A Flood Stop Assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flood stop assembly that can be reset locally, which can be attached to an existing tap or incorporated into a plumbing assembly. The flood stop assembly having a valve mechanism biased against a spring which is located within the central bore which fluid flows past which moves from an open to a closed position based on a predetermined flow rate. The arrangement of the components is such that a pressure release plunger valve mechanism mounted within a second bore enables the venting of internal pressure and fluid within the flood stop assembly, to the atmosphere which enables an automatic reset of the flood stop valve without the use of an actuator to directly engage with the flood stop valve. 1 20 26 20 03 06 16 J an 2 02 6 1 2 0 2 6 2 0 0 3 0 6 1 6 J a n 2 0 2 6 4 FIG.7 43 3 2 32 41 44 42 45 301 & 80 90 50 62 18 21 102 33 30 22 20 26 20 03 06 16 J an 2 02 6 4 2 0 2 6 2 0 0 3 0 6 1 6 J a n 2 0 2 6 - 3 0 1 & 8 0 9 0 5 0 6 2 1 8 2 1 1 0 2 3 3 3 0 2 2 F I G . 7 A D

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to a flood stop assembly. In particular, the present invention 5 relates to a flood stop assembly that can be reset locally. BACKGROUND ART

[002] It will be understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country. 10

[003] It is common in many domestic and commercial environments to connect an appliance such as a mixer tap or toilet cistern to a water outlet via a hose. Typically, the water outlet is constantly "open" meaning that there is a constant water pressure in the hose.

[004] Over time, the hose or the connection point between the hose and the water outlet may become worn or damaged which can lead to the hose bursting or becoming disengaged from the 15 water outlet. As the water outlet is constantly "open", the result of a burst or disconnected hose is that water will flow continuously through the water outlet into the building in which it is located until such time as the water is shut off. If the water flow is not discovered for some time (for instance if the resident of the building is not home), flooding may occur, potentially resulting in damage to objects within the building as well as structural damage to the building itself. In addition, 20 flooding inside a building can result in damage to electrical systems, increasing the possibility of accidental electrocution.

[005] Some attempts to overcome these problems have been made through the incorporation of flood stop assemblies. However, conventional flood stop assemblies must be fitted to plumbing systems where the water pressure and supply has been terminated to the entire building so an 25 assembly can be connected to the main supply. Once installation of the assembly is complete on the plumbing outlet the plumbing system must be repressurised and air released at every mains outlet to ensure correct and smooth operation of the plumbing system. If a conventional flood stop valve is installed in a large building, or one with a number of residents or workers (such as an apartment building, commercial building, hospital or the like), this can be extremely inconvenient. 30

[006] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a flood stop assembly that did not require resetting the entire mains after being installed or maintained, that could be attached to an existing conventionally installed isolation tap, that reduced or eliminated the risk of flooding in the event of a burst hose and also allowed for fast and easy resetting of the valve by a trained tradesperson or untrained householder, once necessary repairs had been made. 35 SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[007] The present invention is directed to a flood stop assembly, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

[008] With the foregoing in view, there is herein provided a flood stop assembly comprising: 40   - a body with a central bore extending through the body from a first inflow connecting end and to a second outflow connecting end; 2026200306   16 Jan 2026 - each end includes means for sealable attachment to a fluid inflow source or outflow hose respectively and for sealing each end against fluid leakage; - a valve mechanism located within the central bore past which fluid flows which moves from an open to a closed position to prevent fluid flow from the outflow end of the assembly when the flow 5 rate of fluid passing through the central bore of the assembly reaches a pre-determined rate; - a pressure release plunger valve mechanism mounted to or integrally formed with the external surface of the body including a shaft member housed within a housing having a second bore in substantially perpendicular communication with the central bore; - the shaft member is biased in a sealed position and is moveable within the second bore to an 10 unsealed position to enable the venting of internal pressure within the flood stop assembly to the atmosphere; - fluid flow through the assembly can be restored by shutting off the fluid inflow source, then moving the shaft member to its unsealed position thereby venting internal pressure within the central bore to the atmosphere which restores the valve mechanism to its open position to permit 15 fluid flow through the assembly once the fluid inflow source is reactivated.

[009] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the assembly body is comprised of at least two interconnecting portions.

[010] In some preferred embodiments the or each sealable attachment means includes a domed rubber seal and an opposingly threaded nut to sealably secure each end to the fluid source and 20 outflow hose.

[011] In especially preferred embodiments of the invention the fluid inflow source is mediated by an isolation tap connected to the inflow attachment means.

[012] In still other embodiments the rubber seal and opposingly threaded nut attaching the outflow end to the outflow hose is integrally formed with the hose. 25

[013] In some embodiments of the invention the shaft member is biased by a spring and a seal member mounted upon the shaft.

[014] In preferred embodiments the assembly is adapted for use with fluids including water, steam, compressed air, medical or industrial gases, chemicals, or slurries.

[015] In especially preferred embodiments the assembly includes a swivel nut on the inlet side to 30 allow for better positioning during installation.

[016] In some embodiments the assembly is integrated into a flexible hose or other fluid conduit.

[017] In other embodiments of the invention the assembly is integrated into an isolation tap connected to a fluid inflow source.

[018] In some preferred embodiments of the invention the assembly is integrated within a 35 combined fluid inflow source isolation tap and outflow conduit or hose.

[019] In preferred embodiments of the invention the assembly is environmentally friendly by enabling attachment to existing isolation taps without requiring disposal of previously installed taps. 2026200306   16 Jan 2026 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[020] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the 5 preceding Summary of Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[021] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of the flood stop assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[022] Figure 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the flood stop assembly along with an isolation 10 tap and flexible hose to which the assembly may be attached when in use.

[023] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the components of one preferred embodiment of the flood stop assembly.

[024] Figure 4 is a further exploded view of one preferred embodiment of the flood stop assembly with a nut attached to the inflow end. 15

[025] Figure 5 is a perspective top view of the valve mechanism which is housed within the central bore of the assembly along with a spring.

[026] Figure 6a is a perspective view of the valve mechanism.

[027] Figure 6b is a rear end view of the valve mechanism.

[028] Figure 6c is a front end view of the valve mechanism. 20

[029] Figure 7 and Figure 7A are a partial cross-sectional view of the flood stop assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[030] The flood stop assembly 101 of the present invention seeks to overcome some of the problems of the prior art devices and in particular to enable the easy resetting of the flood stop assembly once 25 it has been activated in response to increased flow rate of fluids through the assembly which may be the result or burst fluid hoses, conduits or other failures within the fluid direction and containment system installed within a building facility. The present invention enables the flood stop assembly to be reset locally without the need to switch off all fluids being supplied to a premises which saves time, expense and effort for those responsible for overseeing those systems. 30

[031] As shown in Figure 1 the flood stop assembly 101 of the present invention has a body 1 which can be of any shape or dimension according to the requirements of the user and installation. For example, Fig 1 shows a cylindrical shaped body 1 however the skilled addressee will readily appreciate that the body 1 can be of hexagonal shape to enable tightening to a fluid inflow source or other fitting with a spanner. The body 1 is normally manufactured from metal, typically brass or 35 stainless steel, but may be manufactured from plastics, composite or other materials depending upon the use to which it is being put, the type of fluid being transmitted through the assembly 101 and nature of the facility into which the assembly is to be installed.

[032] The flood stop assembly 101 can be formed as a single unit or may be configured as interconnectable first and second body portions 50 and 30 as indicated in Figure 3. Alternative 40 arrangements are possible without departing from the scope of invention. For instance, the first and 2026200306   16 Jan 2026 second body portions 50, 30 may comprise complimentarily threaded portions, swaged portions, or portions that may be otherwise interconnected or fashioned to connect to external fittings, such as pipes, hoses or the like.

[033] The body 1 of assembly 101 has a central bore 102 (shown in Fig 7) which extends through its 5 length from a first inflow end 2 which enables sealable attachment with a fluid inflow source (not shown) and a second outflow end 3 which permits sealable attachment to an outlet hose 301 enabling fluid to flow through the assembly 101. Preferably, the attachment means at the inflow end 2 comprises a flanged end portion 23 to which is affixed an internally threaded nut 21 for receiving a domed rubber seal 22 which sealably attaches the assembly 101 to the fluid inflow source. The fluid 10 inflow source can be mediated by an isolation tap 201 for the regulation of fluid at the point of attachment to the assembly 101. The incorporation of an isolation tap 201 enables the regulation of fluid flow from the inflow source to and through the assembly 101.

[034] Each respective end 2, 3 of body 1 has either internally threaded portion located at or adjacent to the fluid inflow end 2 or an externally threaded portion 31 located at the outflow end 3 to 15 facilitate respectively the attachment of the assembly 101 to the inflow source and outflow hose 301. Typically, the externally threaded portion 31 will be provided at the outflow end 3 of the body 1 of the assembly 101, while the internally threaded portion will be provided at the inflow end 2 of the body 1 of the assembly 101.

[035] The body 1 includes a central bore 102 which extends therethrough. The central bore 102 may 20 have any suitable profile. For instance, the bore may have a stepped profile, tapering either to or from the inflow end 2 of the assembly 101. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inflow portion of the bore 102 may have a greater diameter than the outflow portion of the bore 102. The central bore 102 can be circular or any other shape according to the requirements of the user.

[036] The central bore 102 is normally circular in cross-section along its length (notwithstanding that 25 it may be of different dimensions in some embodiments of the invention) but may have any cross sectional shape along its entire or part of its length. The bore 102 is substantially linear along its length although in some embodiments, the bore may have a tortuous shape.

[037] The flood stop assembly 101 of the present invention includes a valve mechanism 60 located within the central bore 102 which is movable between an open and a closed position. The valve 30 mechanism 60 preferably corresponds to the shape of the bore 102 and may therefore be circular in cross-section as indicated in Figures 6a through 6c without limiting other cross-sectional alternatives, for example square or hexagonal. Alternative configurations are possible in accordance with the dimensions of the bore 102.

[038] The valve mechanism 60 is preferably located within the central bore 102 at a pre-determined 35 point between the respective ends 2, 3 of the assembly 101 to optimise its efficiency when in operation.

[039] The valve mechanism 60 has at least one sealing member 90 which may be an o-ring, gasket or similar sealing member. The valve mechanism 60 may be manufactured from metal, plastic or other suitable materials such as polymer or resilient, tempered organic matter. 40

[040] The valve mechanism 60 is moveable within the central bore 102 between an open position which enables fluid flow through the central bore 102 and a closed position which prevents the flow of fluid through the assembly 101 by shutting off the central bore 102 at the outflow end 3 using any suitable technique. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve mechanism body 61 2026200306   16 Jan 2026 can be moved between the open and closed positions using an automatic activator (not shown) which can be operated by a user situated remotely from the assembly 101. The valve mechanism 60 may be actuated for example electronically or using electromagnetic waves. Alternatively, the valve mechanism 60 can be moved between the open and closed positions to prevent fluid flow through 5 the assembly 101 manually. The valve mechanism 60 can be moved between the open and closed positions using any available and suitable method without departing from the scope of the claimed invention as the skilled addressee would recognise. The valve body 61 can be biased in its open position by a valve spring 62 located securely within the central bore 102 and between the valve body 61 and outflow end 3 of the assembly 101. 10

[041] When the valve mechanism 60 is in the open position fluid is able to flow through the central bore 102. The valve mechanism moves to the closed position to prevent the flow of fluid through the assembly 101 when the flow rate of fluid passing through the central bore 102 of the assembly 101 reaches a pre-determined rate. The increase in rate of fluid flow results in the valve mechanism moving to the closed position and arresting the flow of fluid through the assembly 101 15 until the valve mechanism 60 is reset by the user thereby alleviating the risk of flood damage from increased water flow rate. In prior art solutions, the entire fluid flow system has had to be reset by isolating and switching all fluid flow to an entire premises which is inefficient, time-consuming and has a commensurate increase in economic burden related to increased maintenance costs.

[042] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the valve mechanism 60 is not connected directly 20 or indirectly via extension to a manually-operable actuator. A manually-operable actuator may be of any suitable form, and may include a handle, lever, button or the like, or any suitable combination thereof.

[043] Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the body 1 of the assembly 101 may include a valve aperture through which the manually-operable actuator may communicate with the central bore 102 25 containing the valve mechanism 60 via a plunger valve mechanism 4, such that pushing the manually-operable actuator in a first direction moves the plunger mechanism 4 within a separate perpendicularly disposed bore from a closed sealed position to an open unsealed position thereby releasing the internal fluid pressure within the assembly 101 to the atmosphere. The release of pressure from the assembly to the atmosphere enables the valve mechanism 60 to reset and permit 30 fluid flow through the assembly 101.

[044] The plunger valve mechanism 4 which is mounted to or integrally formed with the external surface of the body 1. Plunger mechanism 4 includes a shaft member 41 housed within a housing 42 which has a second central bore 44 in (substantially) perpendicular communication with the circular central bore 102 of the assembly 101. The shaft member 41 is biased in a sealed position which 35 retains pressure within the assembly 101 by a biasing member, preferably a spring 45 and may include a seal member 43 mounted upon or around the shaft member 41. The biased shaft member 41 is moveable to an unsealed position within the second central bore 44 to vent internal pressure from within the assembly 101 to the atmosphere which resets the valve mechanism 60 from its closed to open position within the central bore 102 and permit fluid to flow through the assembly 40   101. Pressure can be released from the assembly 101 to the atmosphere by activating the plunger mechanism 4 after the fluid inflow source is first shut. Once pressure has been released from the assembly 101 by moving shaft member 41 from sealed to unsealed position and back to the sealed position, the fluid inflow source can be reactivated and re-established.

[045] The plunger mechanism 4 can be located at any suitable position along the body 1 to facilitate 45 the release of internal pressure from the assembly 101. Preferably, at least one seal member 43 is 2026200306   16 Jan 2026 mounted on the shaft member 41 to form or assist with forming a seal when in the sealed position within the second bore 44. Any suitable seal member may be used, such as one or more o-rings, gaskets, washers or the like, or any suitable combination thereof in accordance with the cross sectional profile of the shaft member 41 and the central bore 44 within which it is housed and is 5 moveable according to the user’s discretion.

[046] The biased plunger shaft member 41 and biasing means (preferably a spring 45 in combination with the seal member 43) are retained within a plunger housing 42 located adjacent to the inlet of the second central bore 44 which is in substantially perpendicular communication with the central bore 102 of the body 1 of assembly 101. 10

[047] The plunger housing 42 may be of any suitable form, and the exact nature of the plunger housing 42 is non-essential other than to ensure that the shaft member 41 is retained in a biased sealed position within the second central bore 44 of the plunger mechanism 4 when the assembly 101 is in use. The plunger housing 42 enables the shaft member 41 to be moved from its biased sealed position to an unsealed position to vent internal pressure within the assembly 101 to the 15 atmosphere when the plunger mechanism is activated by the user and to return the shaft member 41 to its sealed position once pressure has been vented to the atmosphere. Venting pressure from the assembly 101 by activating the plunger mechanism 4 returns the valve mechanism 60 to its open position within the central bore 102 and enables the re-establishment of fluid flow through the assembly 101 after having been shut off by the valve mechanism 60 having been moved to its closed 20 position in response to increased fluid flow rate threshold occasioned by downstream burst pipes, hoses or other operational systemic anomaly and to prevent flooding.

[048] The plunger mechanism 4 shaft member 41 is biased in a sealed position by a biasing member which may be a spring 45 housed within the second central bore 44 between the shaft member 41 of the plunger mechanism 4 and central bore 102 of the main assembly 101 with which the second 25 central bore 44 is in substantially perpendicular communication. A retaining flange or other stop member may be incorporated for this purpose and may be located upon the shaft member 41 or as part of the housing 42. The plunger housing 42 may include one or more stop members adapted to define the limit of movement of the shaft member 41 and plunger mechanism 4. Preferably, one or more stop members define the location of both sealed and unsealed positions, as the biasing 30 member is unable to bias the shutoff plunger mechanism beyond the location of the one or more stop members. When the plunger mechanism 4 is in the sealed position, fluid is permitted to flow through the assembly 101. The unsealed position enables the venting of internal pressure from the assembly 101 to the atmosphere whereupon the plunger mechanism returns to the sealed biased position within the plunger housing 42. 35

[049] The biasing member can be a spring or any other suitable biasing component. The pressure release plunger mechanism shaft member 41 can be provided with one or more flanges or none provided that it is capable of being retained in a biased sealed position and is moveable to an unsealed position to vent internal pressure from the assembly 101 to the atmosphere to reset the valve mechanism 60 from closed to open position and re-establishment of fluid flow through the 40 assembly 101. The biasing member can be located in abutment with the one or more flanges located upon the shaft member 41 thereby assisting to bias the shaft member 41 in the sealed position.

[050] The cross-sectional diameter or dimensions of the second central bore 44 of the plunger mechanism 4 and plunger housing 42 is less than the cross-sectional diameter or dimensions of the central bore 102 of assembly 101 to enable the plunger mechanism 4 to release a minimum of fluid 45 under pressure into the atmosphere when moved to an unsealed position. 2026200306   16 Jan 2026

[051] The flood stop assembly 101 is suitable for use with any kind of fluid including liquids, steam, compressed air, medical or industrial grade gases, chemical admixtures or slurries depending upon the setting in which the invention is applied.

[052] The flow of fluid through the assembly 101 can be restored after it has been stopped by 5 shutting off the fluid inflow source and by returning the shaft member 41 to its sealed position within the housing 42. This can be achieved manually (or by remote means according to the requirements of the user) by depressing the shaft member 41 within the second central bore 44 towards the central bore 102 of the assembly body 1 which vents internal pressure within the central bore 102 and moves the valve mechanism 60 to its open position thereby enabling fluid flow 10 through the assembly 101 once the fluid inflow source is reactivated. Reactivation of the fluid flow source is achieved by opening an isolation tap 201 or other mediation fluid flow regulation means.

[053] The configuration of components of the flood stop assembly 101 enables the user to quickly and easily reset the assembly 101 and return it to its normal, open position without the requirement of turning off the fluid supply to the entire building in which it is being used. Users need only turn 15 off the fluid supply to the flood stop assembly 101 using a standard isolation tap 201 that the flood stop assembly 101 is attached to. In commercial or industrial situations, or in buildings such as hospitals, turning off the fluid supply to the entire building may be impractical, inconvenient, or even dangerous. The flood stop assembly 101 is most efficaciously configured to attach to a standard commonly used isolation tap 201. The ability to return the flood stop assembly 101 to its normal use 20 open position quickly and easily once the source of the increased flow rate, for instance burst hose, has been repaired provides the user with significant advantages including but not limited to being able to work locally and downstream from the main pressure fluid supply.

[054] In some embodiments of the invention, one or more barrier members may be located within the assembly 101 between the inflow end 2 of the assembly 101 and the plunger mechanism 4. 25 Alternatively, barrier members can be located external to the assembly 101 between the fluid inflow source and plunger mechanism 4. The one or more barrier members may be of any suitable form and may be adapted to allow the flow of fluid therethrough but prevent the passage of particulate matter, debris or the like. The or, or each fluid permeable barrier member may be a screen, mesh, membrane, filter or the like, or any suitable combination thereof. Apertures in the barrier member 30 may be of any suitable dimensions, and the size of the apertures may depend on factors such as the size of debris or particulate matter that is likely to be encountered.

[055] The presence of the one or more barrier members may prevent particulate matter blocking the flood stop assembly 101 or damaging any of the components of the assembly 101. For instance, damage to the valve mechanism 60 may cause the local velocity of the fluid flow around the valve 35 mechanism 60 to increase. This, in turn, may be sufficient to cause the valve body member 61 to move to a closed position even though there may be no hose burst.

[056] The one or more barrier members may be secured within the body 1 using any suitable technique. For instance, the or,or each barrier member may be clamped, locked or otherwise secured to the body 1. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the one or more barrier 40 members may be secured to the body 1 using one or more sealing members, such as one or more orings, gaskets, washers or the like. By using a sealing member, the flow of fluid around rather than through the one or more barrier members may be reduced or even eliminated. 2026200306   16 Jan 2026

[057] The resetting of the plunger mechanism 4 is aided by the atmospheric expulsion of fluid pressure from the assembly 101 upon moving the shaft member 41 into the unsealed position once the fluid inflow source has been turned off temporarily.

[058] The flood stop assembly 101 is environmentally friendly as it attaches to existing isolation taps 5   201 which are in common use. There is no requirement to install new fittings and the assembly 101 can be retrofitted to existing systems.

[059] The assembly 101 is smaller than many available flood stop devices and can be installed at a right angle upon existing isolation taps thereby reducing the space occupied by the assembly 101 and fittings. This increases the number and range of applications to which the assembly 101 might 10 be suitable.

[060] The reset feature enabled by the plunger mechanism 4 of the assembly 101 is easy to operate and requires almost no physical effort compared to existing methods which require specialised tools and strength to operate.

[061] The assembly 101 can be integrated with a flexible hose or other fluid conduit. 15

[062] The assembly 101 can be adapted to fit a variety of outflow hoses 301 as the plunger mechanism 4 vents a small amount of fluid to the atmosphere which eliminates the need for larger and more complex components being incorporated into the assembly 101 to enable resetting to the open position. Existing prior art solutions require that the outflow hose 301 be removed in the case of a false positive activation of an attached flood stop mechanism. This is inefficient and 20 uneconomical.

[063] No tools are required to reset the shut off plunger mechanism 4 once activated so there is no chance of tools going missing or mechanical failure of components occurring when the flood stop assembly 101 is reset.

[064] Installation of the assembly 101 does not require a plumber. Plumbing tape or sealants are 25 unnecessary as the domed rubber seals 22, 33 respectively situated at each end of the assembly 101 form an effective and secure seal against leakage.

[065] The flood stop assembly 101 can be attached to a ball valve, jumper valve or ceramic disc isolation tap without performance variations.

[066] The flood stop assembly 101 can be manufactured and sold to consumers at a cheaper cost 30 than existing solutions as it is configured to attach to existing isolation taps 201. Accordingly, this results in reduced installation costs and the flood stop capabilities of the assembly reduce flood insurance claims and so reduce insurance premiums.

[067] The assembly 101 can be installed by a homeowner, handyman or a non-professional (plumber) without requiring specialist tools, sealing thread tape or sealant glues. The main water 35 supply does not need to be turned off in the case of a possible flood causing event due to the already installed isolation tap 201 and the flood risk can be mitigated locally.

[068] The assembly 101 can be integrated into an isolation tap without departing from the scope of the invention. Alternatively, the assembly can be integrated into a system that combines an isolation tap at the fluid inflow end and a hose or fluid outflow conduit without departing from the 40 scope of the invention in accordance with the specific type of fluid to flow through the assembly and or the particular use to which the assembly is to be put, for example, medical applications may be manufactured from plastics which may be sufficient to contain the fluid flow rate whereas other 2026200306   16 Jan 2026 applications may require more robust materials such as metals to adequately and safely retain fluid flow.

[069] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention. 5

[070] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

1. A flood stop assembly comprising:- a body with a central bore extending through the body from a first inflow connecting end and to a 5 second outflow connecting end;- each end includes means for sealable attachment to a fluid inflow source or outflow hose respectively and for sealing each end against fluid leakage;- a valve mechanism located within the central bore past which fluid flows which moves from an open to a closed position to prevent fluid flow from the outflow end of the assembly when the flow 10 rate of fluid passing through the central bore of the assembly reaches a pre-determined rate;- a pressure release plunger valve mechanism mounted to or integrally formed with the external surface of the body including a shaft member housed within a housing having a second bore in substantially perpendicular communication with the central bore;- the shaft member is biased in a sealed position and is moveable within the second bore to an 15 unsealed position to enable the venting of internal pressure and fluid within the flood stop assembly out to the atmosphere;- fluid flow through the assembly can be restored by shutting off the fluid inflow source, then moving the shaft member to its unsealed position thereby venting internal pressure within the central bore to the atmosphere which restores the valve mechanism to its open position to permit20 fluid to flow through the assembly once the fluid inflow source is reactivated.- unlike a flood stop tap valve, no actuator or extension of an actuator is ever in direct contact with the valve mechanism or part of the valve mechanism to aid in resetting of the valve mechanism after activation of the valve mechanism.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the body is comprised of at least two interconnecting25 portions.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2 wherein the, or each sealable attachment means includes a domed or flat rubber seal and an opposingly threaded nut to sealably secure each end to the fluid source and outflow hose.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fluid inflow source is mediated by an isolation tap30 connected to the inflow attachment means.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein rubber seal and opposingly threaded nut attaching the outflow end to the outflow hose is integrally formed with the hose.

6. The assembly of any of the preceding claims wherein the shaft member is biased by a spring and a seal member mounted upon the shaft.35    7. The assembly of any of the preceding claims adapted for use with fluids including water,steam, compressed air, medical or industrial gases, chemicals, or slurries.

8. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly includes a swivel nut on the inlet side to allow for better positioning during installation.2026200306   16 Jan 20269. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is integrated into a flexible hose or other fluid conduit.

10. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is integrated into an isolation tap connected to a fluid inflow source.5    11. The flood stop assembly of claims 1 or 6 or 7 wherein the assembly is integrated within acombined fluid inflow source isolation tap and outflow conduit or hose.

12. The assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is environmentally friendly by enabling attachment to existing isolation taps without requiring disposal of previously installed taps.10

Images