Back flow indicators for retro-fit installation in sewer line fittings, and sewer line fittings with pre-installed back flow indicators

Abstract

A back flow indicator for installation in a sewer line fitting along a downward inclined sewer line, the sewer line fitting having a longitudinal sewer line fitting centerline, an ingress end, an egress end, an outer diameter and a side port with a key transverse to the longitudinal sewer line fitting centerline. The back flow indicator includes a seal for sealing sliding insertion in the side port, the seal having a spaced part pair of electrodes facing the sewer line fitting's interior; and a controller board for repeated mounting on and dismounting from the seal. The controller board includes a controller for sensing closing of an electrical circuit between the spaced apart pair of electrodes for providing an alert regarding an at least partially blocked sewer line fitting.

Description

[0001] BACK FLOW INDICATORS FOR RETRO-FIT INSTALLATION IN SEWER LINE FITTINGS, AND SEWER LINE FITTINGS WITH PREINSTALLED BACK FLOW INDICATORS

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to sewer lines in general and indicating an at least partial blockage of sewer lines in particular.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Sewer systems include sewer lines, sewer line junctions, and sewer line fittings having a side port for providing access to a sewer line for inspection purposes, cleaning purposes, and the like. Sewer lines, sewer line junctions, and sewer line fittings, are available in a range of standard Outer Diameters (ODs), for example, 110 mm, 125 mm, 160 mm, 200 mm, and the like. Sewer lines become partially or fully blocked requiring troublesome unblocking. Standard acceptable maximum sewage height in a sewer line is from about 1 / 2 to about 2 / 3 its interior diameter above a lowermost surface of a sewer line fitting’s internal surface.

[0006] Back flow indicators are disclosed inter alia in CA3066559, CN105804177, CN108978134, CN117307971, CN117537283, CN201588276, CN21 1596987, CN211596987, CN216108807, DE2914207, EP3204562, GB2423365, KR20160044175, US4,546,346, US4,922,234, US9, 123,230, US10,032,357, US10,533,312, US1 1,299,873, US20070205906,

[0007] US20130314235, US20170278372, US20170306608, US20190035252, US20200291624 and US20210324614.

[0008] There is a need for indicating an at least partially blocked sewer line.

[0009] Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention is directed towards providing local alerts and / or remote alerts regarding a partially blocked sewer line in a sewer system. The present invention is directed towards back flow indicators designed to be retro- fitted in conventional sewer line fittings including a side port. Universal back flow indicators of the present invention are designed to be retro-fitted in conventional sewer line fittings of a range of standard Outer Diameters having the same side port. The present invention is also directed to sewer line fittings supplied with a pre-installed back flow indicator.

[0011] Brief Description of Drawings

[0012] In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be carried out in practice, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of nonlimiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar parts are likewise numbered, and in which:

[0013] Fig. 1 is a pictorial front perspective view of a conventional 160 mm OD sewer line fitting having a side port.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a pictorial front perspective view of a universal back flow indicator including a seal and a controller board.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a pictorial rear elevation view of the universal back flow indicator.

[0016] Fig. 4 is a pictorial front elevation view of the universal back flow indicator’s seal.

[0017] Fig. 5 is a pictorial rear elevation view of the universal back flow indicator’s controller board.

[0018] Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the universal back flow indicator.

[0019] Fig. 7 A is an end elevation view of a 160 mm OD sewer line fitting in the direction of Figure 1’s arrow 7A.

[0020] Fig. 7B is a front elevation view of the universal back flow indicator dialed for installation in Figure 7A’s 160 mm OD sewer line fitting.

[0021] Fig. 7C is a longitudinal cross section of Figure 7A’s 160 mm OD sewer line fitting along Figure 7A’s cross section 7C-7C showing an installed universal back flow indicator.

[0022] Fig. 8 A is an end elevation view of a 110 mm OD sewer line fitting along a direction denoted by Figure 1’s arrow 8 A. Fig. 8B is a front elevation view of the universal back flow indicator dialed for installation in Figure 8A’s 110 mm OD sewer line fitting.

[0023] Fig. 8C is a longitudinal cross section of Figure 8A’s 110 mm OD sewer line fitting along Figure 8A’s cross section 8C-8C showing an installed universal back flow indicator.

[0024] Fig. 9 A is an end elevation view of a 200 mm OD sewer line fitting along a direction denoted by Figure l’s arrow 9 A.

[0025] Fig. 9B is a front elevation view of the universal back flow indicator dialed for installation in Figure 9A’s 200 mm OD sewer line fitting.

[0026] Fig. 9C is a longitudinal cross section of Figure 9A’s 200 mm OD sewer line fitting along Figure 9A’s cross section 9C-9C showing an installed universal back flow indicator.

[0027] Fig. 10 is a pictorial front perspective view of a 160 mm OD sewer line fitting supplied with a pre-installed back flow indicator.

[0028] Fig. 11 is a pictorial rear elevation view of the Figure 10 back flow indicator.

[0029] Detailed Description of Drawings

[0030] The description includes three sections as follows:

[0031] Section 1 : Conventional Sewer Line Fitting

[0032] Section 2: Back Flow Indicator

[0033] Section 3: Sewer Line Fitting with Pre-installed Back Flow Indicator

[0034] Section 1 : Conventional Sewer Line Fitting

[0035] Figure 1 shows a conventional sewer line fitting 10A for constituting part of a sewer line of a sewer system. The sewer line fitting 10A has an Outer Diameter OD1 = 160 mm and is intended for installation at a gradual downward inclination in a downstream direction. The sewer line fitting 10A includes a longitudinal sewer line fitting centerline 11, an ingress end 12, an egress end 13 and an internal surface 14. The ingress end 12 and the egress end 13 are typically correspondingly formed as a female line end and a male line end.

[0036] The sewer line fitting 10A includes a side port 16 having an Outer Diameter OD2 = 105 mm. After a sewer line has become operative, a side port 16 can only be opened on temporarily shutting the sewer line. The side port 16 has an external screw thread 17 for affording access to the sewer line fitting’s interior. The side port 16 includes a plug 18 for sliding insertion thereinto for sealing same, and a nut 19 with an internal screw thread 21 for screw threading on the side port’s external screw thread 17 for securing the plug 18. The side port 16 has a key 22 at a 9 o’clock position transverse to the longitudinal sewer line fitting centerline 11. The plug 18 has a keyway 23 (shown in dashed lines) for slidingly receiving the key 22 for ensuring a predetermined alignment of the plug 18 in the side port 16. The plug 18 preferably includes an interior curved surface matching the sewer line fitting’s internal surface 14 such that, on aligned insertion of the plug 18, the plug’s interior curved surface is flush with the sewer line fitting’s internal surface 14. The side port 16 also includes an O- ring 24 for sealing purposes.

[0037] Sewer line fittings are available in other standard Outer Diameters including inter alia OD1 = 110 mm, OD1 = 200 mm, and the like, having the same side port 16.

[0038] Section 2: Back Flow Indicator

[0039] Figure 2 to Figure 6 show a universal back flow indicator 100A configured for use in a sewer line fitting having an Outer Diameter OD1 = 110 mm or OD1 = 160 mm or OD1 = 200 mm. The universal back flow indicator 100 A is intended to replace a plug 18 in a side port 16. The universal back flow indicator 100 A is intended to be in wireless communication with a technical service unit 200, a smartphone 201, and the like.

[0040] The universal back flow indicator 100 A has a dual component construction including a rear generally cup-shaped seal 110 and a front generally planar controller board 140 for snug accommodation in the rear generally cup-shaped seal 110. The universal back flow indicator 100A includes a dual component mounting arrangement 160 for securely mounting the controller board 140 in the seal 110 in a predetermined position.

[0041] The seal 110 includes a base 111 having a front base surface 112 and a rear base surface 113, and a peripheral seal surface 114 having a seal rim 116. The peripheral seal surface 114 has an external peripheral seal surface 117 and an internal peripheral seal surface 118. The seal 110 includes a spaced apart pair of electrodes 119A and 119B extending from the rear base surface 113 through the base 111 to terminate at electrode tips 121 A and 121B. The seal rim 116 has three OD markings 122A-122C for correspondingly marking 110 mm, 160 mm and 200 mm. The external peripheral seal surface 117 includes three keyways 123A-123C correspondingly adjacent the three OD markings 122A-122C for slidingly receiving the side port’s key 22.

[0042] The internal peripheral seal surface 118 includes an opposite spaced apart pair of inwardly directed projections 124A and 124B constituting one component of the mounting arrangement 160. The front base surface 112 includes an opposite spaced apart pair of upright mounts 126 with indented top surfaces 127 for assisting placement of the controller board 140 on the seal 110. The rear base surface 113 includes a spaced apart pair of parallel elongated debris barriers 128 A and 128B between the spaced apart pair of electrodes 119A and 119B for precluding debris possibly creating an electrical contact between the spaced apart pair of electrodes 119A and 119B.

[0043] The seal 110 preferably enables a user to view a sewer line’s interior on removal of the controller board 140 from the seal 110. Such viewing can be achieved by the base 111 including a dashed line viewing window 129. Alternatively, the seal 110 can be manufactured from a transparent plastic material.

[0044] The controller board 140 includes a controller 141 for controlling operation of the universal back flow indicator 100 A, a power source 142, a LED 143, a buzzer 144, and a wireless transmitter 146 for transmitting wireless signals. The power source 142 is preferably a replaceable long life battery, a rechargeable battery, and the like. The controller board 140 has a spaced pair of electrode contacts 147 A and 147B in electrical contact with the controller 141. The spaced pair of electrode contacts 147 A and 147B are in intimate contact with the spaced apart pair of electrode tips 121 A and 121B on mounting the controller board 140 on the seal 110. The controller board 140 includes an opposite pair of upward directed finger operated clips 148A and 148B constituting the mounting arrangement 160’s other component for engaging the inwardly directed projections 124 A and 124B. The controller board 140 includes a spaced apart pair of rearward facing mounting pins 149 A and 149B for insertion in the indented top surfaces 127 A and 127B on mounting the controller board 140 on the seal 110.

[0045] The spaced apart pair of electrodes 119A and 119B are arranged relative to the back flow indicator’s OD markings 122A-122C such that an uppermost electrode 119A is at a predetermined height above a lowermost surface of a sewer line fitting’s internal surface 14 for each of the universal back flow indicator lOOA’s three positions relative to a side port 16. On sewage level reaching the electrode 119A, sewage closes an electrical circuit with the electrode 119B, and consequently the controller 141 operates the LED 143, the buzzer 144 and the wireless transmitter 146 for indicating a partial sewer blockage.

[0046] Installation of Universal Back Flow Indicator in Sewer Line Fittings

[0047] Figure 7A to Figure 7C, Figure 8A to Figure 8C and Figure 9A to Figure 9C correspondingly show installation of a universal back flow indicator in a 160 mm OD sewer line fitting 10 A, a 110 mm OD sewer line fitting 10B and a 200 mm OD sewer line fitting 10C, respectively. A universal back flow indicator is preferably installed in an inoperative sewer line having a sewer line fitting with a side port: Installation includes unscrewing its nut, removing its plug, correctly dialing the universal back flow indicator in its side port according to the sewer line’s outer diameter, and replacing the nut. Installation of the universal back flow indicator in an operative sewer line requires temporarily shutting the sewer line. After installation, the universal back flow indicator can be serviced by unscrewing the nut, removing the controller board for servicing, replacing the controller board, and replacing the nut.

[0048] Figure 7 A to Figure 7C show the universal back flow indicator 100 A installed in the 160 mm OD sewer line fitting 10A on alignment of its key way 123B with the side port’s key 22 at the 9 o’clock position. The 160 mm OD sewer line fitting 10A has an Internal Diameter ID = 147.6 mm. The electrode 119A is located at a standard practice maximum sewer height h where h = 147.6 mm x 2 / 3 = 98.3 mm (see Figure 7A and Figure 7C). On sewage level reaching the electrode 119A to close the electrical circuit with the electrode 119B, the controller 141 operates the LED 143, the buzzer 144 and the wireless transmitter 146 for indicating a partial sewer blockage.

[0049] Figure 8 A to Figure 8C show the universal back flow indicator 100 A installed in the 110 mm OD sewer line fitting 10B on alignment of its key way 123A with the side port’s key 22 at the 9 o’clock position. The 110 mm OD sewer line fitting 10B has an Internal Diameter ID = 104.4 mm. The electrode 119A is located at a standard practice maximum sewer height h where h = 104.4 mm x 2 / 3 = 69.5 mm (see Figure 8A and Figure 8C). On sewage level reaching the electrode 119A to close the electrical circuit with the electrode 119B, the controller 141 operates the LED 143, the buzzer 144 and the wireless transmitter 146 for indicating a partial sewer blockage.

[0050] Figure 9 A to Figure 9C show the universal back flow indicator 100 A installed in the 200 mm OD sewer line fitting 10C on alignment of its key way 123C with the side port’s key 22 at the 9 o’clock position. The 200 mm OD sewer line fitting 10C has an Internal Diameter ID = 187 mm. The electrode 119A is located at a standard practice maximum sewer height h where h = 187 mm x 2 / 3 = 124.5 mm (see Figure 9A and Figure 9C). On sewage level reaching the electrode 119A to close the electrical circuit with the electrode 119B, the controller 141 operates the LED 143, the buzzer 144 and the wireless transmitter 146 for indicating a partial sewer blockage. Section 3: Sewer Line Fitting with Pre-Installed Back Flow Indicator

[0051] Figure 10 shows a 160 mm OD sewer line fitting 10D supplied with a pre-installed back flow indicator 100B instead of a plug 18. The sewer line fitting 10D has a similar construction as the sewer line fitting 10A and therefore similar parts are likewise numbered. The sewer line fitting 10D differs from the sewer line fitting 10A insofar as the sewer line fitting lOD’s key 22 is at 6 o’clock as opposed to 9 o’clock.

[0052] The back flow indicator 100B has a similar construction as the universal back flow indicator 100 A and therefore similar parts are likewise numbered. The back flow indicator 100B differs from the universal back flow indicator 100A insofar as it has a single 6 o’clock key way 23 (not shown) for slidingly receiving the sewer line fitting lOD’s key 22 at a single position of the back flow indicator 100B relative to the sewer line fitting 10D. Accordingly, the back flow indicator’s electrodes 119A and 119B are located at 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock, and its uppermost electrode 119A is at the standard practice maximum sewer height h where h = 147.6 mm x 2 / 3 = 98.3 mm above the lowermost surface of the sewer line fitting lOD’s internal surface 14 (see Figure 11).

[0053] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the invention can be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A back flow indicator for installation in a sewer line fitting along a downward inclined sewer line, the sewer line fitting having a longitudinal sewer line fitting centerline, an ingress end, and an egress end, and the sewer line fitting having an outer diameter and a side port with a key transverse to the longitudinal sewer line fitting centerline, the back flow indicator comprising: a) a seal for sealing sliding insertion in the side port, said seal including a spaced part pair of electrodes facing the sewer line fitting’s interior; and b) a controller board for repeated mounting on and dismounting from said seal, said controller board including a controller for sensing closing of an electrical circuit between said spaced apart pair of electrodes for providing an alert regarding an at least partially blocked sewer line fitting, wherein, in use, the back flow indicator is installed in the sewer line fitting’s side port at a predetermined position such that said seal includes an upper electrode of said spaced apart pair of electrodes above a lower electrode of said spaced apart pair of electrodes whereby said controller senses closing of an electrical circuit between said upper electrode and said lower electrode by a predetermined height of water being conveyed through the sewer line fitting as a function of the sewer line fitting’s outer diameter for providing said alert regarding an at least partially blocked sewer line fitting.

2. The back flow indicator according to claim 1 wherein sewer line fittings of different outer diameters have a universal side port with the same key, and the back flow indicator has at least two key ways for receiving a side port’s key such that the back flow indicator is installed at a predetermined position in each sewer line fitting as a function of the sewer line fitting’s outer diameter whereby the back flow indicator is a universal back flow indicator.

3. The back flow indicator according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein said seal enables a user to view the sewer line’s interior on removal of said controller board from said seal.

4. A sewer line fitting with a pre-installed back flow indicator according to claim 1 for installation in a sewer line.

5. The sewer line fitting according to claim 4 wherein said seal enables a user to view the sewer line’s interior on removal of said controller board from said seal.

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