WO2002061214A1

WO2002061214A1 - An odour extraction system for a urinal

Info

Publication number: WO2002061214A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2002/000009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Antonie Van Niekerk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-01
Filing date: 2002-01-23
Publication date: 2002-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2003-08-01
Also published as: ZA200305637B

Abstract

The invention provides a urinal odour extractor (20) including odour extraction means (22) for extracting the odour from a urinal (10). The urinal odour extractor (20) includes a first inlet conduit (24) and a second inlet conduit (28), both of which are connected to an inlet (34) of the odour extraction means (22). The first inlet conduit (24) has a first remote aperture (26) located in the receptical (13) of the urinal (10). The second inlet conduit (28) has a second remote aperture (30) located in a corresponding aperture in a portion of the flushing pipe (16) between the catchment portion (12) of the urinal (10) and the trap (18) of the flushing pipe (16).

Description

AN ODOUR EXTRACTION SYSTEM FOR A URINAL

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of urinals and urinal accessories.

Background to the Invention

It is a well known fact that urinal smells are unpleasant. Furthermore, some urinal configurations do not permit the rapid dissipation of the bad odours and thus persons entering a toilet having a urinal, even some time after the previous person has already left, are confronted with the bad odours.

One solution to the above problem has been to employ an extraction fan mounted in a wall or ceiling of a toilet room and to extract the bad odours therethrough. However, by its very nature, this type of configuration requires a big extraction fan and results in the bad odours being drawn towards the extraction fan which could in fact worsen the situation.

A further, and at first seemingly unrelated need, is that for ventilation of buildings, not just the toilet rooms or regions of the building.

The applicant is not aware of any proposals to alleviate the odour problem for urinals as the usual solution for urinals is to place a disinfectant and/or a deoderising substance in the urinal thereby to mask the problem.

Thus, a need exists for a system which will be effective, economical to operate and reduce the inconvenience of bad odours to urinal users, and additionally assisting with ventilation of the building. Summary of the Invention

Thus, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a urinal odour extraction system for extracting bad odour laden air from in and around a urinal, said odour extraction system including an extraction fan configured to direct the odour laden air from in and around the urinal to a remote location.

The extraction system may be configured such that the odour laden air is extracted along a substantially unimpeded flowpath including a portion of a flush water supply pipe.

The extraction system may be configured such that the odour laden air is extracted along a substantially unimpeded flowpath including a portion of a waste drainage pipe which is used to drain urine and flush water from the urinal.

The extraction system may include a conduit at least a portion of which is located in the vicinity of the urinal waste outlet or urinal catchment, said conduit being in air flow communication with at least one of the waste drainage pipe and the flush water supply pipe.

The extraction system may include a conduit located within an upper zone of the urinal, said conduit being in air flow communication with at least one of the waste drainage pipe and the flush water supply pipe.

The extraction system may include a conduit located within a bowl zone of a bowl type urinal, said conduit being in air flow communication with at least one of the waste drainage pipe and the flush water supply pipe.

The odour laden air may pass from the urinal along the flush water supply pipe to be extracted to the remote location before a flush water actuation valve so that the flush water does not push the odour laden air back into the urinal. The system may include an anti-siphon arrangement to prevent the flush water from flowing into and through an extraction portion of the extraction system.

The anti-siphon arrangement may be in the form of a conduit having an atmospheric opening at a height equivalent to a higher water pressure than the water pressure in the flush water supply of the toilet at the point where the flush water supply and the odour extraction system are open to each other.

The conduit of the anti-siphon arrangement may be a pipe extending from the flush water supply pipe, past a cistern flush valve seat and closure member assembly and into the cistern to be open to atmospheric pressure at a level above the cistern water level, the extraction fan being in air flow communication with the headroom above the water level in the cistern thereby to extract the odour laden air directed into the headroom by the conduit.

The conduit may pass out of the flush water supply pipe and bypass the cistern for direct connection to the extraction fan.

Likewise, where the urinal has no cistern, the anti-siphon arrangement may be the flush water supply pipe and an upwardly extending extension therefrom extending from out of the flush water supply pipe downstream of the flush valve seat and closure member assembly and into the inlet of the extraction fan.

The extraction fan may be a radial extraction fan. Due to the unimpeded flowpath of the odour laden air the extraction fan may be small in comparison to existing systems. Several urinals or several flushing arrangements of one or more urinals may be connected to a single extraction fan i.e. multiplexing several urinals or several flushing arrangements to one or more extraction fans.

The flush valve assembly by-pass system also permits leakage of the flush valve assembly to be detected due to a gurgling noise being heard at the odour outlet.

The extraction system may include attachment means for attachment to an existing urinal.

The invention extends to a ventilation system for buildings in which air is extracted from a building through the extraction systems of one or more urinals in the building.

The extraction system may be permanently on i.e. it is not activated and deactivated in response to usage of the urinal and thus serves to continuously extract air from out of the building thereby performing a ventilation function.

The invention extends yet further to an accessory kit for use in extracting an odour from a urinal, the accessory kit including odour extraction means; at least one inlet conduit connectable to an inlet of the odour extraction means, the at least one inlet conduit having at least one remote aperture locatable proximate the odour; and attachment means for attaching the odour extraction means to the urinal or to an object proximate the urinal.

The kit may include instructions facilitating the use of the kit in combination with the urinal. The odour extraction means may be a conventional gas extractor fan.

The kit may include a connector for connecting the at least one inlet conduit to the inlet of the odour extraction means. The kit may include a connector for connecting at least one remote aperture of at least one inlet conduit to a water flush of the urinal thereby facilitating extraction of the odour through at least a part of the water flush. At least one outlet aperture of the water flush may be located under an inner lip of an upper inlet rim of a bowl shaped urine catchment portion of the urinal thereby facilitating extraction of the odour proximate the rim.

The kit may include a venting conduit connectable to an outlet of the odour extraction means for venting the odour to a location remote from the urinal. The kit may include a supplementary connector for connecting the venting conduit to the outlet of the odour extraction means.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a urinal which includes a urinal odour extractor as described above.

The urinal may be a singular urinal for use by one user at a time. The singular urinal may be a conventional singular urinal. The singular urinal may include a urine catchment portion and a water flush. The catchment portion may be bowl shaped and may have an upper inlet rim and at least one outlet aperture of the water flush may be located under an inner lip of the rim.

The urinal may be a plurality urinal for use by a plurality of users at a time. The plurality urinal may be a conventional plurality urinal.

Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in side view, a urinal, for use by one user at a time, which includes a urinal odour extractor in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 show in front and side view respectively, a urinal, for use by a plurality of users at a time, which includes a urinal odour extractor also in accordance with the invention;

Figure 4 shows substantially in side view, a urinal for use by one user at a time, which includes a urinal odour extractor in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 5 shows in a view corresponding to Figures 1 ,2 and 4, a radial fan in accordance with the invention.

With reference to Figure 1 , reference numeral 10 shows a urinal, for use by one user at a time, which includes a urinal odour extractor 20 according to the invention. In use, urine collects in a catchment portion 12 of a receptical 13 of the urinal 10. The urine is flushed away by means of a water flush 14 which discharges water into the catchment portion 12. The water and urine is then flushed away through a flushing pipe 16 in fluid communication with the catchment portion 12. However, a residue of water and urine is trapped in a trap 18 of the flushing pipe 16. It is to be appreciated that when urine is present in the catchment portion 12 and/or the trap 18 it emits an offensive odour which permeates the air proximate the urinal 10 and, in particular, proximate the nose of a user which is proximate the receptical 13 of the urinal 10.

The urinal odour extractor 20 includes odour extraction means 22 for extracting the odour from the urinal 10. The urinal odour extractor 20 includes a first inlet conduit 24 and a second inlet conduit 28, both of which are connected to an inlet 34 of the odour extraction means 22. The first inlet conduit 24 has a first remote aperture 26 located in the receptical 13 of the urinal 10. The second inlet conduit 28 has a second remote aperture 30 located in a corresponding aperture in a portion of the flushing pipe 16 between the catchment portion 12 of the urinal 10 and the trap 18 of the flushing pipe 16.

In use, the odour extraction means 22 is activated continuously thereby extracting the odour from the urinal 10 and, in particular, from both the receptical 13 and the trap 18 of the urinal 10.

The urinal odour extractor 20 includes a venting conduit 32 connected to an outlet 36 of the odour extraction means 22 for venting the odour to a location remote from the urinal 10. The venting conduit 32 is connected (not shown) to the water flush 14 of the urinal 10 thereby venting the odour through the water flush 14 to a location remote from the urinal 10. In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the venting conduit 32 is connected to the flushing pipe 16 of the urinal 10 thereby venting the odour through the flushing pipe 16 to a location remote from the urinal 10.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, reference numeral 10 shows a urinal, for use by a plurality of users at a time, which includes a urinal odour extractor 20 according to the invention. In use, urine collects in a catchment portion 12 of a receptical 13 of the urinal 10. The urine is flushed away by means of a water flush 14 which discharges water into the catchment portion 12. The water and urine is then flushed away through a flushing pipe 16. However, a residue of water and urine is trapped in a trap 18 of the flushing pipe 16. It is to be appreciated that when urine is present in the catchment portion 12 and/or the trap 18 it emits an offensive odour which permeates the air proximate the urinal 10 and, in particular, proximate the nose of a user which is proximate the receptical 13 of the urinal 10.

The urinal odour extractor 20 includes odour extraction means 22 for extracting the odour from the urinal 10. The urinal odour extractor 20 includes an inlet conduit 24 connected to an inlet 34 of the odour extraction means 22. The inlet conduit 24 has a plurality of remote apertures 26 located proximate the catchment portion 12 of the receptical 13 of the urinal 10.

The urinal odour extractor 20 includes a sensor (not shown) for sensing a presence of at least one user. In use the odour extraction means 22 is activated for an appropriate period of time, typically 10 seconds, after the sensor senses the presence of at least one user, thereby extracting the odour from the urinal 10 and, in particular, from both the receptical 13 and the trap 18 of the urinal 10.

With reference to Figure 4, reference numeral 10 shows a urinal, for use by one user at a time, which includes a urinal odour extractor 20 according to the invention. In use, urine collects in a catchment portion 12 of a receptical 13 of the urinal 10. The urine is flushed away by means of a water flush 14 which discharges water into the catchment portion 12. The water and urine is then flushed away through a flushing pipe 16 in fluid communication with the catchment portion 12. However, a residue of water and urine is trapped in a trap 18 of the flushing pipe 16. It is to be appreciated that when urine is present in the catchment portion 12 and/or the trap 18 it emits an offensive odour which permeates the air proximate the urinal 10 and, in particular, proximate the nose of a user which is proximate the receptical 13 of the urinal 10. The urinal odour extractor 20 includes odour extraction means 22 for extracting the odour from the urinal 10. The urinal odour extractor 20 includes an inlet conduit 24 connected to an inlet 34 of the odour extraction means 22. The inlet conduit 24 has a remote aperture 26 connected to the water flush 14 thereby facilitating extraction of the odour through at least a part of the water flush 14.

The catchment portion 12 is bowl shaped and an outlet aperture 15 of the water flush 14 may be located under an inner lip of an upper inlet rim 17 of the catchment portion 12 of the urinal 10. The rim 17 is not parallel to the ground when the urinal 10 is in an installed position but is tilted downwards on a side proximate the user when in use. The outlet aperture 15 is located proximate the highest part of the rim 17 allowing water which is discharged by the flush 14 through the outlet aperture 15 to flow towards the lowest part of the rim 17 under the influence of gravity and an initial discharge speed. While water flows towards the lowest part of the rim 17, some of it flows downwards into the body of the catchment portion 12 thereby cleaning the catchment portion 12. By connecting the inlet conduit 24 to the flush 14 the odour proximate the rim 17 is extracted along a flow path similar to that of water being discharged by the flush 14 into the catchment portion 12 but in the reverse direction.

The urinal odour extractor 20 includes a sensor (not shown) for sensing a presence of at least one user. In use the odour extraction means 22 is activated for an appropriate period of time, typically 10 seconds, after the sensor senses the presence of at least one user, thereby extracting the odour from the urinal 10 and, in particular, from proximate the rim 17 of the urinal 10.

The urinal odour extractor 20 includes a venting conduit 32 connected to an outlet 36 of the odour extraction means 22 for venting the odour to a location remote from the urinal 10. With reference to Figure 5, reference numeral 22 shows, in more detail, the odour extraction means depicted in Figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4 in the form of a conventional gas extractor fan, and more particularly, a radial fan. The fan 22 includes a plurality of fins 38 which rotate about an X-X axis. The fins 38 are driven by a motor 40. The fan 22 includes a housing 42 having apertures which define the inlet 34 and the outlet 36 of the fan 22.

In use, rotation of the fins 38 creates a flow passage for air carrying an odour. The air is drawn into the housing 42 through the inlet 34. The air then flows axially towards the rotating fins 38 from both sides whereafter it is expelled radially by the rotating fins 38. The air exits the fan 22 through the outlet 36.

The Applicant regards it as an advantage that offensive odours are extracted from a urinal when a user wishes to make use of the urinal.

The invention is not limited to the exact constructional details of the invention as exemplified in the drawings and all variants falling within the spirit of the invention are included herein as if specifically described.

Claims

1. A urinal odour extraction system for extracting bad odour laden air from in and around a urinal, said odour extraction system including an extraction fan configured to direct the odour laden air from in and around the urinal to a remote location.

2. A urinal odour extraction system as claimed in claim 1 , which is configured such that the odour laden air is extracted along a substantially unimpeded flowpath including a portion of a flush water supply pipe.

3. A urinal odour extraction system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which is configured such that the odour laden air is extracted along a substantially unimpeded flowpath including a portion of a waste drainage pipe which is used to drain urine and flush water from the urinal.

4. A urinal odour extraction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a conduit at least a portion of which is located in the vicinity of the urinal waste outlet or urinal catchment, said conduit being in air flow communication with the remote location.

5. A urinal odour extraction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a conduit at least a portion of which is located within an upper zone of the urinal, said conduit being in air flow communication with the remote location.

6. A urinal odour extraction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a conduit at least a portion of which is located within a bowl zone of a bowl type urinal, said conduit being in air flow communication with at least one of the waste drainage pipe and the flush water supply pipe.

7. A urinal odour extraction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including attachment means for attachment to an existing urinal.

8. A ventilation system for buildings in which air is extracted from a building through the extraction system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims of one or more urinals in the building.

9. A ventilation system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the extraction system is not activated and deactivated in response to usage of the urinal and thus serves to continuously extract air from out of the building thereby performing a ventilation function.

10. An accessory kit for use in extracting an odour from a urinal, the accessory kit including odour extraction means; at least one inlet conduit connectable to an inlet of the odour extraction means, the at least one inlet conduit having at least one remote aperture locatable proximate the odour; and attachment means for attaching the odour extraction means to the urinal or to an object proximate the urinal.

11. An accessory kit as claimed in claim 10, the accessory kit including instructions facilitating the use of the kit in combination with the urinal.

12. An accessory kit as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 , the kit including a venting conduit connectable to an outlet of the odour extraction means for venting the odour to a location remote from the urinal.

13. A urinal which includes a urinal odour extractor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.

14. A urinal odour extraction system as claimed in claim 1 , substantially as herein described and illustrated.

15. A ventilation system for buildings as claimed in claim 8, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

16. An accessory kit as claimed in claim 10, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

17. A new urinal odour extraction system, a new ventilation system, or a new accessory kit substantially as herein described.