Sealed off building drainage and vent system

Abstract

A drainage and ventilation system for a building is provided which includes two or more stacks which communicate fluid therein. The stacks are connected to a sewer for discharging liquid thereto, with at least one of the stacks having a discharge source for delivering liquid to a wet stack portion of that stack. A trap is positioned between the wet stack portion and the discharge source for inhibiting the passage of gas therethrough. The stacks are interconnected at an upper end thereof by a connecting member such as a connecting pipe or manifold, whereby air may be communicated between the stacks. An air admittance valve and a positive air pressure attenuation device are located above the connecting member, whereby air may be introduced into the stacks to compensate for entrained air moving with the liquid into the sewer, and air may be accumulated during increased pressure events, both helping to preserve trap seal integrity without releasing foul air into the surrounding environment.

1 . A drainage and ventilation system for a building comprising, in combination: 
 a plurality of ventilation and drainage stacks, each of said stacks having at least one wet stack portion adapted for fluidically connecting to a sewer, each of said stacks including a base at a lower end for fluidically communicating with the sewer and a dry stack portion positioned relatively above the wet stack pipe and the base;    at least one discharge source adapted for introducing liquid into the at least one wet stack portion;    at least one of said stacks including a feed pipe fluidically connecting said discharge source to said wet stack portion, said feed pipe including a trap;    means fluidically connecting each of said dry stack portions at an elevation above the at least one discharge source;    a positive air pressure attenuation device fluidically connected to said system; and    an air admittance valve fluidically connected to said system.    
   
   
       2 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , including a plurality of discharge sources, each of said stacks having at least one of said discharge sources fluidically connected to the respective wet stack portion.  
   
   
       3 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said discharge source is selected from the group consisting of water closets, bidets, sinks and drains.  
   
   
       4 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , including a connecting member for fluidically connecting said positive air pressure attenuation device and said air admittance device in parallel to said dry stack portion connecting means.  
   
   
       5 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said positive air pressure attenuation device and said air admittance valve are located in the ambient atmosphere.  
   
   
       6 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said positive air pressure attenuation device and said air admittance valve are located within an enclosed area.  
   
   
       7 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base of each of said stacks is connected to the sewer independent of the other stacks.  
   
   
       8 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , where said trap has an appliance side positioned fluidically more proximate to said discharge source and a system side positioned fluidically more proximate to the respective base of the stack.  
   
   
       9 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said positive air pressure attenuation device and said air admittance valve are connected in series, with said air admittance valve being fluidically remote from said positive air pressure attenuation device with respect to said stacks.  
   
   
       10 . A drainage and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said positive air pressure attenuation device and said air admittance valve are fluidically connected to said dry stack portion connecting means.  
   
   
       11 . A method of discharging liquid to a sewer, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a ventilation and discharge system including a plurality of stacks each having a base fluidically connected to the sewer, a wet stack portion and a dry stack portion, at least one of the stacks having a source for discharging liquid to a respective one of the stacks and a pipe for fluidically connecting to the wet stack portion, means for fluidically connecting the dry stack portions, an air admittance valve fluidically connected to said stacks, and a positive air pressure attenuation device fluidically connected to said stacks;    delivering liquid from the source to the sewer via the wet stack portion of said at least one stack;    accumulating air moving upwardly in at least one of said stacks in said positive air pressure attenuation device; and    introducing air into at least one of said stacks through said air admittance valve.    
   
   
       12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said system includes a plurality of sources for discharging liquid into the system, including the step of delivering liquid from another one of said plurality of sources to the sewer via one of the stacks.  
   
   
       13 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said stacks are positioned substantially in the interior of a building, and wherein said air introduced into the system through the air admittance valve is drawn from the ambient atmosphere.  
   
   
       14 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said stacks are positioned substantially in the interior of a building, and wherein said air introduced into the system through the air admittance valve is drawn from an enclosed area.  
   
   
       15 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said positive air pressure attenuation device and said air admittance valve are positioned in parallel relationship such that air introduced through the air admittance valve is delivered to the connecting means without passing through the positive air pressure attenuation device.  
   
   
       16 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said positive air pressure attenuation device is positioned fluidically intermediate the air admittance valve and the connecting means such that the step of introducing air into at least one of the stacks includes passing such air through the positive air pressure attenuation device.  
   
   
       17 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , including the step of moving air from one of the stacks to another of the stacks through said connecting means in consequence of the delivery step.  
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said air introduced into the system through the air admittance valve is delivered to a dry stack portion of said pipe at an elevation above said wet stack portion.  
   
   
       19 . A method as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said accumulating air step includes receiving air into said positive air pressure attenuation device at a location which is elevated relative to said wet stack portion.