Low water sensor testing apparatus

• US 10,190,902 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig W. Billings
• Original Assignee: Craig W. Billings
• Inventors: Billings, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Son
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eyassu, Marrit
• Application Number:
  US15/530,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20180224320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 73 173
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1009 for central heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/048 Level sensors, e.g. water level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/08 Storage tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/02 with forced circulation, e.g. by pumps pump constructions F04
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/20 of apparatus for measuring liquid level

Abstract

A low water sensor testing apparatus consisting of a 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring loaded handle connected at one end cavity portion thereof to initial piping emanating from a hot water boiler and connected at the second end cavity portion thereof to an equivalent adapter unit in turn connected to the first end segment of an E-shaped piping unit having its first stem portion connected to a ball valve unit via another adapter unit, its second stem portion connected via yet another adapter unit to a low water sensor unit and, with the second end segment of the E-shaped piping unit being connected to another equivalent adapter unit in turn connected to the first end cavity portion of a three way purge valve unit being connectable within the second cavity end portion thereof to outflow piping leading to a structure'"'"'s heating system.

Claims

1. A low water sensor testing apparatus comprising:

a. a 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return;

b. said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return having an internally threaded first end cavity portion, an internally threaded second cavity portion and a spring loaded ball valve handle component;

c. a first hollow main connector adapter unit;

d. said first hollow main connector adapter unit having an externally threaded first end portion and an unthreaded second end portion;

e. an E-shaped piping unit having an elongated body portion with a first through hole and a second through hole each cut within said body portion with each said through hole being bisected by one common, elongated surface axis of said body portion;

f. a first end segment and a second end segment of said elongated body portion;

g. a first stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a first stem inner end segment and a first stem outer end segment;

h. a second stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a second stem inner end segment and second stem outer end segment;

i. a second hollow main connector adapter unit;

j. said second hollow main connector adapter unit having an externally threaded first end portion and an unthreaded second end portion;

k. a first small hollow adapter unit with an unthreaded first end portion and an externally threaded second end portion;

l. a small ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion and an externally threaded second end cavity portion and a ball valve handle component;

m. a second small hollow adapter unit having an unthreaded first end portion and an internally threaded second end portion;

n. a three way purge ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion, an internally threaded second end cavity portion, a first ball valve handle component, an internally threaded third end cavity portion, an externally threaded fourth end cavity portion, an ancillary ball valve handle component, and an internally threaded fifth end cavity portion;

o. said externally threaded first end portion of said first hollow main connector adapter unit being threadably connected within said internally threaded second end cavity portion of said 2 piece threaded ball valve unit with spring return;

p. said unthreaded second end portion of said first hollow main connector adapter unit being soldered to and about said first end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit;

q. said first stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said first through hole cut within said body portion;

r. said first stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

s. said small ball valve unit being threadably connected via said internally threaded first end cavity portion thereof to said externally threaded second end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

t. said second stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said second through hole cut within said body portion;

u. said second stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit;

v. said internally threaded second end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit serving to threadably hold a low water sensor unit via external threading about a body portion of said sensor unit;

w. said second end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit being soldered to and within said unthreaded second end portion of said second hollow main connector adapter unit;

x. said externally threaded first end portion of said second hollow main connector adapter unit being threadably connected within said internally threaded first end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit;

y. said internally threaded first end cavity portion of said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return being amenable to being threadably connected with the externally threaded distal end portion of initial piping connected within a hole found within a building structure'"'"'s hot water boiler unit, and;

z. said internally threaded second end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit being amenable to being threadably connected with the externally threaded proximal end portion of outflow piping leading to said building structure'"'"'s heating system.

2. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 1, whereby an internally threaded first drain cap component is threadably connected about and to said externally threaded second end cavity portion of said small ball valve unit.

3. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 1, whereby an externally threaded drain cap component is threadably receivable within said threaded fifth end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit.

4. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 1, whereby said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

71-506-08.

5. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 1, whereby said small ball valve unit is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

70-103-HC.

6. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 1, whereby said three way purge ball valve unit is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

77B-106-01.

7. A low water sensor testing apparatus comprising:

a. a 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return;

b. said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return having an internally threaded first end cavity portion, an internally threaded second cavity portion and a spring loaded ball valve handle component;

c. a first hollow main connector adapter unit;

d. said first hollow main connector adapter unit having an externally threaded first end portion and an unthreaded second end portion;

e. an E-shaped piping unit having an elongated body portion with a first through hole and a second through hole each cut within said body portion with each said through hole being bisected by one common, elongated surface axis of said body portion;

f. a first end segment and a second end segment of said elongated body portion;

g. a first stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a first stem inner end segment and a first stem outer end segment;

h. a second stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a second stem inner end segment and second stem outer end segment;

i. a second hollow main connector adapter unit;

j. said second hollow main connector adapter unit having an externally threaded first end portion and an unthreaded second end portion;

k. a first small hollow adapter unit with an unthreaded first end portion and an externally threaded second end portion;

l. a small ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion and an externally threaded second end cavity portion and a ball valve handle component;

m. a second small hollow adapter unit having an unthreaded first end portion and an internally threaded second end portion;

n. a three way purge ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion, an internally threaded second end cavity portion, a first ball valve handle component, an internally threaded third end cavity portion, an externally threaded fourth end cavity portion, an ancillary ball valve handle component, and an internally threaded fifth end cavity portion;

o. said externally threaded first end portion of said first hollow main connector adapter unit being threadably connected within said internally threaded second end cavity portion of said 2 piece threaded ball valve unit with spring return;

p. said unthreaded second end portion of said first hollow main connector adapter unit being soldered to and about said first end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit;

q. said first stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said first through hole cut within said body portion;

r. said first stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

s. said small ball valve unit being threadably connected via said internally threaded first end cavity portion thereof to said externally threaded second end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

t. said second stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said second through hole cut within said body portion;

u. said second stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit;

v. said internally threaded second end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit serving to threadably hold a low water sensor unit via external threading about a body portion of said sensor unit;

w. said second end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit being soldered to and within said unthreaded second end portion of said second hollow main connector adapter unit;

x. said externally threaded first end portion of said second hollow main connector adapter unit being threadably connected within said internally threaded first end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit;

y. said internally threaded first end cavity portion of said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return being amenable to being threadably connected with the externally threaded first end portion of a hollow adapter unit, the other end portion of which is, in turn, soldered to the distal end portion of initial piping also connected within a hole found within a building structure'"'"'s hot water boiler unit, and;

z. said internally threaded second end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit being amenable to being threadably connected with the externally threaded first end portion of a hollow adapter unit, the other end portion of which said hollow adapter unit is, in turn, soldered to the proximal end of outflow piping leading to said building structure'"'"'s heating system.

8. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 7, whereby an internally threaded first drain cap component is threadably connected about and to said externally threaded second end cavity portion of said small ball valve unit.

9. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 7, whereby an externally threaded drain cap component is threadably receivable within said threaded fifth end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit.

10. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 7, whereby said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

71-506-08.

11. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 7, whereby said small ball valve unit is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

70-103-HC.

12. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 7, whereby said three way purge ball valve unit is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

77B-106-01.

13. A low water sensor testing apparatus comprising:

a. a 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return;

b. said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return having an internally threaded first end cavity portion, an internally threaded second cavity portion and a spring loaded ball valve handle component;

c. an E-shaped piping unit having an elongated body portion with a first through hole and a second through hole each cut within said body portion with each said through hole being bisected by one common, elongated surface axis of said body portion;

d. a first end segment and a second end segment of said elongated body portion;

e. a first stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a first stem inner end segment and a first stem outer end segment;

f. a second stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a second stem inner end segment and a second stem outer end segment;

g. a first small hollow adapter unit with an unthreaded first end portion and an externally threaded second end portion;

h. a small ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion and an externally threaded second end cavity portion and a ball valve handle component;

i. a second small hollow adapter unit having an unthreaded first end portion and an internally threaded second end portion;

j. a three way purge ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion, an internally threaded second end cavity portion, a first ball valve handle component, an internally threaded third end cavity portion, an externally threaded fourth end cavity portion, an ancillary ball valve handle component and, an internally threaded fifth end cavity portion;

k. said first stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said first through hole cut within said body portion;

l. said first stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

m. said small ball valve unit being threadably connected via said internally threaded first end cavity portion thereof to said externally threaded second end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

n. said second stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said second through hole cut within said body portion;

o. said second stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit;

p. said internally threaded second end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit serving to threadably hold a low water sensor unit via external threading about a body portion of said sensor unit;

q. said first end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit being soldered to and within said second end cavity portion of said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit;

r. said second end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit being soldered to and within said first end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit;

s. said internally threaded first end cavity portion of said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return being amenable to being threadably connected with the externally threaded distal end portion of initial piping connected within a hole found within a building structure'"'"'s hot water boiler unit, and;

t. said internally threaded second end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit being amenable to being threadably connected with the externally threaded proximal end portion of outflow piping leading to said building structure'"'"'s heating system.

14. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 13, whereby an internally threaded first drain cap component is threadably connected about and to said externally threaded second end cavity portion of said small ball valve unit.

15. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 13, whereby an externally threaded drain cap component is threadably receivable within said threaded fifth end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit.

16. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 13, whereby said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

71-506-08.

17. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 13, whereby said small ball valve unit is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

70-103-HC.

18. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 13, whereby said three way purge ball valve unit is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

77B-106-01.

19. A low water sensor testing apparatus comprising:

a. a 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return;

b. said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return having an internally threaded first end cavity portion, an internally threaded second cavity portion and a spring loaded ball valve handle component;

c. an E-shaped piping unit having an elongated body portion with a first through hole and a second through hole each cut within said body portion with each said through hole being bisected by one common, elongated surface axis of said body portion;

d. a first end segment and a second end segment of said elongated body portion;

e. a first stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a first stem inner end segment and a first stem outer end segment;

f. a second stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a second stem inner end segment and a second stem outer end segment;

g. a first small hollow adapter unit with an unthreaded first end portion and an externally threaded second end portion;

h. a small ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion and an externally threaded second end cavity portion and a ball valve handle component;

i. a second small hollow adapter unit having an unthreaded first end portion and an internally threaded second end portion;

j. a three way purge ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion, an internally threaded second end cavity portion, a first ball valve handle component, an internally threaded third end cavity portion, an externally threaded fourth end cavity portion, an ancillary ball valve handle component and, an internally threaded fifth end cavity portion;

k. said first stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said first through hole cut within said body portion;

l. said first stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

m. said small ball valve unit being threadably connected via said internally threaded first end cavity portion thereof to said externally threaded second end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

n. said second stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said second through hole cut within said body portion;

o. said second stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit;

p. said internally threaded second end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit serving to threadably hold a low water sensor unit via external threading about a body portion of said sensor unit;

q. said first end segment of said elongated body unit of said E-shaped piping unit being soldered to and within said second end cavity portion of said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit;

r. said second end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit being soldered to and within said first end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit;

s. said internally threaded first end cavity portion of said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return being amenable to being threadably connected with the externally threaded first end portion of a hollow adapter unit, the other end portion of which is, in turn, soldered to the distal end portion of initial piping also connected within a hole found within a building structure'"'"'s hot water boiler unit, and;

t. said internally threaded second end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit being amenable to being threadably connected with the externally threaded first end portion of a hollow adapter unit, the other end portion of which said hollow adapter unit is, in turn, soldered to the proximal end of outflow piping leading to said building structure'"'"'s heating system.

20. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 19, whereby an internally threaded first drain cap component is threadably connected about and to said externally threaded second end cavity portion of said small ball valve unit.

21. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 19, whereby an externally threaded drain cap component is threadably receivable within said threaded fifth end cavity portion of said three way purge ball valve unit.

22. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 19, whereby said 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

71-506-08.

23. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 19, whereby said small ball valve unit is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

70-103-HC.

24. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 19, whereby said three way purge ball valve unit is an APOLLO®

unit with unit number;

77B-106-01.

25. A low water sensor testing apparatus comprising:

a. a first hollow main connector adapter unit;

b. said first hollow main connector adapter unit having an externally threaded first end portion and an unthreaded second end portion;

c. an E-shaped piping unit having an elongated body portion with a first through hole and a second through hole each cut within said body portion with each said through hole being bisected by one common, elongated surface axis of said body portion;

d. a first end segment and a second end segment of said elongated body portion;

e. a first stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a first stem inner end segment and a first stem outer end segment;

f. a second stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a second stem inner end segment and second stem outer end segment;

g. a second hollow main connector adapter unit;

h. said second hollow main connector adapter unit having an externally threaded first end portion and an unthreaded second end portion;

i. a first small hollow adapter unit with an unthreaded first end portion and an externally threaded second end portion;

j. a small ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion and an externally threaded second end cavity portion and a ball valve handle component;

k. a second small hollow adapter unit having an unthreaded first end portion and an internally threaded second end portion;

l. said externally threaded first end portion of said first hollow main connector adapter unit being threadably connected within an internally threaded second end cavity portion of a 2 piece threaded ball valve unit with spring return;

m. said unthreaded second end portion of said first hollow main connector adapter unit being soldered to and about said first end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit;

n. said first stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said first through hole cut within said body portion;

o. said first stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

p. said small ball valve unit being threadably connected via said internally threaded first end cavity portion thereof to said externally threaded second end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

q. said second stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said second through hole cut within said body portion;

r. said second stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit;

s. said internally threaded second end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit serving to threadably hold a low water sensor unit via external threading about a body portion of said sensor unit;

t. said second end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit being soldered to and within said unthreaded second end portion of said second hollow main connector adapter unit, and;

u. said externally threaded first end portion of said second hollow adapter unit being threadably connected within an internally threaded first end cavity portion of a three way purge ball valve unit.

26. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 25 whereby an internally threaded first drain cap component is threadably connected about and to said externally threaded second end cavity portion of said ball valve unit.

27. A low water sensor testing apparatus comprising:

a. an E-shaped piping unit having an elongated body portion with a first through hole and a second through hole each cut within said body portion with each said through hole being bisected by one common elongated surface axis of said body portion;

b. a first end segment and a second end segment of said elongated body portion;

c. a first stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a first stem inner end segment and a first stem outer end segment;

d. a second stem portion of said E-shaped piping unit and having a second stem inner end segment and second stem outer end segment;

e. a first small hollow adapter unit with an unthreaded first end portion and an externally threaded second end portion;

f. a small ball valve unit having an internally threaded first end cavity portion and an externally threaded second end cavity portion and a ball valve handle component;

g. a second small hollow adapter unit having an unthreaded first end portion and an internally threaded second end portion;

h. said first stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said first through hole cut within said body portion;

i. said first stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

j. said small ball valve unit being threadably connected via said internally threaded first end cavity portion thereof to said externally threaded second end portion of said first small hollow adapter unit;

k. said second stem inner end segment being soldered to said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit at and about said second through hole cut within said body portion;

l. said second stem outer end segment being soldered to and within said unthreaded first end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit;

m. said internally threaded second end portion of said second small hollow adapter unit serving to threadably hold a low water sensor unit via external threading about a body portion of said sensor unit;

n. said first end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit being amenable to being soldered to and within a second end cavity portion of a 2 piece threaded steel ball valve unit with spring return, and;

o. said second end segment of said elongated body portion of said E-shaped piping unit being amenable to being soldered to and within a first end cavity portion of a three way purge ball valve unit.

28. The low water sensor testing apparatus of claim 27, whereby an internally threaded first drain cap component is threadably connected about and to said externally threaded second end cavity portion of said small ball valve unit.