Normally-open backwater valve with suspended flapper

Abstract

A normally-open backwater valve fluidly coupled between one or more discharge conduits of a building, or other location, and a sewage, or drainage, system includes a valve body having a horizontally-oriented fluid flow passageway, a flapper pivotably moveable therein and at least one spacer configured to position the flapper above the lower interior surface of the valve body in the passageway when the flapper is in an open position.

1 . A normally-open backwater valve fluidly coupled between one or more discharge conduits of a building, or other location, and a sewage, or drainage, system to allow fluid flow from the discharge conduit(s) into the sewage, or drainage, system and prevent fluid backflow from the sewage, or drainage, system into the discharge conduit(s), the normally-open backwater valve comprising:
 a valve body having a horizontally-oriented fluid flow passageway configured to be fluidly coupled to the discharge conduit(s) and the sewage, or drainage, system, said valve body including a horizontally-oriented lower interior surface and at least one at least partially vertically-oriented flapper seat disposed within said fluid flow passageway;   a flapper pivotably coupled to said valve body within said fluid flow passageway, said flapper being moveable between at least one open position and a closed position, said flapper in said at least one open position being positioned proximate to and spaced upwardly from said lower interior surface of said valve body and allowing fluid flow through said fluid flow passageway, said flapper in said closed position being in contact with at least one said flapper seat to disallow fluid flow through said fluid flow passageway; and   at least one spacer associated with at least one among said flapper and said lower interior surface of said valve body and configured to position said flapper proximate to and spaced upwardly above said lower interior surface of said valve body when said flapper is in said at least one open position.   
     
     
         2 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 1  wherein said at least one spacer includes at least one flapper magnet, or magnetic material, associated with said flapper and at least one valve body magnet, or magnetic material, associated with said lower interior surface of said valve body, said flapper magnet, or magnetic material, and said valve body magnet, or magnetic material, being arranged so that their like poles, or magnetic forces, are facing each other and will repulse one another to suspend said flapper in spaced relationship above said lower interior surface when said flapper is in said at least one open position. 
     
     
         3 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 2  further including at least one hinge pin associated with said flapper and configured to allow said flapper to move between at least one open position and said closed position, said flapper having a lower edge disposed proximate to said at least one hinge pin and an upper edge disposed farthest from said at least one hinge pin, further wherein said flapper magnet, or magnetic material, is coupled to said flapper proximate to said upper edge of said flapper and said valve body magnet, or magnetic material, is coupled to said lower interior surface of said valve body. 
     
     
         4 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 2  further including at least one flapper seat magnet, or magnetic material, associated with said valve body proximate to said flapper seat and arranged so that opposing poles, or magnetic forces, of said flapper magnet, or magnetic material, and said flapper seat magnet, or magnetic material, face each other and attract to one another when said flapper is in said closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 4  further including at least one hinge pin associated with said flapper and configured to allow said flapper to move between at least one open position and said closed position, said flapper having a lower edge disposed proximate to said at least one hinge pin and an upper edge disposed farthest from said at least one hinge pin, further wherein said flapper seat includes a lower end disposed proximate to said at least one hinge pin and an upper end disposed farthest from said at least one hinge pin, further wherein said flapper magnet, or magnetic material, is coupled to said upper edge of said flapper and said flapper seat magnet, or magnetic material, is coupled to said upper end of said flapper seat. 
     
     
         6 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 1  wherein said at least one spacer is configured to allow said flapper to freely vacillate between multiple said open positions in response to one or more changes in the flow of fluid through said fluid flow passageway. 
     
     
         7 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 1  wherein said flapper is hollow and configured to be buoyant. 
     
     
         8 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 7  wherein said flapper includes an inner surface configured to be proximate to or at least partially in contact with said flapper seat when said flapper is in said closed position and an outer surface configured to be proximate to said lower interior surface of said valve body when said flapper is in said at least one open position, further wherein said outer surface of said flapper is substantially planar and has no protrusions extending therefrom or components coupled thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 7  wherein said outer surface of said flapper is smooth and said flapper is not equipped with any floatation-assistance components. 
     
     
         10 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 7  wherein said outer surface of said flapper is coated with at least one anti-stick material or constructed at least partially of at least one anti-stick material to assist in preventing waste material from adhering thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 1  wherein said at least one spacer includes at least one plug coupled to at least one among said flapper and said lower interior surface of said valve body. 
     
     
         12 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 11  wherein said at least one plug is elastomeric. 
     
     
         13 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 1  wherein said at least one spacer includes at least one spring coupled to at least one among said flapper and said lower interior surface of said valve body. 
     
     
         14 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 13  wherein said at least one spring has a “V” or “see-saw” shape. 
     
     
         15 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 13  wherein said at least one spring includes at least one elongated spring. 
     
     
         16 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 13  wherein said at least one spring includes at least one helical or coil spring. 
     
     
         17 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 16  wherein said at least one helical or coil spring is at least partially surrounded by a cap. 
     
     
         18 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 1  wherein said flapper is pivotably coupled to said valve body at at least one pivot point, further wherein said flapper seat includes a lower end disposed proximate to said at least one pivot point and an upper end disposed farthest from said at least one pivot point, further wherein said flapper seat is angularly oriented so that said upper end thereof is closer to the sewage or drainage system and said lower end thereof is closer to the discharge conduit(s). 
     
     
         19 . The normally-open backwater valve of  claim 18  wherein said valve body further includes a horizontally-oriented opening above said fluid flow passageway and a selectively releasable cover disposed over said opening and moveable between at least one open position and at least one closed position, further wherein said opening and said cover are sized to allow the removal of said flapper therethrough for maintenance, repair or replacement when said cover is in at least one said open position. 
     
     
         20 . A normally-open backwater valve fluidly coupled between one or more discharge conduits of a building, or other location, and a sewage, or drainage, system to allow fluid flow from the discharge conduit(s) into the sewage, or drainage, system and prevent fluid backflow from the sewage, or drainage, system into the discharge conduit(s), the normally-open backwater valve comprising:
 a valve body having a horizontally-oriented fluid flow passageway configured to be fluidly coupled to the discharge conduit(s) and the sewage, or drainage, system, said valve body including a horizontally-oriented lower interior surface and at least one at least partially vertically-oriented flapper seat disposed within said fluid flow passageway;   a flapper pivotably coupled to said valve body within said fluid flow passageway, said flapper being moveable between at least one open position and a closed position, said flapper in said at least one open position being positioned proximate to and spaced upwardly from said lower interior surface of said valve body and allowing fluid flow through said fluid flow passageway, said flapper in said closed position being in contact with at least one said flapper seat to disallow fluid flow through said fluid flow passageway; and   at least one flapper magnet, or magnetic material, associated with said flapper and at least one valve body magnet, or magnetic material, associated with said lower interior surface of said valve body, said flapper magnet, or magnetic material, and said valve body magnet, or magnetic material, being arranged so that their like poles, or magnetic forces, are facing each other and will repulse one another to suspend said flapper in spaced relationship above said lower interior surface when said flapper is in said at least one open position.