DRAINAGE MEANS

Abstract: The invention discloses drainage means comprising in one aspect a collar (2) which is bifurcated at one end and which has a pipe-embracing through-hole or aperture (8) therein, and in another aspect comprising a tray (30) having in a wall thereof a pipe-embracing recess or aperture (46-52). The collar (2) has raised portions (14) on its upper side which form guide channels directed towards the centre of the collar (2), and the tray (30), which comprises opposed front and rear walls, opposed side walls, and a bottom wall, is provided with a plurality of pipe-embracing recesses (46-52) or apertures in each of said front and rear walls. The collar (2) and tray (30) together form a drainage kit.

Description: DRATNAGH MEANS This invention relates to drainage means, and more particularly to drainage means for use in conjunction with a central heating radiator. When a central heating radiator is to be removed from its supporting wall - for a variety of reasons, such as for example during decorating - it is necessary to drain the radiator prior to its removal from the wall. This involves draining the water in the radiator through one or both of the unions by which the radiator is connected to the supply and return pipes - invariably at the bottom of the radiator - of the central heating system. During the draining of the radiator, it is necessary to place a water-receiving receptacle - often a household bowl or similar container - beneath the union(s) into which the water discharging from the union(s) may pass. This is usually a messy business, and in addition the space beneath the radiator, in which the water-receiving receptacle(s) is/are situated, is often very limited so that the capacity of the receptacle(s) is limited. Thus it is necessary to keep emptying the receptacle(s) and replacing the receptacle(s) beneath the union(s), and inevitably water will run onto the underlying floor or carpet or other covering. The present invention therefore seeks to provide drainage means which will obviate the above-related problems. According to the present invention there is provided drainage means comprising a member having at least one pipe-embracing aperture or recess therein. In one embodiment of the invention the drainage means comprises a diverting collar which is bifurcated at one end and which has a pipe-embracing through-hole or aperture therein. Preferably, the collar will be curved both from end to end and from side to side, and the collar will preferably include raised portions on its upper side, said raised portions forming guide channels directed towards the centre of the collar. The collar will preferably be shaped at its end remote from the bifurcated end, and the collar will preferably be composed of plastics material. In another embodiment of the invention, the drainage means comprises a tray having in a wall thereof at least one pipe-embracing recess or aperture. Preferably, the tray will be generally rectangular and will comprise a base, opposed front and rear walls and opposed side walls. The rear wall and the front wall will preferably be of differing heights such that the side walls of the tray are tapered between the front wall and the rear wall. The front wall and the rear wall of the tray will preferably each have a plurality of pipe-embracing recesses or apertures , the recesses or apertures in said front wall being of differing dimensions and of the same dimensions as the recesses or apertures in said rear wall. The tray wil preferably be composed of plastics material and will preferably be formed as a one-piece structure. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a drainage means according to the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation on Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a plan view, to a smaller scale than Figures 1 and 2, of a drainage means according to the second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a front elevation on Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation showing the means of Figures 1 and 2, and the means of Figures 3 and 4, in use during the draining of a central heating radiator. Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a drainage means, indicated generally by refrence numeral 2, which comprises a water diverting collar 4 which is formed at one end thereof with a slot 6 such that at that end of the collar it is bifurcated. The slot 6 communicates with a through-hole or aperture 8, the slot 6 and the hole or aperture 8 being situate about the longitudinal axis of the collar. The end of the collar remote from the bifurcated end is shaped as indicated at 10. The collar 4 has a raised continuous peripheral ridge 12 - which also extends around the slot 6 and hole or aperture 8 - the collar also being provided with a plurality of raised guides or portions 14 and 16, and a central raised guide or portion 18, the guides or portions 14 and 16 forming respective channels 20 and 22 which, when the drainage means is in use, direct water to the shaped end 10 of the collar as will be explained hereinafter. As will be seen from Figure 2, the collar 4 is curved longitudinally and, although it is not apparent from Figures 1 and 2, the collar is also curved laterally, such that the collar is curved or dished in all directions. The plate is preferably formed of plastics material. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, a drainage means indicated generally by reference numeral 30 comprises a tray 32 having opposed front and rear walls 34 and 36, opposed side walls 38 and 40, and a bottom wall 42, the bottom wall being provided with a plurality of strengthening ribs 44. As will best be seen from Figure 4, the centre portion of the tray 32 is inset and depends from the walls of the tray, and the front and rear walls 34 and 36 of the tray are of differing heights such that the side walls of the tray taper between the said front and rear walls. Formed in the front wall 34 and the rear wall 36 are pluralities of recesses or apertures, such recesses or apertures being referenced respectively 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54, 56, 58, and 60. The recesses 46 and 54 are of the same dimension, as are the recesses or apertures 48 and 56, the recesses or apertures 50 and 58, as well as the recesses or apertures 52 and 60. In the particular embodiment of the invention being described, the recesses or apertures 46 and 54 are 15mm wide, the recesses or apertures 48,50 and 56,58 are 10mm wide, and the recesses or apertures 52 and 60 are 8mm wide. These dimensions correspond to the diameters of feed and return pipes of the most common central heating systems. There may also be additional recesses or apertures, or alternatively there may be less than four recesses or apertures, and perhaps of larger or smaller dimensions than those referred to above. In use of the drainage means according to the invention, referring now to Figure 5, a radiator 62 to be drained is shown connected to a feed or return pipe 64 through a union 66, it being assumed that the valve (not shown) has been closed prior to the release of the union. The pipe at the opposite end of the radiator 62 is not shown in Figure Located on the pipe 64 and beneath the union 66 is a collar 4, the collar embracing the pipe 64 by means of the through-hole or aperture 8 and being inclined downwardly as seen in the drawing. Also located beneath the union and beneath the collar 4 is a tray 32 which, as will be seen, is situate in the space beneath the bottom of the radiator and a floor 68. It will be seen that the pipe 64 is located in the recess or aperture 58 in the tray, such recess being fully beneath the collar 4. Thus, when the union is released to allow water to flow from the radiator 62, the water will first fall onto the collar 4, be directed towards the centre of the collar by means of the channels 20 and 22 therein, and thence into the tray 32. When the radiator is completely empty, the collar 4 and the tray 32 may be removed, whereafter the radiator may be removed from is supporting brackets (not shown). Thus the invention provides drainage means which are easy and convenient to use, which prevent water from a central heating radiator mnning onto a floor or carpet or covering beneath the radiator, and which are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. It will be appreciated that both the collar 4 and the tray 32 may take forms other than those shown in the drawings, and that the collar 4 may be used without the tray - and vice versa - although a more positive emptying, 'without spillage', will result by using the collar 4 and tray 32 together. In addition, the drainage means according to the invention allow for the tray 32 to be reversed where the space beneath the radiator will not accommodate the high rear wall 36 of the tray. Finally, it will be appreciated that the number of recesses or apertures in the tray 32 may vary from that shown in Figures 3 and 4: in some circumstances, there may be only one recess or aperture which would preferably be a larger recess or aperture in order that the tray could be used with the largest diameter of feed and/or return pipe of the central heating system.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A drainage means comprising a member having at least one pipe- embracing recess or aperture therein. 2. A drainage means according to Claim 1, wherein said means comprises a collar which is bifurcated at one end and which has a pipe-embracing through-hole or aperture therein. 3. A drainage means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said collar is curved both from end to end and from side to side. 4. A drainage means according to any of Claims 1 to 3 , wherein said collar has raised portions on its upper side, said raised portions forming guide channels directed towards the centre of said collar. 5. A drainage means according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said collar is shaped at its end remote from said bifurcated end. 6. A drainage means according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said collar is composed of plastics material. 7. A drainage means according to Claim 1, wherein said means comprises a tray having in a wall thereof a pipe-embracing recess or aperture. 8. A drainage means according to Claim 7, wherein said tray comprises opposed front and rear walls, opposed side walls, and a bottom wall, said front and rear walls being of differing heights such that the side walls are tapered between said front and rear walls. 9. A drainage means according to Claim 8, wherein said front wall and said rear wall each have a plurality of pipe-embracing recesses or apertures therein. 10. A drainage means according to Claim 9, wherein the recesses or apertures in said front wall are each of a differing dimension, and wherein the recesses or apertures in said rear wall are of differing dimensions, the dimensions of the recesses or apertures in said front wall being equal to the dimensions of the recesses or apertures in said rear wall. 11. A drainage means according to any of Claims 7 to 10, wherein said fray is composed of plastics material and is formed as a one- piece structure. 12. A drainage kit comprising in combination drainage means comprising a diverting collar which is bifurcated at one end and which has a pipe-embracing through-hole or aperture therein, and a drainage tray having in a wall thereof a pipe-embracing recess or aperture, said collar being adapted to be placed beneath a union on a feed and/or return pipe in a central heating system, and the tray being adapted to be located beneath said collar when the latter is beneath said union.

Inventors: COLGAN ALEC, COLGAN, ALEC
Applicants: COLGAN ALEC, WALDCO LIMITED, COLGAN, ALEC
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F24D19
IPC codes: F24D19