Pressure activated trap primer and water hammer combination

• US 20070209707A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Genesis
• Original Assignee: Silicon Genesis
• Inventors: Weltman, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,882,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/247.250
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/075 Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/296 using water-supply valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 13/00 Other constructional types of cut-off apparatus means for plugging pipes or hoses F16L55/10; Arrangements for cutting-off
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/02 for preventing water-hammer or noise
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/045 specially adapted to prevent or minimise the effects of water hammer
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/053 the gas in the reservoir being separated from the fluid in the pipe
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/055 Valves therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/266 Primer valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3118 Surge suppression
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4516 Seal replenishers

Abstract

A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer valve includes a hollow pipe having a closed end, a discharging end, an inlet, an outlet port connected to said discharging end and attachable to plumbing tubing, an inlet port connected to said inlet and attachable to plumbing tubing, an insert plug within said pipe positioned at said discharging end and at said inlet, said insert plug substantially tubular with opposing flats, and having a longitudinal cylindrical bore and a latitudinal threaded through bore, a port bolt within a portion of said insert plug and a portion of said inlet port, said port bolt substantially tubular and having a longitudinal cylindrical bore and a latitudinal through bore distributor aligned with the insert plug longitudinal cylindrical bore, and a check piston within said pipe and slidingly engageable with said insert plug and said outlet port wherein said check piston engages slidably responsive to water pressure changes at said inlet port and an integral air gap outlet.

Claims

1. A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer valve, comprising:

A hollow pipe including an inner wall, a closed end, a discharging end, and inlet;

An outlet port connected to said discharging end and attachable to plumbing tubing;

An inlet port connected to said inlet and attachable to plumbing tubing;

An insert plug within said pipe positioned at said discharging end and at said inlet, said insert plug substantially tubular with cross-section dissimlar to that of said hollow pipe so as to allow fluid flow between said insert plug and said hollow pipe inner wall, and said insert plug including a longitudinal cylindrical bore and a latitudinal threaded through bore;

A port bolt within a portion of said insert plug and a portion of said inlet port, said port bolt substantially tubular and having a longitudinal cylindrical bore and a latitudinal through bore distributor aligned with the insert plug longitudinal cylindrical bore; and

A check piston within said pipe and slidingly engageable with said insert plug and said outlet port wherein said check piston engages slidably responsive to water pressure changes at said inlet port.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air piston within said pipe positioned between said insert plug and said closed end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a check valve positioned within said insert plug distally located in relation to the pipe discharging end.

8. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said outlet port further comprises an integral air gap separater.

9. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claim 8, wherein said integral air gap separator separation distance is the greater of one inch (25 mm) or twice the diameter of said plumbing tubing to which said outlet port is connectable to.

20. A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer as in claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein said insert plug cross-section is circular with at least two opposing flats.

21. A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer as in claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein said insert plug cross-section is oval.

22. A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer as in claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein said insert plug cross-section is circular with an eccentric centerline in relation to said hollow pipe.

23. A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer as in claim 8, wherein said insert plug cross-section is circular with at least two opposing flats.

24. A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer as in claim 8, wherein said insert plug cross-section is oval.

25. A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer as in claim 8, wherein said insert plug cross-section is circular with an eccentric centerline in relation to said hollow pipe.

4. A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer valve comprising:

receiving means for receiving water under pressure;

distributing means for distributing water under pressure through a tubing system;

pressure responsive means for accepting distributed water and upon pressure changes for channeling distributed water; and

discharging means for discharging distributed water from pressure responsive means.

10. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claim 4, wherein said discharge means includes an integral air gap separator.

11. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claim 10, wherein said integral air gap separator separation distance is the greater of one inch (25 mm) or twice the diameter of said plumbing tubing to which said outlet port is connectable to.

5. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer, comprising:

an inlet connected to system plumbing, an outlet connected to drain, and an expansion chamber;

first one way sealing means permitting water flow from said inlet to said expansion chamber when inlet water pressure is rising compared to gas pressure within said expansion chamber;

second one way water tight sealing means permitting water flow from said expansion chamber to said outlet when inlet water pressure is lowering compared to gas pressure within said expansion chamber;

such that;

when inlet fluid pressure rises above gas pressure within said expansion chamber, said second one-way sealing means seals said inlet and said expansion chamber from said outlet, causing high pressure fluid to flow into said expansion chamber compressing the gas volume; and

when inlet fluid pressure subsequently drops, said compressed gas in said expansion chamber expands, causing said first water tight sealing means to seal said expansion chamber from said inlet, further causing said second water tight sealing means to open, thereby forcing fluid from said expansion chamber into said drain;

until gas pressure within said expansion chamber equals system pressure.

12. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claim 5, wherein said outlet comprises an integral air gap separator.

13. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claim 12, wherein said integral air gap separator separation distance is the greater of one inch (25 mm) or twice the diameter of said plumbing tubing to which said outlet port is connectable to.

6. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer, comprising:

water receiving means for connecting to an existing plumbing system and to a plumbing line to a trap seal;

water discharging means for connecting to an plumbing line to a trap seal;

water pressure distribution means attached to and in fluid communication with said water receiving means for receiving and distributing water under pressure; and

trap seal priming means attached to and in fluid communication with water pressure distribution means and said water discharging means for priming a trap by receiving distributed water from said water pressure distribution means and discharging said distributed water to a trap for priming.

14. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claim 6, wherein said outlet comprises an integral air gap separator.

15. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claim 14, wherein said integral air gap separator separation distance is the greater of one inch (25 mm) or twice the diameter of said plumbing tubing to which said outlet port is connectable to.

7. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer, comprising:

water receiving means for connecting to an existing plumbing system and to a plumbing line to a trap seal;

water discharging means for connecting to an plumbing line to a trap seal;

water pressure distribution means attached to and in fluid communication with said water receiving means for receiving and distributing water under pressure;

trap seal priming means attached to and in fluid communication with water pressure distribution means and said water discharging means for priming a trap by receiving distributed water from said water pressure distribution means and discharging said distributed water to a trap for priming; and

,

an integral air gap separater in fluid communication with and disposed between said water discharging means and said trap seal.

16. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer, comprising:

a side inlet connectable to system plumbing, a bottom outlet connectable to a plumbing drain trap, said bottom outlet including an integral air gap, and an expansion chamber located above said side inlet and said bottom outlet;

a distributor interposed between, and in fluid communication with, each of said side inlet, said bottom outlet and said expansion chamber, said distributor including an internal channel and one or more external channels;

a check piston within said distributor internal channel disposed between said side inlet and said bottom outlet, said check piston including a one-way seal allowing flow from said internal channel to said external channels;

wherein, when system plumbing pressure exceeds gas pressure in said expansion chamber, said check piston seats against said bottom outlet, and said one-way seal permits water flow from said internal channel to said expansion chamber via said external channels, thereby reducing pressure in said system plumbing by trapping a volume of water;

and further wherein, when system plumbing pressure decreases to less than expansion chamber gas pressure, said check piston seats against said internal channel, thereby porting said received water volume exclusively to said bottom outlet via said external channels.

17. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claim 16, further comprising:

check valve means within said distributor, said check valve in fluid communication with said side inlet and said expansion chamber, said check valve permitting rapid fluid flow from said side inlet to said expansion chamber and blocking fluid flow from said expansion chamber to said inlet.

18. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer as in claims 16 or 17, further comprising:

a piston disposed within said expansion chamber, said piston separating the gas portion from the liquid surface within said expansion chamber.

19. A water hammer arrestor and trap seal primer, comprising:

an inlet connectable to a plumbing system;

an expansion chamber above said inlet;

an outlet below said inlet, said outlet connectable to a plumbing system drain trap, and said outlet including an integral air gap;

first check valve means between said inlet and expansion chamber permitting rapid inflow of water due to water pressure event, but preventing flow from expansion chamber to inlet;

second check valve means between said expansion chamber and said outlet;

such that when fluid pressure at said inlet rises above gas pressure in said expansion chamber as in a water hammer event, said first check valve means allows water inflow into said expansion chamber, thereby reducing plumbing system pressure caused by a water hammer event, and further wherein, said second check valve means prevents flow from said expansion chamber to said outlet;

and, such that when fluid pressure at said inlet drops below gas pressure, said first check valve means prevents return flow from said expansion chamber into said inlet and said second check valve means permits water flow from said expansion chamber to said outlet, thereby directing water received during a water hammer event to drain and preventing a reflected water hammer event.