Flush cartridge apparatus and method of use

A flush cartridge apparatus for use in the removal of debris from a potable water distribution system, comprising:

• an elongated, cylindrically shaped hollow body having a first outer diameter, a grip portion and an internal, axial passageway;
• a first end portion of said cylindrically shaped hollow body being designed for primary insertion into a housing opening in a plumbing valve housing used in the water distribution system, said first end portion having an outer diameter equal to the first outer diameter of the hollow body and further having a central orifice therein for relieving the pressure build-up created by the insertion of said first end of said hollow body into the plumbing valve housing;
• an elongated mid-portion of said cylindrically shaped hollow body being designed for secondary insertion into the plumbing valve housing opening, said elongated mid-portion being affixed to said first end portion and having an outer diameter equal to the first outer diameter of the cylindrically shaped hollow body, said mid-portion further having a cold water inlet port and a hot water inlet port, said inlet ports being positioned axially disposed from one another in said mid-portion, wherein each of said inlet ports commence on an external surface of the outer diameter of said hollow body and terminate on an internal surface of the axial passageway, wherein the inlet ports provide fluid and debris flow from the water distribution system in to the internal, axial passageway, said mid-portion further having a plurality of circumferential, radial grooves in the external surface of said hollow body, wherein each of said circumferential, radial grooves being adapted for the mounting of an o-ring seal member therein for sealing engagement of said cylindrically shaped hollow body within an inner diameter receiving surface of the plumbing valve housing opening to generally prevent fluid and debris flow between the outer diameter of the hollow body and the inner diameter receiving surface of the housing opening;
• and
• a second end portion of said cylindrically shaped hollow body being affixed to said elongated mid-portion, wherein the mid-portion is disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, said second end portion providing an outlet for said internal, axial passageway to allow the complete discharge of debris from the water distribution system, said second end portion further including the grip portion, wherein the grip portion includes gripping means thereon for mechanical gripping engagement to selectively insert and selectively remove said cylindrically shaped hollow body from the plumbing valve housing opening.

A flush cartridge apparatus for use in the removal of debris from a water distribution system, comprising:

• an elongated, cylindrically shaped hollow body, said cylindrically shaped hollow body generally having a cylindrical, outer surface defined by a first outer diameter, said outer surface having a first outer diameter and further comprising at least one partial circumferential notch therein for locking alignment with a reciprocal notch in a pressure balance valve housing;
• a keeper pin, wherein said keeper pin simultaneously engages the at least one partial-circumferential notch in the cylindrically shaped hollow body and the reciprocal notch in the pressure balance valve housing to securely retain the cylindrically shaped hollow body within an inner diameter receiving surface of the pressure balance valve housing,
• an internal, axial passageway being continuously axially disposed through said cylindrically shaped hollow body, the axial passageway having an inner diameter;
• a first end portion of said cylindrically-shaped, hollow body being affixed at a first end of said cylindrically shaped hollow body, said first end portion being designed for primary insertion into a housing opening of the pressure balance valve used in the water distribution system, said first end portion having an outer diameter equal to the first outer diameter of the cylindrically shaped hollow body and further having a central orifice therein for relieving the pressure build-up created by the insertion of said first end of said cylindrically shaped hollow body into the housing opening;
• an elongated mid-portion of said cylindrically shaped hollow body being designed for secondary insertion into the housing opening, said elongated mid-portion being affixed to said first end portion and having an outer diameter equal to the first outer diameter of the hollow body of said cylindrically shaped hollow body, said mid-portion further having a cold water inlet port and a hot water inlet port, said inlet ports being positioned axially disposed from one another in said mid-portion, wherein each of said inlet ports commence on the outer surface of said cylindrically shaped hollow body and terminate on an internal surface of the inner diameter of the axial passageway, wherein the inlet ports provide fluidic and debris flow communication from a hot water conduit and a cold water conduit, wherein both conduits are fluidically engaged to the pressure balance valve housing, said mid-portion further having a plurality of circumferential grooves in the external surface of said cylindrically shaped hollow body, wherein each of said circumferential grooves are adapted for the mounting of an o-ring seal member therein for sealing engagement of said cylindrically shaped hollow body within the housing of the pressure balance valve to generally prevent fluid and debris flow between the outer diameter of the hollow body and the inner diameter receiving surface of the pressure balance valve housing;
• and
• a second end portion of said cylindrically-shaped, hollow body being affixed to said elongated mid-portion and wherein the mid-portion is disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, said second end portion providing an outlet for said internal, axial passageway to allow the complete discharge of debris from the water distribution system, said second end portion further including a grip portion, the second end portion also having an internally threaded portion for engagement with an external threaded member and the grip portion having a plurality of flat external surfaces thereon for mechanical gripping engagement to selectively insert and selectively remove said cylindrically-shaped hollow body from the pressure balance valve.

A flush cartridge apparatus for use in the removal of debris from a water distribution system, comprising:

• an elongated, cylindrically shaped, hollow body, said hollow body generally having a cylindrical, outer surface defined by a first outer diameter, said outer surface further comprising at least one partial circumferential notch therein for locking alignment with a reciprocal notch in a pressure balance valve housing;
• a keeper pin, wherein said keeper pin simultaneously engages the at least one partial-circumferential notch in the cylindrically shaped hollow body and the reciprocal notch in the pressure balance valve housing to securely retain the cylindrically shaped hollow body within an inner diameter receiving surface of the pressure balance valve housing;
• an internal, axial passageway being axially disposed through said cylindrically shaped hollow body, the axial passageway having an inner diameter;
• a first end portion of said cylindrically shaped, hollow body being affixed at a first end of said hollow body, said first end portion being designed for primary insertion into a housing opening of the pressure balance valve used in the water distribution system, said first end portion having an outer diameter equal to the first outer diameter of the hollow body and further having a central orifice therein for relieving the pressure build-up created by the insertion of said first end of said hollow body into the housing opening of the pressure balance valve;
• an elongated mid-portion of said cylindrically shaped, hollow body being designed for secondary insertion into the housing opening of the pressure balance valve, said elongated mid-portion being affixed to said first end portion and having an outer diameter equal to the first outer diameter of the hollow body of said cylindrically shaped, hollow body, said mid-portion further having a cold water inlet port and a hot water inlet port, said inlet ports being positioned axially disposed from one another in said mid-portion, wherein each of said inlet ports commence on an external surface of the outer surface of said hollow body and terminate on an internal surface of the inner diameter of the axial passageway, wherein the inlet ports provide fluidic and debris flow from a hot water conduit and a cold water conduit, wherein both conduits are fluidically engaged to the pressure balance valve, said mid-portion further having a plurality of circumferential grooves in the external surface of said hollow body, wherein each of said circumferential grooves is adapted for the mounting of an o-ring seal member therein for sealing engagement of said hollow body within the housing of the pressure balance valve to generally prevent fluid and debris flow between the outer diameter of the hollow body and the inner diameter receiving surface of the pressure balance valve;
• a second end portion of said cylindrically shaped, hollow body being affixed to said elongated mid-portion and wherein the mid-portion is disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, said second end portion providing an outlet for said internal, axial passageway to allow the complete discharge of debris from the water distribution system, said second end portion further including a grip portion, the second end portion also having an internally threaded portion for engagement with an external threaded member and the grip portion having a plurality of flat external surfaces thereon for mechanical gripping engagement to selectively insert and selectively remove said cylindrically shaped hollow body from the pressure balance valve;
• and
• a valve member having external threads for threaded engagement with the internally threaded portion of the second end portion, said valve member having means to selectively open and selectively close the flow of water and debris from the outlet of said internal axial passageway, said valve member further providing axial extension of the internal axial passageway to generally prevent the unintended leakage of water and debris from the internal axial passageway within a structure.

A method of using a flush cartridge apparatus for use in the removal of debris from a potable water distribution system in a commercial or residential structure, comprising the steps of

• disengaging the water pressure from the water distribution system;
• opening a plumbing valve housing used in the water distribution system, to expose an operating cartridge;
• removing the operating cartridge from the plumbing valve housing;
• inserting the flush cartridge into the plumbing valve housing;
• engaging a keeper pin in locking alignment with the flush cartridge and the plumbing valve housing;
• forming a non-permeable seal between the flush cartridge and an inner diameter receiving surface of the plumbing valve housing;
• engaging the water pressure to the water distribution system;
• and
• flushing the debris from one or more water delivery lines and the plumbing valve housing through an outlet of the flush cartridge.