US 11,624,176 B1 · Water drain management apparatus

Abstract

A water drain management apparatus used in clinical facility (43) or other facility includes a manifold plumbing fitting (32, 272, 384). The fitting includes a plurality of drain outlet connections for water discharge devices (40, 42, 222, 226, 230, 234). Such water discharge devices may include devices such as autoclaves, sterilizers, cleaners, washers, filters, humidifiers, condensing devices and other devices used in the facility. A plurality of drain fitting openings in the body of the fitting are connectable to respective water discharge devices, and openings that are not utilized are closable with plugs. Some manifold fittings (272, 344, 384, 482) include an air gap opening (288, 360, 392, 530). These configurations provide an air gap that prevents contamination due to back flow of water within the fitting reaching water discharge devices or the body inlet of the manifold fitting.

Apparatus comprising:

a manifold plumbing fitting configured to be positioned in intermediate fluid connection between a sink drain and above a drain trap associated with the sink drain, wherein the plumbing fitting includes:
an annular body, wherein the body includes an interior area, wherein in an operative position of the plumbing fitting the body is configured to extend along a generally vertical body axis,
a body inlet, wherein the body inlet
is configured to be in direct fluid connection with the sink drain, and
is coaxial with the body axis and is configured to enable air and water to enter the interior area,
a body outlet, wherein the body outlet is coaxial with the body axis and is configured to enable water to pass out of the interior area toward the drain trap,
wherein the interior area extends symmetrically annularly and radially outward relative to the body axis beyond the body inlet and the body outlet,
wherein the interior area includes an inlet end portion, wherein the inlet end portion of the interior area is bounded within the body by an axially symmetric annular tapered inlet end funnel surface,
wherein the inlet end funnel surface includes an axially centered body inlet funnel opening therein that is directly fluidly connected to the body inlet, and is configured such that in the operative position of the plumbing fitting the inlet end funnel surface is disposed vertically higher with closer proximity along the body axis to the body inlet funnel opening,
wherein the interior area further includes an outlet end portion, wherein the outlet end portion is bounded within the body by an axially symmetric annular tapered outlet end funnel surface,
wherein the outlet end funnel surface includes an axially centered body outlet funnel opening therein that is directly fluidly connected to the body outlet, and is configured such that in the operative position of the plumbing fitting the outlet end funnel surface is disposed vertically lower with closer proximity along the body axis to the body outlet funnel opening,
wherein the interior area is further bounded by a symmetric axially centered cylindrical sidewall surface, wherein in the operative position of the plumbing fitting the cylindrical sidewall surface extends continuously and generally vertically intermediate of the inlet end funnel surface and the outlet end funnel surface,
wherein the interior area includes only open space axially intermediate of the inlet funnel surface and the outlet funnel surface and diametrically across an interior area portion bounded by cylindrical sidewall surface,
wherein the body includes a plurality of drain fitting openings that extend through the body and the inlet end funnel surface to the interior area,
wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is disposed radially outwardly away from the body inlet funnel opening and axially away from the outlet end funnel surface,
wherein in the operative position of the plumbing fitting each drain fitting opening extends in vertically overlying relation above the outlet end funnel surface,
wherein each of the plurality of drain fitting openings is configured to receive either
a drain fitting operatively fluidly connected to a water discharge device, or
a plug, wherein the plug blocks the respective drain fitting opening.

16 more elements

Water drain management apparatus

Life of this patent

Water drain management apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28