Water Manifold System And Method

Abstract

A system for distributing water within a building operates to distribute water from a pressurized water supply source to devices that receive water, such as faucets, toilets, showers, sprinklers, and hot water heating devices. The system includes at least one manifold which may be of unitary molded plastic construction and comprised of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). The manifold includes an entry port and a plurality of outlet ports which are also referred to as sockets. The sockets are configured to receive fitting inserts of various types that include water line connectors. The sockets are also configured to accept standard plastic water conduits therein in cemented relation. The water line connectors may include metallic connectors such as barbed fittings, which can be used to connect the manifold and crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) pipe in nonthreaded relation. Manifolds may be connected together to provide suitable distribution arrangements.

1 . A method of making a water distribution system within a building, comprising:
 a) operatively connecting a manifold and a pressurized water supply, wherein the manifold comprises a unitary molded body of plastic material including an entry port and a plurality of sockets, wherein each socket is configured to accept a fitting insert, and wherein the water supply is operatively connected with the entry port and wherein each socket is in fluid connection with the entry port through the manifold;   b) installing fitting inserts in a plurality of sockets of the manifold, wherein each fitting insert includes a water line connector thereon, wherein each fitting insert is inserted in a corresponding socket and cemented in fixed relation relative to the manifold;   c) connecting a plurality of flexible water lines and the manifold, wherein each water line is operatively connected through a respective water line connector on a respective fitting insert, wherein each flexible water line is configured to extend in operative connection with at least one respective device that receives water within the building.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein each fitting insert comprises a cylindrical plug portion,
 and wherein in (b) each plug portion is cemented in a respective socket.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein in (c) each of the plurality of water lines is operatively connected to a respective water line connector through a nonthreaded connection. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein each water line connector comprises a barbed connector, and wherein in (c) each water line is connected to a respective barbed connector. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein in (c) each of the plurality of water lines is operatively connected to the manifold without an intermediate valve. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein in (c) each of the flexible water lines is comprised of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX). 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 3  and further comprising:
 d) installing a second fitting insert in a socket of the manifold wherein the second fitting insert includes a second cylindrical plug portion, wherein the second plug portion is inserted and cemented in the second socket, wherein the second fitting insert includes a shutoff valve and a second water line connector;   e) operatively connecting a second water line and the second fitting insert through the second water line connector, wherein the second water line is configured to operatively connect with at least one second device that receives water within the building.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the second water line connector comprises a nonthreaded connector, and wherein in (e) the second water line is operatively connected with the nonthreaded connector, and wherein the second water line comprises a flexible water line that is configured to extend in operative connection with the second device. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7  and further comprising:
 f) installing a third fitting insert in a socket of the manifold, wherein the third fitting insert includes a third cylindrical plug portion, and wherein the third plug portion is inserted and cemented in the respective socket, wherein the third fitting insert includes a third water line connector, wherein the third water line connector includes a threaded connector;   g) operatively connecting a third water line and the third fitting insert through the third water line connector, wherein the third water line is configured to operatively connect to at least one third device that receives water in the building.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  and further comprising:
 h) installing a fourth water line in a socket of the manifold, wherein the fourth water line is inserted in the respective socket and cemented therein, wherein the fourth water line is configured to operatively connect with at least one fourth device that receives water in the building.   
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 3  and further comprising:
 d) installing a second fitting insert in a socket of the manifold, wherein the second fitting insert includes a second cylindrical plug portion, and wherein the second plug portion is inserted and cemented in the respective socket, wherein the second fitting insert includes a second water line connector, and wherein the second water line connector includes a threaded connector;   e) operatively connecting a second water line and the second fitting insert through the second water line connector, wherein the second water line is configured to operatively connect to at least one second device that receives water in the building.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 3  and further comprising:
 d) installing a second water line in a socket of the manifold, wherein the second water line is inserted in the socket and cemented therein, wherein the second water line is configured to operatively connect with at least one second device that receives water in the building.   
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the manifold further includes an extension conduit portion, wherein the extension conduit portion includes an extension opening,
 and further comprising:   i) attaching a fluid cap and the manifold, wherein the fluid cap closes the extension opening.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein in (i) attaching the fluid cap includes cementing the fluid cap in engagement with the manifold. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the manifold further includes an extension conduit portion, wherein the extension conduit portion includes an extension opening,
 and further comprising:   i) attaching a further manifold to the manifold, wherein the further manifold includes a unitary molded body of plastic material, and wherein the further manifold includes a further entry port and a plurality of further sockets, wherein each further socket is configured to accept a fitting insert therein, wherein the extension conduit portion is extended in the further entry port and cemented therein.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the sockets on the manifold are axially aligned on the manifold, and in cross section each of the sockets extends radially on the manifold in a first direction, and wherein the further sockets on the further manifold are axially aligned on the further manifold, and in cross section each of the further sockets extends radially on the further manifold in a second direction,
 and wherein in (i) the further manifold is engaged with the manifold with the further sockets extending in a direction that is angularly disposed relative to the sockets on the manifold.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15  and further comprising:
 j) installing fitting inserts in a plurality of further sockets of the further manifold, wherein each fitting insert includes a water line connector thereon, and wherein each fitting insert is inserted in a corresponding further socket and cemented therein.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17  and further comprising:
 k) connecting a plurality of further flexible water lines and the further manifold, wherein each further water line is operatively connected to a respective further water line connector on a respective further fitting insert, wherein each further flexible water line is configured to extend in operative connection with at least one respective device that receives water within the building.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein each further water line connector includes a nonthreaded connector, and wherein in (k) each further water line is operatively connected with the further manifold through a respective nonthreaded connector. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the further manifold includes a further extension conduit portion, wherein the further extension conduit portion includes a further extension opening,
 and further comprising:   l) connecting a fluid cap and the further extension conduit portion, wherein the fluid cap closes the further extension opening, including cementing the cap in fixed relation relative to the manifold.   
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein the further manifold includes a further extension conduit portion, wherein the further extension conduit portion includes a further extension opening,
 and further comprising:   l) engaging a pipe and the further extension opening, wherein the pipe is extended in the further extension opening and cemented in fixed relation with the further manifold.   
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the manifold includes a plurality of ribs, wherein the ribs extend on the manifold in an area angularly disposed from the sockets, and wherein each of the plurality of ribs terminates radially outward from the manifold in a respective flat face, and further comprising:
 m) engaging the manifold and a support, wherein at least one flat face of a rib is positioned in abutting relation with the support.   
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22  wherein each flat face extends in a direction on the manifold generally opposed relative to a socket, and wherein in (m) a plurality of flat faces are in abutting relation with the support. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 14  and further comprising:
 j) subsequent to (i), cutting the extension conduit portion to separate the fluid cap from the manifold;   k) subsequent to (j), attaching a further manifold to the manifold, wherein the further manifold comprises a unitary molded body comprised of plastic material and includes a further entry port and a plurality of further sockets, wherein each further socket is configured to accept a fitting insert therein, wherein the extension conduit portion is engaged with the further entry port and cemented therein.   
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 23  wherein in (c) the at least one device that receives water in the building comprises at least one of a faucet, a toilet and a radiator. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein the manifold and each of the first, second and third plug portions is comprised of chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC). 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the manifold further includes an extension conduit portion, wherein the extension conduit portion includes an extension opening, and further comprising:
 d) attaching a further manifold and the manifold, wherein the further manifold includes a unitary molded body comprised of plastic material, and wherein the further manifold includes a further entry port and a plurality of further sockets, wherein each further socket is configured to accept a fitting insert therein, and wherein the extension conduit portion is engaged in the further entry port and cemented in engagement therewith.   
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the sockets on the manifold are axially aligned on the manifold, and in cross section each socket extends radially on the manifold in a first radial direction, and wherein the further sockets on the further manifold are axially aligned on the further manifold and in cross section each further socket extends radially on the further manifold in a second radial direction,
 and wherein in (d), the further manifold is engaged with the manifold with the further sockets extending in a direction angularly disposed relative to the sockets.   
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 26  and further comprising:
 e) installing fitting inserts in a plurality of further sockets of the further manifold, wherein each fitting insert includes a water line connector thereon, and wherein each fitting insert is inserted in a corresponding socket and cemented therein.   
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sockets are axially aligned on the manifold and in cross section each socket extends radially relative to the manifold, and wherein the manifold further includes a plurality of ribs, wherein the ribs each extend radially outward on the manifold in a direction opposed of the sockets, and further comprising;
 d) mounting the manifold in engagement with a support, wherein a plurality of ribs engage the support.   
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the manifold further includes an extension conduit portion, wherein the extension conduit portion includes an extension opening,
 and further comprising:   d) attaching a fluid cap and the manifold, wherein the fluid cap fluidly closes the extension opening.   
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 31  and further comprising:
 e) subsequent to (d), cutting the extension conduit portion to separate the cap and the manifold;   f) subsequent to (e), attaching a further manifold and the manifold, wherein the further manifold comprises a unitary molded body comprised of plastic material and includes a further entry port, and a plurality of further sockets, wherein each further socket is configured to accept a fitting insert therein, wherein the extension conduit portion is engaged in the further entry port and cemented therein.   
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 d) extending each of the plurality of flexible water lines through at least one of a wall and a floor of the building, without including any threaded water line connections within the at least one wall and floor.   
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein in (c) the plurality of flexible water lines are each comprised of crosslinked polyethylene (PEX). 
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein in (c) the at least one device that receives water in the building includes at least one of a faucet, a toilet, and a radiator. 
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the manifold is comprised of CPVC, and wherein each fitting insert includes a cylindrical plug portion comprised of CPVC, and wherein (b) includes inserting the respective plug portion in a respective socket and cementing the plug portion therein. 
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 36  wherein each of the plurality of flexible water lines is comprised of crosslinked polyethylene (PEX), and wherein each water line connector on a fitting insert comprises a nonthreaded connector, and wherein in (c) each flexible water line is operatively connected to the manifold through a nonthreaded connector.