US3858597A

US3858597A - Method and apparatus for draining liquid carrying ducts which transport liquid to and from liquid holding containers

Info

Publication number: US3858597A
Application number: US429275A
Authority: US
Inventors: George M Pramenko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-12-28
Filing date: 1973-12-28
Publication date: 1975-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-07

Abstract

A trough-like implement having a wall member or members extending forward at one end and along the sides to define a substantially continuous sealing lip around the two sides and one end, is used to drain pipe or ducts which carry liquid to and from a liquid holding container, such as a swimming pool, without materially reducing the liquid level of the container. The trough-like implement is lowered into the pool with the sealing lip in engagement with a container wall and surrounding a duct port so that the area inside the trough-like member is effectively isolated from the main body of liquid in the container. The liquid inside the trough-like implement is then removed, as by bailing or siphoning, to a level below the duct port, the duct is next drained and sealed and the implement is then removed to let the liquid in the container seek its own level. The process is repeated for each duct which is to be drained.

Description

United States Patent 1 1111 3,858,597

Pramenko 1 Jan. 7, 1975 4] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR [57] ABSTRACT DRAINING LIQUID CARRYING DUCTS WHICH TRANSPORT LIQUID TO AND FROM LIQUID HOLDING CONTAINERS [76] Inventor: George M. Pramenko, 521

University Ave., Missoula, Mont. 59801 [22] Filed: Dec. 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 429,275

[52] US. Cl 137/1, 4/.172.17, 137/590 [51] Int. Cl Et14h 3/16 [58] Field of Search 137/1, 15, 215, 216,590,

Primary ExaminerAlan Cohan Attorney, Agent, or FirmGregg, Hendricson & Caplan A trough-like implement having a wall member or members extending forward at one end and along the sides to define a substantially continuous sealing lip around the two sides and one end, is used to drain pipe or ducts which carry liquid to and from a liquid holding container, such as a swimming pool, without materially reducing the liquid level of the container. The trough-like implement is lowered into the pool with the sealing lip in engagement with a container wall and surrounding a duct port so that the area inside the trough-like member is effectively isolated from the main body of liquid in the container. The liquid inside the trough-like implement is then removed. as by bailing or siphoning, to a level below the duct port. the duct is next drained and sealed and the implement is then removed to let the liquid in the container seek its own level. The process is repeated f0 each duct which is to be drained.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAINING LIQUID CARRYING DUCTS WHICH TRANSPORT LIQUID TO AND FROM LIQUID HOLDING CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In Winterizing swimming pools, it has been found that damage to the pool is minimized if water is maintained at essentially the normal level throughout the cold weather. However, it is necessary to drain inlet and drainage pipes that are near enough the surface of the ground to freeze during the cold weather. Should liquid in the pipes (ducts or conduits) be frozen, the pipes will most likely be broken and require replacement.

This particular application, i.e., Winterizing swimming pools, inspired the present invention, therefore, the following description is made with reference to this use. However, it will be understood that the invention has many other uses.

In order to drain near-surface inlet and outlet pipes for swimming pools, it has been the practice to drain the pool until ports are above the level of'the water in the pool. The pipes are then cleared of water and sealed and the pool then refilled to avoid winter damage. Pool drainage and refill operations are time consuming, wasteful of water and expensive.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a means of isolating and draining ducts or pipes which are open to and have ports beneath the liquid level of a main body of liquid without reducing the liquid level materially.

Another object of the invention is to provide means and method for performing the above function simply and inexpensively and in a minimum amount of time.

In carrying out the invention, a body of liquid around an entry or exit port of a container is sealed off or isolated from the main body of liquid in the container by providing a trough-like implement having wall portions extending forward along the sides and bottom, thereby to form a continuous sealing lip around the sides and bottom, and inserting the implement in the container with the sealing lip snug against the container wall around a port and removing liquid from the sealed off area (inside the troughdike implement) until the port is exposed above the liquid level, draining and sealing the pipe or duct which communicates with the container at the port and removing the trough-like implement to allow liquid in the container to seek its own level in the port area. The process is repeated for each port for a conduit to be drained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a trough-like implement used in carrying out the method described, and

FIG. 2 is a broken away cross sectional view showing a central vertical section of the implement of FIG. 1 positioned around a conduit port and against a swimming pool wall as contemplated for carrying out the method described.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For an understanding of the configuration of the trough-like implement used in the draining procedure, reference may be had to both figures of the drawing. Functionally, the purpose of the implement 10 is to entrap and isolate a relatively small body of liquid (water) 12 from a larger body 14. In order to form such a closure and still provide an open area at the topof the implement 10 to allow access to the entrapped water 12 for removal and also a working area inside the implement, the implement 10 is made generally U-shaped with a back wall 16 forming the bottom of the U and side walls (18 and 20) extending inwardly defining the legs of the U.

lnthe embodiment illustrated, the

side walls

18 and 20 extend forward at right angles relative to the back wall 16. The trough-like implement 10 is closed at the lower end by sloping the lower portion 22 of the back wall inwardly and providing a forward bent portion 24 which is perpendicular to the bottom of the U" 16 and both

side walls

18 and 20. The forward extension of the back wall 16 is such that the

side walls

18 and 20 and the lowerportion 24 of the back wall 16 terminate in substantially a plane.

A continuous sealing lip '26 is provided around the open side of the implement l0 defined by the planar inner extremeties of the side and

back walls

18, 20 and 16 respectively. As illustrated, the sealing lip 26 is formed by turning the inner extremeties of each of the walls (16, 18 and 20) inward to form an essentially planar rim. Sealing properties of the sealing lip 26 is improved by providing a resilient material thereon (indicated in the drawing only by the shading). In practice a sponge rubber strip A inch thick by '94. inch wide is glued around the surface of the sealing lip 26-and a inch plastic tape is applied to the surface of the rubber strip.

For an understanding of how the implement 10 just described is used in the Winterizing process for swimming pools, reference should be made to FIG. 2 of the drawing. A duct or pipe 28 which normally contains water is located below the normal water level of the main body of water 14 in the pool, extends through the wall 30 of the pool and has a port 32 which is open to the pool. Assume that the pipe 28 is less than a foot under the surface of the earth 34 and therefore is in danger of freezing in the winter.

In order to isolate the pipe port 32 along with a smaller (entrapped) body of water 12 from the main body of water 14, the trough-like implement 10 is low ered, closed end first, into the pool, with the sealing lip 26 against the pool wall 30. The fact that the lower end of the implement 10 has its back wall 16 tapered (along the portion 22) makes it easier to lower the implement into the pool. Immediately after the implement 10 is lowered into the pool, the entrapped water 12 is at the same level as the main body 14 (not shown). With the sealing lip 26 of the implement snug against the side 30 of the pool and surrounding the port 32, the entrapped body of water 12 is removed, as by bailing or siphoning, until its level is below the port 32. Note thatas the water is removed from inside the implement l0, pressure from the main body of water 14 increases the sealing action of the sealing lip 26 against the pool wall due to increased differential pressure.

Once the level of the isolated body of water 12 inside the implement 10 is below the port 32, the pipe 26 is drained and sealed, as by plugging the port 32. In view of the pressure differential between the outside and inside of the implement 10, it probably will not be possible or desirable simply to pull it out of the water.

Therefore, it is normally necessary to equalize the external and internal pressure by refilling the isolated area inside the trough before removing the implement 10. For every duct or pipe which must be drained the process just described is repeated.

The trough-like implement illustrated has proven highly satisfactory. The implement, however, is not limited to the particular structure shown since the principle employed is the important thing. Many other structures can be envisioned which are obviously within the teachings set forth. Further, the implement illustrated has been made of both galvanized and stainless steel. Both of these materials are imminently satisfactory but, again, many other materials may be employed without departing from the present teachings. For example, the trough-like implement may be cast or molded in a single piece of, for example, plastic in a form which could be considered a single wall which has a generally arcuate back extending forward at the sides and bottom to form a sealing lip which corresponds to that (26) of the implement 10 shown. It should be equally apparent that size of the implement is not critical to the principles taught and depends to a certain extent upon the particular use. It has been found, however, that a good wall seal is made for swimming pools with relatively rough walls when the width of the implement 10 is about eighteen inches. Sufficient working room is provided between the pool wall and the back 16 of the trough-like implement 10 when the dimension from sealing lip 26 .to back 16 is about a foot. For most pools, a length of about 38 inches is highly satisfactory especially since it is highly unlikely that pipes two or more feet underground will freeze. An implement 10 of these dimensions entraps approximately 8 gallons of liquid.

The structures and steps of the invention have been shown and described in preferred form and order only, and by way of example. Many variations may be made in the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form, steps or sequence of steps except insofar as they are not contemplated by appended claims.

What is claimed is: i

l. The method of draining a liquid carrying duct which communicates with a container confining a main body of liquid in a way to permit drainage of the said duct without materially reducing the level of said main body of liquid including the steps of inserting an isolat ing means in said main body of liquid around a duct to be drained-thereby isolating a body of liquid around the said duct from the main body of liquid, removing the liquid in the said isolated area to a level below the said duct and draining the liquid from the said duct, sealing the said duct and removing said isolating means thereby allowing said main body of water to seek its level relative to the said duct.

2. The method of draining a liquid carrying duct which communicates with a container confining a main body of liquid as defined in claim 1 wherein removing the liquid in the said isolated area to a level below the said duct and draining the liquid from the said duct is carried out in two steps; viz., first removing the liquid in the said isolated area to a level below the said duct and next, draining the liquid from the said duct.

3. The method of draining a plurality of liquid carrying ducts which independently communicate with a container confining a main body of liquid wherein the method as defined in claim 1 is independently carried out for each said independent duct.

4. The method of draining a plurality of liquid carrying ducts which independently communicate with a container confining a main body of liquid wherein the method as defined in claim 2 is independently carried out for each said independent duct.

5. The method of draining a liquid carrying duct which communicates with a container confining a main body of liquid as defined in claim 2 wherein the said step of removing said isolating means is carried out in two steps, viz., refilling the said isolated area to a level substantially the level of the said main body of liquid and then removing the said isolating means.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said container is a swimming pool.

Claims

1. The method of draining a liquid carrying duct which communicates with a container confining a main body of liquid in a way to permit drainage of the said duct without materially reducing the level of said main body of liquid including the steps of inserting an isolating means in said main body of liquid around a duct to be drained thereby isolating a body of liquid around the said duct from the main body of liquid, removing the liquid in the said isolated area to a level below the said duct and draining the liquid from the said duct, sealing the said duct and removing said isolating means thereby allowing said main body of water to seek its level relative to the said duct.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said container is a swimming pool.