Dry trap valve for use in a non-flushing urinal and other drains

Abstract

A dry trap valve, such as usable in a non-flushing urinal and other drains, is employed to transport a fluid, such as urine or other wastewater to a sewer line for receipt and disposal of the wastewater. The dry trap valve includes a holder (e.g., a band holder) having an entry for receipt of the wastewater, a drain for disposal of the wastewater, a passageway (e.g., dent, depression or bypass) for conducting the wastewater from the entry to the drain, and an element e.g., a sealing band) for sealingly covering the passageway. The sealing band includes a hinged portion adjacent the lower end of the dent and is disposed to articulate upon flow of the wastewater from the dent and to permit the wastewater to flow to the drain and to close in the absence of the wastewater flow. Gases from the sewer line also press upon the sealing band in the absence of wastewater flow to further seal the dent. Thus, the memory of the elastomeric material is not essential but, rather, the forces of gravity and the force of the sewer gas keeps the passage closed to the sewer gases that would otherwise back up through the valve.

1 . A dry trap valve for transport of a fluid for receipt and disposal of the fluid, comprising:
 a holder having an entry for receipt of the fluid, a drain for disposal of the fluid, a passageway for conducting the fluid from said entry to said drain, and an element for sealingly covering said passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The dry trap valve according to  claim 1  in which:
 said holder comprises a band holder including a generally planar ramp having front and back sides; 
 said passageway comprises a dent protruding from said back side and having an upper end adjacent said entry and a lower end distanced from said entry; and 
 said sealing element comprises a sealing band located on said front side. 
 
     
     
         3 . The dry trap valve according to  claim 2  wherein said sealing band includes a hinged portion adjacent said dent lower end and disposed to articulate upon flow of the fluid from said dent and to permit the fluid flow to said drain and to close in the absence of the fluid flow. 
     
     
         4 . The dry trap valve according to  claim 2  wherein:
 said band holder includes a flattened portion extending beyond said dent lower end; and 
 said sealing band includes an upper portion positioned generally atop said dent upper end and a lower portion positioned generally below said dent lower end. 
 
     
     
         5 . The dry trap valve according to  claim 4  wherein said sealing band lower portion has a structure which is disposed to articulate along a line located essentially (a) beneath said sealing band lower portion and (b) below said dent lower end such that most of said dent is always covered by said sealing band even during flow of the fluid, thus imparting said sealing band with a hinged movement that allows valve opening and closing whereby flow of the fluid flow lifts said sealing band up to open and, after cease of the liquid flow, to permit gravity to effect the valve closing. 
     
     
         6 . The dry trap valve according to  claim 2  further comprising a clamp arrangement coupling said sealing band to said band holder. 
     
     
         7 . The dry trap valve according to  claim 6 , for enabling the enablement of said clamp arrangement, wherein:
 said band holder includes spaced upper slots and spaced lower slots;   said clamp includes a pair of spaced upper prongs and a pair of spaced lower prongs, respectively equal in number to said spaced upper and lower slots; and   said clamp arrangement includes a snapping engagement of said clamp prongs respectively into said band holder slots.   
     
     
         8 . The dry trap valve according to  claim 2  wherein:
 said band holder includes a flattened portion extending beyond said dent lower end; and 
 said sealing band includes an upper portion positioned generally atop said dent upper end, a lower portion positioned generally below said dent lower end, and projection wings located between said sealing band upper and lower portions. 
 
     
     
         9 . The dry trap valve according to  claim 8  wherein said sealing band lower portion has a structure which is disposed to articulate along a line located essentially (a) beneath said projection wings toward said sealing band lower portion and (b) below said dent lower end such that most of said dent is always covered by said sealing band even during flow of the fluid, thus imparting said sealing band with a hinged movement that allows valve opening and closing whereby flow of the fluid flow lifts said sealing band up to open and, after cease of the liquid flow, to permit gravity to effect the valve closing. 
     
     
         10 . A urinal and a non-flushing cartridge positionable in the urinal for receipt and disposal of wastewater comprising:
 a dry trap valve for transport of the wastewater to a drain, said dry trap valve including:
 a band holder having an entry for receipt of the wastewater and a passageway in said holder for conducting the wastewater to said drain; and 
 a sealing band covering said passageway. 
   
     
     
         11 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 10  in which:
 said band holder includes structure defining a generally planar ramp having front and back sides; 
 said passageway comprises a dent protruding from said back side and having an upper end adjacent said entry and a lower end distanced from said entry; and 
 said sealing band is located on said front side. 
 
     
     
         12 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 11  wherein said sealing band includes a hinged portion adjacent said dent lower end and disposed to articulate upon flow of the wastewater from said passageway and to permit the wastewater flow to said drain and to close in the absence of the wastewater flow and to permit gases from the sewer line to aid in sealing by said sealing band of said dent. 
     
     
         13 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 12  wherein:
 said band holder includes a flattened portion extending beyond said dent lower end; and 
 said sealing band includes an upper portion positioned generally atop said dent upper end, and a lower portion positioned generally below said dent lower end. 
 
     
     
         14 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 13  wherein said sealing band lower portion has a structure which is disposed to articulate along a line located essentially (a) beneath said sealing band lower portion and (b) below said dent lower end such that most of said dent is always covered by said sealing band even during flow of the wastewater, thus imparting said sealing band with a hinged movement that allows valve opening and closing whereby flow of the wastewater flow lifts said sealing band up to open and, after cease of the liquid flow, to permit gravity to effect the valve closing and to permit gases from the sewer line to aid in sealing of said sealing band onto said dent. 
     
     
         15 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 10  further comprising a clamp arrangement coupling said sealing band to said band holder. 
     
     
         16 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 15 , for enabling the enablement of said clamp arrangement, wherein:
 said band holder includes spaced upper slots and spaced lower slots;   said clamp includes spaced upper prongs and spaced lower prongs respectively equal in number to said upper and lower slots; and   said clamp arrangement includes a snapping engagement of said clamp prongs respectively into said band holder slots.   
     
     
         17 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 10  in which:
 said band holder comprises a generally planar ramp having front and back sides; 
 said passageway comprises a dent protruding from said back side and having an upper end adjacent said entry and a lower end distanced from said entry; and 
 said sealing band is located on said front side. 
 
     
     
         18 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 17  wherein:
 said band holder includes a flattened portion extending beyond said dent lower end; and 
 said sealing band includes an upper portion positioned generally atop said dent upper end, a lower portion positioned generally below said dent lower end, and projection wings located between said sealing band upper and lower portions. 
 
     
     
         19 . The urinal and a non-flushing cartridge according to  claim 18  wherein said sealing band lower portion has a structure which is disposed to articulate along a line located essentially (a) beneath said projection wings toward said sealing band lower portion and (b) below said dent lower end such that most of said dent is always covered by said sealing band even during flow of the wastewater, thus imparting said sealing band with a hinged movement that allows valve opening and closing whereby flow of the wastewater flow lifts said sealing band up to open and, after cease of the liquid flow, to permit gravity to effect the valve closing. 
     
     
         20 . A flow guide for transport of a fluid comprising:
 a rigid portion having a path for enabling flow of the fluid; and   a movable portion which is coupled to said rigid portion and positioned gravitationally above said rigid portion path and which has a construction that is made to open when in the presence of and against the force of the fluid and, when the fluid force is not present, to effect closure of said rigid portion path under the force of gravity.   
     
     
         21 . The flow guide according to  claim 20  in which said rigid portion path is coupled to an outlet for receiving the fluid and in which the outlet contains gases whereby, when the fluid force is not present, the gases apply pressure against said movable portion to enhance the closure. 
     
     
         22 . A flow guide for transport of a fluid comprising:
 a rigid portion which includes a path for enabling flow of the fluid and which is coupled to an outlet for receiving the fluid, wherein the outlet contains gases; and   a movable portion which is coupled to said rigid portion and which has a construction that is made to open in the presence of and against the force of the fluid and, when the fluid force is not present, the gases apply pressure against said movable portion to effect closure of said movable portion of said rigid portion path.   
     
     
         23 . The flow guide according to  claim 22  wherein said movable portion is positioned gravitationally above said rigid portion path and, when the fluid force is not present, the closure is augmented by the force of gravity.