Universal Trap

The invention relates generally to traps in drain plumbing and more particularly to a readily cleanable trap which functions not only as a gas trap in a drain line, but also a filter as well as an air-water separator and numerous other filtering functions.

Various styles of plumbing traps which block flow of sewer gas back-flowing through a drain line have been available since the inception of indoor plumbing. The commonly coniiguredp-trap or S-trap have been utilized since the last century. A trap which provides a removable cup is typified by U.S. Pat. No. 1,210,201. Other types of cleanable traps are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,742,101, 3,994,031, 2,170,390 and 919,701.

In all of the traps of the above-mentioned patents, as well as the standard p-traps sold in the market, there is an inherent disadvantage in that as the trap is broken open, the water contained in the connecting conduits spills on the floor or on the hands of the person cleaning the trap which is a very unsanitary condition. The trap of the present invention comprises a removable bowl with a substantia lip around the periphery thereof that contains all of the water in the adjacent conduits. The bowl is readily removed from the rest of the trap by turning a large hand-twisted knob located on the bottom thereof. The trap has universal application not only as a sewer gas trap but also as a particulate filter, air-water separator, and separator for various metals such as mercury, gold and silver. The trap can be used on a vacuum or pressure system with various types of filtering elements such as mesh screens or chemical impregnated iilters. The trap can accumulate a substantial amount of particulate material without substantial obstruction of flow through the trap.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a universal trap design with numerous applications which is inexpensive to build, rugged in construction and easily cleanable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a drain trap which can be readily opened without tools and without spilling any water in the drain lines.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a drain trap which filters certain sized particulate matter which is readily cleanable by hand without tools.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a trap with a removable bowl having a support base which is also the removal handle.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a drain trap which due to its integral simple construction may be easily installed and serviced by direct access with a minimum of labor.

These and other objects will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the summary of this invention in addition to a study of the description of the preferred embodiment described hereafter.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled trap of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational section of the assembled trap;

FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of the various components within the trap; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of a modified version of the trap with the inlet and outlet conduits removed.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, the universal drain trap is generally described by reference numeral 10 and includes a circular bowl 16 having an open top which is closed by a removable lid member 20. Passing through lide 20 on the left and right sides respectively are outlet conduit 14 and inlet conduit 12. Bowl 16, as best seen in FIG. 3, includes a hollow center post 24 extending upwardly irom the bottom of the bowl above the top edge of a peripheral lip 18. Center post 24 has a shoulder 25 which supports screen element 44 in conjunction with shoulder 23 on bowl 16. Bowl 16 has a second sealable shoulder 22 which mates with the peripheral edge of closure lid 20, as seen in FIG. 2. Located in shoulder 22 is an O-ring groove 53 which contains an O-ring 50 and provides a pressure seal between bowl 18 and closure lid 20. Closure lid 20 is held in sealing relation with bowl 16 by the engagement of threaded shaft 26 with a threaded nut 30 molded into closure lid 20. Located around the top surface 34 of the center post 24 is a O-ring groove 35 for receipt of O-ring 52 which seals the interior of the trap from the bore in center post 24. Closure lid 20 is molded with a concentrically positioned hollow stem 32 which receives center post 24 in the assembled position, as seen in FIG. 2. The bottom surface of stem 32 engages the screen element 44 around center opening 46 as it is held against shoulder 25, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Closure lid 20 includes an outlet nipple 38 located on the left side thereof, and an inlet nipple 36 on the right side which extends substantially into bowl 16. Located around the periphery of closure lid 20 is circumferential rib 42 which adds structural strength to member 20. The lower end 37 of nipple 36 engages opening 48 in screen element 44 (see FIG. 3), thereby connecting the inlet conduit 12 to the lower chamber 58 in the trap, as seen in FIG. 2. Lower chamber 58 is separated from upper chamber 60 by screen element 44. Screen element 44 includes an integral support sleeve 45, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, which allows closure lid 20 to apply pressure to the outer periphery of the screen element. Molded on the end of threaded shaft 26 is a handle 28 which has a very substantial diameter to apply the necessary mechanical advantage for manually engaging and dis-engaging threaded nut 30. Handle 28 is also shaped with a flat bottom and functions as a base leg when the trap is not otherwise supported. Shaft 26 can be easily removed through the turning of handle 28 and the breaking of O-ring seals 50 and 52 between the bowl 16 and closure lid 20. Compression ring couplings 54, connected to the ends of inlet and outlet conduits 12 and 14 are conventional in the plumbing art for connection with drain lines.

FIG. 4 is similar to the other figures with the exception of the addition of structural ribs 56, radially positioned aorund the closure lid 20. Looking at FIG. 4 the screen element 44 is seen through the outlet nipple 38 while the screen is not seen on the right side due to screen opening 48.

When the trap 10 is utilized in a conventional sink drain line, as seen in FIG. 2, the water level 62 will maintain itself at the high level in the outlet line 14, as illustrated. As water enters inlet line 12, it flows directly into the lower chamber 58 of the trap, splitting its flow in a rolling path as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, and then passes upward through screen element 44. Particulate material either settles out in the bottom of bowl 16 or is held by the undersurface of screen 44. Since screen 44 is an up-flow screen, any filtered particulate material would have a tendency to settle in the bottom of the bowl 16 rather than clog the screen element 44. Likewise the rolling action of fluid entering lower chamber 58 would have a tendency to wash the undersurface of screen element 41. The weir height H of the trap, as illustrated in FIG. 2, could be increased by raising outlet conduit 14.

When it is desirous to clean the trap 10, handle 28 is merely unscrewed and bowl 16 is pulled downwardly breaking O-ring seals 50 and 52. The standing water in inlet and outlet conduits 12 and 14 is contained within bowl 16 by the lip 18. Screen element 44 can be easily separated from the bowl 16 and the bowl can be readily cleaned. Bowl 16 can be left to stand on flat bottomed handle 28 or with the handle removed bowl 16 can rest on concentric flange 29.

Various other types of filtering elements, not illustrated in the drawings, could be used in place of the fine mesh screen 44, such as paper, sponge or foam filter elements which can be chemically treated for the removal of various vapors, metals or chemicals in solution. Also, in place of mesh screen 44 could be electrically charged plates utilized for recovery of silver or other metals. When used strictly as a gas trap, the screen 44 can be omitted.

The universal trap can be utilized in either a water drain system or in an air suction or air-water system such as that used in the field of dentistry. The trap can also be utilized in a positive pressure system.

Other applications of this universal trap may be considered by those skilled in the art upon reviewing the description of this preferred embodiment. The defined embodiments are meant for illustrative purposes only, and any changes or variations within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be secured by any claims acquired herein.