U.S. patent application number 13/136362 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-31 for waste water unclogging system and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Timothy D. Armstrong. Invention is credited to Timothy D. Armstrong.
Application Number | 20130025039 13/136362 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47595979 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130025039 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Armstrong; Timothy D. |
January 31, 2013 |
Waste water unclogging system and method
Abstract
A system for clearing a clog includes a body, for example a sink
or toilet, has an interior chamber fluidly connected a sewer or
drain field. A wastewater passage has a wastewater valve and a trap
therein and an outlet which is fluidly connected through a drain
line to the sewer or drain field, the passage opening to the
chamber. A pressurized water supply line is provided to selectively
discharge water into the chamber. A shunt valve fluidly connects
the supply line to the wastewater passage intermediate the
wastewater valve and the outlet. During normal use the shunt valve
is closed and the wastewater valve is open, however, when a clog
occurs, the wastewater valve is closed and the shunt valve is
opened to apply water under pressure to clear the clog.
Inventors: |
Armstrong; Timothy D.;
(Anoka, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Armstrong; Timothy D. |
Anoka |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47595979 |
Appl. No.: |
13/136362 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/255.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/304 20130101;
E03D 9/00 20130101; E03C 1/01 20130101; E03D 11/18 20130101; E03C
1/1222 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/255.06 |
International
Class: |
E03D 9/00 20060101
E03D009/00 |
Claims
1. In a system for clearing a clog blocking the flow of wastewater
to a sewer or a drain field or the like, a body having an interior
chamber for receiving water therein and a wastewater outlet,
conduit means for selectively discharging water under pressure,
means for controlling the flow of water from the conduit means into
the interior chamber, a main drain line fluidly connected to one of
a sewer and a drain field, a wastewater line having inlet and an
outlet fluidly connected to the drain line, a wastewater passage
fluidly connecting the interior chamber to the wastewater line
inlet for conducting wastewater in the chamber to the wastewater
line inlet, the wastewater passage having a wastewater valve
operable between an open condition for permitting liquid flow
therethrough and a closed condition, a wastewater passage having an
outlet that opens to the wastewater line inlet and to the interior
chamber and providing trap means for blocking flow of gases from
the drain line to the chamber while permitting the flow of water
therethrough and shunt valve means fluidly connected to the conduit
means and selectively operable between an open position for
shunting water under pressure from the conduit means and through a
fluid connection to the wastewater passage fluidly opposite the
wastewater valve from the chamber and a closed position blocking
such flow whereby in the event a clog occurs fluidly opposite the
fluid connection to the wastewater passage from the wastewater
valve, the wastewater valve is operable to its closed position and
the shunting means is operable for blocking water flow from the
conduit means to the wastewater line and alternately permitting
such flow to apply water under pressure to the clog while the
wastewater valve is closed for clearing the clog in the wastewater
line.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein a shut off valve is provided in
the conduit means between the fluid connection of the shunt valve
means and the means for controlling the flow of water from the
conduit means.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the wastewater valve is fluidly
intermediate the trap means and the wastewater passage outlet.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the wastewater valve is fluidly
opposite the trap means from the chamber.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the body is one of a sink, tub, a
toilet and a combination of a toilet and a toilet mounting
platform.
6. The system off claim 5 wherein there is a vent line, the main
drain line extending downwardly of the vent line and a joint
fluidly connecting the vent line, main drain line and the
wastewater line to one another at a lower elevation than body
outlet.
7. The system of claim 5 wherein the means includes a faucet
mounted to the body for selective discharging water into the body
and blocking discharge of water into the body and a shut off valve
intermediate the opening of the shunting means to the conduit means
and the faucet.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein the body is a sink, the wastewater
passage opens directly to the body chamber and extends exterior of
the chamber.
9. The system of claim 5 wherein the trap means comprises a
generally U-shaped trap that is at a lower elevation than the body
and is fluidly connected to the wastewater line, the wastewater
line at least initially extending to a higher elevation than its
fluid connection to the trap.
10. The system of claim 5 wherein the body is a toilet having a
stool and the wastewater passage is contained therein.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the stool has the wastewater
valve extending therein.
12. The system of claim 5 wherein the body is a combination of a
toilet and a platform on which the toilet is mounted, the
wastewater passage has a portion extending through the platform and
the wastewater valve is provided in the platform wastewater
portion.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein body includes a stool having the
chamber, the wastewater passage having a portion extending with in
the stool to open to the chamber.
14. Apparatus for clearing blocking flow of wastewater from a body
to one of a sewer and a drain field, comprising the body being one
of a tub and a sink that has a wastewater outlet, a faucet for
selectively discharging water under pressure thereinto, a supply
line fluidly connected to the faucet for conducting water under
pressure thereto, a main drain line fluidly connected to one of a
drain field and a sewer, means fluidly connecting the body outlet
to main drain line for conducting wastewater from the body outlet
to the main drain line, said means having a trap therein for
blocking gas flow from the drain line to the outlet while
permitting water flow from the outlet to the drain line and a
wastewater valve fluidly connected between the outlet and the trap,
and a shunt valve fluidly connected to open to the supply line and
opening to said means intermediate the wastewater valve and the
trap that is operable between an open position to permit water flow
from the supply line to said means and a closed position to block
such flow, the wastewater valve being operable to its closed
position when a clog occurs in the wastewater line and thereafter
the shunt valve being operable to its open position to apply water
under pressure to the clog for clearing the clog in the wastewater
line and after the clog is cleared, first operating the shunt valve
is operable to its closed position and thence the wastewater valve
is operable to its closed position.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the water supply line
includes a shut off valve fluidly intermediate the opening of the
shunt valve thereto and the faucet.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a vent is fluidly connected
to the drain line.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means includes a
wastewater line fluidly connected to the main drain line having an
inlet and a wastewater passage is fluidly connected to the waste
water line inlet and includes the wastewater valve and trap
therein, the trap being a generally U-shaped trap at a lower
elevation than the wastewater valve and being fluidly connected to
the wastewater line at a lower elevation than the wastewater
valve.
18. A method for clearing a clog in one of a wastewater passage and
a wastewater line that is fluidly connected to one of a drain field
and a sewer line and to a water outlet of a body such of one of a
sink or a tub and a toilet with a trap therein for permitting water
flow from a chamber of the body to one of the drain field and sewer
line while blocking flow of a gas therethough toward the chamber
and a pressurized water supply line for conducting water through a
first means for selectively discharging water into the body chamber
and alternately blocking such discharge, the steps of providing a
shunt valve opening to the water supply line downstream of said
first means and opening to the wastewater passage intermediate the
chamber and the outlet that is operable for blocking water flow
from the water supply line, providing a wastewater valve in the
wastewater passage fluidly intermediate the outlet and the chamber
that is operable between an open position permitting water flow
from the chamber to the outlet and a closed position blocking water
flow from the chamber to the outlet and when a clog occurs in one
of the wastewater, passage and the wastewater line fluidly opposite
the wastewater valve from the outlet, first operating the
wastewater valve to its closed position, then operating the shunt
valve to its open position to apply water under pressure to clear
the clog, thereafter first operating the shunt valve to its closed
position and then the wastewater valve to its open position.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the supply line is a hot water
line.
20. The method of claim 18 the step of providing a shut off valve
in the supply line that is fluidly intermediate the opening of the
shunt valve to the water supply line and said means is a faucet
that is operable between a closed position blocking water flow into
said body and an open position permitting such flow and when a clog
occurs in the wastewater line, operating the shut off valve to its
closed position prior to operating the shunt valve to its open
position and after the clog has been cleared, operating the shunt
valve to its closed position prior to operating the wastewater
valve to its open position.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein the body is a sink and the
wastewater valve is provided in the wastewater passage intermediate
the chamber and the trap with the shunt valve opening to the
wastewater passage intermediate the wastewater valve and the
trap.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein the body is a toilet having a
stool with the wastewater passage together with the wastewater
valve extending therein and having a first passage portion
extending upwardly and a second passage portion that extends
downwardly from the first passage portion and the opening of the
shunt valve to the wastewater passage is provided by a shunt
passage opening to the first passage portion.
23. The method of claim 18 wherein the body is a combination of a
toilet and a platform and the toilet has a stool mounted on the
platform and the wastewater passage is in part provided within the
stood to open to the chamber and in part to extend through the
platform with the wastewater passage extending therethrough with
its outlet opening through a wastewater line to a main drain line
and the wastewater valve is in the platform passage portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0001] This invention relates to apparatus and method for
dislodging clogs in wastewater lines and wastewater passages in
homes and other buildings. In particular it relates the use of
liquid pressure for dislodging a clog. At the present time, there
are used chemicals, snakes and the like for dislodging clogs in
wastewater lines that are connected to, for example a sink, a tub,
toilets and other building facilities that at least temporarily
contain water, to, for example, a city sewer line or a drain field.
However, some times a commercial firm has to be call in when an
individual that lives at the premises can not clear the clog by the
use of chemicals or a snake.
[0002] In order to provide a system that includes new and novel
apparatus and method for removing a clog in a wastewater passage
and/or a wastewater line from, for example, a kitchen sink or a
laundry tub, or a toilet or the like, this invention has been
made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A shut off valve is provided in a pressurized water supply
line that is fluidly connected to a body, for example a sink facet
or toilet that has an interior chamber for having water discharged
thereinto and a wastewater valve is provided in the wastewater
passage between a body chamber and a wastewater line which in turn
is fluidly connected to a main drain line, a trap being provide
between the body chamber and wastewater line to prevent gas flow
between the body chamber and the wastewater line while permitting
liquid flow therethrough. A shunt valve is provided to open to the
water supply line opposite water supply line shut off valve from
the supply water faucet or toilet tank and to open to the
wastewater passage downstream of the wastewater valve. By closing
the shut off valve and the wastewater valve and opening the shunt
valve, pressurized water is applied downstream of the wastewater
valve behind the clog to unblock the wastewater passage and/or
wastewater line and thereby allow water in the sink or toilet to
flow to a drain field or the sewer line after the wastewater valve
is opened.
[0004] One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and
novel means for dislodging a clog that is in a wastewater passage
and/or a wastewater line between body such as a sink or tub, or
toilet bowel and the main drain line. A further object of this
invention is to provide a new and novel means for applying liquid
from a pressurized liquid supply line that is operable to conduct
liquid to a body and for selectively supplying the pressurized
liquid to a wastewater passage downstream of a wastewater shut off
valve to clear a clog that is the wastewater passage between the
body containing wastewater and a sewer line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is of a first embodiment of a somewhat diagrammatic
showing of the wastewater passage and wastewater line fluidly
connected between a body chamber and a main drain line which is
fluidly connected to a drain field or sewer, the body being such as
a sink or tub and a supply line for conducting liquid under
pressure to the body together with valves that are selectively
operable between an open and closed positions for carrying out the
steps of the method of this invention, parts of the wastewater line
broken away and water in the U-trap not being shown;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 other than a clog
is shown in the wastewater passage;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 other than the valves are
shown in their positions that they are in just prior to applying
water under pressure for removing the clog;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 other than the
shunt, valve is opened to apply pressurized water to act against
the clog in a direction to move the clogging material in the
wastewater passage and/or wastewater line toward the drain field or
sewer;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 other than the clog is
being removed;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 other than the shunt
valve is closed to discontinue the application of water under
pressure to the wastewater passage;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 other the wastewater and
vent values are opened to permit normal usage of the sink; and
[0012] FIG. 8 is a side view of the second embodiment of the
invention wherein parts are diagrammatically shown and part of the
toilet stool is broken away; and
[0013] FIG. 9 is a side view of the third embodiment of the
invention wherein parts are diagrammatically shown.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1,
there is shown a body, for example a sink or tub 10, for having
pressurized liquid directly discharged into its interior chamber
10A. A conventional hot and cold water faucet 11 are mounted on a
body and has a hot water supply line, generally designated 12, and
a cold water supply line 14 conventionally connected thereto. Even
though a single lever hot and cold waster faucet is shown, it is to
be understood it could be a none mixing water type such as a
separate faucet for each of the hot water and cold water supply
lines. The hot water line is connected to a conventional water
heater 15, for example a hot water tank, for heating water which in
turn is connected to a source 17 of water under pressure, for
example a city water system while the cold water line is connected
to the source 17, for example a city water system, the cola water
source connection not being shown.
[0015] The hot water line 14 includes shut off valve 20 fluidly
connected between a conduit 19, which in turn is connected to the
faucet and a conduit 21 which in turn is connected to a first leg
of a T-joint 22. A conduit 25, for example a pipe, fluidly connects
a second leg of the T-joint to the hot water heater 15. Fluidly
connected between the third leg of the T-joint 22 and the first leg
of a T-joint 23 is a shunt valve 24.
[0016] A wastewater passage, generally designated 29, includes a
wastewater valve 27 that is fluidly connected between a second leg
of the T-joint 23 and the wastewater outlet 28 of the sink and is
exterior of the body. The third leg of the T-joint 23 is connected
to the inlet end of a U-trap 30, which forms part of the wastewater
passage. A wastewater line, generally designated 13, includes an
elbow 31 that at one end is fluidly connected between the outlet
end 30A of the U-trap (wastewater passage outlet), which is at a
lower elevation than the wastewater valve 27 and a wastewater line
that includes on or more serially connected conduits (pipes) 32
which in turn are connected to first leg of the wastewater line
T-joint 33. The wastewater line 31, 32 has its inlet 31A fluidly
opening to the wastewater passage outlet 30A It is to be understood
that the conduits 32 may extend horizontally and/or downwardly from
the elbow toward a main drain line 34. The conduits opens through
the joint 33 to the main drain line at a lower elevation than the
outlet 28 and the wastewater valve 27.
[0017] A second leg of the T-joint 33 is fluidly connected to the
upper end of the generally vertical portion of the main drain line
34 which at its opposite end is connected to the sewer line or
drain field 37. A vent valve 35A may or may not be provided in the
vent line 35 which is fluidly connected to the third leg of the
T-joint 33.
[0018] Each of the valves referred to above may be plug valves such
as, for example, the waster water valve 27 other than for the
cylinder valve parts and the bores being of appropriate diameters
for having liquid flowing therethrough and functioning as indicated
herein. That is the valve 27 has a cylinder valve part 27A with a
bore 27B extending diametrically therethrough and a valve actuator
27C for rotating the valve part between its open and closed
positions.
[0019] In normal usage, the shut off valve 20, the wastewater valve
27 and the vent valve 35A, if provided, are open while the shunt
valve 24 is closed. In the event a clog 40 occurs in the wastewater
line 13 or the wastewater passage downstream of the wastewater
valve (fluidly opposite the wastewater valve of the outlet 28),
water does not drain from the sink or the like, the wastewater
valve and the vent valve, if present, are closed (FIG. 3). Thence
the shunt valve 24 is opened to apply water under pressure to flow
into wastewater passage behind (upstream of) the clog to
pressurized the liquid blocked by the clog (FIG. 4). The
pressurized water in the wastewater passage results in the clog
being broken up and/or moved further toward the main drain conduit
(FIG. 5) and then to the drain field or sewer line. After the clog
is cleared, the shunt valve is closed (FIG. 6). Then the wastewater
valve is opened and water drains out of the sink. In the event
water does not drain out of the sink, the above steps can be
repeated.
[0020] Water shut off, wastewater and shunt valves in manner
similar to that described above can be provided for showers, dish
washers and the like. In the event a U-trap is not used, other type
traps are used to prevent gases in the wastewater line down stream
of the trap flowing to the sink outlet. For example, there can be
used a trap such as a cylindrical body (not shown) closed at their
up and lower ends that has a wastewater inlet at a location below
the opening of the shunt valve to the wastewater passage and a
wastewater outlet at a location above the above inlet to have
wastewater flow therethrough to the main drain conduit 34. Although
not preferred, instead of the shunt valve being provided between
the hot water line and wastewater passage, the shunt valve can be
provided between the wastewater passage and the cold water line. It
is to be understood that even it is desirable to have a shut off
valve 20 in the hot water line, it is generally not necessary when
hot water is prevented from discharging from the outlet end of the
hot water line by a faucet or a different type valve (not
shown).
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 8, the second embodiment of the
invention, generally designated 40, includes a body, a toilet T,
that has a stool 40A having an upwardly opening bowl 41 with a
convention rim 42. The rim has a conventional channel 42A and holes
(not shown) that open into the bowl interior chamber 43. The stool
has a wastewater passage 44 that includes a trap 44C which opens to
the bottom part of the chamber at 43A and to a passage upwardly
inclined portion 44B which in turn opens to the passage downwardly
extending portion 44E. Portion 44E has an outlet 44A that opens
through the stool base 41A to the wastewater line 45 which in turn
is fluidly connected through a main drain line to 34 to a sewer or
drain field such as indicated with reference to in the first
embodiment. The trap is provided to prevent gases from passing
through the body outlet 44A flowing into the chamber. A wastewater
shut off valve 59 is provided in said upwardly extending portion
44B to be between passage portion 44E and the trap 44C.
[0022] A pressurize supply water line, generally designated 47,
includes shut off valve 48 fluidly connected between a conduit 49,
which in turn connected to a vertical conduit 51 in the toilet tank
52 and a conduit 53 which in turn is connected to a first leg of a
T-joint 55. A conduit 47A, for example a pipe, fluidly connects a
second leg of the T-joint to a convention source of water under
pressure 57. Fluidly connected in the wastewater passage between
the third leg of the T-joint 55 and a part of the wastewater
passage portion 44B fluidly opposite the wastewater valve from the
chamber 43 is a shunt valve 70, the fluid connection including a
shunt valve passage 70A that is fluidly connected to open at 70B to
the part of the passage portion 48B downstream of the wastewater
valve 59. Passage 70 does not open to passage portion 44E.
[0023] Within the tank there is a convention float actuated inlet
valve 72 shown as a dotted line block that controls the flow of
water through the conduit 51 and into the tank while a lever 73 is
mounted on the tank to conventionally through a chain 74 pull the
flapper valve 75 to discharge water in the tank to flow to the
channel in the rim 42 and therethrough into the chamber 43, members
73-75 being indicated by dotted lines since these parts are
conventional.
[0024] In normal usage, the shut off valve 48 and the wastewater
valve 59 are open while the shunt valve 70 is closed. In the event
a clog occurs in one of the wastewater passage downstream of the
wastewater valve and the wastewater line 45, liquids and solids do
not drain from the toilet chamber, the wastewater valve is closed.
Thence the shunt valve 70 is opened to apply water under pressure
to flow into wastewater passage behind the clog to pressurized the
liquid blocked by the clog. The pressurized water in the wastewater
passage results in the clog being broken up and/or moved further to
the wastewater passage 45 and then to the drain field or sewer
line. After the clog is cleared, the shunt valve is closed. Then
the wastewater valve is opened and the toilet is flushed that
allows material in the toilet chamber to pass to the sewer or drain
field. In the event the clog has not been cleared, the above steps
can be repeated.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 9, the third embodiment of the
invention, generally designated 90, includes a body, a toilet W,
that is the same as toilet T other than its stool 90A does not have
wastewater valve nor the shunt valve passage 70A and its opening
70B, but does include a convention rim 42 with a conventional
channel 42A and holes (not shown) that open into the bowl interior
chamber 43. A wastewater passage, generally designated 100, in part
is provided by the toilet having toilet wastewater passage portion
99 that provides trap 44e which opens to the bottom part of the
chamber 43 at 43A and an upwardly inclined portion 99A that opens
to the downward extending portion 99C that opens to the toilet
outlet 99B.
[0026] The toilet stool 90A is mounted on a platform 91 which in
plan view may be of a shape similar to that of the toilet base 41A
and may be generally a box with an enclosed hollow interior or
without a hollow interior. The stool may be removably secured to
the platform by, for example bolts 92 (diagrammatically indicated
by dotted lines) in a manner that a toilet can be conventionally
removably secured to, for example a floor 93 of a building, while
the platform can be similarly removably secured to the floor 93 of
a building.
[0027] The wastewater passage 100 includes the platform wastewater
passage portion 94 which is provided in the platform to extend
vertically in the platform and have its inlet end in fluidly
communication with the outlet 99B of the toilet passage portion in
a manner that may be the same as a toilet stool is conventionally
fluidly connected to a wastewater line 45 and an outlet end 94A
that may be similarly to that of a stool which is conventional
fluid connected with the inlet end of the wastewater line 45. The
outlet of the wastewater line 45 is fluidly connected to a main
drain line 34 which in turn is fluidly connected to a sewer or
drain field such as indicated with reference to in the first
embodiment. Since such fluid connections of the platform passage to
the toilet and the wastewater line include, for example as the use
of wax rings, are conventional they are not shown nor such details
described. A wastewater shut off valve 95 is mounted in the passage
portion 94 for rotation between a shut off position and an open
position permitting fluid flow between the platform passage portion
inlet and outlet 94A which also is the body outlet.
[0028] A pressurize supply water line, generally designated 47,
includes shut off valve 48 fluidly connected between a conduit 49,
which in turn connected to a vertical conduit 51 in the toilet tank
52 and a conduit 53 which in turn is connected to a first leg of a
T-joint 55. A conduit 47A, for example a pipe, fluidly connects a
second leg of the T-joint to a convention source of water under
pressure 57. Fluidly connected between the third leg of the T-joint
55 and the platform passage portion opposite the valve 95 from the
platform passage inlet (stool outlet 92A) is a shunt valve 97, the
fluid connection including a shunt valve conduit 97A that in part
extends in the platform 91.
[0029] As indicated with reference to the second embodiment within
the tank 52 of the third embodiment the toilet W there is a
conventional float actuated inlet valve 72, a lever 73, and a chain
74 to pull the flapper valve 75 to discharge water in the tank to
flow to the channel in the rim 42 such as described with reference
to the second embodiment.
[0030] In normal usage of the third embodiment, the shut off valve
48 and the wastewater valve 95 are open while the shunt valve 97 is
closed. In the event a clog occurs in one of the wastewater passage
below the valve 95, and the wastewater line 45, liquids and solids
do not drain from the toilet chamber, the wastewater valve is
closed. Thence the shunt valve 97 is opened to apply water under
pressure to flow into wastewater passage behind the clog to
pressurized the liquid blocked by the clog. The pressurized water
in the wastewater passage results in the clog being broken up
and/or moved further in the wastewater passage 45 and then through
the drain line 34 to the drain field or sewer line 37. After the
clog is cleared, the shunt valve is closed. Then the wastewater
valve is opened and the toilet is flushed that allows material in
the toilet chamber to pass to the sewer or drain field. In the
event the clog has not been cleared, the above steps can be
repeated.
[0031] In each of the embodiments, advantageously the wastewater
valve is a plug valve having a bore therethrough that is of a
diameter that is about the same of the diameters of the adjacent
part of the respective wastewater passage. Further, although it is
advantageous to provide shut off valve 22, 48, such do not have to
be provided as long as there are faucets or float actuated inlet
valves 72 provided. Further, even not shown nor previously
mentioned relative the second and third embodiments, normally a
vent line would be fluidly connected at least the main drain
line.
* * * * *