A device for generating a controlled flow event to regulate a hydraulic condition of a piping system of a building is an electrically-powered fluid pump or fluid valve, having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet. The fluid inlet is configured to be in fluidic communication with a tank of a toilet or is supplied water from the piping system of the building. The fluid outlet is in fluidic communication with either: i) a bowl of the toilet; ii) an overflow tube of the toilet tank; or iii) the tank of the toilet; iv) or a drain. An electronic controller controls the operation of the device and is configured to repeatedly turn on and off the electrically-powered fluid pump for a predetermined elapsed time when the hydraulic condition is identified. The hydraulic condition may be a potential freezing condition or an overly high pressure of the piping system of the building.

The present subject matter discloses a system and method of winterizing and de-winterizing a structure in order to prevent waterlines from freezing and getting damaged. The system includes electronic valves connected to waterlines i.e., main waterline and drain line. The electronic valves include electronic ball valves. The electronic valves communicatively connect to an electronic device. A user operates the electronic device to winterize and de-winterize the structure. Winterizing includes closing the electronic valve on the main waterline that supplies water into the structure and opening the electronic valve on the drain line causing the water to drain out. De-wintering includes closing the electronic valve on the drain line and opening the electronic valve on the main waterline to supply water back into the structure. Winterizing prevents the waterlines from freezing and getting damaged in cold weather conditions.

The present subject matter discloses a system and method of winterizing and de-winterizing a structure in order to prevent waterlines from freezing and getting damaged. The system includes electronic valves connected to waterlines i.e., main waterline and drain line. The electronic valves include electronic ball valves. The electronic valves communicatively connect to an electronic device. A user operates the electronic device to winterize and de-winterize the structure. Winterizing includes closing the electronic valve on the main waterline that supplies water into the structure and opening the electronic valve on the drain line causing the water to drain out. De-wintering includes closing the electronic valve on the drain line and opening the electronic valve on the main waterline to supply water back into the structure. Winterizing prevents the waterlines from freezing and getting damaged in cold weather conditions.

A freezeless outdoor shower assembly that is self-draining to prevent freezing and damage to the assembly when the assembly is exposed to cold and freezing weather. The assembly includes a riser coupled to a self-draining riser coupler assembly which drains water from the assembly when water from a water source it turned off. Preferably the freezeless outdoor shower assembled is coupled to an outdoor freezeless hydrant providing hot and cold water.

An apparatus for controlling the distribution of a fluid along a supply line configured to supply a user includes a first hydraulic valve located along the supply line and provided with an inlet, which receives fluid in transit in the supply line; an outlet, which transmits fluid through the first valve to make it continue along the supply line, or which receives fluid coming from a portion of the supply line downstream of the first valve; and a discharge, which discharges outside of the supply line, through the first valve, fluid present in the supply line and coming from a portion of the supply line downstream of the first valve. A second hydraulic valve is operatively located along the supply line at a point downstream from the first valve and provided with an inlet, which receives fluid coming from the outlet of the first valve; an outlet, which transmits fluid through the second valve to make it continue along the supply line; and a bypass inlet, which receives fluid drawn from the supply line at a withdrawal point upstream of the first valve and brought directly to the second valve by means of a bypass duct branching off from the supply line upstream of the first valve.

An apparatus for controlling the distribution of a fluid along a supply line configured to supply a user includes a first hydraulic valve located along the supply line and provided with an inlet, which receives fluid in transit in the supply line; an outlet, which transmits fluid through the first valve to make it continue along the supply line, or which receives fluid coming from a portion of the supply line downstream of the first valve; and a discharge, which discharges outside of the supply line, through the first valve, fluid present in the supply line and coming from a portion of the supply line downstream of the first valve. A second hydraulic valve is operatively located along the supply line at a point downstream from the first valve and provided with an inlet, which receives fluid coming from the outlet of the first valve; an outlet, which transmits fluid through the second valve to make it continue along the supply line; and a bypass inlet, which receives fluid drawn from the supply line at a withdrawal point upstream of the first valve and brought directly to the second valve by means of a bypass duct branching off from the supply line upstream of the first valve.

An embodiment of a fluid valve includes a substantially flat face plate, a receptacle, a cavity, and a drain assembly. The receptacle is disposed in the face plate and has at least one protrusion each configured to engage a respective one of at least one groove of a valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device. The cavity has a top end in fluid communication with the receptacle, and has a bottom end. And the drain assembly has a top end in fluid communication with the bottom end of the cavity, has a bottom end, and is configured to allow fluid to drain from the cavity in response to the valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device being absent from the receptacle.

An embodiment of a fluid valve includes a substantially flat face plate, a receptacle, a cavity, and a drain assembly. The receptacle is disposed in the face plate and has at least one protrusion each configured to engage a respective one of at least one groove of a valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device. The cavity has a top end in fluid communication with the receptacle, and has a bottom end. And the drain assembly has a top end in fluid communication with the bottom end of the cavity, has a bottom end, and is configured to allow fluid to drain from the cavity in response to the valve-opening-and-fluid-dispensing device being absent from the receptacle.

A fluid handling assembly comprising a cavity in which water may become trapped due to use of the assembly, and a membrane disposed in the cavity. The membrane divides the cavity into a first sub-cavity on a first side of the membrane that is configured to collect any water trapped in the cavity and a second sub-cavity on a second, opposite side of the membrane. The membrane is configured to change shape such that the first sub-cavity increases in volume and the second sub-cavity decreases in volume in response to being subjected to water freezing conditions. The increase in volume accommodates an increase in volume of any water that may be trapped in the first sub-cavity when it freezes to ice.

A supply assembly for use with a hydrant comprising a first supply valve adapted for coupling to a first supply line of the hydrant and a second supply valve adapted for coupling to a second supply line of the hydrant. A housing contains a first drain valve and a second drain valve. The first supply valve is coupled to the first drain valve for permitting water to be drained from the first supply line when a first outlet of the hydrant is off, and the second supply valve is coupled to the second drain valve for permitting water to be drained from the second supply line when a second outlet of the hydrant is off. The first supply valve is above the second supply valve to permit radially compact nesting of the first supply valve and the second supply valve. Related assemblies, valves and methods are provided.