Modular waste drain

Abstract

A modular waste drain can includes at least two of the following separate modules that can be selectively attached and detached from each other: an inlet assembly, an outlet assembly and a knife gate valve. An additional module can be provided by a valve guard assembly.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A modular waste drain assembly for a commercial food service vessel having a drain opening that communicates with a drain line through which the vessel discharges matter to a sewer, comprising:
 an inlet assembly defining an inlet passage, the inlet assembly being configured to fit into the drain opening of the vessel, the inlet assembly including a first attachment flange defining a plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes that are disposed spatially apart with respect to one another in a first pattern;   a selectively detachable strainer carried by the inlet assembly;   an outlet assembly defining an outlet passage, the outlet assembly having a discharge end configured for connection to the drain line, the outlet assembly including a second attachment flange defining a plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes that are disposed spatially apart with respect to one another in the first pattern so that a respective one of each of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes being disposed in alignment with a respective one of each of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes;   a valve body having a valve opening disposed between and communicating with both the inlet passage and the outlet passage, the valve body defining a plurality of valve body attachment holes that are disposed spatially apart with respect to one another in the first pattern;   a plurality of selectively detachable connectors, each respective selectively detachable connector being passed through a respective triple alignment of attachment holes that includes a respective inlet assembly attachment hole, a respective valve body attachment hole and a respective outlet assembly attachment hole;   wherein the inlet assembly, the outlet assembly and the valve body being detachably connected together by the plurality of selectively detachable connectors; and   wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the outlet assembly are selectively indexable such that the respective one of the plurality of valve body attachment holes being disposed in alignment with both a respective one of each of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes and a respective one of each of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes is selectively interchangeable among the plurality of valve body attachment holes.   
     
     
         24 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the outlet assembly includes an overflow port. 
     
     
         25 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the outlet assembly is indexable by increments of a number of degrees that is dependent on the first pattern of the plurality of valve body attachment holes and outlet assembly attachment holes. 
     
     
         26 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the inlet assembly are selectively indexable such that the respective one of the plurality of valve body attachment holes being disposed in alignment with both a respective one of each of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes and a respective one of each of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes is selectively interchangeable among the plurality of valve body attachment holes. 
     
     
         27 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the inlet assembly is indexable by increments of a number of degrees that is dependent on the first pattern of the plurality of valve body attachment holes and outlet assembly attachment holes. 
     
     
         28 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the selectively detachable strainer carried by the inlet assembly is a basket strainer. 
     
     
         29 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the selectively detachable connectors is a screw. 
     
     
         30 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a handle carried by the valve body, the handle being selectively movable to effect opening and closing of the valve opening. 
     
     
         31 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising an inlet guard detachably connected to the inlet assembly and disposed across the inlet passage of the inlet assembly. 
     
     
         32 . A modular waste drain assembly for a commercial food service vessel having a drain opening that communicates with a drain line through which the vessel discharges matter to a sewer, comprising:
 an inlet assembly defining an inlet passage, the inlet assembly being configured to fit into the drain opening of the vessel, the inlet assembly including a first attachment flange defining a plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes;   a selectively detachable strainer carried by the inlet assembly;   an outlet assembly defining an outlet passage, the outlet assembly having a discharge end configured for connection to the drain line, the outlet assembly including a second attachment flange defining a plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes, a respective one of each of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes being configured and disposed in alignment with a respective one of each of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes;   a valve body having a valve opening disposed between and communicating with both the inlet passage and the outlet passage, the valve body defining a plurality of valve body attachment holes;   a plurality of selectively detachable connectors;   wherein a respective one of each of the plurality of valve body attachment holes being disposed in alignment with both a respective one of each of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes and a respective one of each of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes; and   wherein the inlet assembly, the outlet assembly and the valve body being detachably connected together by the plurality of selectively detachable connectors such that the relative positions of the valve body and the outlet assembly are selectively indexable such that the outlet assembly and the valve body are connected together by the plurality of selectively detachable connectors notwithstanding which particular one of the plurality of valve body attachment holes is aligned with any particular one of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes.   
     
     
         33 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the outlet assembly includes an overflow port. 
     
     
         34 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the inlet assembly are selectively indexable such that the inlet assembly and the valve body are connected together by the plurality of selectively detachable connectors notwithstanding which particular one of the plurality of valve body attachment holes is aligned with any particular one of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes. 
     
     
         35 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the outlet assembly are selectively indexable such that the distance between any two adjacent ones of the plurality of valve body attachment holes is the same as the distance between any two adjacent ones of the outlet assembly attachment holes when the outlet assembly and the valve body are connected together by the plurality of selectively detachable connectors. 
     
     
         36 . A modular waste drain assembly for a commercial food service vessel having a drain opening that communicates with a drain line through which the vessel discharges matter to a sewer, comprising:
 an inlet assembly defining an inlet passage, the inlet assembly being configured to fit into the drain opening of the vessel, the inlet assembly including a first attachment flange defining a plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes;   a selectively detachable strainer carried by the inlet assembly;   an outlet assembly defining an outlet passage, the outlet assembly having a discharge end configured for connection to the drain line, the outlet assembly including a second attachment flange defining a plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes, a respective one of each of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes being configured and disposed in alignment with a respective one of each of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes;   a valve body having a valve opening disposed between and communicating with both the inlet passage and the outlet passage, the valve body defining a plurality of valve body attachment holes;   a plurality of selectively detachable connectors;   wherein a respective one of each of the plurality of valve body attachment holes being disposed in alignment with both a respective one of each of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes and a respective one of each of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes; and   wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the outlet assembly are selectively indexable such that the distance between any two adjacent ones of the plurality of valve body attachment holes is the same as the distance between any two adjacent ones of the outlet assembly attachment holes when the outlet assembly and the valve body are connected together by the plurality of selectively detachable connectors.   
     
     
         37 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the inlet assembly are selectively indexable such that the distance between any two adjacent ones of the plurality of valve body attachment holes is the same as the distance between any two adjacent ones of the inlet assembly attachment holes when the inlet assembly and the valve body are connected together by the plurality of selectively detachable connectors. 
     
     
         38 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the relative positions of the valve body and the inlet assembly are selectively indexable such that a particular one of the plurality of valve body attachment holes is alignable with any one of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes while maintaining common alignment between each other one of the plurality of valve body attachment holes with a respective other one of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes. 
     
     
         39 . The modular waste drain assembly of  claim 36 , wherein a respective first one of the plurality of selectively detachable connectors is received through a respective first one of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes, a respective first one of the plurality of valve body attachment holes and a respective first one of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes and such that a respective second one of the plurality of selectively detachable connectors is received through a respective second one of the plurality of inlet assembly attachment holes, a respective second one of the plurality of valve body attachment holes and a respective second one of the plurality of outlet assembly attachment holes.