Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SEWER ALARM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIEL~ OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a replacement sewer pipe
cleanout plug to be installed in lieu of a cleanout plug and
operative to actuate an electrical alarm responsive to an increase
in liquid level within the mounting area of the sewer pipe in which
the alarm has been installed.
It is also envisioned that the alarm of the instant
invention may enjoy functional usage in environments other than
those associated with a sewer pipe but which may be subject to an
increase in liquid level.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Various different forms of sewer liquid level alarms as
well as other forms of liquid level alarms including some of the
general structural and operational features of the invention
heretofore have been provided such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 2,761,037, 2,985,187, 3,757,316, 4,091,365, 4,392,128,
4,398,186, 4,546,346 and 4,569,312. However, these previously
known devices do not include the overall combination of structural
features of the instant invention and are not, therefore, capable
of functioning in the location of a replaced sewer pipe cleanout
plug in the same manner accomplished by the instant invention.
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SUMMAR~ OF T~E INVENTION
The present invention resides in the provision of a sewer
alarm assembly to replace the main sewer cleanout plug found in any
home or business dwelling. The alarm assembly may be adapted to
replace a main sewer cleanout plug o~ various different sizes
through the utilization of a multi-threaded adapter. However, such
an adapter is not specifically disclosed herein, inasmuch as multi-
size threaded adapters are well-known in other environments.
The alarm assembly has been designed for installation in
either a horizontal, vertical or 45 degree inclined position and
may therefore be used in lieu of substantially all sewer pipe
cleanout plugs.
The alarm assembly utilizes a float mounted mercury
switch to control the corresponding alarm circuit and the float is
tethered through the utilization of thin, flexible and insulated
electrical conductors in a manner enabling the float to work in any
of the abovementioned alternate operating positions of the alarm
assembly as well as all positions therebetween.
The float is of unique shape and the float shape, in
conjunction with the float tethering flexible conductors, adapts
the alarm switch for operation in substantially any usually
encountered position of a sewer cleanout plug.
The main object of this invention is to provide an alarm
assembly which will actuate an electrically operable alarm system
responsive to liquid backing up in an associated sewer system above
a predetermined level.
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Another object of this invention is to provide an alarm
assembly in accordance with the preceding ob;ect and which may be
mounted in place of a sewer pipe cleanout plug of substantially any
given size.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an
alarm system including a trapped air vent which will automatically
close within a predetermined time after direct contact with sewer
line liquids.
Another very important object of this invention is to
provide an alarm system incorporating structure which will
automatically preclude the entrance of debris into that portion of
the alarm having the alarm circuit operating float therein.
Another important object of this invention is to provide
an alarm assembly for controlling an electrically actuated alarm
signalling device and with the alarm assembly being constructed in
a manner such that sewer gases will be excluded from "make and
break" portions of the electrical circuit of the alarm assembly.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a
sewer alarm incorporating an alarm test switch.
A final object of this invention to be specifically
enumerated herein is to provide a sewer alarm in accordance with
the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms
of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to install so
as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long-
lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
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These together with other ob;ects and advantages which
will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of
construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and
claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming
a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts through-
out.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion
of a sewer pipe including a sewer cleanout plug and with the alarm
assembly of the instant invention mounted from the sewer pipe in
lieu of the cleanout plug.
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional
view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section
line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is an elevational view of the assemblage
illustrated in Fig. 2 as seen from the right side thereof and with
the protective cover removed.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional
view illustrating the vent portion of the alarm assembly.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the debris screen
portion of the alarm assembly.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the
alarm assembly in a vertically disposed position as a replacement
for a sewer pipe vertically oriented cleanout plug.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFE~RE~ EMBODIMENT
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the
numeral 10 generally designates a conventional sewer pipe including
an upper vertical section 12 terminating downwardly in a Y-fitting
14 whose horizontal portion 16 terminates at one end as at 18 and
is internally threaded at 20 for removably receiving a conventional
cleanout plug (not shown).
The sewer pipe 10 is subject to "sewer backup" wherein
liquids in the sewer pipe downstream from the fitting 14 will back
up in the sewer pipe to and above the Y-fitting 14.
The Y-fitting 14 usually is in a basement portion of the
associated building and the backup of liquid in the sewer pipe to
a level no higher than the Y-fitting 14 causes little problem.
However, if liquid within the sewer pipe 10 backs up therein to an
elevation considerably above the Y-fitting 14, sewer liquids may
back into and overflow bathroom and other fixtures within the
building. Accordingly, inasmuch as the portion of the sewer pipe
downstream from the Y-fitting 14 usually is inaccessible, the
lowest point in the sewer pipe 10 to sense a backup of liquid
within the sewer pipe 10 is at the Y-fitting 14.
The sewer alarm of the instant invention is referred to
in general by the reference numeral 22 and is operative to render
an audible alarm (a remote visual alarm may be added). The sewer
alarm 22 comprises an alarm assembly including a hollow, generally
cylindrical main body 24 including opposite ends 26 and 28. One
end 26 is externally threaded as at 29 and may be threaded into the
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threaded end 18 of the horizontal portion 16 defining an access
opening of the Y-fitting 14. The other end 26 includes an internal
shoulder 30 against which a debris screen or disc 32 is seated and
the interior of the end 26 defines a generally cylindrical cavity
34 opening outwardly throuqh the screen 32 and closed at its
opposite inner end by a partition 36 secured across the interior
of the main body 24 between the ends 26 and 2~, a second cavity 38
being defined in the end 28 on the side of the partition 36 remote
from the cavity 34.
An internal shoulder 40 is defined within the cavity 38
and a mounting disc 44 is secured within the cavity 38 against the
shoulder 40 in any convenient manner. The disc 44 mounts an
electrically actuated sound generating device 46, a test switch 48
and a replaceable battery 50 on the side thereof remote from the
partition 36, although a portion of the switch 48 extends through
the mounting disc 44.
A loop-type circuit 52 electrically connects the sound
generating device 46, the battery 50 and a mercury switch capsule
54 in series, the capsule 54 including a pair of internal spaced
contacts 55 and 56. The circuit 52 includes thin, insulated and
flexible conductors 58 and 60 defining the contacts S5 and 56 at
one pair of ends and including opposite ends passing through the
partition 36 in fluid tight sealed engagement therewith. The
capsule 54 contains a quantity of mercury 62 for electrically
bridging the contacts 55 and 56 when the end of the capsule 54 in
which the contacts 55 and 56 are disposed is lowered relative to
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the opposite end of the capsule. Also, a bypass circuit 64,
connected in parallel with the circuit 52, is provided in which the
test switch 48 is serially connected and the circuit 64 bypasses
the mercury switch capsule 54 and the conductors 58 and 60.
The mercury switch capsule 54 is contained and extends
longitudinally within a hollow float body 66 including large and
small transverse dimension ends 68 and 70. The large transverse
dimension end 68 corresponds to the end of the mercury switch
capsule 54 containing the contacts 55 and 56. Of course, the
conductors 58 and 60 pass into the float body 66 in fluid tight
sealed engagement therewith and support the mercury switch capsule
54 in substantially stationary position within the float body 66.
The upper peripheral portion of the main body 24 includes
a vertical, threaded radial bore 72 formed therein and a pair of
small diameter vent bores 74 spaced longitudinally of the body 24
on either side of the threaded bore 72. A threaded cap screw 76
is adjustably threaded in the bore 72 and has a pair of washers 78
disposed thereon beneath the head 80 of the cap screw 76 and a
liquid absorbent and expandable washer 82 is disposed on the cap
screw 76 beneath the washers 78 and includes diametrically opposite
peripheral portions thereof loosely overlying the upper ends of the
vent bores 74.
The cap screw 76 is adjusted in a manner such that the
head 80 thereof is spaced slightly above the uppermost washer 78
and the weight of the washers 78 acts upon the washer 82 to form
a loose closure for the vent bores 74. However, in the event
liquid backs up within the sewer pipe lo to a level above the
horizontal portion 16 of the Y-fitting 14, the liquid will rise
through the bores 74 and contact the absorbent washer 80, whereupon
the latter will become wetted and will therefore expand to
substantially tightly close the upper ends of the bores 74. Thus,
the bores 74 serve as a relief for air trapped within the adjacent
portion of the horizontal portion 16 and within the main body 24
to thereby allow the level of liquid within the main body 24 to
rise and cause the float body 66 to swing from the solid line
position thereof illustrated in Fig. 2 to the uppermost phanthom
line position illustrated in Fig. 2. When the float body 66 is in
the uppermost phanthom line position illustrated in Fig. 2, the
quantity of mercury 62 will bridge the contacts 55 and 56 and thus
close the circuit 52 causing the signal generating device 46 to be
operated.
The outer end of the main body 24 includes an outer
circumferential peripheral groove 86 in which an internal circum-
ferential rib 88 is seated when a plastic closure cap 90 is
removably snap fittingly engaged over the corresponding main body
end. The center of the cap 90 includes an access opening 92
therein through which access may be had to the momentary plunger-
type actuator 94 for the test switch 48. When the plunger-type
actuator 94 is displaced inwardly, the circuit 52 is closed by the
bypass circuit 64 to thus actuate the signal generating device and
test its operability.
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The sewer alarm 22 also is operative in a vertical
position such as that illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.
Because the conductors 58 and 60 are quite flexible, when the sewer
alarm 22 in Fig. 6 experiences a liquid level rise therein, the
float body 66 is moved from the solid line position thereof
illustrated in Fig. 6 to the phanthom line position illustrated in
Fig. 6. Also, the sewer alarm 22 is operative in any inclined
position between the horizontal position of Fig. 2 and the vertical
position in Fig. 6. Of course, the air vent illustrated in Fig.
4 also is operational when the sewer alarm is vertically oriented
as illustrated in Fig. 6.
Thus, it may be seen that a sewer alarm is provided which
may be used not only in a horizontal position as well as a vertical
position, but in any inclined position between the horizontal and
vertical positions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6.
The provision of the insulated and flexible conductors
58 and 60 as tether means for the float body 66 and the mercury
switch capsule 54 disposed therein in conjunction with the
effective length of the conductors 58 and 60 as compared to the
radius of the cavity 34 insures that elevated liquid level within
the cavity 34 will cause the mercury switch capsule 54 to be tilted
to a position with the mercury 62 bridging the contacts 55 and 56
in order to actuate the signal generating device 46 as long as the
sewer alarm 22 is either horizontally disposed as illustrated in
Fig. 1, vertically disposed as illustrated in Fig. 6 or variously
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inclined between the horizontal and vertical mounted positions
thereof.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
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