ES3010358T3 - Anti-overflow cut-off system - Google Patents

Abstract

This anti-overflow system comprises a tubular central body (13) provided with a water inlet (14) and a water outlet (15) for the circulation of water between the inlet (14) and the outlet (15), a sealing device (11) surrounding the tubular central body (13) between the inlet (14) and the outlet (15), a tubular air circulation circuit (10) connecting an air inlet (21) with an air outlet (17), the air inlet (21) being located in the immediate vicinity of the outlet (15) and substantially parallel thereto, a needle (30) movably mounted in the sealing device (11) between an open position in which a first end (36) of the needle (30) is retracted into the sealing device (1) and a closed position in which said first end (36) of the needle (30) protrudes into the tubular central body (13) and obstructs the circulation of water between the inlet (14) and the outlet (15), and means for moving the needle (30) between its open and closed positions connected to the tubular air circulation circuit (10). (Automatic translation with Google Translate, no legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Anti-overflow stop system

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to anti-overflow stop systems that allow the user of a household appliance with a water drain to automatically stop the overflow by blocking the drain, in a completely mechanical manner.

The present invention therefore aims to provide an anti-overflow stop system adaptable to different drainage devices, which is operated autonomously and does not require any electrical supply.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUES

There are known overflow stop systems that allow a household appliance to be shut down. These solutions are generally integrated into the appliances and therefore cannot be retrofitted to an existing appliance.

Additionally, the known solutions are substantially equipped with electronic sensors coupled to electromechanical actuators, which requires power supply during operation and also causes difficulties in calibrating and preventing malfunctions of this equipment. Patent IT 201700026951 A1 discloses an anti-overflow stop system with a tubular air circulation circuit, a movable needle between an open position and a position in which one end of the needle obstructs the circulation of water between the inlet and outlet, and the tubular air circulation circuit comprises a membrane cavity and a membrane, so that the needle displacement means are activated thanks to the mobility of the membrane. In this document, the air inlet is formed in the bottom part of the housing, while the water outlet is positioned further down, along the pipe. In the event of an overflow, the rising water will first reach the water outlet and then the air inlet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks and propose an anti-overflow stop system capable of combining the advantages of reaction speed, reliability and adaptability for its implementation, and this in a wide range of drainage pipes.

In view of the foregoing, the invention relates to an anti-overflow stop system having a tubular central body provided with a water inlet and a water outlet for the circulation of water between the inlet and the outlet, a sealing device surrounding the tubular central body between the inlet and the outlet, a tubular air circulation circuit connecting an air inlet to an air outlet, the air inlet being located very close to the outlet and substantially parallel to the outlet, a needle mounted so as to be movable in the sealing device between an open position in which a first end of the needle is retracted within the sealing device and a closed position in which said first end of the needle projects inside the tubular central body and obstructs the circulation of water between the inlet and the outlet, and means for moving the needle between its open and closed positions connected to the tubular air circulation circuit.

The tubular air circulation circuit comprises a membrane cavity, and the means for moving the needle between its open and closed positions are activated by the mobility of the membrane of said membrane cavity, said membrane of said membrane cavity being movably mounted in said membrane cavity such that it can move in response to a change in pressure in said membrane cavity. For example, the needle is elastically mounted in the sealing device so as to be movable toward the needle-closed position.

Advantageously, the needle displacement means comprise a spring that works in compression between the sealing device and the tubular central body.

According to one embodiment, the needle displacement means include a kinematic transmission chain that connects the membrane of the membrane cavity to a stop latch capable of cooperating with the needle.

In one embodiment, the needle movement means comprise a kinematic transmission chain that connects the membrane of the membrane cavity to a stop latch capable of cooperating with the spring.

Advantageously, the kinematic transmission chain comprises a right-angled connecting rod pivotally mounted on the sealing device, configured to transversely transmit the movement of the diaphragm from the diaphragm cavity to the stop latch.

The overflow prevention system may also comprise a diameter reducer at the inlet. Preferably, the inlet is mounted on a household appliance drain, and the outlet is mounted on a sanitary drainage pipe connected to a sanitary network, for example, the sewage system.

The invention also relates to an anti-overflow stop system in which the sealing device comprises an elastically deformable material that rests against the sanitary drainage pipe to form a watertight seal between the central tubular body and said sanitary drainage pipe.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be better understood with a detailed study of some embodiments provided as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the attached drawings, in which:

[Fig. 1] represents an anti-overflow stop system mounted on a drainage apparatus.

[Fig. 2] represents a sectional view of the overflow stop system in the open position. [Fig. 3] represents a sectional view of the overflow stop system in the closed position.

Detailed description

Figure 1 illustrates an anti-overflow stop system of the invention.

The system 1 is mounted, on the one hand, upstream, on a drain 5 of a household appliance 3 that generates waste water to be drained, for example, a washing machine or a dishwasher, and, on the other hand, downstream, on a sanitary drainage pipe 7 connected to a sanitation network, for example, to the sewage system.

System 1 proves useful in the event of a malfunction of the drainage of waste water at the level of the drainage pipe 7 towards the sanitation network, for example, due to a plug 9 formed downstream of system 1 and which partially obstructs or completely blocks the sanitary drainage pipe 7, which, in the absence of a system, such as that of the invention, installed preventively, causes an overflow of the water to be drained.

These sewage overflows, which sometimes contain chemicals, can cause significant and varied hazards: risk of electrocution for people or animals, or even slipping, poisoning or drowning, destruction of electronic equipment, water damage to the building and infiltration, risk of fires, and so on.

It is equally or more important to prevent these risks given that they sometimes occur when there is no one present, available, vigilant and capable of acting in the vicinity, or even equipped and capable of intervening, since household appliances are generally programmed to start working in the absence of the user, and overflows can occur without the user being able to see or hear it in time or even without the user who notices the overflow knowing how to intervene.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the anti-overflow stop system 1 comprises a tubular central body 13. This body 13 may be made of a material comprising aluminum.

The body 13 is provided with a water inlet 14 and a water outlet 15 for the circulation of water between the inlet 14 and the outlet 15.

The sanitary drain pipe 7 can be vertical for the operation of the device 1, as illustrated, but it can also operate at other angles, provided that the sanitary drain pipe 7 is placed lower than the device 1, so that a possible overflow starts with a blockage of the sanitary drain pipe 7 which causes a rise of water in said sanitary drain pipe 7 towards the outlet 15, that is, from downstream to upstream, while the drainage direction is normally from the machine 3 towards its drain, then towards the inlet 5, then towards body 13, then towards the outlet 15, then towards the sanitary drain 7.

The term "water" is used indefinitely to specifically designate the wastewater (also known as gray water or sewage) coming from the device 3 that generates the wastewater to be evacuated. The system 1 also includes a sealing device 11 surrounding the body 13.

The device 11 may be manufactured as a housing of semi-rigid or elastically deformable material and shaped into a rounded section, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

The device 11 comprises, for example, an elastically deformable rubber-type material.

It also bears against the sanitary drain pipe 7' to form a watertight seal between the tubular central body 13 and said sanitary drain pipe 7, said seal being all the more effective when the device 11 is deformable.

The system 1 comprises a tubular air circulation circuit 10 extending between an air inlet 25 and an air outlet 17.

Air circuit 10 allows for automatic activation of system 1 by Venturi effect in case of overflow.

It is manufactured by connecting the air inlet 21 just downstream of the arrival 5 inside the body 13 and to an air outlet 17 that flows into the sanitary drain 7. The air inlet 21 is located very close to the outlet 15 and substantially parallel to the outlet 15.

This means that the air inlet 21 and outlet 15 are substantially at the same horizontal level.

In this way, in the event of an overflow, the water rises along the sanitary drainage pipe 7, to the outlet 15 and the air inlet 21 and approximately simultaneously blocks the outlet 15 and the air inlet 21.

The system 1 is provided with a needle 30 mounted movably in the sealing device 11 between an open position and a closed position.

In the open position (Figure 2), a first end 36 of the needle 30 is retracted into the sealing device 11.

In this position, the first end 36 does not obstruct the circulation of water through the body 13.

The open position is the normal operating position of system 1 mounted on apparatus 3 in the absence of overflow.

In the closed position (Figure 3), the first end 36 of the needle 30 protrudes from the inside of the tubular central body 13 and obstructs the circulation of water between the inlet 14 and the outlet 15.

The first end 36 therefore has a shape complementary to that of the inner section of the body 13. If the body 13 is, for example, tubular with a round section, the first end 36 then has, for example, a disc-shaped shape. A housing 37 can be provided in which the needle 30 can be housed to improve the obstruction of the body 13 and to improve its retention in position while it is in the closed position, a position in which it must withstand the axial thrusts of the water present in the body 13.

The closed position is the position sought in the event of a drain malfunction, a position triggered by an overflow downstream of system 1.

For this purpose, the system 1 comprises means for moving the needle 30 between its open and closed positions.

The change in position of needle 30 is therefore carried out by translation.

The displacement means may include a guiding element 35 of the needle 30 in its translation from one position to another.

The displacement means are connected to the tubular air circulation circuit 10, so that the displacement of the needle 30 towards the closed position is operated automatically and without any action on the part of the user.

The tubular air circulation circuit 10 further includes, as illustrated, a membrane cavity 23.

The means for moving the needle 30 between its open and closed positions are activated thanks to the mobility of the membrane of said membrane cavity 23.

The membrane of said membrane cavity 23 is mounted movably, for example, movably in translation or capable of deforming, for example, bulging or contracting, in said membrane cavity 23.

In this way, the membrane can react mechanically by deforming or moving in response to a pressure change in said membrane cavity 23.

This is the desired effect to activate the needle movement 30.

The force of the response caused by the overflow arises from the pressure difference between the air circuit 10 and the inlet 5.

A first source of this difference in driving pressure is the small diameter of the air circuit 10 compared to that of the body 13 and the drain 7.

This effect, in particular, can be increased by a second source of driving pressure difference, such as the use of a narrowed section of an outlet segment 18 located between the air outlet 17 and a bend 19 of the air circuit 10 downstream of the cavity 23, said narrowed section of the air outlet 18 being narrowed with respect to the section of the inlet segment located directly behind the air inlet 25.

In standard use, i.e. without overflow, the air flows from the air inlet 25 to the air outlet 17 and is in equilibrium or slightly depressed with respect to the air located before the air inlet 25 and after the air outlet 17.

Furthermore, a third source of driving pressure difference is the water drainage which involves the circulation of water through the body 13, passing in front of the outlet 17, which creates a suction of the air located in the air circuit 10, which tends to put this air in motion from the air inlet 25 towards the air outlet 17 and, therefore, to depressurize the air in the air circuit 10.

Finally, arrival 14 can advantageously include a diameter reducer, which allows a fourth source of the driving pressure difference.

The reducer allows a strong Venturi effect to be created between inlet 5 and outlet 7, thanks to the fact that the diameter of body 13 is smaller than that of inlet 5 and outlet 7.

The reducer also allows the adaptation to system 1 of the different drain pipes 5 of the different devices 3 on the market.

In this way, the pressure in the body 13 is reduced by the Venturi effect and is also further reduced within the air circuit 10.

Thus, in the normal operating situation shown in Figure 2, the membrane is relaxed and air circulates through the air circuit to balance the reduced pressure in the air circuit through the phenomena described above. During a surge that may lead to overflow, the overflow water blocks outlet 15 and air inlet 25 approximately simultaneously.

Thus, since no air can enter the air circuit 10 while the pressure drop phenomena continue, the membrane of the membrane cavity 35 is sucked by the resulting depression.

The purpose of the displacement of the membrane is then to trigger the activation of the needle displacement means 30.

The means for moving the needle 30 may include for this purpose a kinematic transmission chain 27, 28, 29 that connects the membrane of the membrane cavity 23 to an unlocking element 27 of the needle 30 with respect to the body 13.

On the other hand, the needle 30 can be elastically mounted movably in the sealing device 11 towards the closed position of the needle 30.

For example, the means for moving the needle 30 include a spring 33 that works in compression between the sealing device 11 and the central tubular body 13.

Specifically, the spring 33 can be mounted in compression, on the one hand, on the needle 30 and, on the other hand, in a maintenance notch provided in the sealing device 11.

The spring 33 then pushes the needle 30 into the body 13.

The unlocking element 27 may consist of a stop latch 27 capable of cooperating with the needle 30, for example, to be able to disengage it from a blocking position in position of the needle 30 when the needle 30 is in the open position towards an unlocking position in which the needle 30 is free in translation, for example, through the guide support 35, and the spring 33 pushes it again so that it passes into the closed position.

The stop latch 27 can therefore be adapted to disengage the positioning of the needle 30 by being able to cooperate with the spring 33 instead of cooperating directly with the needle 30.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the kinematic transmission chain 27, 28, 29 may include a right-angled connecting rod 28 pivotally mounted on the sealing device 11, configured to transversely transmit the movement of the membrane of the membrane cavity 23 to the stop latch 27.

The right-angled connecting rod 28 connects to the latch 27 a transmission rod 29 connected directly to the diaphragm. The connecting rod 28 is positioned on the sealing device 11 on a rotating element placed in the right corner of the bracket formed by the connecting rod 28, such that the connecting rod 28 rotates according to this rotating element, transmitting the traction exerted by the diaphragm to a traction of the latch 27 that disengages it from the needle 30.

Of course, other shapes of the connecting rod 28 other than the square shape illustrated herein can be envisaged to obtain the same result.

Spring 33 allows the needle 30 to be placed in the closed position and to maintain the obstruction exerted, which prevents overflow.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the anti-overflow stop system 1 is configured to be removable and dismountable for the purposes of maintenance of said system.

As an example, the body 13 is removable from the rest of the system 1 by disconnecting the air inlet 21, the arrival 5 within the body 13 and an air outlet 17 that flows into the sanitary drain 7.

Claims (9)

1. Anti-overflow stop system (1) comprising a tubular central body (13) provided with a water inlet (14) and a water outlet (15) for the circulation of water between the inlet (14) and the outlet (15), a sealing device (11) surrounding the tubular central body (13) between the inlet (14) and the outlet (15), a tubular air circulation circuit (10) connecting an air inlet (21) to an air outlet (17), the air inlet (21) being located very close to the outlet (15) and substantially parallel to the outlet (15), a needle (30) mounted so as to be movable in the sealing device (11) between an open position in which a first end (36) of the needle (30) is retracted within the sealing device (1) and a closed position in which said first end (36) of the needle (30) protrudes from within the tubular central body (13), and obstructs the circulation of water between the inlet (14) and the outlet (15), and the means for moving the needle (30) between its open and closed positions connected to the tubular air circulation circuit (10), and wherein said tubular air circulation circuit (10) includes a membrane cavity (23) and the means for moving the needle (30) between its open and closed positions are activated thanks to the mobility of the membrane of said membrane cavity (23), said membrane of said membrane cavity (23) being mounted movably in said membrane cavity (23) to be able to move in response to a change in pressure in said membrane cavity (23). 2. Anti-overflow stop system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the needle (30) is elastically mounted so as to be movable in the sealing device (11) towards the closing position of the needle (30). 3. Anti-overflow stop system (1) according to claim 2, in which the means for moving the needle (30) comprise a spring (33) that works in compression between the sealing device (11) and the central tubular body (13). 4. Anti-overflow stop system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for moving the needle (30) comprise a kinematic transmission chain (27, 28, 29) connecting the membrane of the membrane cavity (23) to a latch (27) capable of cooperating with the needle (30). 5. Anti-overflow stop system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the means for moving the needle (30) include a kinematic transmission chain (27, 28, 29) that connects the membrane of the membrane cavity (23) to a stop latch (27) capable of cooperating with the spring (33). 6. Anti-overflow stop system (1) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the kinematic transmission chain (27, 28, 29) comprises a right-angled connecting rod (28) pivotally mounted on the sealing device (11), configured to transversely transmit the movement of the membrane of the membrane cavity (23) to the stop latch (27). 7. Anti-overflow stop system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arrival (14) includes a diameter reducer. 8. Anti-overflow stop system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet (14) is mounted on a drain (5) of a household appliance (3) and the outlet (15) is mounted on a sanitary drainage pipe (7) connected to a sanitation network. 9. Anti-overflow stop system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the sealing device (11) comprises an elastically deformable material that rests against the sanitary drain pipe (7) to form a watertight seal between the central tubular body (13) and said sanitary drain pipe (7).