U.S. patent application number 15/435459 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-24 for protective device.
The applicant listed for this patent is UPONOR INNOVATION AB. Invention is credited to Paul Bartenstein, lsmo Talonpoika.
Application Number | 20170241112 15/435459 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58098459 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170241112 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bartenstein; Paul ; et
al. |
August 24, 2017 |
PROTECTIVE DEVICE
Abstract
A protection device for protecting the potable water from
contamination caused by backflow, comprises a housing with a
potable water inlet, a first funnel, which is arranged at a
distance to and aligned below the potable water inlet, and a second
funnel, which is arranged at a distance to and aligned below the
first conical funnel, and via which the water can be drained. An
opening in the housing is formed for the discharge of the
backflowing water, to which the back-flowing water can flow between
the first and the second funnel.
Inventors: |
Bartenstein; Paul;
(Westhausen, DE) ; Talonpoika; lsmo; (Lahti,
FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
UPONOR INNOVATION AB |
Virsbo |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
58098459 |
Appl. No.: |
15/435459 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03B 7/077 20130101;
E03B 7/08 20130101; Y10T 137/3185 20150401; E03C 1/29 20130101;
Y02A 20/20 20180101; E03B 7/04 20130101; E03C 1/102 20130101; Y10T
137/0447 20150401 |
International
Class: |
E03B 7/07 20060101
E03B007/07; E03B 7/08 20060101 E03B007/08; E03B 7/04 20060101
E03B007/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 18, 2016 |
DE |
2020 161 00854.9 |
Claims
1. Protection device for protecting the potable water from
contamination caused by backflow, comprising: a housing with a
potable water inlet, a first funnel, which is arranged at a
distance to and aligned below the potable water inlet, a second
funnel, which is arranged at a distance to and aligned below the
first conical funnel, and via which the water can be drained,
wherein an opening in the housing is formed for the discharge of
the backflowing water, to which the back-flowing water can flow
between the first and the second funnel.
2. Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that
wherein the first and the second funnel are designed conically and
the second conical funnel is part of a siphon.
3. Protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that
wherein the second conical funnel is surrounded by a siphon socket,
which acts as a siphon together with the second conical funnel.
4. Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that
wherein the housing is formed of a cover and a lower part and the
first conical funnel is received in the cover and the second
conical funnel is received in the lower part.
5. Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that
wherein a flow regulator is installed in the potable water
inlet.
6. Protection device according to claim 4, characterized in that
wherein sensor elements for detecting an overflow situation and for
closing the water inlet are installed in the cover.
7. Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that
wherein lugs are installed between the potable water inlet and the
first conical funnel.
8. Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that
wherein lugs are arranged between the first conical funnel and the
second conical funnel.
9. Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that
wherein the flow regulator is produced from material suitable for
potable water, such as PPSU, and the remainder of the protection
device is produced from material not suitable for potable water,
such as ABS.
10. Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that
wherein it is configured as part of a flushing station.
11. Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that
wherein it is installable in a flowing station behind a pre-wall
and is completely dismountable through an inspection opening.
12. Protection device according to claim 5, wherein sensor elements
for detecting an overflow situation and for closing the water inlet
are installed in the cover.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to German Application No.
202016100854.9 filed on Feb. 18, 2016, the contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
DESCRIPTION
Protection Device
[0002] The invention relates to a protection device for protecting
the potable water from contamination caused by back-flow.
[0003] In various applications, protection devices are required for
protecting the potable water from contamination caused by a
back-flow. One exemplary case is a flushing station, for example,
which ensures that water will not stand for more than 72 hours in a
certain water strand and initiates the flushing process
automatically after exceeding this time limit.
[0004] In this case, it is to be ensured that the draining water
will not get into contact with the newly inflowing potable water.
According to the EN 1717 standard, it is not permitted that that
drained wastewater gets into contact with newly inflowing drinking
water. Wastewater is to be assigned to category 5 as being harmful
according to the EN 1717 standard. Category 5 liquids must be
protected with protection devices of the AA-, AB- or AC-type. A
product standard for the AA-type is DIN EN 13076, for example.
Thus, the object underlying the invention is to propose a
protection device for protecting the potable water from
contamination caused by backflow, which complies with the German
industrial standards DIN EN 130 76 as well as DIN EN 1717.
[0005] Moreover, the protection device should also fulfill the W540
test standard of the DVGW (German: Deutscher Verein fur Gas and
Wasser).
[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a
protection device for protecting the potable water from
contamination caused by backflow, comprising a housing with a
potable water inlet, a first funnel, which is arranged at a
distance to and aligned below the potable water inlet, a second
funnel, which is arranged at a distance to and aligned with the
first funnel and via which the water can be drained, wherein an
opening is formed in the housing for the exit of the back-flowing
water, to which the backflowing water can flow between the first
and the second funnel.
[0007] The configuration of the protection device having the two
series-connected funnels ensures that water will not sprinkle back
to the potable water inlet even under test conditions, but the
back-sprinkling water is drained via the space between the first
and the second funnel to the opening in the housing.
[0008] Preferably, the two series-connected funnels are formed as
conical funnels. Conical as defined by the invention means that the
wall of the funnel extends in a straight conical manner, or in
bulged conical manner as shown in the following exemplary
embodiments. According to the above-mentioned standards, in
particular EN 13076, it is required that the drain is closed and
potable water is guided to the closed drain at a flow pressure of
10 bar. This results in a water level in the second conical funnel,
via which normally the water can be drained, and the water supplied
with a flow pressure of 10 bar causes a backflow when hitting the
water level. This backflow hits laterally against the lower side of
the first conical funnel and is guided to the opening through the
gap between the first and second conical funnels.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the second conical
funnel is part of a siphon. Preferably, the second conical part is
surrounded by a siphon socket, so that the draining water can rise
at the outer side of the second conical part and can be drained
again via the siphon socket.
[0010] According to another preferred embodiment, the housing is
formed of a cover and a lower part, wherein the first conical
funnel is releasably received in the cover and the second conical
funnel is releasably received in the lower part. The separated
design of the housing and the detachable installation of the first
conical funnel as well as of the second conical funnel allows
maintenance of the protection device, e.g. in the case of
calcification.
[0011] According to another preferred embodiment, a flow regulator
is installed in the potable water inlet. The flow regular allows
targeted guidance of the supplied water and, in particular, a flow
volume regulator, such as a Neoper1, can be installed in the flow
regulator, in order to obtain a uniformly defined water jet.
Furthermore, it is favorable that sensors for detecting an overflow
situation and for closing the water inlet are installed in the
cover. The protection device according to the invention is usually
installed behind a front wall, and the sensors allow for preventing
an overflow situation and a flooding behind the front wall if the
drain is clogged, since a signal for blocking the water inlet can
be output immediately by the sensor elements. This prevents
extensive renovation works due to the overflowing water.
[0012] For normal operation, it is favorable if lugs for water
guidance are installed between the potable water inlet and the
first conical funnel as well as between the first conical funnel
and in the second conical funnel, which protect the potable water
inlet from back-sprinkling water and guide the back-flowing water
toward the opening.
[0013] Furthermore, it is favorable that the flow regulator is
produced from material suitable for potable water, e.g.
polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU), and the remainder is produced from a
plastic not suitable for potable water, such as ABS (Acrylonitrile
butadiene styrene).
[0014] Further advantages of the invention are disclosed in the sub
claims as well as in the following description of figures.
[0015] The figures show in:
[0016] FIG. 1 schematically a bathroom with a flushing station,
[0017] FIG. 2 the flushing station according to FIG. 1 in an
enlarged view,
[0018] FIG. 3 the protection device in an inclined/oblique
view,
[0019] FIGS. 4 and 5 the protection device in an inclined view and
exploded view,
[0020] FIG. 6 the protection device in a sectional view from the
front,
[0021] FIG. 7 the protection device in a lateral sectional view,
and
[0022] FIG. 8 the protection device in an oblique/inclined
sectional view.
[0023] In the following, elements having the same construction and
function are indicated with the same reference numerals and will
not be repeatedly explained separately.
[0024] FIG. 1 schematically shows a bathroom, in which all
consumers are connected via a so-called ring-pipe system. A cold
water rising pipe KSL and a hot water rising pipe WSL are laid
vertically across the floors. In each case one cold water pipe KWL
and one hot water pipe WWL is connected to this cold water rising
pipe KSL and hot water rising pipe WSL, which leads to the
respective consumers. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment,
first a valve V is provided in the cold-water pipe KWL, and a
flushing tank SK of a toilet WC is connected downstream thereof.
Downstream thereof, the cold water pipe KWL leads to a mixer faucet
MA of a shower D. At this mixer faucet MA, the cold-water pipe KWL
is looped-through and leads further to a flushing station SS and,
afterwards, further to the cold-water port of a wash basin WB. Just
as well, at the cold-water port, the cold-water pipe KWL is
looped-through and goes further to further consumers on the floor,
which are not illustrated in FIG. 1. The hot water pipe WWL is not
connected to the flushing tank SK of the toilet, but also connected
via a series-pipe to the mixer faucet MA of the shower D, the
flushing station SS as well as the wash basin WB as well as further
consumers on the floor.
[0025] The above-mentioned so-called ring-pipe installation of the
consumers in the hot and cold water pipe ensures that the water is
moved through all of the other consumers connected upstream the
water tab when opening the tab at the wash basin WB, and thus, pipe
sections in which water could be standing for a longer period of
time are prevented, although certain consumers have been
served.
[0026] In particular, the risk lies with the fact that the
legionella will be forming when water stands for a longer period of
time. To not leave to chance the exchange of water, the flushing
station SS is integrated in the water circuit.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows the flushing station in an enlarged view. The
hot water pipe WWL as well as the cold water pipe KWL are connected
to the flushing station SS via so-called loop-fittings DSL, the
third branch of the loop fittings DSF leading to a protection
device SE. Electrically actuatable valves EV are integrated in the
third branch of the loop fittings DSF, the valves being controlled
via a sensor S and opening the valves briefly, e.g. after 72 hours,
so that approximately 3 liters of water flow into the protection
device SE and are drained from the protection device via a drain
AF.
[0028] The flushing station SS thereby ensures the constant
availability of fresh water in the cold water pipe KWL and the hot
water pipe WWL and prevents the formation of legionella or other
harmful substances.
[0029] The protection device SE is illustrated in an oblique view
in FIGS. 3 to 5, FIGS. 4 and 5 each showing the protection device
SE in an exploded view. The protection device SE comprises a
housing G, which is formed by a cover DL and a lower part UT. A
potable water inlet TWZ is provided in the cover DL at the upper
side thereof, and a siphon socket SSN is provided at the lower part
UT, which can be plugged into the drain pipe AF (see FIG. 2) and
through which the water can be drained.
[0030] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first conical funnel EKT
and a second conical funnel ZKT is received in the housing G which
is formed of cover DL and lower part UT, wherein the first conical
funnel EKT is arranged at a distance to and aligned below the
potable water inlet TWZ, and the second conical funnel ZKT is
arranged at a distance to and aligned below the first conical
funnel EKT. The arrangement and mounting of the first conical
funnel EKT and of the second conical funnel ZKT is shown in FIGS. 6
to 8 and the effect of the two conical funnels is explained in
greater detail in conjunction with FIGS. 6 to 8.
[0031] Furthermore, sensor elements SE are received in the cover
part DL, the elements detecting whether water stands in the lower
part UT and automatically output a signal to the electric valves
EV, which stop the supply of water to prevent an overflow
situation. Lateral openings OE are provided in the housing G in the
cover part DL, which enable the backflowing water to be drained
when the drain AF is clogged (and the sensor elements S or electric
valves EV fail).
[0032] A so-called flow regulator SR is integrated in the potable
water inlet, which ensures that a defined water jet is formed. A
flow volume regulator can be received in the flow regulator, e.g. a
Neoper1.
[0033] The flow regulator is formed of a material suitable for
potable water, such as PPSU. The remainder of the protection device
SE is preferably formed of a material not suitable for potable
water, such as the synthetic material ABS. This enables a cheaper
production of the protection device, since ABS is significantly
cheaper than material suitable for potable water, and only the flow
regulator SR gets into contact with the potable water.
[0034] The functioning of the protection device SE as well as the
structure thereof is explained in greater detail by means of FIGS.
6 to 8. The first conical funnel EKT is installed, with its upper
edge, at a distance a1 to the lower edge of the flow regulator SR
in the protection device SE. The second conical funnel ZKT is
installed at a distance a2 between its upper edge and the lower
edge of the first conical funnel EKT in the protection device.
According to the test regulations, at 10 bar water pressure and the
drain AF closed, it is not permitted for water standing in the
second conical funnel ZKT to sprinkle to the potable water inlet
TWZ or the lower edge of the flow regulator SR. This is specified
by the DIN standards EN 13076, EN 1717 and even by the test
standard W540 of the DVGW (German: Deutscher Verein fur Gas and
Wasser). To ensure that, the supplied water (illustrated by an
arrow within the flow regulator SR) is routed through the flow
regulator SR into the first conical funnel EKT, which is arranged
at the distance a1 to and aligned below the flow regulator SR,
before hitting the water surface of the water standing in the
second conical funnel ZKT. The distance a1 is dimensioned in
accordance with DIN 13076. The water sprinkling back by the
incoming water jet is drained to the outside through the first
conical funnel EKT, which is arranged at the distance a2 above the
second conical funnel EKT, via the outer wall of the first conical
funnel and may be drained (schematically illustrated by the two
arrows in FIG. 6) through openings OE in the housing G.
[0035] If an overflow situation arises, the sensor elements SE will
react and stop the inflow of water in the flushing station SS via
the electric valves EV, see FIG. 2.
[0036] FIG. 7 shows the illustration of FIG. 6 in a sectional view
rotated by 90.degree.. FIG. 8 shows the view according to FIG. 7 in
a slightly pivoted form. Lugs L are formed between the first
conical funnel EKT and the second conical funnel ZKT, which, as
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, but run in parallel to one another
only on two sides. Lugs L will route the back-flowing or
back-sprinkling water back to the lower side of the first conical
funnel EKT, namely in the region where the openings OE are formed
in the cover part DL. Thus, the lugs L route the back-sprinkling
water to the openings OE. Lugs LD are also formed between the cover
part DL and the first conical funnel EKT. These lugs are arranged
over the surface within the openings OE and offset inwards and
extend all the way to the edge of the first conical funnel EKT. The
lugs LD are formed in a semi-circular manner and corresponding to
the DIN 13076 spaced from the potable water inlet TWZ standard at
least by the dimension 2 times a1. In an overflow situation, the
lugs LD prevent that the water drained through the openings OE can
sprinkle back to the potable water inlet TWZ in particular of the
lower side of the flow regulator SR. In normal operation, the lugs
LD also prevent the water from sprinkling to the outside through
the openings OE.
[0037] The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment,
in particular, the invention may be used in other applications such
as a flushing station.
* * * * *