Patent Application
20130000685
This invention relates generally to a pipe or conduit flusher device and particularly to a flusher device which expands upon the introduction of fluid pressure to seat the device in a pipeline or similar conduit, or in a fitting disposed in a pipeline or conduit. The flusher device of this invention has an improved flexible body structure with a forward end integrating an improved discharge outlet configuration to direct a concentrated fluid spray to dislodge pipeline obstructions or debris to improve fluid flow.
Various drain flushing devices have been proposed in the past. Typically, these prior art devices have utilized various valve structures to initially develop an internal pressure in the flushing device body to seat the device in the pipeline. Upon further introduction of fluid pressure the valve structure is opened to provide a fluid spray to dislodge the obstruction. Other devices have been proposed which utilize a resilient body structure with a restricted opening at the body forward end. Upon the introduction of fluid pressure into such devices the body is also expanded initially for seating in the pipeline, although some fluid escapes through the restricted opening. Upon further fluid introduction, the fluid escapes through the restricted opening in a concentrated spray. These latter devices use restricted openings of a circular configuration.
The prior art drain flushing devices have specific functional drawbacks in operation and, particularly, those that utilize valves are difficult and expensive to manufacture. Specifically, the valved drain flusher devices are advantageous for purposes of initial seating of the respective devices in the pipeline. Subsequently, the valves open and provide the concentrated fluid stream to dislodge the drain obstruction. The drain flusher devices that have been proposed having the restricted openings, expel considerable volumes of fluids upon initial fluid introduction, thereby, making the initial seating of the device more difficult. Subsequent the pressure build-up in the device body, fluid is expelled through the restricted opening for obstruction dislodgement, however, the configuration of the circular restricted opening limits the concentrated fluid flow that is able to be passed therethrough. Thus, in these proposed prior art devices, the initial diameter of the circular opening is limited by the proper seating requirement of the device body. Consequently, the resultant concentrated fluid flow that is able to be passed through the circular opening after the device body has been seated is, thereby, limited.
Also disclosed in the prior art (U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,646 to Bevacco et al.) is a drain flusher device which provides a structure that is purported to overcome the difficulties and limitations of other prior art devices. The drain flusher devices of the Bevacco et al. '646 patent provide the benefits of the valved drain flushers in that the device body is initially able to be fully seated in the pipeline during the seating process and before excessive expulsion of a concentrated fluid spray. The Bevacco drain flushers also provide the benefits of those proposed devices that utilize the circular restricted openings in that they are relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
The Bevacco et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,646 is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
One limitation of the Bevacco et al. '646 patent is that in order to introduce the drain flusher into a pipe or conduit to be cleared, it is necessary to sever the pipe or conduit at some point along its length, so as to place the flusher into proximity of an obstruction.
The present invention provides a drain flusher device used in clearing obstructions from pipelines or other fluid conduits. The device is constructed and arranged to initially seat in the pipeline and then to introduce a concentrated, pressurized fluid spray through a slit or aperture to dislodge the obstruction. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the drain flusher may be introduced into the pipe or conduit via an existing fitting.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a flushing device comprises an elastomeric cylindrical body of a specified diameter with a distal end wall and a proximal open neck end. A slit or aperture of a predetermined size is provided through the sidewall of the body near the distal end, as opposed to being provided in the distal end itself, as taught in the Bevacco '646 patent. The dimensions of the opening are independent of body diameter in the range described. The opening is specifically sized to be used with a fluid source, such as that obtained from a standard garden hose. The drain flusher device has a connector attached to the body neck and is adapted for attachment to a pressurized fluid source, such as a standard water hose. The slit or aperture is approximately 0.250 inches in length and has a maximum width of approximately 0.032 inches. The body diameter of the device varies from approximately 0.75 to 3.25 inches for flusher devices designed for use in pipe diameters ranging from one to six inches. The thickened wall end is approximately 250-325 percent thicker than the side wall thickness of the body. The outside lateral surface of the device body further has at least one circumferentially disposed sealing rib.
These and other benefits of this invention will become clear from the following description by reference to the drawings.
The various features and advantages of the present advantage are disclosed herein with reference to the drawing figures, in which:
a
It is to be understood that the substantially elongate body of flusher 10 is adapted to be inserted into any fitting that has an entry oriented substantially perpendicularly to the pipe or conduit to be flushed. A “T” fitting is an example of such a fitting, although the invention may be applied to other types of fittings.
Flusher 10 in
Circumferentially disposed sealing ribs 17 may be provided on the exterior of the elastomeric body 11 to seal the body 11 against the inner wall of the central opening 52. Once seated within the inner wall of central opening 52, the aperture 16 in the side wall of body 11 further opens to provide a concentrated fluid spray 24 to dislodge an obstruction 21.
As many changes are possible to the embodiments of this invention, utilizing the teachings thereof, the description above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not in the limited sense.
From the foregoing description and disclosure of various embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts that an apparatus for flushing pipes and the like has been disclosed. Various embodiments of the invention are described herein solely for the purposes of illustrating the invention in its various aspects. It is contemplated and to be explicitly understood that various substitutions, alterations, and/or modifications, including but not limited to any such implementation variants and options as may have been specifically noted or suggested herein, including inclusion of technological enhancements to any particular method step or system component discovered or developed subsequent to the date of this disclosure, may be made to the disclosed embodiments of the invention without necessarily departing from the technical and legal scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
