Patent Application
20130139923
This disclosure relates to water piping, and more particularly to insulation of water pipes and flow control devices.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
For certain water supply systems, governmental codes or ordinances typically require, at the user site, a backflow preventer at the connection from the utility supply to the user's system. The purpose is to prevent flow of contaminated water backward from the user system into the potable water system of the utility due to back-siphoning conditions.
One type of backflow prevention apparatus widely used in commercial and residential irrigation systems is a reduce pressure assembly (RPA) and double-check valve assembly (DVA) mounted above ground proximate to the water meter and between the water outlet from the meter and the inlet to the water system. During the fall of the year, when ambient temperatures are dropping, sharp drops in ambient temperature below the freezing mark place the components at risk for cracks and other damage. Ground temperatures remains above freezing so there is less danger of water freezing in the underground pipes. However, the backflow preventer valve assembly and the pipes leading to and from it are above ground and thus susceptible to freezing and associated damage.
Various insulating devices and methods to prevent freezing pipes and hose bibs have been devised including bags, sleeves, and taping methods. Known devices and methods require regular maintenance and replacement. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a durable device for reducing the risk of freezing of water in backflow prevention apparatus and water control devices subjected to transient below-freezing ambient temperatures.
An apparatus is disclosed for insulating water piping and water control devices above ground.
A thermal cover for a backflow prevention assembly is disclosed. The thermal cover includes a first and second insulated tube each to cover piping components of the backflow prevention assembly an insulated box cover configured to house water control components of the backflow prevention assembly. A first end on each of the insulated tubes is receivable by an insulated box cover and a second end is configured to abut a ground surface. The insulated box cover is sealed using removable fastening means to enable access to the water control components.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein the depictions are for the purpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
The box cover 32 additionally includes a first tube-receiving-side 44 and second tube-receiving-side. Each tube-receiving-side includes an opening 46 configured to receive an insulated tube such as the first and second insulated tubes 30 and 34. The first and second tube-receiving-sides may be contiguously connected to the housing or coupled using known mechanical fastening methods. Similarly to the housing 40, the first and second sides preferably include an insulation liner 42 coupled to the inner portion of the sides. Each tube-receiving-side is additionally configured to close around the respective tubes, thereby sealing water flow pipes and water control devices from outside ambient conditions and holding internal thermal energy within the box cover 32. The openings may include additional sealing material such as a flexible rubber or polymer-based tube configured to press up against one of the first and second tubes 30 and 34. In this way, ambient conditions may be sealed from flowing within the box cover 34.
In one embodiment, various adhesives may be used such as glue or adhesive tape to secure the first and second lids together. The adhesive tape can have the top and/or bottom surface include an adhesive contact surface. When the adhesive tape has two adhesive sides, the type of adhesive on the two sides can be the same or different. The type of adhesive used on the adhesive tape is non-limiting. Generally, the adhesive used on the adhesive tape is a contact adhesive that forms a bond when pressed to a surface. The adhesive tape may be affixed to the first and second lids 50 and 52. In one embodiment, the first lid 50 includes members 56 configured to engage, e.g., latch, receiving members 58 on the second lid 52 enabling the box cover 32 to be readily latched or snapped into and/or removed from the water control components. In one embodiment, the first lid 50 includes a plurality of recesses 54 for receiving fixing devices, such as screws or tacks for securing the first lid 50 to the second lid 52.
The box cover 32 may additionally be formed to include an opening 80 enabling access to internal water components and release of any water build-up. The opening 80 is preferably located on a bottom portion of the box cover 32 to enable any water build-up to be readily released.
The outer shell 62 may be formed of a variety of materials such as, but not limited to, plastic (e.g, polypropylene, copolymer of polypropylene, polyethylene, resin materials, etc.), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), postchlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), metal, ceramic materials, composite materials (fiber glass and resin materials, carbon fibers and resin materials, etc.), resin material, or a combination of one or more of these materials. The outer shell 62 is preferably insulated with the insulation liner 64 coupled to an inner portion of the outer shell 62. The thickness and material of the insulation liner may vary based upon desired thermal resistance and insulation. The insulation liner may be any known type of thermal resistant material or thermal padding configured to hold and retain thermal energy within the insulation tube 30, protecting the piping components from outside ambient conditions.
The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
