Description:ELECTRIC SHOCK PROOF ISOLATOR FOR WATER-PIPES
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates generally to electrical appliances dealing with water passages and in particular related to a piping union attached to water inlet and outlet of said appliance.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Electrical shock is a problem omnipresent. Especially, household appliances such as water heaters and geysers are known to pose electrical-shock risks to a user human being through the dispensed heated water.

[0004] This is generally due to leakage of current from electrical element (heating element) and circuits in water-heaters. Any leakage of current will pass from water in tank through output pipe to end user. To overcome this issue, certain barrier to be used to avoid leak current to reach at output or the current value is much lower than the current value which is fatal and cause shock to end user.

[0005] There are lots of water heaters/geysers available to users. Majority of water heaters have heating-element to heat water. Conventional geysers or other fluid heaters at least lack a feature to control or restrict deadly water-current. If there develops any puncture in heating element, electric-current flows to user through output water and all but likely to cause electrocution, thereby being life threatening especially if current is high.
[0006] One of the prior art solution refers an electrical water heater with electric-shock protection, comprising an outer casing, an inner tube, an electrical heater, an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, an inlet lining pipe and an outlet lining pipe. In such solution, both said inlet lining pipe and said outlet pipe are insulating pipes and disposed outside said electrical water heater. In this concept water flows through plastic pipes over a long-length which reduces current value. Accordingly, if any leakage is found in pipe or through joints, or wear of threads of inlet/outlet pipe occurs, the user is compelled to replace entire inlet-pipe assembly and outlet-pipe assembly.
[0007] There lies at least a need of simple and easy to replace electrical shock proof mechanism to address human safety and an improved safety in water-heaters.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0009] It is a primary objective of the present disclosure to achieve a current value in the outgoing heated water much lower than the current value which is otherwise fatal and cause shock to end user.
[0010] It is another objective of the present disclosure to achieve installation with ease in appliances such as geysers and self-serviceable
[0011] It is another objective of the present disclosure to prevent accidents due to electrical appliance propagated electrical currents.
[0012] . These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY
[0013] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0014] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a modular plumbing union assembly comprising a first conduit arrangement having an first connector (e.g. internally threaded) defining a water inlet, and a hollow cylinder concentric and integral to the first connector, said cylinder having a spirally coiled cross section that defines a water outlet of first conduit arrangement. Optionally, a first gasket covers the first conduit arrangement at the water outlet and has a peripheral slot flow connected to the water outlet of first conduit arrangement. At least one conduit is flow-connected to the first conduit arrangement through the gasket and defines a cross-section similar to the hollow cylinder of the first conduit arrangement.
[0015] A second conduit arrangement has a hollow cylinder defining a cross-section similar to the hollow cylinder of the first conduit arrangement and flow connected to a water outlet of the conduit, optionally through a second gasket equivalent to the first gasket. A second connector (e.g. externally threaded) is concentric and integral to the hollow cylinder of the second conduit arrangement and defines a water outlet of the second conduit arrangement.
[0016] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0017] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0018] Fig. 1 (a and b) illustrates perspective views of an electric shock isolator according to the present disclosure;
[0019] Fig. 2 (a and b) illustrates an exploded view of an isolator according to the present disclosure; and
[0020] Fig. 3 illustrates a process flow within the isolator according to the present disclosure.
[0021] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0022] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0023] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0024] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0026] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0027] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 1a illustrates an isometric view of a modular piping union 100. FIG. 1b illustrates a plan and front view of the piping union 100. The piping union 100 may be interchangeably referred as modular plumbing union assembly 100, or electric-shock isolator 100 or still further an electric shock adapter 100.

[0029] Each module such as conduit or conduit arrangements (shown later in Fig. 2) in the modular union is geometrically designed from inside has a rectangular cross section. The rectangular cross section of each module such as conduit/conduit arrangement sin the union 100 is designed as a spiral conduit or spirally recessed. The spiral path offers a circuitous path for fluid to form a “volute” and thereby enables swirling of fluid during its flow. The module and arrangements are removably connected to each other for example through screw connection. A rubber seal (such as gasket) seals one module/arrangement with another module/arrangement. The first and second conduit arrangements, which are end points (as show in Fig. 2) in the piping union 100, are provided, for example, with threading (e.g. plastic) inside or outside for fastening and flow connecting with a regular water pipeline. A number of modules (1, 2, 3 etc.), which are sandwiched between the nut/bolt arrangement in the union 100, is decided to balance generated turbulence with temperature drop due to turbulence. The modular union 100 may be PVC based
[0030] The present subject matter accordingly provides a shock proof plastic isolator, which is an assembly of plastic parts (modules) and rubber parts (gasket).
[0031] FIG. 2a describes an exploded view of the piping union 100 of FIG. as a modular plumbing union assembly 100.
[0032] The assembly 100 comprises a first conduit arrangement 104 defining a water inlet. The arrangement 104 comprises a first connector (104a or a socket. Said first connector 104a or socket may be internally threaded like a nut fastener for receiving a water outline line from an appliance. However, instead of internal threading, other forms of fastening are also conceivable. The first conduit arrangement 104 further comprises hollow cylinder 104b concentric and integral to the first connector 104a. The cylinder 104b has a spirally coiled cross section that define a water outlet of the arrangement 104. Optionally, the spirally coiled cross section of the cylinder 104b tapers at the centre to the water outlet. FIG. 2b refers said cross section.
[0033] A first gasket 106 is provided to cover the first conduit arrangement 104 at the water outlet and has a peripheral slot flow connected to the water outlet of the arrangement 104.
[0034] Further, at least one conduit 108 is flow-connected to the arrangement 104 through the first gasket 106 and defining a cross-section similar to the hollow cylinder of the arrangement 104.
[0035] In an embodiment, the arrangement 104, and the conduit 108 comprise a rectangular frame to enclose respective hollow cylinders. In yet another embodiment, each of the arrangement 104 and the conduits 108 are either cast in one piece or may be removably connected with each other. In an embodiment, the conduit 108 may not be single and instead is a plurality of serially connected conduits or in other words N number of modules. Such plurality of serially connected conduits 108 comprises the gasket interfaced between any two of the plurality of conduits 108.
[0036] Further, the union 100 comprises a second conduit arrangement 112 having a hollow cylinder 112a defining a cross-section similar to the hollow cylinder of the first conduit arrangement 104 and flow connected to a water outlet of the conduit through a second gasket 110 which is equivalent to the first gasket 106. The first gasket 106 and the second gasket 110 are disposed with their respective slots and located diametrically opposite to each other. A second connector 112b is provided as concentric and integral to the hollow cylinder 112a of the second conduit arrangement 112 and defines a water outlet of the second conduit arrangement 112. In yet another embodiment, each of the arrangement 112 and the conduits 108 are either cast in one piece or may be removably connected with each other. The second connector 112b for example may be a male fastener such as an externally threaded fastener like a bolt or may be adapted as any other fastener based on usage, in order to enable receipt of the second connector 112b within a socket of an external pipe.
[0037] The components, i.e. the aforesaid arrangements and the conduits 104, 108, and 112 may be removable connected to each other through any fastener arrangement which in an example may be screw connection for example based on screw 102 and nut 114.
[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates an operation of the assembly 100 or the piping union 100 as referred in FIG. 2 and FIG. 1. The piping union 100 may be understood to be connected both in water inlet supply line and water outlet line of a heating device such as geyser.
[0039] According, at least in the water outlet line, heated water flows from tank of the geyser to the union 100 through output pipe. Flow of water path in the union 100 is generally swirl type at least owing to the cross section of all arrangements 104, 112 and module 108 as depicted in FIG. 2B. Such swirl path as added in the water outlet line of the geyser due to the union 100 adds turbulence in water flow path. In other words, water enters and follows the swirling type of flow path made in top, middle and bottom modules 104, 108 and 112 separated by rubber gasket 106, 110.
[0040] In other example, turbulence may also be added for example by introducing ribs in the cross section of FIG. 2B.
[0041] Adding turbulence at this section in the water outlet line drops temperature of the water within the union 100 and an electrical conductivity is reduced, which at least results in lowering of leak current. In this setup, water turbulence can be added by introducing N numbers of stages of water flow, for example through addition of N stage. The value of N in an example is 1 in the disclosure of Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 based on presence of a single conduit 108 as a single module 108. The count of N accordingly depends upon the number of module(s) 108 since the first and second conduit arrangement 104, 112 are the end points. The number N is also decided to ensure that water temperature drop in union 100 as achieved is however too minimal to interfere with a desired output temperature of water expected from the geyser. Accordingly, heated water coming out from union 100 exhibits much lower current value than known to cause an electric shock current.
[0042] This swirling action due to union 100 increases water flow length which ultimately increases resistance and leads to decrease of electrical current in output water to a value which lower than known to cause shock to human and living beings.
[0043] Furthermore, the union 100 is easy to install in every geyser and self-serviceable and accordingly prevents accidents due to geyser currents. There is also achieved an ease of manufacturing in the union 100 due to plastic threading/ absence of insert-molding of steel threading otherwise required. Furthremore, the union 100 exhibhits ease of assembly/dismantling due to screw threaded connection between the arrangement 104, 112 and module(s) 108.
[0044] Largely, the union 100 is a ‘Plug and play adapter’ which may be retrofitted to outlet line of existing water-heater via screw threaded connection.
[0045] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0046] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature. , Claims:We claim:
1. A modular plumbing union assembly (100) comprising:
a first conduit arrangement (104) having
a first connector (104a) defining a water inlet; and
a hollow cylinder (104b) concentric and integral to the first connector (104a), said cylinder (104b) having a spirally coiled cross section defines a water outlet of the first conduit arrangement (104);
at least one conduit (108) flow-connected to the arrangement (104) and defining a cross-section similar to the hollow cylinder of the first conduit arrangement (104);
a first gasket (104) disposed between the first conduit arrangement (104) and the at least one conduit (108); and
a second conduit arrangement (112) having:
a hollow cylinder (112a) defining a cross-section similar to the hollow cylinder of the first conduit arrangement (104) and flow connected to a water outlet of the conduit (108); and
a second connector (112b) concentric and integral to the hollow cylinder (112a) of the second conduit arrangement (112) and defining a water outlet of the second conduit arrangement (112).

2. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second conduit arrangements (104, 112), and the conduits (108) are removably connected.

3. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the removable connection is a screw connection.

4. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second conduit arrangements (104, 112), and the conduits (108) comprise a rectangular frame to enclose respective hollow cylinders (104b, 112a).

5. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second conduit arrangements (104, 112), and the conduits (108) are cast in one piece.

6. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduit (108) comprises a plurality of serially connected conduits.

7. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of serially connected conduits (108) comprise a gasket interfaced between any two of the plurality of conduits.

8. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first gasket (106) covers the first conduit arrangement (104) at the water outlet and having a peripheral slot flow connected to the water outlet of the first conduit arrangement (104).

9. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hollow cylinder (112a) is flow connected to the water outlet of the conduit (108) through a second gasket (110) equivalent to the first gasket (106), and wherein the cylinder (104b) having the spirally coiled cross section tapers at centre to define the water outlet of the first conduit arrangement (104).

10. The modular plumbing union assembly (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first gasket (106) and the second gasket (110) are disposed with their respective slots located diametrically opposite to each other.