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BR-112023016752-B1 - VACUUM DRAINAGE SYSTEM

BR112023016752B1BR 112023016752 B1BR112023016752 B1BR 112023016752B1BR-112023016752-B1

Abstract

INTERMEDIATE BOX OF A VACUUM DRAINAGE SYSTEM. The invention relates to an intermediate box of a vacuum drainage system, the vacuum drainage system comprising the intermediate box (10), the intermediate box (10) comprising as an external frame structure side walls (21, 22), end walls (23, 24), a top wall (25) and a bottom wall (26) and the intermediate box (10) further comprising at least one inlet (13) and one outlet (14), a vacuum drainage pipe, at least one collection branch connected to the vacuum drainage system and to the outlet (14) of the intermediate box (10), each of the collection branches comprising a suction valve, a pump connected to the vacuum drainage pipe and configured to create negative pressure in the vacuum drainage pipe. The intermediate box (10) comprises at least two compartments, comprising a main compartment (11) and a suction compartment (12) with a suction outlet (16). Between the main compartment (11) and the suction compartment (12) is located a baffle (15). The baffle (15) extends from the upper wall (25) towards the lower wall (26) and is located at a distance from the lower wall (26) such that a baffle opening is formed between the compartment (...).

Inventors

  • TIMOTHY W. MONSON
  • MATTHEW A. WALES

Assignees

  • EVAC OY

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20220224
Priority Date
20210226

Claims (8)

  1. 1. Vacuum drainage system comprising: - a vacuum drainage pipe (41), - at least one collector branch (38) connected to the vacuum drainage pipe (41) and to an intermediate box outlet (14) of a respective intermediate box (10), each of the collector branches (38) comprising a suction valve (42), - the intermediate box (10) comprising as an external frame structure of side walls (21, 22), end walls (23, 24), a top wall (25), and a bottom wall (26) and further comprising at least one inlet (13) and the intermediate box outlet (14), - a pump (48) connected to the vacuum drainage pipe (41) and configured to create negative pressure in the vacuum drainage pipe (41), the system being characterized in that: - the intermediate box (10) comprising at least two compartments, which comprise a main compartment (11) and a suction compartment (12) with a suction outlet (16), - a baffle (15) being located between the main compartment (11) and the suction compartment (12), - the baffle (15) extending from the upper wall (25) towards the lower wall (26) and being located at a distance from the lower wall (26) so that a baffle opening (15A) is formed between the main compartment (11) and the suction compartment (12), - and the baffle (15) being configured to prevent air above the liquid in the main compartment (11) from entering the suction compartment (12).
  2. 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate box (10) is low, the height of the intermediate box being 44.5 - 51 mm and the height of the intermediate box being sufficient to receive drainage as positioned under a temperature-controlled cabinet, typically 50 mm or less, as dependent on the clearance from ground level to the drain of the temperature-controlled cabinet.
  3. 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the suction compartment (12) comprises a pre-aeration passage (17) configured to allow a measured quantity of air to exit the intermediate box (14) before the liquid from the main compartment (11) exits the intermediate box (10).
  4. 4. System, according to claim 3, characterized in that the suction compartment (12) is configured to accelerate the emptying of the main compartment (11), from which the liquid is collected by removing air from the suction compartment (12) through the pre-aeration passage (17) creating a vacuum in the suction compartment (12) providing a suction force along the opening of the deflector (15A) from the main compartment (11) to the suction compartment (12).
  5. 5. System, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the area of the baffle opening (15A) exists in direct proportion to the flow area of the outlet of the intermediate box (14) and the width of the intermediate box, such that the area of the baffle opening (15A) is a minimum ratio of 1:1 to the outlet of the intermediate box (14).
  6. 6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the intermediate box (10) comprises a pneumatic main pressure chamber (19) and that the flow from the main compartment (11) to the suction compartment (12) in the intermediate box (10) is configured to keep the pneumatic main pressure chamber (19) free of debris.
  7. 7. System, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the intermediate box (10) further comprises a vent for the suction chamber (18).
  8. 8. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the intermediate box (10) further comprises a main pressure port (20).

Description

Technical field [0001] The invention relates generally to vacuum drainage systems. Specifically, the invention relates to an intermediate box (“buffer box”) of a vacuum drainage system according to the preamble of independent claim 1. Background [0002] It is known in the state of the art that in grocery stores, supermarkets, etc., and for institutional food services, for example, for schools, canteens, snack bars, temperature-controlled cabinets for cold temperatures, i.e., temperatures typically below +8°C, are employed for products such as food, beverages, and the like that must be kept at refrigerated temperatures and allow users or customers to access the groceries and other refrigerated or frozen items in the cabinet. These cabinets generally comprise a frame structure; support, upper, lower, and wall structures with at least one door or without doors with at least one wall partially open for customer access to the products. The frame structure encloses at least one product space, comprising shelves and/or other structures for the refrigerated or frozen products. It is known in the prior art that, as part of the lower structure, a base structure is used that forms a reservoir. The reservoir is used to collect any condensed moisture in a controlled manner and is typically provided with drainage means to remove the condensed moisture. Drainage means typically comprise piping to remove condensed moisture collected from the reservoir. It is also known to locate the reservoir for collecting condensed moisture as a structure separate from the cabinet in the space left between the floor of the location where the cabinet is situated and the lower wall of the cabinet. It is known from the prior art that vacuum drainage systems are used as drainage means to remove condensed moisture. [0003] In the publication of international patent application WO 2018/174719 A1, a system is disclosed for the accumulation and evacuation of defrost condensation water from a refrigeration and cooling unit below, in which each of the water evacuation units includes a coupling station and a water collection tray to be provided in a sliding manner within the coupling station, each unit being custom-made to fit between the refrigeration unit and a floor where the refrigeration unit is placed, and the coupling station includes upward-protruding guide members and end stops to guide and position the tray within the coupling station, at the end of the coupling station, between the end stops, a suction pipe connection is provided to be connected, in a sealed manner, at its outer end to the vertical piping of the system. [0004] In the publication of US patent 6,467,497 B1, an intermediate box is disclosed for use in a vacuum collection system having a drain pipe maintained under partial vacuum pressure, a suction valve to selectively control access to the drain pipe, and a collection pipe having an inlet adapted to collect waste fluid from a waste fluid source. The intermediate box comprises a base, a side wall extending upwards from the base, a lid attached to the side wall so that an inner part of the base, side wall, and lid define a reservoir, an inlet communicating fluidly between the collection pipe and the reservoir, an outlet formed in the side wall adapted to communicate fluidly with the suction valve, and an air inlet orifice integrally provided with the intermediate box and communicating fluidly between the reservoir and the atmosphere, wherein the waste fluid collected in the reservoir is transported to the drain pipe when the suction valve operates to an open position. Through this intermediate box, the efficient transport of condensation water in the vacuum drainage system is achieved. This intermediate box is designed to contain and transport a measured quantity of water using a pneumatic pressure-sensing main port. The pressure-sensing main port is connected to a pneumatic actuator that connects the vacuum source to a discharge valve that opens to remove the contents of the intermediate box. [0005] Recently, due to new designs for low-temperature controlled-temperature cabinets, the height of the space left between the floor of the location where the low-temperature controlled-temperature cabinet is located and the lower wall of the cabinet has decreased. Therefore, there is a need to redesign the reservoirs to collect condensed moisture with reduced height, as in some cases a recess in the floor was necessary to accommodate the reservoir to supply it, or in some other cases, a supplementary pumping system was provided to collect the condensate and transport it to the reservoir, now located elsewhere, for example, located at the top of the cabinet, in order to interface with the vacuum drainage system. [0006] Decreasing the height of the intermediate box can cause a disadvantage due to air accumulation above the fluid, most of which will simply pass over the top of the fluid on its way to the outlet of the intermediate box a