Devices for cross bore safeguard during sewer system cleanouts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10189059-B2
Application number	US-201514827948-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2015
Priority date	Aug 17, 2015
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

Devices and methods for sewer system cleanouts such as provide increased cross bore safeguard during sewer system cleanouts. A sewer system cleanout safety device includes a housing for placement at a sewer cleanout opening to prevent passage of gas out through the sewer cleanout opening during the sewer system cleanout. The housing includes opposed inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces, and a peripheral surface extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces. The housing includes a cavity extending between the inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces to permit passage of a sewer system cleanout implement therethrough. The housing further includes a cavity lining surface to seal with the sewer system cleanout implement passing therethrough.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sewer system cleanout safety device for cross bore safeguard during sewer system cleanout, said safety device comprising:
a housing for placement at a sewer cleanout opening to prevent passage of gas out through the sewer cleanout opening during the sewer system cleanout,
the housing having opposed inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces, and a peripheral surface extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces, and
the housing having a cavity extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces to permit passage of a sewer system cleanout implement therethrough, the housing having a cavity lining surface to seal with the sewer system cleanout implement passing therethrough.

2. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the sewer system cleanout implement comprises a cable rod.

3. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the cavity is centrally disposed within the housing.

4. The safety device of claim 1 wherein said peripheral surface seals with the sewer cleanout opening.

5. The safety device of claim 4 wherein;
the housing comprises joinable first and second housing parts, the first and second housing parts each having opposed housing part inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces and a peripheral surface extending between said housing part inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces,
wherein the joined together first and second housing parts form said cavity.

6. The safety device of claim 5 wherein the first and second housing parts are magnetically joinable.

7. The safety device of claim 5 wherein the first and second housing parts each include a threaded outer peripheral surface for threaded joining of the safety device to the sewer cleanout opening.

8. The safety device of claim 5 wherein the first and second housing parts each include housing part inner cleanout opening surfaces comprising a sealing material to sealingly cooperate with the sewer system cleanout implement passing therethrough.

9. The safety device of claim 1 wherein:
the housing is at least partially inflatable and further comprises an installation gap opening extending between the cavity and an outer portion of the peripheral surface and
the safety device further comprises a retaining cuff disposed about a portion of the housing to retain the housing at the sewer cleanout opening during cleanout processing and to seal against gas passage thereat.

10. The safety device of claim 9 wherein the housing further comprises a rigid vent opening extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces.

11. The safety device of claim 9 wherein the housing further comprises a fill port to permit input of inflation gas into the inflatable housing.

12. A sewer system cleanout safety device for cross bore safeguard during sewer system cleanout, said safety device comprising:
a housing for placement at a sewer cleanout opening to prevent passage of gas out through the sewer cleanout opening during the sewer system cleanout,
the housing comprising joinable first and second housing parts, the first and second housing parts each having opposed housing part inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces and a peripheral surface extending between said housing part inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces,
wherein the joined together first and second housing parts form a cavity extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces to permit passage of a sewer system cleanout implement therethrough.

13. The safety device of claim 12 wherein the first and second housing parts are magnetically joinable.

14. The safety device of claim 12 wherein the first and second housing parts each include:
a threaded outer peripheral surface for threaded joining of the safety device to the sewer cleanout opening and
housing part inner cleanout opening surfaces comprising a sealing material to sealingly cooperate with the sewer system cleanout implement passing therethrough.

15. The safety device of claim 14 wherein the first and second housing parts on being joined together form a grip protrusion outwardly extending from the outer cleanout opening surfaces, the grip protrusion permitting gripping of the safety device for rotation whereby the threaded outer peripheral surface is threadingly joins the safety device to the sewer cleanout opening.

16. A sewer system cleanout safety device for cross bore safeguard during sewer system cleanout, said safety device comprising:
an at least partially inflatable housing for placement at a sewer cleanout opening to prevent passage of gas out through the sewer cleanout opening during the sewer system cleanout,
the housing having opposed inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces, and a peripheral surface extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces,
the housing having a cavity extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces to permit passage of a sewer system cleanout implement therethrough, the housing having a cavity lining surface to seal with the sewer system cleanout implement passing therethrough,
the housing further comprising an installation gap opening extending between the cavity and an outer portion of the peripheral surface and
the safety device further comprises a retaining cuff disposed about a portion of the housing to retain the housing at the sewer cleanout opening during cleanout processing and to seal against gas passage thereat.

17. The safety device of claim 16 wherein the housing further comprises a rigid vent opening extending between said inner and outer cleanout opening surfaces.

18. The safety device of claim 16 wherein the housing further comprises a fill port to permit input of inflation gas into the inflatable housing.

Assignees

• Mainzer Jeff
• Staebler Douglas A
• Gas Technology Inst
• Washington Gas Light Company

Inventors

• Mainzer Jeff
• Staebler Douglas A

Classifications

• E03F9/005

  Apparatus for simultaneously pushing and rotating a cleaning device carried by the leading end of a cable or an assembly of rods · CPC title

• B08B9/04 Primary

  using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes · CPC title

• E03F9/002

  Cleaning sewer pipes by mechanical means · CPC title

• B08B9/045

  the cleaning devices being rotated while moved {, e.g. flexible rotating shaft or "snake"}(B08B9/047 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B08B9/043

  moved by externally powered mechanical linkage, e.g. pushed or drawn through the pipes · CPC title