SE1650444A1 - A fluid transferring device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid transferring device (5) arranged for transferring fluid through a through hole (9) in a. surface (11), wherein said fluid transferring device (5) comprises a first part (1) and a second part (3) arranged to be connected to each other from one side each of the surface (11) through the through hole (9) and wherein said fluid transferring device (5) is designed for transferring the fluid from one side of the surface (11), through the first and second parts (1, 3) to the other side of the surface (11) and wherein at least the first part (1) comprises a seal (13) for sealing around the through hole (9) when the first and second parts (1, 3) are connected to each other.(Figure 3)

Description

A fluid transferring device TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fluid transferring device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Water damages in buildings caused by Water leakage from machines using Water in the houseor from hoses to those machines are common and very costly to repair. Leakage from Whitegoods for example dish Washers, Washing machines, refrigerators, ovens using steam, icemachines, Water heaters etc. in for example kitchens is a great problem. Machines Which arepositioned directly on the floor, such as dish Washer and refrigerator are often provided on afloor protector Which is a plastic tray arranged to be provided on the floor under a machine infor example a kitchen. The tray can be provided With an inclination such that any possibleWater leakage coming from the machine Will flow to the front Which can be seen by a user.Hereby any Water leakage Will hopefully be detected by the user before the leakage is big and causes Water damages to the building.

More and more machines using Water are used in houses. Many of these machines are smallermachines Which are not positioned directly on the floor. This could be for example steamovens provided in a kitchen shelf, coffee machines, Water heaters or ice machines provided ona bench or in a shelf or in a cabinet in the kitchen. There may be problems in detecting leakages from those machines.SUMMARY An object of the invention is to improve the possibilities to prevent Water damages caused by machines provided on a level above the floor in households.

This is achieved by a fluid transferring device arranged for transferring fluid through athrough hole in a surface, Wherein said fluid transferring device comprises a first part and asecond part arranged to be connected to each other from one side each of the surface throughthe through hole and Wherein said fluid transferring device is designed for transferring the fluid from one side of the surface, through the first and second parts to the other side of the 1 surface and Wherein at least the first part comprises a seal for sealing around the through hole When the first and second parts are connected to each other.

Hereby fluid, such as a leakage from a machine or a hose, can be transferred from a surfaceWhich may be elevated above the floor in a house. The fluid is transferred through the fluidtransferring device Which is provided in a through hole in the surface. The seal of the fluidtransferring device seals around the through hole Which Will ensure that the fluid is nottransferred outside the fluid transferring device. Hereby the fluid can be transferred to thefloor level Which could be advantageous for detecting the leakage. The leakage can betransferred to a floor protector provided on the floor or directly to a drain. Leakage from manymachines can possibly be transferred to the same floor protector and an alarm can possibly be alerted When a leakage is detected by a sensor in the floor protector.

In one embodiment of the invention the first part and the second part each comprises one endWhich is tube formed and provided With threads, one on the outside of the tube formed partand the other on the inside of the tube formed part and Wherein the threads of the first andsecond parts are designed such that one of the parts is threaded into the other part forconnection of the first and second parts to each other and the tube formed threaded part of at least one of the first part or the second part is at least 10 mm.

Hereby the surface can be of different thickness and still a sealed connection of the first and second parts of the fluid transferring device can be achieved.

In one embodiment of the invention the fluid transferring device is arranged to transfer fluidthrough a through hole in a substantially horizontal surface provided elevated above a floorand the first part comprises a tube formed threaded part With threads on its outer surface and afluid collection part Which is connected to the tube formed threaded part, Wherein the fluidcollection part is arranged to receive fluid provided to the surface and transfer the fluid furtherthrough the tube formed threaded part, Wherein said fluid collection part further is connectedto a circular seal and arranged to compress the seal around the through hole in the surfaceWhen the first part is provided through the through hole and connected to the second part onthe other side of the surface. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention the fluidcollection part comprises an elevated cap provided above an opening into the tube formedthreaded part, said cap having distributed openings and Wherein the fluid collection partfurther comprises openings around a circumference below said elevated cap, said openings transferring fluid into the opening of the tube formed threaded part. 2 Hereby the risk that an object, dirt or some rubbish will arrive to the device and cover the openings is limited.

In one embodiment of the invention the second part comprises a tube forrned threaded partwith threads on its inner surface arranged to be connected to the tube forrned threaded part ofthe first part and wherein the second part further comprises a tube connecting part which isconnected to and arranged to transfer fluid coming from the tube forrned threaded part,wherein said tube connecting part is connected to the tube forrned threaded part such that theextension of the tube connecting part is provided with an angle of substantially 90 degrees in relation to the extension of the tube forrned threaded part.

Hereby a tube can easily be connected to the second part of the fluid transferring device evenin small spaces and without the need to bend the tube. Tubes that are bent can break and cause water leakage and damages.

Further embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure la shows a first part of a fluid transferring device according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure lb shows a second part of a fluid transferring device according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a fluid transferring device according to one embodiment of the invention mounted in a cabinet.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a fluid transferring device according to one embodiment of the invention when mounted to a surface.

Figure 4a and 4b shows a cross section of a fluid transferring device according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows two fluid transferring devices according to one embodiment of the invention mounted to side walls of two floor protectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Figure 1a shows a first part 1 of a fluid transferring device according to one embodiment ofthe invention. Figure 1b shows a second part 3 of a fluid transferring device according to oneembodiment of the invention. Figure 2 shows a fluid transferring device 5 according to one embodiment of the invention mounted in a cabinet 7.

According to the invention a fluid transferring device 5 arranged for transferring fluid, such asa leakage from a kitchen machine or a hose, through a through hole 9 in a surface 11 isprovided. This surface may be substantially horizontal and provided elevated above a floor.The surface 11 could be for example a bottom in a shelf, a cabinet or a bench in a kitchen or aventilation pipe. If a machine using water such as for example a coffee machine, a steam ovenor an ice machine is provided within a cabinet it may be difficult to detect a leakage. Anotherexample could be a ventilation device or a heat exchanger where a lot of condensation can beprovided during operation. This condensation could suitably be transferred with a fluidtransferring device according to the invention. The fluid transferring device 5 according to thepresent invention will provide a possibility to transfer any fluid from this elevated surface 11down to another surface where fluid can be collected and detected. In one embodiment thefluid is transferred down to the floor level and collected in a floor protector or transferreddirectly to a drain. The fluid transferring device 5 according to the invention can also beprovided to a vertical wall for transferring fluid through this wall which is shown in relation to Figure 5.

Said fluid transferring device 5 comprises a first part 1 and a second part 3 arranged to beconnected to each other from one side each of the surface 11 through the through hole 9 in thesurface. Said fluid transferring device 5 is designed for transferring fluid from one side of thesurface 11, through the two parts to the other side of the surface. At least the first part 1 comprises a seal 13 for sealing around the through hole when the two parts are connected.

The first part 1 and the second part 3 comprises each one end which is tube formed andprovided with threads, one on the outside of the tube formed part and the other on the insideof the tube formed part and wherein the threads of the two parts are designed such that one ofthe parts is threaded into the other part for connection of the two parts. The tube formedthreaded part of at least one of the first part 1 and the second part 3 is at least 10 mm. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-5 the tube formed threaded parts of both the first part and thesecond part are at least 10 mm or suitably at least 20 mm or 30 mm or even more. A threadedtube forrned part with a length up to 100 mm or even 200 mm is possible and covered by thisinvention. The tube formed threaded part 41 of the second part 3 can be provided with lessthreads, i.e. threads over a shorter distance, than the tube formed threaded part 15 of the firstpart 1. However, threads can also be provided over the whole distance of the tube formedthreaded part of the second part as shown in these Figures and that may be advantageous in aninjection moulding production process of the device. For being able to seal around surfaces ofdifferent thickness from for example 1 mm to 20 or 30 mm which could be a normal thicknessof a bottom in a shelf or cabinet in a kitchen the length of the threaded part of at least the firstpart 1 needs to be at least of that length. An even longer threaded part would also be possible.

Hereby the surface over which the two parts are connected can differ in thickness.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures la, lb and 2 the first part 1 comprises atube formed threaded part 15 with threads 17 on its outer surface and a fluid collection part 19which is connected to the tube formed threaded part 15. The fluid collection part 19 isarranged to receive fluid provided to the surface 11 and transfer the fluid further through thetube formed threaded part 15. Said fluid collection part 19 is further connected to a circularseal 13 and arranged to compress the seal 13 around the through hole 9 in the surface 11 whenthe first part 1 is provided through the through hole 9 and connected to the second part 3 onthe other side of the surface 11. The fluid collection part 19 comprises in this embodiment anelevated cap 21 provided above an opening 23 into the tube formed threaded part 15. Said cap21 has a number of distributed openings 25 for allowing fluid to enter the first part 1. Thenumber of openings can of course vary but in this shown embodiment six openings 25 areprovided. The elevated cap 21 with its openings 25 will decrease the risk that an object, dirt orsome rubbish will arrive to the device and cover the openings. The fluid collection part 19further comprises openings 27 around a circumference below said elevated cap 21. Saidopenings 27 allowing transfer of fluid into the opening 23 of the tube formed threaded part 15. Hereby fluid can enter the tube formed threaded part 15 from both openings 27 around thecircumference below the cap 21 and from openings 25 in the cap 21. The fluid collection part19 comprises a collar 29 which is arranged to be provided against the surface 11 duringconnection of the first and second parts 1, 3. The collar 29 is attached to one end of the tubeformed threaded part 15 such that the collar 29 is provided around an opening 23 into the tube formed threaded part 15. The collar 29 is further connected to a circular seal 13 which will enclose the through hole 9 in the surface 11 when the first and second parts 1,3 are connected.Furthermore at least two vertical walls 31 are provided connected to the collar 29. Said atleast two vertical walls 31 are also connected to the cap 21. The number of vertical walls 31can be varied. In this embodiment six vertical walls 31 are shown. The vertical walls 31 areprovided on the collar 29 in a direction towards a central axis of the tube forrned threaded part15. Beside the fi.1nction of holding the cap 21 above the opening 23 into the tube forrnedthreaded part 15 the vertical walls 31 will facilitate flow of fluid into the fluid transferringdevice. Fluid in vicinity of the vertical walls 31 will follow the direction of the walls and flow into the fluid transferring device.

The collar 29 will be compressed against the surface 11 when the first part 1 and the secondpart 3 are connected to each other from each side of the surface 11. The seal 13 will becompressed between the collar 29 and the surface 11 and the seal 13 will hereby enclose thethrough hole 9 in the surface 11 and hereby ensure that no fluid will escape outside the fluidtransferring device 5. For collecting as much fluid as possible from the surface 11 it isimportant that the collar 29 has a small height, i.e. is provided as much as possible in the samelevel as the surface 11. In the embodiment shown in the Figures recesses 33 are shown aroundthe circumference of the collar 29. These recesses 33 are directed towards a central axis of thetube forrned threaded part 15 and will constitute parts of the collar 29 which have an evenlower height than the rest of the collar 29. Hereby fluid can enter the fluid collection part 19even more easily. It is important to provide a low entrance for the fluid into the fluidtransferring device. The height of the collar 29 and the seal 13 below needs to be kept small.However to keep a stable device and a device possible to produce for example by injectionmoulding the recesses 33 are provided for providing even lower entrances for fluid into the device.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures the second part 3 comprises a tube forrned threadedpart 41 with threads on its inner surface. The tube forrned threaded part 41 of the second part3 is arranged to be connected to the tube formed threaded part 15 of the first part 1. Thesecond part 2 comprises further a tube connecting part 43 which is connected to and arrangedto transfer fluid coming from the tube forrned threaded part 41. In this embodiment said tubeconnecting part 43 is connected to the tube forrned threaded part 41 such that the extension ofthe tube connecting part 43 is provided with an angle of substantially 90 degrees in relation tothe extension of the tube forrned threaded part 41. Hereby a tube can be connected to the second part 3 of the fluid transferring device 5 in a convenient way. If the space below the 6 elevated surface ll is limited it will be much easier to connect a tube than it would have beenwithout this bent configuration. Furthermore a tube could be damaged when forcing it tobend. The tube connecting part 43 is furtherrnore provided with at least one elastic flange 45around its outer circumference for sealing to a tube connected to the tube connecting part 43.Here five flanges are shown but the number can of course be varied. This bent configurationof the second part 3 is however not necessary for the invention. In another embodiment of theinvention the extension of the tube connecting part 43 is provided in another angle in relation to the extension of the tube formed threaded part 4l or in no angle, i.e. in the same direction.

Furthermore the tube formed threaded part 4l of the second part 3 comprises a circular seal47 provided around an opening 49 of the tube formed threaded part 4l. This seal 47 will becontacting the underside of the surface ll when the first and second parts are connected. Saidseal 47 is arranged to enclose the through hole 9 in the surface ll during connection of the first and second parts l, 3.

The seal l3 connected to the first part l and the seal 47 connected to the second part 3 and theat least one flange 45 provided on the outer circumference of a tube connecting part 43 of thesecond part 3 comprise a sealing material, such as an elastomeric material such as silicon orTPE, EPDM, NBR, Buna-n nitril or neoprene and the rest of the first and second parts l, 3 aremade up from a polymeric/plastic material such as acetal, POM, PP or PA. The first andsecond parts l, 3 of the fluid transferring device 5 can in one embodiment of the invention be injection moulded.

In one embodiment of the invention a detector can be provided to the first or second part ofthe fluid transferring device 5. This detector can detect the presence of a fluid in the fluidtransferring device and can be connected to some kind of waming system. One type ofpossible detector is a detector comprising two metal wires provided pointing into the first orthe second part of the fluid transferring device. Such a detector can indicate presence of afluid if the two wires are short circuited by the fluid. The two metal wires could be mouldedinto the device during injection moulding. Another possibility is that a waming system isconnected to a floor protector to which the fluid is transferred through a tube connected to the fluid transferring device.

In one embodiment of the invention no tube needs to be connected to the second part 3. The fluid can instead just be flowing or dripping out from the second part 3 and be collected in a tray or floor protector provided there below. In that case there is no need for the bent configuration of the second part 3. The tube connection part 43 could simply be omitted.

The fluid transferring device 5 of the embodiment shown in the Figures is designed for beingmounted without the use of tools. The first and second parts l, 3 can be held by hands andthreaded into each other by only hand craft. A sealed connection of the two parts towards the surface can be achieved without the use of tools.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a fluid transferring device 5 according to one embodimentof the invention when mounted to a surface ll. Here it can be seen how the tube forrnedthreaded part l5 of the first part l is provided through the through hole 9 and connected to thetube formed threaded part 4l of the second part 3. Thanks to the length of the tube forrnedthreaded part l5 of the first part l the fluid transferring device 5 can be provided to surfacesof different thickness. In Figure 5 it is shown that the fluid transferring device also can beprovided to a thin wall of a plastic tray, a floor protector. In Figure 3 it can also be seen how a tube is connected to the tube connecting part 43 of the second part 3.

Figure 4a and 4b shows a cross section of a fluid transferring device 5 according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows two fluid transferring devices 5 according to the invention mounted to sidewalls of two floor protectors 6l. If fluid for example is transferred from another fluidtransferring device mounted in for example a shelf or a cabinet through a tube to a floorprotector there is a possibility to use another fluid transferring device according to theinvention through an opening in a side wall of the floor protector. Then the tube can simply bethreaded over the tube connecting part 43 of the second part 3 of this fluid transferring devicewhile a first part l is provided on the inside of the side wall and connected through the opening to the second part 3.

Hereby it is clear that the fluid transferring device 5 according to the invention can not onlybe provided to horizontal elevated surfaces but can also be used through vertical walls for transferring fluid.

The fluid transferring device according to the invention has here been described withreference to one specific embodiment shown in the Figures l-5. However many of the detailsof the construction can be varied but still be covered by the claimed invention. For example the design of the fluid collection part 19 can be varied. Some kind of elevated cap is suitable 8 but not necessary. The vertical Walls are also not necessary but Will facilitate the fluidcollection because of the fact that the fluid Will follow the Wall in the direction towards thecenter of the fluid collection device. Number of openings and recesses can of course bevaried. The number and distance of threads of the threaded parts can also be varied and as discussed above the bent configuration of the second part is suitable but not necessary.

Claims (1)

1. A fluid transferring device (5) arranged for transferring fluid through a through hole(9) in a surface (11), Wherein said fluid transferring device (5) comprises a first part(1) and a second part (3) arranged to be connected to each other from one side each ofthe surface (11) through the through hole (9) and Wherein said fluid transferringdevice (5) is designed for transferring the fluid from one side of the surface (11),through the first and second parts (1, 3) to the other side of the surface (11) andWherein at least the first part (1) comprises a seal (13) for sealing around the through hole (9) When the first and second parts (1, 3) are connected to each other. A fluid transferring device according to claim 1, Wherein the first part (1) and thesecond part (3) each comprises one end Which is tube forrned and provided Withthreads (15, 41), one on the outside of the tube forrned part and the other on the insideof the tube forrned part and Wherein the threads of the first and second parts aredesigned such that one of the parts is threaded into the other part for connection of thefirst and second parts (1, 3) to each other. . A fluid transferring device according to claim 2, Wherein the tube forrned threaded part (15, 41) of at least one of the first part or the second part is at least 10 mm. A fluid transferring device according to any one of the preceding claims, Wherein thefluid transferring device is arranged for transferring fluid through a through hole (9) ina substantially horizontal surface (11) provided elevated above a floor and Wherein thefirst part (1) comprises a tube formed threaded part (15) With threads (17) on its outersurface and a fluid collection part (19) Which is connected to the tube forrned threadedpart (15), Wherein the fluid collection part (19) is arranged to receive fluid provided tothe surface (11) and transfer the fluid further through the tube forrned threaded part(15), Wherein said fluid collection part (19) further is connected to a circular seal (13)and arranged to compress the seal (13) around the through hole (9) in the surface (11)When the first part (1) is provided through the through hole (9) and connected to thesecond part (3) on the other side of the surface (11). A fluid transferring device according to claim 4, Wherein the fluid collection part (19) comprises an elevated cap (21) provided above an opening (23) into the tube forrned 10. threaded part (15), said cap (21) having distributed openings (25) and wherein thefluid collection part (19) further comprises openings (27) around a circumferencebelow said elevated cap (21), said openings (25, 27) transferring fluid into the opening(23) of the tube forrned threaded part (15). A fluid transferring device according to claim 4, wherein the fluid collection part (19)comprises a collar (29) which is arranged to be provided against the surface (11)during connection of the first and second parts (1, 3) and which is attached to one endof the tube forrned threaded part (15) such that the collar (29) is provided around anopening (23) into the tube forrned threaded part (15) and wherein said collar (29) isconnected to a circular seal (13) which will enclose the through hole (9) in the surface(1 l) when the first and second parts (1, 3) are connected and wherein at least twovertical walls (31) are provided connected to the collar (29) and directed towards a central axis of the tube forrned threaded part (15). A fluid transferring device according to claim 5 and 6, wherein said at least two vertical walls (31) also are connected to the cap (21). A fluid transferring device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein thesecond part (3) comprises a tube forrned threaded part (41) with threads on its innersurface arranged to be connected to the tube forrned threaded part (15) of the first part(1) and wherein the second part (3) further comprises a tube connecting part (43)which is connected to and arranged to transfer fluid coming from the tube forrnedthreaded part (41), wherein said tube connecting part (43) is connected to the tubeformed threaded part (41) such that the extension of the tube connecting part (43) isprovided with an angle of substantially 90 degrees in relation to the extension of the tube forrned threaded part (41). A fluid transferring device according to claim 8, wherein the tube connecting part (43)is provided with at least one elastic flange (45) around its outer circumference for sealing to a tube connected to the tube connecting part (43). A fluid transferring device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein thetube forrned threaded part (41) of the second part (3) comprises a circular seal (47)provided around an opening (49) of the tube forrned threaded part (41) which will be 11 11. 12. 13. Contacting the underside of the surface (11) When the first and second parts (1 , 3) areconnected, Wherein said sea1 (47) during connection of the first and second parts (1, 3) is arranged to enc1ose the through ho1e (9) of the surface (11). A fluid transferring device according to any one of the preceding c1ain1s, Wherein asea1 (13) connected to the first part (1) and a sea1 (47) connected to the second part (3)and a flange (45) provided on the outer circuniference of a tube connecting part (43) ofthe second part (3) con1prises an e1aston1eric n1ateria1 and the rest of the first and second parts (1, 3) are n1ade up from a p1astic n1ateria1. A fluid transferring device according to any one of the preceding c1ain1s, Wherein adetector is provided to the first or second part (1, 3) of the fluid transferring device (5), Which detector can detect the presence of a fluid in the fluid transferring device. A fluid transferring device according to any one of the preceding c1ain1s, Wherein both the first and second parts (1, 3) of the fluid transferring device are injection n1ou1ded. 12