Water Heater Depleter

Abstract

Fluid & Gas Purged & Injected Safely is a product that allows the end-user to either purge or inject fluids and gases into mechanical systems without exceeding the systems designed limits. The built-in adjustable pressure relief valve is set in the field by the user, or is factory set, to release excess pressure before it exceeds the engineered design. This safety precaution product prevents stresses on mechanical systems, which in many cases go unnoticed. System failures due to over pressurizing a system have caused serious injuries and deaths in the moment of the design breach and after the fact. In some cases: it can take years for a concealed section of a mechanical system to reveal there is a problem and by that time there are irreparable structural damages, adverse health issues, and in worse cases death. Safety by design sums up the nature of

Claims

1. A purge/inject fluid/gas mechanical apparatus, comprising: a base member with a port that attaches to a mechanical system, purge/inject inlet connection, and a pressure relief valve; wherein said inlet connection is accompanied by a plurality of parts that make up a one-way flow apparatus typically know as a check valve; wherein said pressure relief valve is adjustable to open at different pressures, whether factory set, or field adjusted.

2. The purge/inject fluid/gas mechanical apparatus of claim 1, comprising of two base members that connect at different locations of a mechanical system; wherein said base member one is comprised of the said purge/inject inlet with said plurality of parts making up a check valve, and a said port for connection to a mechanical system; wherein, said base member two is comprised of a said pressure relief valve, and a said port for connection to a mechanical system.

3. The purge/inject fluid/gas mechanical apparatus of claim 1 and alternate purge/inject fluid/gas mechanical apparatus of claim 2, comprising of a plurality of general plumbing fittings that make-up a said connection to a mechanical system with a said purge/inject connection with said check valve and a said pressure relief valve; wherein said plurality fitting made-up configurations can either be in the spirit and scope of said claim 1 being one apparatus, or the spirit or scope of said claim 2 with being two apparatuses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 is an exploded upper perspective view of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a view of the present invention in use.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a view of the present invention in use with the pressure relief valve in a remote location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A. Overview

[0034] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characteristics denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate the purge/inject safety mechanical apparatus 10, which comprises a base member 20, including a system connection opening 30, safety relief valve opening 40, and fluid/gas purge/inject opening 50. Connection opening 30 has industry standard female-iron-pipe threads that can be adapted to as needed. Safety relief valve opening 40 is machine on the inside to provide the necessary features to accommodate the safety valve parts. Fluid/gas purge/inject opening 50 is machined on the outside with an industry standard air hose quick release geometry, and on the inside to house a one-way-flow check valve.

B. Base Member

[0035] Base member 20 is preferably comprised of a one-piece cast brass, that receives machining for parts 31, 34, 41, 42, 43, & 44; however, an alternate two-part base embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5. Materials other than brass may be used to construct base member 20 and its alternate design.

[0036] Base member 20 also preferably includes two pressure relief holes 46 as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, & FIG.5, a hexagon shape at opening 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, and industry standard female-iron-pipe threads at opening 30 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] It is appreciated that the preferred construction of base member 20 does not need to be limited to a machined casting but can be comprised of a plurality of parts as an alternate embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the invention as a one-piece preferred embodiment, and FIG. 5 depicts it as an alternate two-piece embodiment.

C. Check Valve Member

[0038] The check valve member is preferably comprised of parts 31, 32, 33, & 34 as shown in FIGS. 2 & 3, and is preferably lightly pressed as a subassembly into a machined cavity in base member 20. O-ring 31 preferably creates an airtight seal between base member 20 and ball bearing 32. Ball bearing 32 is preferably kept in position by spring 33, and check valve housing 34 preferably retains all other parts.

[0039] It is appreciated that alternate embodiments of internal and external check valves can serve the preferred function of not permitting two-way flow at purge/inject opening 50.

D. Pressure Relief Member

[0040] The pressure relief member 40 is preferably the housing for parts 41, 42, 43, & 44. Washer 41 preferably rests against a preferably machine seat in base member 20. Washer 41 is preferably cradled in a preferable bonnet at the end of valve stem 42. Stem 42 is preferably forced towards the machine seat in base member 20. Spring 43 preferably supplies the adjustable pressure to top of the bonnet on valve stem 42. Adjustment plug 44 preferably compresses spring 43 to various pressures depending on how much it compresses the spring 43. It is preferable that the greater compression of spring 43 results in a needed higher pressure within a mechanical system to open the pressure relief member 40.

[0041] Pressure relief member 40 also preferably utilizes relief holes 46 in the event the relief valve opens due to excess pressure.

[0042] It is appreciated that alternate embodiments of pressure relief valves can serve the preferred function of releasing excess pressure within a mechanical system.

E. Fluid/Gas Purge/Inject Member 50

[0043] Fluid/gas purge/inject member 50 is preferably machined into base member 20, and it has the industry standard geometry that exist on quick release connections on a typical air hose.

[0044] It is appreciated that the preferred industry standard geometry can have several alternate embodiments. [0045] What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the following claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.