Cleanout Conduit Valve Assembly for Vertical Debris-Shedding Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional relief valves in sewer service lines often fail to prevent rainwater and debris from entering the cleanout conduit due to the horizontal orientation of the discharge end, leading to incomplete sealing and potential overflow.
Innovation Solution
A cleanout conduit valve assembly with a vertically oriented valve discharge end and a beveled sealing surface, which engages with a convex valve housing surface to ensure a liquid-tight seal, and a valve stop to maintain the open position during overflow, preventing backflow and precipitation entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the discharge end is oriented horizontally, then the valve body can be spring-loaded in the closed position to seal the discharge end, but paper and debris collect around the discharge end causing incomplete sealing and precipitation entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal discharge orientation to a vertical discharge orientation. This inversion prevents debris from collecting around the discharge end by allowing gravity to drain materials away from the sealing area, thereby maintaining complete sealing reliability even during closed valve operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional horizontal sealing plane to a three-dimensional vertical sealing arrangement with beveled surfaces. The beveled sealing surface oriented at an angle creates a wedge-shaped seal that prevents debris accumulation while maintaining effective sealing, adding a dimensional aspect to the sealing mechanism
2Reliability
If the valve body is spring-loaded in the closed position, then the discharge end is sealed, but the valve fails to open completely under overflow conditions allowing precipitation entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sealing surface by introducing a beveled orientation at a specific angle rather than a flat horizontal surface. This parameter change allows the valve body to maintain effective sealing when closed while enabling complete opening under overflow conditions, as the beveled surface facilitates full valve rotation and unseating
3Device complexity
If the discharge end is horizontal, then the valve structure is simple, but rainwater and debris enter the cleanout conduit during heavy precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the discharge orientation from horizontal to vertical, which fundamentally changes the valve's interaction with precipitation and debris. This simple orientational change prevents rainwater and debris from entering the cleanout conduit during heavy precipitation while maintaining relatively simple valve structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a beveled sealing surface with curved or angled geometry rather than flat surfaces. This curvature design helps deflect precipitation and debris away from the sealing area while maintaining effective sealing, preventing harmful factor entry without significantly increasing structural complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents rainwater and debris from entering the cleanout conduit, maintaining a seal even under heavy precipitation and reducing the risk of overflow and backflow, while allowing easy maintenance and operation.
Implementation Method 1
A valve body may have a sealing surface. The valve may be positional between a closed valve position configured to seal the valve housing and a full open valve position configured to unseal the valve housing.
Implementation Method 2
A valve may include a valve arm pivotally carried by the valve mount.
Implementation Method 3
A valve stop may extend from the valve arm. The valve stop may engage the valve body in the fill open valve position.
Data Source
AI summary
Cleanout conduit valve installations may include at least one cleanout housing having a cleanout housing interior and configured for placement in the cleanout conduit hole with the at least one cleanout conduit extending into the cleanout housing interior. A cleanout housing opening may overlie the cleanout housing interior. An openable cleanout housing door may be disposed in the cleanout housing opening. At least one cleanout conduit valve assembly may be configured to be disposed in fluid communication with the at least one cleanout conduit in the cleanout housing interior of the at least one cleanout housing. The at least one cleanout conduit valve assembly may include a valve housing configured for mounting on the at least one cleanout conduit. A valve mount may be carried by the valve housing. A valve may include a valve arm pivotally carried by the valve mount. A valve stop may extend from the valve arm. A valve body may be carried by the valve arm. The valve body may have a sealing surface. The valve may be positional between a closed valve position configured to seal the valve housing and a full open valve position configured to unseal the valve housing. The valve stop may engage the valve body in the full open valve position.