Backwater valve

A method of preventing backwater flow through a pipe, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting an inlet and an outlet of a hollow valve body of a backwater valve to the pipe, the inlet having a substantially vertical face, the backwater valve comprising:
• a valve member pivotally mounted within the hollow valve body, the valve member having a pivotal movement defined by a pivot axis disposed above the inlet, the valve member comprising an engagement surface positioned above the pivot axis, the valve member pivoting between an open position in which the valve member is away from the inlet and a closed position in which the valve member engages the substantially vertical face of the inlet to prevent fluid flow through the inlet, wherein, in the absence of water, the valve member is biased toward the open position by one or more counterweights carried by the valve member;
• and
• a cam rotatably mounted above the inlet, the cam having a variable radius that increases in a circumferential direction such that, with the cam in a first rotary position, the variable radius of the cam permits the valve member to move to the closed position and the open position with the cam remaining in the first rotary position, and in a second rotary position the variable radius of the cam engages the engagement surface of the valve member to secure the valve member in the closed position;
• and
• rotating the cam from the first rotary position to the second rotary position to secure the valve member in the closed position and prevent fluid flow between the outlet and the inlet, wherein, with the valve member in the open position, the cam pushes the valve member toward the closed position, wherein, with the cam in the first rotary position and the valve member in the closed position, the valve member is disengaged from the cam.

In combination, a backwater valve and a backwater valve insert, wherein:

• the backwater valve comprises a hollow valve body having an inlet and an outlet;
• and
• the backwater valve insert comprises:
• an insert body having a first end, a second end, and defining a flow path between the first end and the second end, the insert body being sized to be received within the hollow valve body such that the first end is in fluid communication with the inlet of the hollow valve body, and the second end is in fluid communication with the outlet of the hollow valve body;
• a valve member carried by the insert body, the valve member being pivotally movable about a pivot axis disposed above the flow path, the valve member pivoting between an open position in which the valve member is away from the inlet and a closed position in which the valve member engages the inlet to prevent fluid flow through the inlet;
• one or more counterweights that bias the valve member toward the open position;
• and
• one or more floats positioned within the hollow valve body such that in the presence of water within the hollow valve body, the one or more floats rise and engage a valve member actuator to move the valve member toward the closed position.

In combination, a backwater valve comprising a hollow valve body, and a backwater valve insert, wherein:

• the hollow valve body comprises:
• an inlet;
• an outlet;
• a flow path between the inlet and the outlet;
• and
• one or more float chambers adjacent to the inlet and in fluid communication with the flow path;
• and
• the backwater valve insert being insertable within the hollow valve body, the backwater valve insert comprising:
• one or more floats configured to be positioned within the one or more float chambers;
• and
• a valve member configured to be mounted adjacent to the inlet within the hollow valve body such that the valve member is pivotally movable about a pivot axis above the inlet between an open position in which the valve member is away from the inlet and a closed position in which the valve member engages the inlet to prevent fluid flow through the inlet, the valve member comprising one or more counterweights that bias the valve member toward the open position;
• wherein, with the backwater valve insert inserted within the hollow valve body and in the presence of water, the one or more floats being adapted to rise into engagement with the one or more counterweights to move the valve member toward the closed position.