Pressure-Activated Trap Primer and Water Hammer Arrestor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for water hammer in domestic plumbing systems are either cumbersome, require frequent maintenance, or fail to protect against pressure surges, and automatic drain trap primers do not address water hammer events while being prone to leakage.
Innovation Solution
A compact, self-flushing water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer valve with an integral air gap and check piston mechanism that discharges water to the drain during pressure spikes, reducing return pressure waves and preventing backflow, integrated into a single apparatus for space savings and reduced installation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure regulators are used to control pressure surges, then water hammer effects are reduced, but the device requires adjustment at installation and periodically, and small clearances can get plugged by particles or mineral buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve design allows the device to self-flush by utilizing the water flow itself to clear debris from the valve seat and screen, eliminating the need for manual adjustment or maintenance. The self-flushing action occurs naturally during normal operation when water flows through the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the problematic small clearance areas where particles and mineral buildup occur by designing a check valve with a screen that can be easily accessed and cleaned, and by positioning the valve seat in a location that allows natural flushing rather than creating tight tolerances that trap debris.
2Reliability
If pressure regulators are used to control pressure surges, then water hammer effects are reduced, but the device doesn't operate fast enough to stop a water hammer event
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the slow-acting mechanical adjustment mechanism of traditional pressure regulators with a fast-acting check valve that responds instantaneously to pressure changes. The check valve opens and closes based on pressure differential alone, without requiring mechanical adjustment or slow-moving components.
3Reliability
If surge tanks combined with check valves are used to reduce water hammer, then pressure waves are reduced, but surge tanks impose significant space requirements and generally cannot be located near enough to each of the sources of water hammer events
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the water hammer arrestor function and drain trap primer function into a single integrated device. The check valve mechanism serves dual purposes: arresting water hammer pressure waves and priming drain traps by porting water to the drain when pressure drops.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the water hammer protection function from the large surge tank and implements it in a compact check valve design that can be installed close to water hammer sources without requiring significant space.
4Extent of automation
If pre-set automatic drain trap primers are used, then drain trap priming is automated, but if the nominal system pressure persists below the pre-set pressure, then the pre-set automatic drain trap primers may continuously port water to drain
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve design provides automatic feedback control where the valve position is determined by the instantaneous pressure differential across it. When system pressure drops, the valve opens to port water to the drain; when pressure returns to normal, the valve closes automatically, preventing continuous water porting.
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
Effectively reduces water hammer effects by rapidly dissipating pressure waves and maintaining drain trap priming, eliminating backflow risks with minimal maintenance and no need for inlet screens, while integrating building code-compliant air gap functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a check piston within said pipe and slidingly engageable with said insert plug and said outlet port wherein said check piston engages slidably responsive to water pressure changes at said inlet port
Implementation Method 2
A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer valve includes an air chamber. The air chamber absorbs pressure spikes and dissipates pressure waves.
Implementation Method 3
Water hammer is a common problem in domestic water plumbing systems. The negative effects of water hammer include damage to pipes and pipe fittings due to vibration, shock, and physical displacement
Data Source
AI summary
A water hammer arrestor and drain trap primer valve includes a hollow pipe having a closed end, a discharging end, an inlet, an outlet port connected to said discharging end and attachable to plumbing tubing, an inlet port connected to said inlet and attachable to plumbing tubing, an insert plug within said pipe positioned at said discharging end and at said inlet, said insert plug substantially tubular with opposing flats, and having a longitudinal cylindrical bore and a latitudinal threaded through bore, a port bolt within a portion of said insert plug and a portion of said inlet port, said port bolt substantially tubular and having a longitudinal cylindrical bore and a latitudinal through bore distributor aligned with the insert plug longitudinal cylindrical bore, and a check piston within said pipe and slidingly engageable with said insert plug and said outlet port wherein said check piston engages slidably responsive to water pressure changes at said inlet port and an integral air gap outlet.