Test plug for a plumbing system
OwnerGabe Coscarellainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plumbing fitting for a drain line of a plumbing system has a fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a cleanout port in fluid communication with a cavity defined by the fitting body. A releasable plug is positioned in the plumbing fitting upstream of a strainer body that prevents the releasable plug from passing through the fluid outlet in the released position. The releasable plug may be an expandable plug that is installed upstream of the strainer or may be a closure member that seals the strainer and is removed from the strainer to unseal the drain line. The releasable plug is actuated to a released state from outside the plumbing fitting.
Claims23
A plumbing fitting for a drain line of a plumbing system, comprising:
- a fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a cleanout port in fluid communication with a cavity defined by the fitting body, the fitting body being adapted to connect to the drain line;
- a cleanout cover that closes the cleanout port, the cleanout cover having a control line aperture;
- an expandable plug that has an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein:
- in the expanded state the expandable plug is adapted to engage and seal the fluid inlet of the fitting body or the drain line upstream of the fluid inlet;
- and
- in the contracted state the expandable plug has a diameter that is less than the expanded state sized to engage the fluid inlet of the fitting body;
- a control line that extends from the expandable plug to the control line aperture of the cleanout cover such that a working end of the control line is accessible when the cleanout cover closes the cleanout port, wherein actuating the working end of the control line releases the expandable plug;
- and
- a strainer body that permits fluid flow therethrough and prevents the expandable plug from passing through the fluid outlet, the strainer being removably installed in the fitting body downstream of the expandable plug.
A method of testing a plumbing system having fitting body installed on a drain line, the fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a cavity and a cleanout port, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting an expandable plug, in a contracted state, into the cavity of the fitting body through the cleanout port, a control line being connected to the expandable plug and having a working end that is accessible when the cleanout port is closed;
- positioning the expandable plug within the fluid inlet and expanding the expandable plug to such that the expandable plug forms a seal upstream of the cavity;
- installing a strainer body in the cavity, the strainer body permitting fluid flow therethrough and preventing the expandable plug from passing through the fluid outlet;
- closing the cleanout port with a cleanout cover, the cleanout cover having a control line aperture through which the working end is accessible;
- passing a fluid into the drain line upstream of the expandable plug;
- and
- manipulating the working end via the control line to cause the expandable plug to contract such that the expandable plug disengages and permits fluid flow through the cavity;
- and
- removing the fluid plug from the cavity via the cleanout port.
A test kit for a plumbing system for use with an expandable plug that has an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein, in the expanded state, the expandable plug is adapted to engage and seal an upstream end of a plumbing fitting and in the contracted state, the expandable plug is adapted to be installed and removed from the plumbing fitting, the test kit comprising:
- a control line having a plug end and a working end, the plug end being connected to the expandable plug;
- a cover that is adapted to close an access port in the plumbing fitting, the cover having an aperture that is sized to receive the control line at a point between the plug end and the working end such that the working end of the control line is accessible when the cover is installed on the plumbing fitting;
- and
- a strainer body that is adapted to be removably installed downstream of the expandable plug in the plumbing system and within the plumbing fitting.
The test kit of claim 16, wherein the control line comprises a fluid line, and the working end comprises a valve that selectively releases pneumatic pressure from the expandable plug.
A plumbing fitting, comprising:
- a fitting body having an inlet, an outlet, an inner cavity, and an outer surface;
- a seal body that seals the outlet of the fitting body, the seal body having a flow opening that is selectively closed by a closure member;
- and
- an actuator operably connected to the closure member to open the flow opening when actuated, wherein the actuator is accessible from outside the plumbing fitting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.