TEST PLUG FOR A PLUMBING SYSTEM

Abstract

A plumbing fitting for a drain line of a plumbing system has a fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a cleanout port in fluid communication with a cavity defined by the fitting body. A releasable plug is positioned in the plumbing fitting upstream of a strainer body that prevents the releasable plug from passing through the fluid outlet in the released position. The releasable plug may be an expandable plug that is installed upstream of the strainer or may be a closure member that seals the strainer and is removed from the strainer to unseal the drain line. The releasable plug is actuated to a released state from outside the plumbing fitting.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This relates to a test plug for a plumbing system, and in particular, an inflatable test plug or an openable test plug.

BACKGROUND

In order to test for leaks in a plumbing system, inflatable test plugs may be used to seal the outlet pipe and allow the pipes to be filled with a fluid, such as air or water. After the test, the plug is removed, and the water allowed to drain out of the system. U.S. Pat. No. 7,021,337 entitled “Plumbing test plug and method” describes a test plug that is inflated to cut off flow in a water column.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, there is provided a plumbing fitting for a drain line of a plumbing system, comprising a fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a cleanout port in fluid communication with a cavity defined by the fitting body, the fitting body being adapted to connect to the drain line, a cleanout cover that closes the cleanout port, the cleanout cover having a control line aperture, an expandable plug that has an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein in the expanded state the expandable plug is adapted to engage and seal the fluid inlet of the fitting body or the drain line upstream of the fluid inlet, and in the contracted state the expandable plug has a diameter that is less than the expanded state sized to engage the fluid inlet of the fitting body, a control line that extends from the expandable plug to the control line aperture of the cleanout cover such that a working end of the control line is accessible when the cleanout cover closes the cleanout port, wherein actuating the working end of the control line releases the expandable plug, and a strainer body that permits fluid flow therethrough and prevents the expandable plug from passing through the fluid outlet.

According to other aspect, the plumbing fitting may comprise one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: strainer body may comprise one or more apertures; the strainer body may comprise an outer engagement surface that engages the fluid outlet of the fitting body, and a second end that comprises the one or more apertures; the strainer may comprise a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported across the fluid outlet; the expandable plug may be inflatable; the control line may comprise a fluid line, and the working end comprises a valve that selectively releases pneumatic pressure from the expandable plug; and the working end of the control line may extend from the cleanout cover.

According to an aspect, there is provided a method of testing a plumbing system having fitting body installed on a drain line, the fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a cavity and a cleanout port, the method comprising the steps of inserting an expandable plug, in a contracted state, into the cavity of the fitting body through the cleanout port, a control line being connected to the expandable plug and having a working end that is accessible when the cleanout port is closed, positioning the expandable plug within the fluid inlet and expanding the expandable plug to such that the expandable plug forms a seal upstream of the cavity, installing a strainer body in the cavity, the strainer body permitting fluid flow therethrough and preventing the expandable plug from passing through the fluid outlet, closing the cleanout port with a cleanout cover, the cleanout cover having a control line aperture through which the working end is accessible, passing a fluid into the drain line upstream of the expandable plug, and manipulating the working end via the control line to cause the expandable plug to contract such that the expandable plug disengages and permits fluid flow through the cavity, and removing the fluid plug from the cavity via the cleanout port.

According to other aspects, the method may comprise one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: the strainer body may comprise one or more apertures; the strainer body may comprise an outer engagement surface that engages the fluid outlet, and a second end that comprises the one or more apertures; the strainer may comprise a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported across the fluid outlet; the expandable plug may be inflatable; wherein the control line may comprise a fluid line, and the working end may comprise a valve that selectively releases fluid pressure from the expandable plug; and the working end of the control line may extend from the cleanout cover.

According to an aspect, there is provided a test kit for a plumbing system for use with an expandable plug that has an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein, in the expanded state, the expandable plug is adapted to engage and seal an upstream end of a plumbing fitting and in the contracted state, the expandable plug is adapted to be installed and removed from the plumbing fitting, the test kit comprising a cover that is adapted to close an access port in the plumbing fitting, the cover having an aperture that is sized to receive a control line at a point between the plug end and the working end such that the working end of the control line is accessible when the cover is installed on the plumbing fitting, and a strainer body that is adapted to be removably installed downstream of the expandable plug and within the plumbing fitting.

According to other aspects, the test kit may comprise one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: the test kit may further comprise the expandable plug and/or the control line, the control line having a plug end connected to the expandable plug and the working end that is remote from the plug end; the strainer body may comprise one or more apertures; the strainer body may comprise an outer engagement surface that engages an outlet of a fitting body, and a second end that comprises the one or more apertures; the strainer may comprise a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported across the fluid outlet; the expandable plug may be inflatable; the control line may comprise a fluid line, and the working end may comprise a valve that selectively releases pneumatic pressure from the expandable plug; and the working end of the control line may extend from the cover.

According to an aspect, there is provided a plumbing fitting, comprising a fitting body having an inlet, an outlet, an inner cavity, and an outer surface, a seal body that seals the outlet of the fitting body, the seal body having a flow opening that is selectively closed by a closure member, and an actuator operably connected to the closure member to open the flow opening when actuated, wherein the actuator is accessible from outside the plumbing fitting.

According to other aspects, the plumbing fitting may comprise one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: the actuator may comprise a linkage that is controlled by a moveable handle positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the fitting body; the fitting body may comprise a cleanout port, and the actuator may comprise an elongate actuator that extends through an aperture of the cleanout port to engage the closure member; the closure member may be a plug or sheet of material that covers the flow opening, the plug being moved from the flow opening when acted upon by the actuator; the closure member may be secured by adhesive, by friction, or by a frangible connection to the closure member; the actuator may comprise a hinged gate member positioned within the inner cavity of the fitting body, an elongate connector between the closure member and the hinged gate member, and a handle adjacent to the outer surface of the fitting, the handle being operably connected to control a position of the hinged gate member and cause the elongate connector to open the closure member; and the fitting body may be a backwater valve body, and the hinged gate member may be a valve gate that moves between an open position and a closed position in which the valve gate seals the inlet of the backwater valve body, and the handle moves the gate member toward the closed position.

In other aspects, the features described above may be combined together in any reasonable combination as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevated side cross section view of a plumbing fitting.

FIG. 2 is an elevated side cross-section view of the plumbing fitting of FIG. 1 with an inflated test plug.

FIG. 3 is an elevated side cross-section view of the plumbing fitting of FIG. 1 with a deflated test plug caught by a strainer.

FIG. 4 is an elevated side cross section view of a plumbing fitting with a bottom mounted gate.

FIG. 5 is an elevated side cross-section view of the plumbing fitting of FIG. 4 with an inflated test plug.

FIG. 6 is an elevated side cross-section view of the plumbing fitting of FIG. 4 with a 10 deflated test plug caught by a strainer.

FIG. 7 is an elevated side cross section view of the plumbing fitting of FIG. 4 with a cover removed.

FIG. 8 is an elevated side cross section view of a plumbing fitting with a top mounted gate valve and a cover removed.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a test kit.

FIG. 10 is an elevated side cross section view of a plumbing fitting with a funnel shaped strainer.

FIG. 11 is an elevated side cross section view of a plumbing fitting with a rectangular strainer.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the plumbing fitting of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an elevated side cross section view of a plumbing fitting with a seal connected to a valve.

FIG. 14 is an elevated side cross section view of the plumbing fitting of FIG. 13 with the seal opened.

FIG. 15 is an elevated side cross section view of a plumbing fitting with a seal made from foam.

FIG. 16 is an elevated side cross-section view of the plumbing fitting of FIG. 15 with the seal opened.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a backwater valve with a handle in a closed position.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a backwater valve with a handle in an open position.

FIG. 19 is an elevated side cross section view of a plumbing fitting with a seal that can be removed from outside of the plumbing fitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A plumbing fitting, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through 19. Plumbing fitting 10 is designed to be used along a drain line 100 of a plumbing system.

In the drawings depicted, plumbing fitting 10 has a fitting body 20 that connects to drain line 100 to drain wastewater into a sewer system. When testing drain line 100 to identify any leaks, the outlet point of the plumbing system is sealed, typically downstream of a backwater valve on the main drain line of the house. The backwater valve is a convenient fitting 10 to work with in sealing drain line 100 as it typically includes a cleanout port 30 that provides access to drain line 100 and is often the last fitting in the drain line. In other circumstances, it may be preferable to seal at other locations, and the plugs described herein may be adapted for use with any suitable plumbing fitting. In the case of a plug 40 and strainer 50, a suitable plumbing fitting may have a separate access port in addition to outlet 24 and inlet 26 that provides access to inner cavity 22, as will be discussed below. As such, where the examples discussed below are in terms of a backwater valve 10 that has a valve body 20, it will be understood that that the discussion may be generalized to other suitable fittings.

Expandable Plug and Strainer

Referring to FIG. 1-12, a first embodiment that involves an expandable plug 40 and a strainer 50 is depicted. Referring to FIG. 1, valve body 20 defines a cavity 22 and has a fluid outlet 24 and a fluid inlet 26 that connect to drain line 100 so that fluid flow through cavity 22. Typically, during use, drain line 100 and backwater valve 10 are connected such that fluid flows from inlet 26 to outlet 24, where backwater valve 10 has a gate 12 (shown in FIG. 4) that closes if fluid flows in the opposite direction, such as during a backwater event.

Valve body 20 has a cleanout port 30 with a removable cover 32 that provides access to cavity 22 so that backwater valve 10 can be serviced and maintained. Cleanout cover 32 has a control line aperture 34 that provides a path for a control line 42 that extends from outside of valve body 20 to cavity 22. Aperture 34 receives control line 42 to prevent any leakages when cleanout cover 32 is installed.

Referring to FIG. 1, an expandable plug 40 is inserted into backwater valve 10 via cleanout port 30 and cavity 22. Expandable plug 40 may expand as pneumatic or liquid pressure is applied via a control line 42 that is connected to expandable plug 40. Referring to FIG. 2, once expandable plug 40 is positioned in a desired location, such as at fluid inlet 26 or upstream of in drain line 100, it is expanded from a contracted state to seal drain line 100. In the contracted state, expandable plug 40 may be installed and removed. In addition to installing plug 40 in inlet 26, a strainer 50 is installed in outlet 24 of valve body 20. Strainer 50 allows water to flow, the apertures (or other types of openings) are too small to allow plug 40 to pass. As shown, strainer 50 has a flanged end 52 that engages the inner surface of cavity 22 around outlet 24. Strainer 50 is designed to withstand the amount of pressure that will be applied after plug 40 has been released and is designed to prevent plug 40 from obstructing water flow therethrough.

Once plug 40 and strainer 50 have been installed, the pressure test may proceed. Once the test is complete, expandable plug 40 may be removed by manipulating the working end 44 of control line 42 to release pressure in expandable plug 40. Working end 44 may be a valve or connection point through fluid pressure is applied or released via control line 42 to cause plug 40 20 to expand or contract. Prior to releasing expandable plug 40, cleanout cover 32 should be installed to seal cavity 22 and prevent water from escaping. While cleanout cover 32 is shown as being installed in FIGS. 1 and 2, it may be preferable to install cover 32 after plug 40 has been expanded to ensure plug 40 has been properly and securely installed, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. When pressure is released from plug 40, the water pressure will cause plug 40 to move toward outlet 24 25 and plug 40 will be caught by strainer 50. Once the water has receded from valve body 20, cleanout port 30 may be opened to remove plug 40 and control line 42, and then closed again to allow normal operation to proceed.

In FIG. 1-3, backwater valve 10 is designed with a removable top-mounted gate (not shown), that has been removed to facilitate installation of plug 40 in inlet 26. In FIG. 4-6, backwater valve has a bottom-mounted gate that may not need to be removed. Referring to FIG. 8, plug 40 may be installed in inlet 26 without removing top mounted valve gate 12.

Referring to FIG. 9, a test kit 200 is shown that includes plug 40, cover 32, strainer 50, and control line 42. Alternatively, test kit 200 may be provided with only some of these components. Test kit 200 may be provided separately from the appropriate plumbing fitting with which it will be used, or as a single package. Similarly, cover 32 may be a separate cover than what would otherwise be provided with the plumbing fitting, such as a stopper in a Y-connector or T-connector, a threaded cleanout cover as shown, or other type of closure. Alternatively, if provided with the fitting, cover 32 may be designed to allow control line 42 to be removed and with an aperture that can be sealed after control line 42 has been removed.

Strainer 50 may also be designed to accommodate different types of fittings. For example, if a shoulder is not present as in the depicted backwater valve 10, strainer 50 may have a flange that is designed to be installed between fitting or pipe ends at the time the fitting is installed. In that case, strainer 50 may have a tearaway portion that allows some or all of strainer 50 to be removed after the test has been completed. Strainer 50 may be anchored in any suitable way that allows it to be removed after the test has been completed. Examples of other designs for strainer 50 are shown in FIGS. 10-11. In FIG. 10, strainer 50 is funnel-shaped with a flared end and may distort to be held in place. Once pressure is relieved, strainer 50 is easily removed. In FIGS. 11 and 12, strainer 50 is rectangular, and held in place by fitting body 20, which as shown is a t-connector. Strainer 50 is sized sufficiently to prevent plug 40 from passing by.

Openable Plug

Referring to FIG. 13-19, another test plug is shown involving an openable seal body 60. Referring to FIG. 13, plumbing fitting is again shown as a backwater valve 10. As seal body 60 is opened based on movement of an internal member, backwater valve 10 is suitable as it contains valve gate 12, the position of which is at least partly controlled by an external actuator 62, such as a handle as shown, that is positioned outside valve body 20.

Seal body 60 seals outlet 24 of valve body 20 and has an opening 64 that is selectively closed by a closure member 66. As shown, opening 64 is an aperture formed in the end wall 72 of seal body 60, while closure member 66 is a plug that overlies opening 64. Closure member 66 may rely on water pressure during a pressure test to achieve a better seal. Seal body 60 and closure member 66 may be shaped to reduce the likelihood that, once opened, closure member 66 will block opening 64. Rather than a plug that is moved, closure member 66 may be hinged, may twist when an actuating force is applied to cause opening 64 to open, or may be a sticker seal that is removed or perforated when a force is applied.

Closure member 66 is attached to an elongate member 68, which may be flexible or rigid, that is attached at the other end to valve gate 12. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, closure member 66 may be a piece of foam or other resilient material that is pulled from seal body 60 to open opening 64. Referring to FIG. 14, when actuated by handle 62, valve gate 12 moves toward the closed position and applies a pulling force on elongate member 68 that in turn moves closure member 66 from opening 64, allowing water to flow. For example, handle 62 may be a locking handle that is otherwise used to close and lock valve gate 12 to protect against a backwater event. As shown, handle 62 is a knob that controls a camming surface 75 that causes valve gate 12 to close and holds it closed. FIG. 17 shows handle 62 in a position that allows closure member 66 to remain in the sealed position, while FIG. 18 shows backwater valve 10 with handle 62 rotated, which pulls closure member 66 from the sealed position.

Other types of external actuators 62 may include a handle that is lifted away from valve body 20, or pressed toward valve body 20, to cause valve gate 12 to close. In addition, elongate member 68 need not be controlled via valve gate 12; it may be possible to connect elongate member 68 directly to external actuator 62. Alternatively, referring to FIG. 19, elongate member 68 may extend out cleanout port 30, and actuated, such as by being pulled manually. More elaborate designs for opening closure member 66 via elongate member 68 may be used.

Seal body 60 may be designed such that handle 62 is only required to close valve gate 12 partially, and not to the locked position, to cause closure member 66 to open opening 64. Alternatively, valve gate 12 that is intended for use in a backwater valve may be replaced with another gate that does not seal inlet when closed for the purposes of the pressure test, with the appropriate valve gate 12 installed thereafter. In this way, handle may be fully closed and locked, which will also ensure closure member 66 is held away from opening 64 until the water has fully drained.

Other fittings 10 may also be used that have externally accessible handles or actuators and may be purpose-built for testing purposes. Seal body 60 may be pre-installed in fitting 10 or may be fit into fitting 10 by the installer prior to performing a water test. If a cleanout port or other opening is unavailable, seal body 60 and the actuator will be installed before fitting 10 is connected to the drainpipes.

As shown, seal body 60 has a mounting flange 70 that engages the inner surface of cavity 22 that surrounds outlet 24 to support seal body 60. Seal body 60 also has end wall 72 that seals across outlet 24. End wall 72 may be coplanar with flange 70 or may be spaced away from flange 70 and connected by a sidewall 74. Similar to the strainer discussed above, seal body 60 may be installed in different ways, depending on the style of fitting, and may be installed such that flange 70 is engaged between ends of pipe(s) and/or fitting(s). Seal body 60 may have a frangible connection or tearaway strip that allows it to be removed after testing is complete, and the frangible connection or tearaway strip may be part of, or define, the closure member 66 and opening 64, where the actuating force causes a portion of seal body 60 to tear or break away to allow fluid to flow. In other embodiments, other means may be provided to cause opening 64 to open, such as a lever that, when actuated, creates a hole in sidewall 74 or remote end 72 of seal body 60. Furthermore, elongate connector may be flexible or rigid. In cases where fitting body 20 does not have a sufficient shoulder, or any shoulder, part way or fully around outlet 24, seal body 60 may be made from a resilient or deformable material, either entirely or locally, such that seal body 60 is able to deform and engage with body 20.

25 In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

1. A plumbing fitting for a drain line of a plumbing system, comprising:

a fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a cleanout port in fluid communication with a cavity defined by the fitting body, the fitting body being adapted to connect to the drain line;

a cleanout cover that closes the cleanout port, the cleanout cover having a control line aperture;

an expandable plug that has an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein: in the expanded state the expandable plug is adapted to engage and seal the fluid inlet of the fitting body or the drain line upstream of the fluid inlet; and in the contracted state the expandable plug has a diameter that is less than the expanded state sized to engage the fluid inlet of the fitting body;

a control line that extends from the expandable plug to the control line aperture of the cleanout cover such that a working end of the control line is accessible when the cleanout cover closes the cleanout port, wherein actuating the working end of the control line releases the expandable plug; and

a strainer body that permits fluid flow therethrough and prevents the expandable plug from passing through the fluid outlet, the strainer being removably installed in the fitting body downstream of the expandable plug.

2. The plumbing fitting of claim 1, wherein the strainer body comprises an outer engagement surface that engages the fluid outlet of the fitting body, and a second end that comprises one or more apertures.

3. The plumbing fitting of claim 1, wherein the strainer comprises a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported across the fluid outlet.

4. The plumbing fitting of claim 1, wherein the expandable plug is inflatable.

5. The plumbing fitting of claim 4, wherein the control line comprises a fluid line, and the working end comprises a valve that selectively releases pneumatic pressure from the expandable plug.

6. A method of testing a plumbing system having fitting body installed on a drain line, the fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a cavity and a cleanout port, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting an expandable plug, in a contracted state, into the cavity of the fitting body through the cleanout port, a control line being connected to the expandable plug and having a working end that is accessible when the cleanout port is closed;

positioning the expandable plug within the fluid inlet and expanding the expandable plug to such that the expandable plug forms a seal upstream of the cavity;

installing a strainer body in the cavity, the strainer body permitting fluid flow therethrough and preventing the expandable plug from passing through the fluid outlet;

closing the cleanout port with a cleanout cover, the cleanout cover having a control line aperture through which the working end is accessible;

passing a fluid into the drain line upstream of the expandable plug; and

manipulating the working end via the control line to cause the expandable plug to contract such that the expandable plug disengages and permits fluid flow through the cavity; and

removing the fluid plug from the cavity via the cleanout port.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the strainer body comprises an outer engagement surface that engages the fluid outlet, and a second end that comprises one or more apertures.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the strainer comprises a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported 30 across the fluid outlet.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the expandable plug is inflatable.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the control line comprises a fluid line, and the working end comprises a valve that selectively releases fluid pressure from the expandable plug.

11. A test kit for a plumbing system for use with an expandable plug that has an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein, in the expanded state, the expandable plug is adapted to engage and seal an upstream end of a plumbing fitting and in the contracted state, the expandable plug is adapted to be installed and removed from the plumbing fitting, the test kit comprising:

a control line having a plug end and a working end, the plug end being connected to the expandable plug;

a cover that is adapted to close an access port in the plumbing fitting, the cover having an aperture that is sized to receive the control line at a point between the plug end and the working end such that the working end of the control line is accessible when the cover is installed on the plumbing fitting; and

a strainer body that is adapted to be removably installed downstream of the expandable plug in the plumbing system and within the plumbing fitting.

12. The test kit of claim 11, further comprising the expandable plug and/or the control line, the control line having a plug end connected to the expandable plug and the working end that is remote from the plug end.

13. The test kit of claim 11, wherein the strainer body comprises an outer engagement surface that engages an outlet of a fitting body, and a second end that comprises one or more apertures.

14. The test kit of claim 11, wherein the strainer comprises a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported across the fluid outlet.

15. The test kit of claim 11, wherein the expandable plug is inflatable.

16. The test kit of claim 16, wherein the control line comprises a fluid line, and the working end comprises a valve that selectively releases pneumatic pressure from the expandable plug.

17. A plumbing fitting, comprising:

a fitting body having an inlet, an outlet, an inner cavity, and an outer surface;

a seal body that seals the outlet of the fitting body, the seal body having a flow opening that is selectively closed by a closure member; and

an actuator operably connected to the closure member to open the flow opening when actuated, wherein the actuator is accessible from outside the plumbing fitting.

18. The plumbing fitting of claim 17, wherein the actuator comprises a linkage that is controlled by a moveable handle positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the fitting body.

19. The plumbing fitting of claim 17, wherein the fitting body comprises a cleanout port, and the actuator comprises an elongate actuator that extends through an aperture of the cleanout port to engage the closure member.

20. The plumbing fitting of claim 17, wherein the closure member is a plug or sheet of material 20 that covers the flow opening, the plug being moved from the flow opening when acted upon by the actuator.

21. The plumbing fitting of claim 20, wherein the closure member is secured by adhesive, by friction, or by a frangible connection to the closure member.

22. The plumbing fitting of claim 17, wherein the actuator comprises:

a hinged gate member positioned within the inner cavity of the fitting body;

an elongate connector between the closure member and the hinged gate member; and

a handle adjacent to the outer surface of the fitting, the handle being operably connected to control a position of the hinged gate member and cause the elongate connector to open the closure member.

23. The plumbing fitting of claim 22, wherein:

the fitting body is a backwater valve body, and the hinged gate member is a valve gate that moves between an open position and a closed position in which the valve gate seals the inlet of the backwater valve body; and

the handle moves the gate member toward the closed position.