PLUMBING SYSTEM TEST FITTING

• US 20030111125A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plumb Rite, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plumb Rite, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael W., Schaupp, Richard E., Sesser, Gregory L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,588,454 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/90
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/105 Closing devices introduced radially into the pipe or hose

Abstract

A plumbing test fitting for insertion in a plumbing drain or pressure fluid distribution system includes a body with two spaced-apart lateral ports formed thereon and opening into a central bore of the body. One of the ports is adapted for receiving a hose bib for connection to a source of test fluid and the other port is provided for withdrawing a flexible diaphragm from the interior of the body with a pull member extending through the other port. The flexible diaphragm is retained in the body during a pressure or leakage test of the plumbing system and is removed after completion of the test by tearing the diaphragm away from a supporting rim part. The flexible diaphragm is foldable to be withdrawn through the other port which may be of a diameter smaller than the normal unfolded diameter of the flexible diaphragm.

Claims

1. A test fitting for testing a plumbing system, said fitting comprising:

a body including a bore formed therein and defining a flow passage, said body being adapted to be connected to a conduit at opposite ends of said body for insertion in a plumbing system and said body including a first lateral port opening into said bore; and

a diaphragm assembly disposed in said bore and including a pull member extending through said first lateral port, said diaphragm assembly including a flexible diaphragm part connected to said pull member and responsive to a pulling action on said pull member to be extracted from said bore through said first lateral port.

2. The test fitting set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said diaphragm assembly includes a peripheral rim part operable to be retained in said bore and said diaphragm part comprises a generally hemispherical shaped portion joined to said rim part at a tear line for tearing said diaphragm part away from said rim part at will.

3. The test fitting set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said diaphragm assembly includes a peripheral rim part adapted to be retained in said bore and said diaphragm part comprises a generally circular disc-shaped member joined to said rim part.

4. The test fitting set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the diameter of said diaphragm part is greater than the diameter of said first lateral port.

5. The test fitting set forth in claim 1 including:

a retaining sleeve insertable in said bore for retaining said diaphragm assembly in said body.

6. The test fitting set forth in claim 1 including:

a second lateral port spaced from said first lateral port for connecting said body to a source of test fluid for said plumbing system.

7. The test fitting set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said diaphragm assembly is disposed in a counterbore formed in said body, said counterbore being disposed between said first and second lateral ports.

8. The test fitting set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said diaphragm part is of sufficient flexibility to be foldable to be extracted from said body through said first lateral port.

9. The test fitting set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said diaphragm assembly includes a generally cylindrical rim part and a generally circular diaphragm part joined to and supported by said rim part, said diaphragm part including at least one tear line forming a line of separation of said diaphragm part from one of itself and said rim part.

10. The test fitting set forth in claim 9 wherein:

said tear line comprises a spiral line formed on said diaphragm part and extending substantially from a point of attachment of said pull member to said diaphragm part toward said rim part.

11. The test fitting set forth in claim 9 wherein:

said diaphragm part includes a plurality of substantially side-by-side tear lines extending across said diaphragm part and radiating generally from a point of connection of said pull member to said diaphragm part.

12. The test fitting set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said pull member is attached to said diaphragm part at a laterally displaced position with respect to a central axis of said diaphragm assembly.

13. A test fitting for testing a plumbing system, said fitting comprising:

a body including a bore formed therein and defining a flow passage, said body being adapted to be connected to a conduit at opposite ends of said body for insertion in a plumbing system, said body including a first lateral port opening into said bore and a second lateral port spaced from said first lateral port for connecting said body to a source of test fluid for said plumbing system; and

a flexible molded polymer diaphragm assembly disposed in said bore and including a pull member extending through said first lateral port, said diaphragm assembly including a peripheral rim part adapted to be retained in said bore and a generally circular thin walled diaphragm part joined to said rim part, the diameter of said diaphragm part being greater than the diameter of said first lateral port, said diaphragm part being connected to said pull member and responsive to a pulling action on said pull member to be separated from said rim part and extracted from said bore through said first lateral port.

14. The test fitting set forth in claim 13 including:

a retaining sleeve insertable in said bore for retaining said diaphragm assembly in said body.

15. The test fitting set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said diaphragm part comprises a generally hemispherical shaped portion joined to said rim part at a tear line for tearing said diaphragm part away from said rim part at will.

16. The test fitting set forth in claim 15 wherein:

said diaphragm assembly is disposed in a counterbore formed in said body, said counterbore being disposed between said first and second lateral ports.

17. The test fitting set forth in claim 15 wherein:

said diaphragm part is of sufficient flexibility to be foldable to be extracted from said body through said first lateral port.

18. The test fitting set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said diaphragm part includes at least one tear line forming a line of separation of said diaphragm part from said rim part whereby said diaphragm part may be separated into a member having one of a predetermined maximum width dimension and a folded dimension less than the diameter of said first lateral port.

19. The test fitting set forth in claim 13 including:

a spiral tear line formed on said diaphragm part and extending from a point of attachment of said pull member to said diaphragm part toward said rim part.

20. The test fitting set forth in claim 13 wherein:

said pull member is attached to said diaphragm part at a laterally displaced position with respect to a central axis of said diaphragm assembly.