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US 4,475,571 AGranted
Sewer relief valve
OwnerJames M. Houston, Jr., John W. Bakerinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved sewer relief valve which is vandal-proof and automatically opens responsive to a back flow of sewage and drain water within a plumbing system.
Claims28
A sewer relief valve comprising:
- a coupling member adapted to connect to a sewer line and including an upper end defining a material flow opening;
- a lid selectably connectable to said coupling member to obstruct said material flow opening of said coupling member;
- means within said coupling member for locking said lid in obstruction of said material flow opening of said coupling member;
- float means comprising a buoyant member pivotally disposed within said coupling;
- and
- means for venting a build-up of air pressure within said coupling member through said upper end while said lid is locked in obstruction of said material flow opening of said coupling member, so that compressed air is vented from within said coupling member to allow a back flow of sewage to rise within said coupling member and displace said float means.
- whereby displacement of said float means in response to a back flow of sewage within said coupling member positively unlocks said lid and permits said lid to be opened so as to unblock said material flow opening, thus permitting said back flow of sewage to escape through said material flow opening, and upon interruption of said back flow of sewage, said lid is permitted to automatically relock to obstruct the material flow opening.
4 more elements
A sewer relief valve comprising:
- a coupling member adapted to connect to a sewer line, said coupling member including an upper end defining a material flow opening;
- a lid selectably connectable to said coupling member to obstruct said material flow opening of said coupling member;
- means within said coupling member for locking said lid in obstruction of said material flow opening of said coupling member;
- float means comprising a buoyant member slidably disposed within said coupling member;
- and
- means for venting a build-up of air pressure within said coupling member through said upper end while said lid is locked in obstruction of said material flow opening of said coupling member, so that compressed air is vented from within said coupling member to allow a back flow of sewage to rise within said coupling member and displace said float means,
- whereby displacement of said float means in response to said backflow of sewage within said coupling member positively unlocks said lid and permits said lid to be opened so as to unblock said material flow opening, thus permitting said backflow of sewage to escape through said material flow opening, and upon interruption of said backflow of sewage, said lid is permitted to automatically relock to obstruct the material flow opening.
4 more elements
A sewer relief valve comprising:
- a coupling member connectable to a sewer line, said coupling member including an upper end defining a material flow opening;
- a lid selectably connectable to said coupling member to obstruct said material flow opening of said coupling member;
- means within said coupling member for locking said lid in obstruction of said material flow opening of said coupling member, said locking means comprising at least one substantially horizontal lock rod suspended within said coupling member, and means for retaining said lock rod so as to maintain said lid in a locked position;
- float means comprising a buoyant member disposed for vertical movement within said coupling member;
- and
- means for venting a build-up of air pressure within said coupling member through said upper end while said lid is locked in obstruction of said material flow opening of said coupling member, so that compressed air is vented from within said coupling member to allow a back flow of sewage to rise within said coupling member and displace said float means,
- whereby displacement of said float means in response to said back flow of sewage within said coupling member positively unlocks said lid and unblocks said material flow opening, thus permitting said backflow of sewage to escape through said material flow opening, and upon interruption of said backflow of sewage, said lid is permitted to automatically relock to obstruct the material flow opening.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.