urinal system having an entry bowl portion 12A above,
leading to tapered upper edges of the outer wall of the
main liquid container of odor trap l0A and extending
downward around the trap l0A to a reduction portion 12B
which connects by regular plumbing attachments to the
external drain system.
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FIG. lA is a simplified schematic representation
of the left hand half of the symmetrical configuration
of FIG. 1 which is coaxial about a central axis C-C',
showing again the relation of sealant 20, urine 18 and
5 a sealant flow path 22 in the urine in the entry
compartment. It is evident that in this configuration
due to the vertical orientation of baffle 16A, the flow
path 22 is predominantly vertical: downward in the
outer compartment as shown and upward in the inner
10 chamber, with only relatively small horizontal
components around the bottom of baffle 16A and around
the top of stand tube 14A. Flow path 22, having
sealant 20 overhead, is the only portion of the total
flow path where sealant recovery can occur, thus a
corresponding parameter can be estimated as indicated
by dimension X, representing tile eriec~ive
sealant-recovery horizontal flow path length. In a
typical odor trap of the category of FIGS. 1 and lA,
with the main liquid container 14 having an inside
radius R as indicated = 5.4 cm and the baffle 16A
having an outside radius of 4 cm, the horizontal
recovery dimension X is about 0.8 cm, from which we can
express the unitless ratio X/R = 14.8% characterizing
this particular internal structure.
The component X labelled in the FIGS. is an
approximate average of the horizontal vector components
X of the wastewater flow, extending from the middle of
the entry opening (e.g. the point of average entry of
the wastewater into the sealant) to a furthest point
along the flow path (e. g. around the baffle) in which
sealant recovery can occur. Although the invention
contemplates a value X based on the approximate
average, preferably, generally all of the wastewater
will follow a flow path having a component X, e.g. any
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wastewater not following such a flow path would be
insubstantial enough to effect the proper functioning
of the invention -- such as if extraneous openings were
provided allowing a minimal volume flow rate
therethrough.
A vertical vector component Y of the flow path can
be approximately defined as the vertical distance from
the top of stand pipe 14A to the bottom of baffle 16A.
Accordingly, an alternative feature can be based on a
ratio X/Y, which can be used to estimate an effective
slope of the flow path -- for example, X/Y < 1
indicating a predominantly vertical flow path and X/Y >
1 indicating a predominantly horizontal flow path.
This category of odor trap is vulnerable to total
loss of sealant if subjected to water-flushing at high
pressure, due to the relatively narrow width of the
cuter compartment and absence of any sizeable shelter
compartment around the entry region to which sealant
can be displaced temporarily by the flushing water
instead of being forced down the drain.
FIGS. 2-8 are simplified cross-sectional
functional diagrams representing various odor trap
configurations illustrating principles of the present
invention, which is directed to preservation of
sealant. For simplicity, as in FIG. lA, only half of
symmetrical cross-sections are shown, along with a
central axis. The shapes shown generally apply to
structure that is coaxial about the axis shown, but the
invention could be practiced by applying such
cross-sections to other, non-coaxial and/or
non-symmetrical configurations such as rectangular
containers or cylindrical containers with non-coaxial
internal structure.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating basic
principles of the present invention wherein an odor
trap lOB is structured in a novel manner: rather than
making the baffle vertical as in FIGS. 1 and lA, at
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least a portion of the baffle is shaped in a
non-vertical manner to cause the liquid flow path to be
predominantly horizontal, as a major departure from
entirely vertical baffles and consequent predominantly
vertical liquid flow that has been universal in known
art as described above.
The baffle in FIG. 2 has a vertical portion 16A,
facing the vertical wall of drain riser 14A, and an
inclined but substantially horizontal portion 16B
sloping up to the cover 16C which has an entry opening
16D at the left. The contour of the bottom portion 148
of the main liquid container 14 is shown for simplicity
as forming a flow path of substantially constant depth,
however in practice there can be a much greater
variation in depth along the flow path.
From t?~c erty~~ opening 16D at the left, the flow
is to the right. The liquid flow path has two recovery
portions 22A and 22B as indicated. In the portion 22A,
starting at the entry inlet, the flow is horizontal,
passing under the main body of sealant 20. Then in
portion 22B the flow path slopes downward but remains
predominantly horizontal as directed by the sloping
baffle portion 16B. The flow path turns abruptly
upward at the plane of vertical baffle portion 16A, to
overflow riser 14A and then exits down the drain in the
same manner as in FIGS. 1 and lA.
It is evident that in both flow path portions 22A
and 22H the flow path is predominantly horizontal, in
distinction from the predominantly vertical flow paths
in FIGS. 1 and lA.
In FIG. 2 within the path length X indicated,
practically all stray sealant droplets migrating
upwardly to the top side of the flow path will be
recovered and returned to the main body of sealant 20.
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In flow path portion 22A the body of sealant 20 is
directly overhead, and along portion 22B the slope of
baffle 16H redirects upwardly-migrating stray sealant
back to the main body of sealant 20, as indicated by
the curved arrows. Since sealant recovery occurs along
both of these portions, the recovery dimension X as
shown is the sum of the horizontal components of the
two portions.
The cross-section of FIG. 2 can be applied to a
coaxial cylindrical structure having a central axis
about the line C-C' and the outer wall of cylindrical
container being at D-D', such as the wall 14 as shown.
Alternatively, the cross-section of FIG. 2 can be
applied in reverse manner to provide a coaxial
cylindrical odor trap structure of the central-entry
type with a central aa:is at ~-y' d.ti:i she outer wall of
the cylindrical container at C-C'.
As a further alternative, the cross-section of
FIG. 2 can represent that of an enclosure that is other
than cylindrical, e.g. rectangular. In addition, the
container can alternatively be made with side walls at
both D-D' and C-C' such that a non-symmetrical, non-
axial, device is formed.
A coaxial structure based directly on FIG. 2 would
tend to be shallower and larger in diameter than
cartridges shaped as shown in FIG. 1. As a practical
limitation, a minimum liquid depth is required in the
trap to meet regulations regarding containment of sewer
gas pressure in the drain system: e.g., 2 inches in the
United States and 50 mm in Europe. Due to existing
urinal space limitations, cylindrical traps are
typically limited to a maximum diameter of about 150 mm
(5.9") and a maximum height of about 90 mm (3.54"). To
function properly in such a compact size, the
conceptual example shown in FIG. 2 is preferably
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14
reconfigured in shape with the wasted space between the
baffle portions 16A, l6B and the cover 16C more
preferably being utilized.
The principles and advantages in sealant retention
illustrated in FIG. 2 can be realized in various odor
trap configurations according to the present invention,
constructed and arranged to meet particular practical
requirements, such as shown in the following examples.
FIG. 3 depicts the structure of an edge-entry odor
trap lOC having the baffle configured with a vertical
upper portion 16A and a sloped portion 16B as shown,
providing a flow path 22 corresponding to horizontal
recovery dimension X as shown, extending from an
averaged entry point to the extremity of sloped baffle
portion 16B.
In FIGS. 2 and 3, as viable baffle shape
variations, the vertical portion 16A could be located
anywhere along the sloped portion 16B between the
extremes shown in these two FIGS., while keeping the
sloped portion 16B as shown: basic functioning and
dimension X would be virtually unaffected.
FIG. 4 depicts an odor trap lOD as a variation of
FIG. 3 having baffle 16B sloped in its entirety. The
flow path 22 and the dimension X are approximately the
same as in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 depicts a center-entry odor trap l0E
wherein the baffle is configured with a vertical upper
portion 16A and a horizontal lower portion 168 flanged
outwardly as shown. This creates a folded liquid path
having upper portion 22A above and lower portion 22B as
shown. Only the upper portion 22A will be effective in
returning stray sealant because the baffle 16B is not
sloped. Thus, stray sealant in the portion 22B will
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tend to get swept along to the right and escape to the
drain along with the effluent. The horizontal recovery
dimension X will be as indicated, derived from the
upper flow path portion 22A.
5 FIG. 6 depicts an odor trap lOF as a variation of
FIG. 5 wherein the lower baffle portion 16B is sloped
as shown so as to recapture stray sealant from the
lower horizontal flow path 22B, thus adding to the
upper path 22A to yield the much greater horizontal
10 recovery dimension X indicated.
FIG. 7 depicts an odor trap lOG as a variation of
FIG. 6 wherein the sloped flange portion 16B is made to
have an oppositely-slope upper surface which serves to
prevent accumulation of debris on the flange's upper
15 surface which could otherwise occur in this region in
the structure of FIG. 6. Dimension X is virtually the
same as in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 depicts an odor trap lOH as a reversed
version of the foregoing center entry coaxial
configurations which achieves a form of predominantly
horizontal flow path with a simple vertical baffle 16A
surrounded by a drain stand wall 14A' which sets the
overflow level. Wall 14A', surrounded by an outer wall
extending down from the circumference of the cover 16C,
is attached to the circumference of the floor 14B so as
to form a simple cylindrical main container pan 14
which can be supported by the surrounding cover 16C or
drain housing 12B by radial vanes (not shown). The
center entry causes the liquid to spread out radially
in a sloped but substantially horizontal flow path 22
leading to the bottom edge of the baffle 16A as shown,
corresponding to recovery dimension X as indicated.
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In FIGS. S-8, a triangular-shaped empty region can
be seen in cross-section above the sealant, as formed
by the slope of the cover. This triangular region
serves an important function as a sealant shelter
region into which the sealant tends to be displaced in
the event of high-pressure water flushing, instead of
being forced down the drain ahead of the flushing
water, as could occur with trap structure of known art,
such as in FIGS. 1 and lA, having the conventional
vertical baffle 16A and the conventional predominantly
vertical flow paths.
FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view of a
cylindrical odor trap cartridge l0I with center entry
16D in accordance with- a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The upper surface slopes downward
in a shallow inverted cone toward the center where the
entry opening 16D is fitted with a filter screen or a
fine perforation pattern formed in the cover material.
The enclosure can be, for example, dimensioned
2 0 about 4 3Z" ( 11 . 4 cm) in diameter and 2 3 /4 " ( 7 . 0 cm) in
height. As noted, due to existing industry
limitations, the size of the trap is to be limited.
For example, the radius of the trap is preferably
between about 2-2~"(5-6.4 cm). It is preferably molded
from polyethylene, or from another suitable plastic
material such as polypropylene, ABS or polystyrene, to
provide a smooth stain-resistant surface. The material
can also include a fiberglass reinforced polyester.
Other suitable materials can also be utilized.
Typically, the main container 14 and cap/partition part
16 are molded as separate parts and then bonded
together to form an integral enclosure, since access to
the interior is not normally required. The entry
configuration of trap l0I makes it feasible to seal the
entry opening 16D (with the bottom exit opening, not
visible in FIG. 9, sealed in a similar or other manner)
r ~ t' ,:'~ ~~' .
~~GI~J
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for shipment as a cartridge already charged with
sealant, ready for deployment. For example, to seal
the opening 16D, a sticker can be attached thereto,
such sticker can further include labelling, etc., such
as installation instructions and product labelling.
FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional cutaway view of a
center-entry cylindrical odor trap lOJ having a
non-coaxial interior configuration, shown without
liquid for clarity. The baffle has two flat portions:
vertical portion 16A extending downward from the upper
surface offset to the right of entry opening 16D. At
the bottom of vertical baffle portion 16A, a horizontal
portion 16B extends fully to the left hand wall of odor
trap lOJ. A round opening 16E, about the same size as
opening 16D, is configured in a horizontal baffle
portion 16B at the edge furthest from vertical battle
portion 16A. Opening 16E leads into a lower
compartment which is configured with a flat floor 14B
of which a portion is extended upwardly at the right
hand side to form tubular drain stand l4C whose top
edge defines the overflow level of the container as in
the FIGS. described above. The two liquid flow paths
22A and 22B are shown and the corresponding recovery
path dimension X is indicated as derived from path 22A.
FIG. 11 depicts an odor trap lOK which is a
variation having a baffle configured as in FIG. 10 but
wherein the drain riser 14D is here configured as a
flat vertical riser wall 14D attached integrally to
floor 14B and to the interior wall of the main
enclosure 14 of odor trap lOL, preferably molded
together in one piece.
FIG. 12 is a central cross-section depicting an
odor trap that represents an important variation
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applicable to both FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The horizontal
baffle portion 16H is sloped in a manner to recover
stray sealant and return it to the main body of sealant
10. The resultant horizontal recovery dimension X is
much longer than in FIGS. 10 and 11 due to the
additional recovery provided by the sloped baffle
portion 16B.
It is seen that the cross-sections of FIGS. 10 and
11 generally resemble that of FIG. 5, and the
cross-section of FIG. l2.generally resembles that of
FIG. 6. However, preferred constructions according to
FIGS. 5 and 6 as shown imply fully coaxial internal and
external configuration centered on axis C-C' whereas
the internal structure in FIGS. 10-12 is clearly
non-coaxial with the outlet offset rather than centered
and the baffles flat rather than cylindrical.
The relative sealant recovery effectiveness of the
above configurations as approximated by the
recovery-effective length of the horizontal flow paths
X relative to container radius R can be compared in the
following estimated table. The following Table 1 lists
examples of estimated values which can be achieved for
X/R in the illustrated embodiments, the illustrated
embodiments not being limited thereto:
TABLE 1
SIG- ~L$
1, lA 15%
2 76%
3, 4, 5 50%
6, 7 1050
g 56%
10, 11 71%
12 165 0
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Alternatively, the relative sealant recovery
effectiveness of the above configurations, as a few
examples, can be expressed as a function of the flow
path slope X/Y. The following Table 2 lists estimated
examples of values which can be achieved for X/Y in the
illustrated embodiments, the illustrated embodiments
not being limited thereto.
TABLE 2
FIG.
1, lA 0.12
2 4.64
3,4 3.50
5 5.50
6 5.75
7 8.60
8 3.67
10, 11 3.08
12 5.82
According to the preferred embodiments of the
present invention, the inlet and outlet locations and
the baffle configuration, etc., result in a
predominantly horizontal flow. For example, in some
preferred embodiments, the present invention yields
preferred values of X/R > 300, as distinguished, for
example, from predominantly vertical flow of known art
in the above table. As seen in Table 1, the present
invention can even yield values greater than 50%,
allowing for a wide margin above the 15% estimated for
the noted prior art. As another example, the present
invention can yield preferred values of X/Y of greater
than 1.0, while the above-noted estimate of the noted
prior art achieves a value substantially less than 1Ø
Although clearly less preferred, it is contemplated
that values less than the preferred examples of X/R
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and/or X/Y can, in some cases, be used according to
principles of the invention.
It is recognized that as a one-dimensional
parameter such as X/R is merely a first approximation
5 of effectiveness: a more refined two-dimensional
parameter could take into account the effective
horizontal recovery area located above the flow path.
An even more refined three-dimensional parameter could
take into account fluid viscosities, width, depth and
10 length and resulting flow velocities at various
incremental points in the flow paths.
The relative effectiveness indicated by the above
tables apply to normal operation and does not
necessarily include the additional improvement provided
15 by the present invention in protection against
catastrophic loss of sealant under the condition of
high pressure water flushing as described above. In
this regard, according to another aspect of the
invention, a shelter region is provided for the
20 sealant, such a shelter region can be provided in any
of the embodiments of the invention. The
configurations of the embodiments of, for example,
FIGS. 10-12 include entry compartments with shelter
regions (e. g., T shown in FIG. 12) wherein
high-pressure flushing water tends to take a direct
path from entry opening 16D to baffle opening 16E while
parting much of the sealant and temporarily pushing it
into the shelter regions at both sides. Among other
things, the angled top wall and the wide entry
compartment helps provide such shelter regions. The
shelter region is preferably formed by an airspace
above the normal sealant level, such as shown within T
in FIG. 12. In order to allow the sealant to quickly
enter the shelter region, the device can include one or
more air vents to allow air within the shelter region
to vent outside thereof. For example, the embodiment
shown in FIG. 12 includes at least one air vent 16F at
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21
an upper end of the trap. The air vent 16F is
preferably sized to allow air to pass therethrough
while substantially preventing fluid flow therethrough,
and preferably has a diameter of about 1-2mm. As
shown, the air vent is preferably in the top wall of
the device. In this manner, in the event the any
sealant is forced through the air vent, the sealant can
be redirected along the upper surface and into the
upper opening 16D so as to return to the body of
sealant.
FIG. 13 shows another preferred embodiment of the
invention. The device shown in FIG. 13 employs a
number of features which are similar to certain
features shown in FIGS. 10-12. FIG. 13 is a
three-dimensional cutaway view of an odor trap lOM
having a non-coaxial interior configuration. The
baffle has a generally vertical portion 16A extend=rg
downward from the upper surface, offset to the right of
entry opening 16D, and a horizontal portion 16B
extending fully to the left hand wall of odor trap lOM
at the bottom of vertical baffle portion 16A. The
horizontal baffle extends only partially across the
trap so as to leave an opening 16E at the edge furthest
from vertical baffle portion 16A. The opening 16E
leads into a lower compartment which is configured with
a floor 14B. A tubular drain stand 14C is provided
which extends upward at the right hand side of the
floor 14B. The top edge of the drain stand 14C defines
the overflow level of the container. The two liquid
flow paths 22A and 22B shown provide a corresponding
recovery path dimension X similar to that shown in FIG.
12 -- e.g., the sum X1 + X2 from the paths 22A and 22H,
respectively. As shown in FIG. 13, a body of
wastewater 18 has a sealant layer 18 buoyantly floating
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22
thereon. The wastewater 18 follows the flow path a)
22I into the entry opening 16D, b) 22A above the
baffle, c) 22B below the baffle 16H, d) 22C up and over
the top edge of the drainstand 14C, and e) 22D down the
drainstand 14C.
FIGS. 15-18 show one preferred construction of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 13. This preferred
construction includes a top member 150 (FIG. 15), a
middle member 160 (FIG. 16), a bottom member 170 (FIG.
17), and a plug member 180 (FIG. 18). The top member
150 includes a generally cylindrical perimeter wall
151, a downwardly inclined top wall 152, and an entry
opening 153 at the center of the top wall. The top
wall 152 is inclined in a manner like that in FIG. 13.
As shown, the ~nt~y opening preferably i__~_cludes three
holes 154 in the center area of the top wall. The top
wall also preferably includes two sealing ridges 155
for receiving and sealing the baffle 165 (discussed
below) .
The middle member 160 includes a perimeter wall
161 and a baffle having a generally vertical portion
165 and an upwardly inclined portion 166. The portion
166 has a generally straight upper edge 167 providing a
fluid passage 168 around the baffle.
The bottom member 170 includes a perimeter wall
171, a bottom wall 172, and a upwardly extending drain
stand 173. The drain stand preferably is a cylindrical
tube extending above the wall 171 with an upper opening
175 and a lower opening 176. The lower edge of the
bottom member can, for example, as shown include a
tapered wall 174.
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The device is assembled with the middle member
fitted such that the perimeter wall 161 snugly fits
within the perimeter wall 151 and the baffle portion
165 snugly fits between the ridges 155. The wall 151
only extends down over part of the height of the wall
161. The lower member 170 fits with the drain stand
173 within the area to the right of the baffle portion
165 and the lower portion of the cylindrical wall 161
snugly fitted within the cylindrical wall 171. As a
result, a sealed container can be constructed having
separately isolated entry and discharge compartments.
FIG. 18 shows a plug-handle member 180 which can
be included in this latter embodiment. The plug-handle
member 180 preferably includes a tubular member 181,
handle projections 182, and L-shaped projections 183 at
the upper wall 184. The plug is preferably shaped and
sized so as to snugly fit within the drain stand 173.
With this construction, the odor trap can be
transported with a body of sealant within the assembled
structure, if a plug 180 is inserted in the opening 176
and a seal (such as an adhesive backed label) is placed
over the opening 153. As shown, the L-shaped
projections are sized and shaped to fit within the
holes 154 so that the assembled device can be carried
by simply inserting the projections into the holes 154
and rotating the plug 180 in the direction L, FIG. 18,
so that the L-shaped projections engage under the top
wall 152. Thus, the member 180 provide a tool that can
be used to seal a new, unused, unit and to remove a
dirty, wastewater filled, unit. Although the plug and
handle functions are preferably combined into the
single tool 180, it is contemplated that separate
devices embodying these features can be included and/or
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either the plug or handle can be eliminated depending
on the desired handling.
The sealant 20 is preferably a biodegradable oily
liquid. A preferred composition of liquid 20 comprises
an aliphatic alcohol containing 9-11 carbons in the
chemical chain, wherein the specific gravity is 0.84 at
68 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the operation of the
urinal is based on the differential between the
specific gravity of the oily liquid and that of urine,
typically near 1.0, the specific gravity of the oily
liquid should be made as low as possible, preferably
not exceeding 0.9 and, more preferably, well under 0.9.
The sealant preferably 20 is chosen to have a very low
affinity to water such that sealant and the urine
strongly repel each other physically so that there is
no chemical or other interaction apart from a purely
physical separation which allows urinejwater from abo;r~
to divide finely and permeate downwardly through the
sealant layer. The sealant 20 is preferably colored,
e.g. blue, for maintenance and identification purposes.
FIG. 14 shows one example of type of urinal into
which the various odor traps, shown generally as 10,
can be located. The illustrated urinal 140 being a
wall mounted unit attached above a floor surface (not
shown). The urinal shown is for illustrative purposes
only; a trap of the present invention can be used in
any type of urinal. More notably, the utility of the
invention, while directed in some aspects to waterless
urinals as illustrated above, is not restricted
thereto. The present odor trap is applicable to other
drained surfaces and the like. For example, since the
preferred sealant utilized is considerably more stable
than water with regard to evaporation, the present
invention has widespread utility as floor drains,
solving, for example, problems of sewer gas release
from conventional S type floor drains resulting from,
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for example, total seal failure due to evaporation of
the residual water and lack of replenishment thereof,
particularly in hot, dry climates.
The invention may be embodied and practiced in
5 other specific forms without departing from the spirit
and essential characteristics thereof. The present
embodiments are therefore to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope
of the invention being indicated by the appended claims
10 rather than by the foregoing description. Furthermore,
all variations, substitutions and changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the
claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
