Baffle insert for drains

Abstract

A baffle insert for conversion of conventional gravity drains into siphonic drains. The baffle insert is placed into a sump bowl of a gravity drain and by nature of its design changes hydraulic condition in the drain to a siphonic condition. The baffle insert is composed of a baffle plate and a plurality of fin extensions coupled to a bottom surface of the baffle plate. In a preferred embodiment, the number of fin extensions is 12, and the bottom surface of the baffle plate has a concave shape.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A baffle insert for drains, comprising: 
 a baffle plate, having a central axis, a lateral edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface;    a plurality of fin extensions coupled to the bottom surface of the baffle plate.    
     
     
         2 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 each fin extension has an outer edge, and a bottom edge.  
 
     
     
         3 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the fin extensions are arranged in a radial pattern with respect to the central axis of the baffle plate.  
 
     
     
         4 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an inlet entrance area located under the lateral edge of the baffle plate.  
 
     
     
         5 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the bottom surface of the baffle plate is slopped upwards from the lateral edge towards the central axis.  
 
     
     
         6 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the bottom surface of the baffle plate has a concave shape.  
 
     
     
         7 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the lateral edge of the baffle plate has at least one anchoring extension.  
 
     
     
         8 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 means for coupling of the baffle insert to a sump bowl of a drain.  
 
     
     
         9 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the fin extensions are spaced equidistantly from each other.  
 
     
     
         10 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 each fin extension has a substantially vertical orientation.  
 
     
     
         11 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the baffle insert is integrated with a sump bowl of a drain.  
 
     
     
         12 . The baffle insert of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the baffle plate has a round shape.  
 
     
     
         13 . A baffle insert for drains, comprising: 
 a round baffle plate, having a central axis, a lateral edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface;    a plurality of fin extensions coupled to the bottom surface of the baffle plate, wherein the fin extensions are arranged in a radial pattern with respect to the central axis of the baffle plate, and wherein each fin extension has an outer edge, and a bottom edge.    
     
     
         14 . The baffle insert of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 an inlet entrance area located under the lateral edge of the baffle plate.  
 
     
     
         15 . The baffle insert of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the bottom surface of the baffle plate is slopped upwards from the lateral edge towards the central axis.  
 
     
     
         16 . The baffle insert of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the bottom surface of the baffle plate has a concave shape.  
 
     
     
         17 . The baffle insert of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the lateral edge of the baffle plate has at least one anchoring extension.  
 
     
     
         18 . The baffle insert of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 means for coupling of the baffle insert to a sump bowl of a drain.  
 
     
     
         19 . The baffle insert of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the fin extensions are spaced equidistantly from each other and each fin extension has a substantially vertical orientation.  
 
     
     
         20 . The baffle insert of  claim 13  wherein: 
 the baffle insert is integrated with a sump bowl of a drain.