MXPA99008711A - Automatic back water valve system - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve body (15) is formed of two half sections (16, 18) which are secured together to define a drain line passage (12) and to confine therebetween a thin gate valve (45) between a lower open position and an upper closed position. Actuator (110) includes flexible bellows (80) confined between a cylindrical wall (88) and cover (110). Valve body (15) and bellows (80) define an expandible chamber connected by a bottom port or extension line (97) to the drain line (12). If sewage water backs up, air within the fluid chamber expands bellows (80) upwardly to close valve (45). When sewage water flows from the drain line (12), bellows (80) moves downwardly due to differential pressure and top plate (102), automatically returning the valve blade (45) to its open position.

Description

--- 3 X 1 --..-- jl'-li-- -r - H- -H. Saw? v ujjrt s u? - > BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the technique of wastewater retention valves for installation in a sanitary sewer, for example, as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,991,081, 2,904,064 and 4,637,425, have already proposed different designs or have been used for Automatically close a valve member in case the wastewater returns inside the drain pipe. This prevents residual water from returning to the building. As described in Patent No. 1,991,081, a float member is used to detect the level of water within the drain pipe, and the float member operates a controller for controlling a reversible motor that opens and closes a gate valve. In Patent No. 2,904,064, a recovery water valve includes a gate valve member that is spring loaded in an open position, and a float detects the elevated water within the drain pipe and releases or releases the valve member from the valve. gate to close in case the float is raised by the return of water in the drain pipe. Patent No. 4,637,425 discloses a butterfly or flap check valve having a pivot valve member. The valve member rotates to a closed position by a spring-loaded rod that is released from its mounted position by the action of a solenoid controlled by a switch actuated by the float. After the return water is drained from the drain pipe, the check valves are manually restored. Other types of fluid operated gate valves have also been constructed or proposed, for example, as described in U.S. Patent No. 1,685,932. In any check valve for use in a sanitary sewer pipe extending from a construction, it is desirable that the valve be simple and economical in construction, operate in a safe and reliable manner, that is easy to assemble and install, that avoid any flow restriction in the drain pipe when the valve is opened and operating automatically. That is, it is desirable that the valve closes precisely when the water returns to the drain pipe and then opens automatically when the drain pipe is open again for use. After analyzing the check valves or drain valves described in the above patents, it is evident that none of the valves provides all the desirable characteristics mentioned above.

Component of the invention The present invention is directed to an improved check valve which is ideally suited for installation within a drain pipe located under the floor of a building and which provides all the desirable features and advantages mentioned above. . According to one embodiment of the invention, the check valve includes a valve body formed by two matching and opposite body sections that are substantially identical and are coupled together to define a pipeline of the drain pipe, through, straight with an entrance and a download. The body sections confine these to a thin sheet metal gate valve member which is supported by vertical reciprocating movement between a lower position opening the conduit and an upper position closing the conduit. The valve body sections form a circular wall over the conduit and which is sealed to the lower end portion of a flexible cylindrical member or bellows defining an expandable chamber. The upper end portion of the bellows is closed and receives a circular upper cover plate which is mounted on the upper end portion of a driving rod having a lower end portion secured to the upper part of the sheet member. A wall surrounds the bellows for protection, and the lower part of the chamber ex the drainage pipe by means of a conduit or an opening defined in a discharge section of the body. When the check valve is installed the bellows are normally in a collapsed down position, and the valve leaf member is in its lower open position. When the wastewater returns to the drainage pipe, the hydraulic pressure within the expandable chamber is increased by the trapped air, displaced to extend the bellows and move the blade member to its closed upper position by blocking the pipe from the drain pipe. When the subsequent drain pipe is opened and the wastewater brakes through the drain pipe, the hydraulic pressure inside the chamber decreases so that the bellows contract due to the weight of the upper cover plate and the member automatically returns. blade to its open bottom position. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a check valve system constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the valve system installed within a drain pipe; FIGURE 2 is a vertical, axial section of the check valve system of FIGURE 1 and shown in the open position; FIGURE 3 is a fragmented section taken generally on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 4 is a vertical section similar to FIGURE 2 and shows the check valve system in its closed position; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a check valve system constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention and shown installed under a basement floor; FIGURE 6 is a fragmented section taken generally on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; FIGURE 7 is a plan view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 6; FIGURE 8 is a section similar to FIGURE 2 showing the second embodiment of the valve system in its open position; and FIGURE 9 is a section similar to FIGURE 8 and showing the valve system in its closed position.

Description of the preferred embodiments FIGURE 1 illustrates a return valve system 10 culis tiuido d? according to the > r rl (----> t> "h tr-k H-a conventional drain pipe 12 which may be plastic or cast iron The valve 10 includes a valve body 15 which is formed by two sections of the body coincident and opposite 16 and 18. Each of the body sections is shown constructed of molten metal but can also be injection molded of a rigid plastic material The body section 16 includes a generally planar rectangular wall 22 of which a cylindrical discharge coupling portion 23 and a semicircular top wall 26 is projected. In the same manner, the valve body section 18 includes a generally planar rectangular wall 28, a cylindrical inlet coupling portion 29 and a semicircular top wall. 32. A stainless steel separator plate as frame 34 is confined or sandwiched between walls 22 and 28 with suitable gaskets or sealing mastic, and walls 22 and 28 are secured urated together by bolts placed in the periphery 37. Each of the walls 22 and 28 define a shallow rectangular cavity 41 (FIGURE 2), and the separator plate 34 is provided with lugs projecting inwards 43 (FIGURE 3) ) which cooperate with the walls 22 and 28 to form a view or channel for a slide valve member, sliding stainless steel 45. The sheet member 45 is generally rectangular with a surface. V-shaped 47 and a circular hole or hole 48 within its upper portion. A pair of resilient O-rings 49 are confined within the corresponding annular slits within the opposite sides of the walls 22 and 28 and form fluid-tight seals with the sliding sheet member 45. A control rod 54 has a lower end portion with a slot for receiving the upper end portion of the sheet member 45 and is secured by welding to the sheet member. The rod 54 projects downward through a cylindrical bore 56 defined by the walls 22 and 28 and between the upper end portions 57 of the separator plate 34. When the valve body sections 16 and 18 are coupled together by the bolts 37 and with the separator plate 34 and the sliding blade member 45 confined between the walls, the cylindrical coupling portions 23 and 29 define a conduit of the drain pipe 65 with an inlet 67 and an outlet 69. The cylindrical coupling portions 23 and 29 are each connected to an opposite section of the drain pipe 12 by a rubber coupling sleeve. resilient 72 and a pair of hose clamps or band 74 extending into the circumference. A generally cylindrical bellows 80 is molded of a? A r- - i It-i-c ---- uci j.a? O-t: CduCnu O piaS-, n-u i C? I-üxC n- i ---; ----_- -. a side wall 82 with a corrugated, zigzag cross configuration. The wall 82 has a lower end portion 84 surrounding the circular wall formed by the sections of the matching semicircular walls 26 and 32, and a cylindrical cover or basin, of stainless steel sheet 86 surrounds the wall 82 and hermetically surrounds the end portion bottom 84 of the wall 82. A cylindrical band clamp 88 surrounds the lower end portion of the metal foil pan 86 and compresses the lower end portion of the bellows wall 82 against the circular wall sections 26 and 32 to form a fluid tight seal. The bellows 80 have an integrally molded top wall 92 which cooperates with the side wall 82 and the wall sections 26 and 32 to define an expandable fluid chamber 95 that surrounds the upper portions of the flat, connected body walls 22 and 28 The chamber 95 is connected to the drainpipe conduit 65 by an inlet or orifice 97 formed within a rim 98 at the top of the discharge coupling portion 23. The upper wall 92 of the bellows 80 is covered by a circular top plate 102 that is fused metal and has a predetermined weight, for example, about -.in the case ----- r-? "- at 1 Cl DC rt-xTk c ± i-, -i H .a rigidly to the upper threaded end portion on the control rod 54 by a pair of locknuts 104. The top plate 102 has a downwardly projecting peripheral flange 106 which receives the upper end portion of a cylindrical stainless steel pan 110 having an internal diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pan 86. A series of screws placed in the The periphery 112 secures the trough 110 to the flange of the cover plate 106. Instead of the telescopic troughs 86 and 110, a metal or inverted plastic container or shell can be mounted on the outer edge portion of the wall sections 26 and 32 and cover the bellows 80 and the upper plate in its extended position (FIGURE 4) During operation, when the check valve system 10 is installed in the sewage waste pipe 12, the valve is normally in the p open position (FIGURE 2). In this position, the bellows 80 are in their collapsed position (FIGURE 2) and the blade member of the gate valve 45 is in its open-down position when the hole 48 is aligned with the conduit 65. When the wastewater returns and fill the pipe 12, the water flows up through the inlet 97 and into the chamber 95 to compress the air trapped inside the vertical or pressure in the waste water increases and the water level rises inside the chamber 95, the Air pressure within the upper portion of the chamber is increased enough to raise the upper plate 102 and drag the blade member of the gate valve 45 upwards until it reaches its closed position (FIGURE 4). In this closed position, the bellows 80 are fully extended and the air pressure within the upper portion of the chamber 95 is sufficient, for example, about 0.25 psi, to hold the valve 10 in its closed position where the sheet member 45 clutch with the upper end portion of the separator plate 34. When the valve system 10 is closed, any further increase in hydraulic pressure within the return wastewater is blocked at the outlet 69 of the conduit 65. Since the drain pipe of the waste water 12 is usually located a couple of feet below a floor surface of a construction, the check valve system 10 is effective to prevent waste water from returning to the drain line 12 at a level above of the floor surface. When the problem causing blockage in the drain pipe is corrected 12, and the hydraulic pressure in the water within the pipe 12 decreases, the water level inside c - to - 95 descends extensible chamber 95 through the inlet 97 towards the duct 65 and the pipe 12, the air pressure within the upper portion of chamber 95 decreases. The weight of the top plate 102 is then effective to collapse the bellows 80 and move the blade member of the gate valve 45 down to its open position where the waste water to flow through the conduit 65. Referring to FIGS. -9 showing another embodiment of a check valve system constructed in accordance with the invention, a check valve system or unit 120 is submerged within a cylindrical, surrounding fiberglass cover 122 embedded within a basement floor 124 of a building. The valve unit 120 is connected within a drain pipe 126 that extends into the floor G under a basement floor 124 and the foundation die for a basement wall 128. The drain pipe 126 extends from the valve unit 120 to an elbow 131 and a drain discharge 132 within the basement floor 124. The check valve unit 120 is generally constructed the same as the valve unit 10 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-4, and therefore, the same reference numbers for the corresponding parts or components but with the addition of the premium brand. Thus, a valve body 15 '(FIGURES 8 and 9.) Iuciuyt- matching body sections 16' and 18 'which are illustrated in molten metal but can also be molded from a rigid plastic material. valve 16 'and 18' are held together by bolts 37 'and confined therein a valve member or sheet 45 having an inlet 48' A control rod of the sheet 54 'projects upwardly from the sheet 45' between the walls 22 'and 28', and a diaphragm-like bellows 80 'has a central portion secured to the control rod 54' by an upper plate 102 'and a nut 104'. A sealing, resilient ring 136 is confined within a slot within the walls and surrounds the rod 54 'The bellows 80' includes a cylindrical side wall 82 'which is bordered by an internal cylindrical wall of rigid plastic 140 secured to the circular wall 32' of the valve body 15 ' The wall of the f springs 82 'is surrounded by a cylindrical wall or trough 110' of an inverted container-like shell 142 molded of a rigid plastic material. The top wall of the wrapper 142 has a central hole or hole 143 to allow air to flow in and out of the wrapper 142 having a bottom edge portion secured to the wall 32 'of the valve body 15' • - for . 67 'and the cylindrical outlet 69' define a water conduit 65 'and are each connected to the drain pipe 126 by a coupling sleeve 72 and the band clamps 74 in the same manner as shown and described above with reference to to FIGURE 1. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the check valve unit or system 120 further includes an extension of the drain line 152 which is connected at an acute angle to the drain pipe 126 downstream of the valve body 15 '. The extension of the drain pipe 152 includes a U-shaped water trap member 154, and a tubular portion 156 defining a fixed return water chamber 158. The tubular portion 156 of the extension of the drain pipe 152 is positioned parallel and horizontal from the main drain pipe 126, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A fluid or air pipe 160 connects with the upper portion of the chamber 158 to the bottom of the expandable fluid chamber 95 ' defined above the wall of the valve body 32 and inside the bellows 80 '. In this manner, the extension of the drain pipe 152 and the pipe 160 form a fluid conduit for the return water within the drain pipe 126 to flow in and out of the chamber 158 through the trap 154 and also a conduit for the air displaced within the c- ± in and out of the chamber 95 '. The check valve system 120 including the retainer extension 152 and the fixed air displacement chamber 158 are ideally suited for use within a drain pipe 126 that is located near the basement floor 124 of a building, for example. example, from 4 to 12 inches below the floor 124. The operation of the check valve system 120 is generally the same as the operation of the check valve system 10 described above. That is, when the drain pipe 126 is practically empty and filled with air, the water in the drain has a level 164 within the trap 154 so that the air inside the chamber 158 is effectively trapped by the water at the level 164 As the water begins to return inside the drain pipe 126, the water rises in the chamber 158 to a level 166, thereby compressing the trapped air within the chamber. The compressed air within the chamber 158 flows into the conduit inside the pipe 160 and into the chamber 95 '. When the water inside the chamber 158 reaches the level 166, the air pressure inside the chamber 95 'is sufficient to have moved the bellows 80' and the valve member 45 'from the open position (FIGURE 8) to the closed position (FIGURE 9) As a result of the increase in the When the valve member or the sheet 45 'is in its closed position, the return water within the drain pipe 126 stops at an approximate level 168 which is slightly higher than the level 166 within the chamber 158, since the air within the upper portion of the chamber 158 is more compressed. When the return water flows out of the drain pipe 126 and the extension of the drain pipe 152, the level of the water within the chamber 158 falls to the water level 164, thereby returning the air pressure inside. from the upper portion of the fixed chamber 158 and the air pressure within the expandable chamber 9- 'to the normal air pressure which is practically the atmospheric air pressure. The decrease in air pressure within the chamber 95 causes the diaphragm 80 'and the valve member 45' to move downward to the normally open position (FIGURE 8) as a result of the weight of the top plate 102 'and the suction created within the chambers 95 'and 158. From the above-mentioned drawings and description it is evident that the check valve system constructed in accordance with the present invention provides desirable features and advantages. For example, the system of the return valve 10 or 120 is simple, compact and economical in its construction and also of safe operation. In addition, the valve system operates automatically without the need for electrical power and does not offer restriction to the flow of drainage water when the valve is in its open position. Furthermore, it is evident that the sections of the valve body 16 and 18 or 16 'and 18' are practically identical, except for the opening or inlet 97 in the section 16 or the conduit for the air pipe 160. In this way, when The sections of the valve body are fused in metal, it is possible to use the same mold. When the body sections 16 and 18 or 16 'and 18' are fused to metal, the separator plate 34 or 34 'has a thickness some thousandths greater than the thickness of the gate member of the gate valve 45 or 45'. This is preferred, so that only the rectangular faces with frame appearance of the walls 28 and 28 or 22 'and 28' require machining or surface grinding. However, if the sections of the body are molded of a plastic material, the spacer plate of the recess can be omitted and it is possible to form opposite recesses within the flat faces of the walls to receive the sheet member for sliding movement. The telescopic cylindrical buckets 86 and 110 or the inverted stationary casing 142 are provided to protect the flexible bellows 80 or 80 ', but are not required for operation or operation of the check valve. The arrangement of the gate valve member 45 or 45 'with a lower open position and an upper closed position, and its continuous contact with the O-rings 49, are also desirable. This guarantees that the path for the blade member is always open and that the O 49 rings form tight seals to the safe fluids when the valve is closed. The portion of the sheet member defining the lower half of the hole 48 or 48 'can also be provided with a sharp edge for cutting through any semi-solid material that may be within the bore and interfere with the closing foil member. It is also evident that a number of tension coil springs, placed in circumference can be used out of the bellows 80 to connect the top plate 102 to the sections of the bottom walls 26 and 32 to reduce the weight of the upper plate or wall 102. In addition, it is possible to use the check valve system 120 when the drain pipe 126 is close to the floor 124. Although the presently described valve check valve shapes and their construction and operating methods constitute the Preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise methods and shapes of the valve systems described, and that it is possible to make changes in the present invention to depart from the scope and spirit of the invention. as defined in the appended claims, for example, the air retention / displacement chamber, such as the camera 158 or a camera den A part of a part forming a record of a drain pipe can be used between the drain pipe and the expandable chamber 95 or 95 'so that only the air displaced enters the chamber 95 or 95'. Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed:

Claims (1)

P.EIVINDICATIONS

1. A valve system for use with a sewage drainage pipe with gravity flow containing air, the valve system consists of a valve body having a water conduit with an inlet and a discharge, a valve member placed between the inlet and discharge and movable between a retracted open position that allows the flow of water through the conduit and a closed position that blocks the flow of water through the conduit, generally cylindrical bellows or fluid impermeable material, flexible and forming a expandable fluid chamber, an actuator connected to the bellows and movable between a first position and a second position, a generally cylindrical wall member within the bellows and supporting the bellows, the actuator connected to the valve member to move the valve member from the open position to the closed position in response to the movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position the means for trapping air displaced by the return of water in the drain pipe, and a means for increasing the hydraulic pressure within the extensible hydraulic chamber and moving the actuator to the second position, and the valve member to the closed position in response to an increase in trapped air pressure. . The system is designed as a claim 1, wherein the extensible hydraulic chamber is positioned on the water conduit, and the valve member consists of a generally planar valve sheet movable downward to the open position and up to the closed position. 3. The valve system as defined in claim 1 and includes means for automatically moving the actuator to the first position and the valve member to the open position in response to a reduction of the hydraulic pressure within the extensible hydraulic chamber. The valve system as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve member consists of a flat, virtually thin valve sheet, and the valve body consists of a pair of matching and opposite body sections bordering each other the valve sheet for sliding movement between the open and closed positions. The valve system as defined in claim 4, wherein each of the body sections includes an upper wall that forms a lower wall for the extensible hydraulic chamber. The valve system as defined in claim 1, wherein the extensible hydraulic chamber defines a hole in the upper part of the chamber to direct the return water from the water conduit to the chamber and to drain by gravity the return water from the chamber to the water conduit. The valve system as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a weight member for pushing the actuator down to the first position and the valve member to the open position. The valve system as defined in claim 1 includes an extension of the drain pipe positioned from the drain pipe and includes a means for air to be scraped into the drain pipe and to direct trapped air to the hydraulic chamber. extensible. 9. The valve system as defined in claim 1 includes a generally cylindrical cover surrounding the bellows, the bellows being confined between the wall and the cover.