Sewer alarm apparatus having a probe

• US 10,032,357 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FireFly Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: FireFly Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Dunn, Tristram C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US15/137,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20160240066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 340604, 340605, 340606
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 2201/40 Means for indicating blockage in sewer systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/042 Arrangements of means against overflow of water, backing-up from the drain
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/00 Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

According to some embodiments, sewer alarm devices and apparatus are provided for detecting the presence of liquid within a pipe. In some embodiments, the devices and apparatus include a housing including a top portion and a bottom portion, and a probe housing, extending from the bottom portion of the housing to a bottom surface area of the probe housing and sized to fit within an interior of a wye connector, the wye connector having an interior extending into an interior of the pipe. At least a first probe is disposed within the probe housing and exposed to an area between the bottom surface area of the probe housing and the interior of the pipe.

Claims

1. A sewer alarm for detecting the presence of liquid within a pipe, comprising:

a housing including a top portion and a bottom portion;

a probe housing, extending from the bottom portion of said housing to a bottom surface area of the probe housing and sized to fit within an interior of a wye connector, the wye connector having an interior extending into an interior of the pipe, wherein the bottom surface area of the probe housing is angled to substantially match an angle at which the wye connector meets the interior of the pipe;

at least a first probe disposed within said probe housing and exposed to an area between the bottom surface area of the probe housing and said interior of the pipe; and

wherein said bottom portion of the probe housing is positioned to allow liquid to contact said at least first probe during a non-normal flow of liquid within said pipe, said contact causing operation of an alarm.

2. The sewer alarm of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the housing further includes:

a threaded portion for securing the bottom portion within a cap of the wye connector.

3. The sewer alarm of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the probe housing is shaped to fit within the interior of said wye connector.

4. The sewer alarm of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface area of the probe housing is shaped to match an angle of the wye connector.

5. The sewer alarm of claim 1, further comprising:

at least a second probe disposed within said probe housing, said at least first and second probes configured to detect the presence of liquid during a non-normal flow of liquid within said pipe.

6. The sewer alarm of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said top portion of said housing is removably attached to said bottom portion.

7. The sewer alarm of claim 1, further comprising:

a control circuit disposed within said interior volume of said housing, said control circuit in electrical communication with said at least first probe; and

an alarm, said alarm engaged when said control circuit receives a signal from said at least first probe indicating the presence of liquid during a non-normal flow of liquid within said pipe.

8. The sewer alarm of claim 7, further comprising:

at least a first power source coupled to said control circuit and said alarm.

9. The sewer alarm of claim 7, further comprising:

an external alarm device in wireless communication with said control circuit.

10. The sewer alarm of claim 1, wherein said probe housing is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a length selected such that the area between the bottom surface area of the probe housing and said interior of the pipe is less than one inch.

11. The sewer alarm of claim 1, wherein said pipe is a drain pipe in a building sewer system and the sewer alarm is positioned near a point where the drain pipe exits the building.