Fluid Infrastructure Flushing Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid handing device that can be attached to a water main or other fluid supply infrastructure. The device has a branched, hollow body containing a fluid passageway, that has a first end, a second end, a right arm member, a left arm member and a top member. The body also includes a male threaded nipple connected to a ball valve, and the nipple has a shutoff valve that allows a user to cut off flow from the nipple to the device. The second end of the body further has two arm members with hose adapters that allow hoses or other fluid conduits to be attached to the device, to allow water or other fluid to flow through the device and into a water main or fluid infrastructure for flushing, cleaning or treatment.

Claims

1. A device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure, the device comprising: a body having an internal fluid passageway, the internal fluid passageway extending from a first end to adjacent a second end; first and second arms each of which extending outwardly away from the body and form a branched configuration with the body, wherein the first and second arms disposed opposite to one another; and the internal fluid passageway is accessible by each of the first and second arms, and each of the first and second arms have a fluid control valve for controlling fluid traveling through the internal fluid passageway and out of at least one of the first and second arms.

2. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 1, wherein a fluid supply conduit can be connected to each of the first and second arms at a connection point.

3. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 2, wherein the connection point includes a threaded end.

4. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 3, wherein the fluid infrastructure is a water main.

5. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a pressure gauge.

6. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a series of one of grooves, ridges or protuberances in a pattern to form a vortex of incoming fluid.

7. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 1, wherein the body comprises an entry point for adding a cleaning or treatment solution.

8. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a nipple.

9. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 8, wherein the nipple has a shutoff valve connected to the nipple.

10. The device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 1, wherein the body includes a ball valve and a shut off valve connected to the ball valve.

11. A watermain flushing device comprising: a branched body having a central hollow portion containing a fluid passageway and first and second arms extending generally outwardly from the central hollow portion and in communication with the fluid passageway; the branched body having an open end and a closed end; each of the first and second arms having a connection point for receiving a hose to deliver a fluid to the fluid passageway; and each of the first and second arms having a flow control valve for controlling entry of the fluid to the fluid passageway.

12. The watermain flushing device as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of the flow control valves has a gauge for determining a fluid flow rate.

13. The watermain flushing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the branched body comprises a pressure gauge for determining a pressure of the fluid flow in the hollow portion.

14. The watermain flushing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the branched body further comprises a plurality of one of grooves, ridges or protuberances in a pattern to form a vortex of incoming fluid.

15. The watermain flushing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the branched body further comprises a fluid entry point for adding a cleaning or treatment solution.

16. The watermain flushing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the branched body comprises one of a ball valve or nipple connected to a shut off valve.

17. The watermain flushing device as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the connection points includes a threaded connection.

18. The watermain flushing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the branched body is comprised of a T shape.

19. A system for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure, the system comprising: a fluid supply system for providing a fluid to one of a home, waterpark, community pool or building; a T-shaped device for connection to the fluid supply system, the T-shaped device having a first open end and a second closed end with a fluid passageway enclosed within a body and extending from the first open end to adjacent the second closed end; first and second arms extending generally outwardly from the body and in communication with the fluid passageway; each of the first and second arms having a flow control valve; and the body having a pressure gauge and a ball valve connected to a fluid control valve.

20. The system for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure as recited in claim 19, wherein the fluid passageway comprises a plurality of grooves, ridges or protuberances to create a vortex in a fluid traveling through the fluid passageway.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a system for treating and maintaining service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of one potential embodiment of a system for treating and maintaining service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of one potential embodiment of a system for treating and maintaining the service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of a hose thread adapter of one potential embodiment of a system for treating and maintaining the service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0018] FIG. 5A illustrates an enhanced perspective view of an end cap for a hose thread adapter of one potential embodiment of a system for treating and maintaining service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0019] FIG. 5B illustrates an enhanced perspective view of an pipe flange for a hose thread adapter of one potential embodiment of a system for treating and maintaining service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of one potential method of using one potential embodiment of a system for treating and maintaining the service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0022] As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an improved system and device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a system for treating and maintaining a service infrastructure, such as a water main, flushing device, that allows a user to easily flush a fluid infrastructure such as a water main in a controlled manner. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a system or device for treating and maintaining a service infrastructure that allows a user to use readily available water or fluid sources to flush, treat or clean a water main or other fluid infrastructure.

[0023] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a system and device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure that can be attached to a water main or other fluid infrastructure and includes a branched, hollow body, having an internal fluid passageway that has a first end, a second end, a right arm member extending outwardly and away from the body, a left arm member extending outwardly and away from the body and a top member. The first end of the body has a continuous opening for accessing the internal fluid passageway and so that the device can be attached to a water main or other fluid infrastructure via a threaded connection. The body further includes a male threaded nipple that can receive a brass threaded ball valve. The nipple further has a shutoff valve that allows a user to cut off flow from the device to the nipple. In addition, the top member of the second end has a flat top cap that may be fixedly or removably-attached to the second end. In one embodiment, the cap may have a PSI pressure gauge that displays the force of the water flowing through the device and water main.

[0024] Further, the right arm member and left arm member of the second end are identical in structure and function, and each member has a hose thread adapter that allows each member to receive a fire hose, other hose or any other threaded or connectable water or fluid source. Each adapter has a threaded opening, which can engage with counter threads of a fluid source, such that the source can be attached to either member to allow water or other fluid to flow through a water main and out through the device during flushing, treatment or cleaning. Furthermore, each adapter may have a shutoff valve that allows a user to stop or limit the flow of water from the device to each fire hose. Each shutoff valve may further include a gauge to allow the user to select the flow amount traveling through the fluid passageway. The device may also have two threaded endcaps which can attach to each adapter when one or both adapters are not in use.

[0025] The present invention also discloses a method of using one potential embodiment of a system and device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure. First, the first end of the device is threaded onto the female opening of a water main. Then, the end caps are removed from one or both adapters of the second end. Next, one or more fire hoses or fluid supplies are attached to the device via the adapters by a threaded or other connection, such as a snap or quick-connect attachment. After each hose is connected to each adapter, the shutoff valves can be turned to an open setting to allow water or other fluid to flow through the device and out through the body resulting in the flushing, cleaning or treatment of the water main or fluid infrastructure. The flow of water can then be monitored by the PSI gauge until the flushing, cleaning or treatment has been completed. Then, all prior steps can be reversed to remove the device from a water main or fluid infrastructure, and remove water hoses or fluid supplies from the device.

[0026] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a water main flushing device 100 of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed specification. The device 100 is comprised of a generally branched, such as a T-shaped or Y-shaped hollow body 110, that provides a fluid passageway. The body has a first end 120, a second end 130, a right arm member 140, a left arm member 150 and a top member 160. The fluid passageway extends from the first end 120 to the adjacent top member. The fluid passageway is accessible by each of the right and left arm members. The first and second arms 140 and 150, respectively, are disposed on opposite sides of the body 110. The body 110 is preferably manufactured from a durable metal, such as but not limited to: aluminum, steel, stainless-steel, cast iron, metal alloys and combinations thereof. The body may further have a waterproof and/or rustproof coating, or may include other antimicrobial or antiviral agents, such that the fluid infrastructure can be treated without introducing bacterial or viral agents into the system. The first end 120 of the body 110 further includes a continuous opening 122 that has a threaded connector 124, which can engage by opposing threads 302 of a water main or other fluid infrastructure 300, to allow the device 100 to attach to the water main or fluid infrastructure 300, the threads 124 are best seen in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the connections may be a snap or quick-connect feature to allow for easy and quick connections. Said connections can include but are not limited to: cam locks such as type A camlock couplings, type A camlock couplings, type A camlock couplings, type A camlock couplings, type B camlock couplings, type C camlock couplings, type D camlock couplings, type E camlock couplings, type F camlock couplings, and/or any other quick-connect attachment structure known in the art. The exterior surface 112 of the body 110 has a male threaded nipple 114 (see FIG. 3) that is preferably a ¾″ nipple that can receive a brass threaded ball valve 304 and hose 310. The nipple 114, or in an alternate embodiment, the ball vale 304, has a shutoff valve 116 that allows a user to allow or cut off flow from device 100 to the nipple 114 (and any attached water source or fluid source, such as but not limited to a hose or other conduit 306). Also as seen in FIG. 2, the internal passageway may be provided with spiraling grooves or protrusions 125 which facilitate the formation of a vortex to increase the speed of the water or other fluid passing through the internal passageway of the device. By creating a fluid vortex, additional force can be added to the fluid for the cleaning, treatment or flushing of the water main or other fluid infrastructure 300.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of one potential embodiment of a water main or fluid infrastructure flushing, treating or cleaning device of the present invention. The top member 160 of the second end 130 has a flat top cap 162 that may be fixedly-attached (e.g., via weld) or removably-attached (e.g., via threads or other connector) to the second end 130. In one embodiment, the cap 162 may have a digital or analog PSI pressure gauge 164 that displays the force of the water flowing through the device 100 and a water main. The shut off valve 304 may also be provided with a gauge 121 to allow the user to determine the flow amount of the internal passageway. FIG. 3 also provides a connection point 306 for the hoses or other fluid conduits 308, as well as the hose 310, connected to the shut off valve 304. The exterior surface 112 of the body 110 has a male threaded nipple 114 (see FIG. 3) that can receive a brass threaded ball valve 304 and hose 310.

[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of a hose or fluid supply thread adapter of one potential embodiment of a system and device for treating and maintaining a fluid service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. The right arm member 140 and left arm member 150 are identical (e.g., a mirror image) or substantially the same in structure, and their function is also identical or nearly identical. Each member 140, 150 has a hose or conduit threaded adapter 142, 152 that allows each member 140, 150 to receive a hose 306, or any other threaded water source. In order to receive a fire or other hose 306, each adapter 142, 152 has a continuous opening 144, 154 with threads 156 which can engage opposing threads 308 (see FIG. 3) of a hose 306. In this manner, hoses 306, such as a fire hose, garden hose or other suitable hose or fluid supply source, can be attached to either member 140, 150 in order to allow water or fluid to flow out through the device 100 and into a holding/storage tank or other fluid supply infrastructure 300 for flushing, cleaning or treatment. It should be further appreciated that the adapters 142,152 may be appropriately sized to receive any commercially available hose size known in the art. However, the preferred embodiment of the device 100 has adapters 142, 152 optimized to receive and 2.5″ hose. In addition, each adapter 142, 152 may have a shutoff valve 148, 158 that allows a user to stop, limit or allow the flow of water or fluid from the device 100 out to each fluid supply hose 306. It should also be appreciated that one embodiment of the device 100 may include a system that includes the device 100, a water main or other fluid supply infrastructure 300, a ball valve 304 and at least one fire hose 306 as described herein as part of the claimed invention. FIG. 4 also provides a further depiction of the protuberances or grooves 125 that may be used to create a vortex in the fluid supply to increase the speed of the flow of water or other fluid to facilitate the treatment, cleaning or flushing of the infrastructure. Also shown in FIG. 4 is an alternative entry port 127 that can be used to add cleaning fluids, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial or other solutions to help in treatment of the fluid infrastructure, such as a water main 300. The entry port may be another ball valve or similar connector, to which a cleaning or other solution may be connected and added to the fluid flow.

[0029] FIG. 5A illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of an end cap 170 of a threaded adapter 142, 152 of one potential embodiment of a water main flushing device 100 of the present invention. In one embodiment, the device 100 may have two removable end caps 170. Each cap 170 has threads 172, such that it can attach to the opposing threads 146, 156 of each adaptor 142, 152. In this regard, an end cap 170 can be applied to an adapter 142, 152 when one or both adapters 142, 152 are not in use. FIG. 5B illustrates an enhanced perspective view of a pipe flange 400 for a hose thread adapter 142, 152 of one potential embodiment of a system for treating and maintaining service infrastructure of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. A pipe flange 400 may further connect to one or both adapters 142, 152 via a continuous opening 402 that has a plurality of female threads 406. The flange 400 may also have a plurality of secondary continuous opening 404 to allow the flange 400 to be fixedly or removably attached to a secondary container, such as but not limited to a chlorinated holding tank, via any fastener known in the art. Alternatively, the flange 400 may be non-threaded.

[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method 200 of using one potential embodiment of a system and device for treating and maintaining the fluid service infrastructure 100 of the present invention. Initially, the first end 120 is threaded onto the opening of a water main or other fluid intake port of a fluid infrastructure system 300 (Block 202). Then, the end caps 170 are removed from one or both adapters 142, 152 (Block 204). Next, one or more hoses or fluid supply devices 306 can be attached to the device 100 via the adapters 142, 152, via threading one set of threads of the hoses onto the opposing threads 146, 156 of each adapter 142, 152 and/or a hose or fluid supply 310 can be attached to the ball valve 304 (Block 206). After each hose or fluid supply is threaded to each adapter 142, 152, the shutoff valves 148, 158 can be turned to an open setting to allow water or other fluid to flow from the water main and out through the body 110 into a water holding tank and/or fluid infrastructure to flush, treat or clean the water main or fluid infrastructure (Block 208). The flow of water or fluid can then be monitored by the PSI gauge 164 until the flushing, cleaning or treating as been completed (Block 210). Then, all prior steps can be reversed to remove the device 100 from a water main and remove water hoses from the device 100 (Block 212).

[0031] It should further be appreciated that the device 100 can be attached to a secondary containment system such as but not limited to a chlorinated holding tank (not shown) via the hose thread adapters 142,152 and/or hose 306. In this manner, the device 100 can be placed at the end of a water main, wherein water that is flushed/scoured from the main can then be collected in the attachment containment system. In this regard, water runoff is prevented in areas where said runoff is not allowed (e.g. neighborhoods or other areas of the like) due to environmental restrictions.

[0032] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “water main flushing device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the water main flushing device 100 of the present invention.

[0033] Notwithstanding the forgoing, the water main flushing device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the water main flushing device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the water main flushing device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the water main flushing device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the water main flushing device 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0034] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0035] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.