Abstract: A normally open backwater prevention valve for connecting to a sanitary drainpipe. The valve has an inflow end to connect to an upstream part of the drainpipe, and an out-flow end to connect to a downstream part of the drainpipe. There is a main body defining a flow through chamber extending between the inflow and the out-flow ends and a valve seat formed on an upstream side of the main body which faces downstream. A float assembly having opposed floats on opposite sides of the flow through chamber has a check valve assembly including at least a valve member located between the opposed floats. The valve member is sized and shaped to seal on the valve seat, and is operatively connected to the float assembly through a gear box. When the floats are down the valve member is in an open position and when the floats are up the valve member is moved to a closed position on the valve seat. Also provided is an access opening on a top of the flow through chamber, and a removable cover for sealing the access opening.

Abstract: A dual function roof vent having a main body having an air passageway extending therethrough and being sized and shaped to fit onto an opening in a roof where the air passageway defines an air to flow path between the interior and the exterior of a building. The air passageway also defines a vent net free flow area. A collar is attached to and extends below the main body, and the collar is sized and shaped to fit through the roof opening. The collar including air inflow gaps, and a fan mount, with an electrically powered fan mounted to said fan mount. The collar air inflow area, including the air inflow gaps, is within about 5% of the vent net free flow area defined by the air passageway.

Abstract: A fire stop device having a body having a through bore and the body being sized and shaped to be positioned within an opening in a wall. the body is made from a moldable a thermoplastic resin having a blowing agent suspended therein. The blowing agent has a predetermined gas release temperature and the thermoplastic resin has a melting temperature above the predetermined gas release temperature of the blowing agent; wherein when exposed to a fire the blowing agent first begins to release gas and the resin softens as the resin is heated until the resin is soft enough for the released gas to expand the plastic to form a foam to close said through bore before a char is formed on said expanded body by said fire. A method of forming a fitting having the blowing agent suspended therein is also provided.

Abstract: A waste water separation vessel is provided having a wedge shaped body with an internal water containing volume. The body is configured to trap FOG and wastes within the body allowing water to pass through the body. At least one top facing access port to allow access to the internal volume of the body is provided and the wedge shaped body tapers outwardly from top to bottom to define a larger bottom area than a top area. The side walls include vertically oriented strengthening ribs which define intervening indentations, and each lower end of the vertically oriented ribs is connected to a generally horizontal beam which defines closed bottom ends on the indentations. When the vessel is buried in the ground the wedge shaped body and the closed bottom indentations interact with the ground to help oppose any buoyancy forces acting on the buried body.

Abstract: A goose neck style vent has a base that registers with a surface opening of a building, and upstanding walls which form a portion of a curved air flow pathway above the vent opening. A top portion of the vent registers with the base to complete the curved air flow pathway and define an air outlet opening. The top includes a screen that hinges to cover the air outlet opening. A flapper valve is positioned across the curved air flow pathway and is hinged to the base at one end. The opposite free end of the flapper valve is urged to a closed position by gravity and to an open position by air pressure from below. An upstanding air deflecting baffle extends above the free end of the flapper, and limits air gusts passing through the screen and under the free end of the flapper valve.

Abstract: An adaptor for a passive roof vent is presented having a base securable to a roof deck and an integrally moulded stepped collar extending from the base on one side for connecting to different air duct sizes which defines a discharge end for an air flow passageway. A central well is defined by the collar adjacent to and below the base and is open towards the other side of the base and has a hinge pin for at least one flapper valve retained in the well below the base. At least one flapper valve, hinged to the hinge pin, pivots about a closed position to which the flapper valve is biased by gravity and an open position in which the flapper valve is opened by air pressure from below within the air flow passageway. The flapper valve remains partially within the well when the flapper valve is open.

Abstract: An outlet well cover for use in an in-line grease interceptor is disclosed. The outlet well cover is fitted onto a hollow well extending upwardly from the bottom of the grease interceptor tank, and having an open top. The outlet well cover has at least one, and preferably two arms that extend outwards and define water passageways from the ends of the arms to the middle of the well. Water inflow openings at the ends of the arms allow clarified water to flow into the covered hollow well. The water inflow openings face generally downward to limit the amount of floating FOG material that can be drawn in through the openings. The well cover may also include a central bore adapted to receive a standard sized pipe. The pipe can be connected to an outlet from the tank.

Abstract: A diffuser baffle for use in an in-line wastewater grease interceptor. The diffuser baffle lies within a grease collecting chamber between the inflow and outflow of a grease interceptor. The diffuser baffle has an open bottom which is sized and shaped respectively to fit into the grease collecting chamber. The diffuser baffle has an end operatively connected to the inflow opening to permit wastewater to flow into the body through the open bottom. The baffle has a downstream end which includes a deflector portion to deflect a wastewater stream in a direction generally into the grease collecting chamber. The body also includes a number of apertures to permit the deflected wastewater stream to pass through the baffle and into the grease collecting chamber, where FOG will separate before waste water exits the chamber through the outlet baffle.

Abstract: There is an inlet baffle assembly for use in an in-line interceptor for separating FOG from wastewater and a method of cleaning the inlet baffle assembly without the need for removal from the interceptor. The inlet baffle assembly has an inlet baffle for the grease collecting chamber of an in-line interceptor which defines a flow channel through which influent enters the collecting chambers and has a moveable section moveable between open and closed positions. The inlet baffle assembly also has a flow control element to control the rate of flow of influent entering the flow channel when the moveable section is in the closed position. The flow control element is accessible for cleaning when the moveable section is in the open position. After cleaning, the moveable section is moved into the closed position to facilitate fluid flowing through the inlet baffle assembly into the grease collecting chamber.

Abstract: A hand held vacuum cleaner unit and docking assembly for a central vacuum system is shown. The hand held vacuum cleaner has a handle, a suction nozzle, a trigger switch to turn on a battery powered suction motor and an outlet port. The docking assembly fits into a central vacuum cleaner mounting plate, and provides a cradle to store the hand held vacuum cleaner. Recharging contacts, a latch mechanism, seals and an intake port are provided on the docking assembly. When the hand held unit is in the docking assembly it may be electrically charged, and emptied of dirt and debris by activation of the central vacuum system. The docking assembly also includes an access port for a conventional central vacuum hose.

Abstract: A bathtub drain and overflow fitting kit is provided having a drain fitting, an overflow fitting and/or an adapter fitting, for connecting the bathtub drain and overflow openings to the household waste plumbing. The overflow fitting has a ball and socket connection between its inlet and outlet. Preferably, the overflow fitting has an abutment member which limits the range of angles created by the joint socket and joint ball within a range of angles to about 10°. The kit includes a gasket having a first sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and a tapered sealing portion between the first and second sealing portions, and is configured so that the same gasket may be used at the drain opening or the overflow opening. The drain and overflow fittings have at their inlets retaining features that interengage matching retaining features on the gasket to hold during installation.

Abstract: A vent for a building has a cover attached to a base. The base has an aperture permitting gas to pass. A moisture directing means on an underside of the cover directs moisture move under the influence of gravity to fall outside of the aperture. The cover may include a slanted side wall portion, with the aperture positioned with its center displaced from the center of the cover toward the slanted side. The base may include a pair of moisture deflecting features along at least a portion of one of the nonslope sides to prevent moisture flowing along the base from within an area on the base covered by the cover to outside of the covered area at the nonslope sides. The base may also include a water deflecting ridge on its underside positioned between a downslope edge and the aperture to deflect water away.

Abstract: A passive vent for venting a building enclosure having an opening in a roof portion, the vent being adjustable for mounting on roof portions of different slopes. The vent has a base pivotally attached to a vent structure with a pair of pivot joints. The vent structure has a collar attached to a vent body having a cover. At least one gas permeable screen is positioned on the vent body between the cover and the collar. The base comprises a lower attachment structure for attaching the base to the roof portion over the opening. An aperture through the lower attachment structure permits gas to pass in to and out of the opening in the roof portion through the base. A wall including a pair of opposed curvilinear wall sections surrounds the aperture. The pivot joints define a pivot axis about which the vent structure pivots along a range of angles relative to the base.

Abstract: A diffuser baffle for use in an in-line wastewater grease interceptor. The diffuser baffle lies within a grease collecting chamber between the inflow and outflow of a grease interceptor. The diffuser baffle has an open bottom which is sized and shaped respectively to fit into the grease collecting chamber. The diffuser baffle has an end operatively connected to the inflow opening to permit wastewater to flow into the body through the open bottom. The baffle has a downstream end which includes a deflector portion to deflect a wastewater stream in a direction generally into the grease collecting chamber. The body also includes a number of apertures to permit the deflected wastewater stream to pass through the baffle and into the grease collecting chamber, where FOG will separate before waste water exits the chamber through the outlet baffle.

Abstract: A solids containment device for use in n hydromechanical grease interceptor, sized and shaped to be removably carried within the hydromechanical grease interceptor. The solids containment device includes a containment body with side and end walls, an open top, a wastewater inflow opening and an outflow opening. At least one removable solids separating screen is carried within the containment body, and is located between the inflow opening and the outflow opening. The outflow opening is directed away from the outflow aperture of the hydromechanical grease interceptor, in order to encourage a generally diagonal flow path for the wastewater stream within the hydromechanical grease interceptor, thereby encouraging separation of fats, oils and grease.

Abstract: A hand held vacuum cleaner unit and docking assembly for a central vacuum system is shown. The hand held vacuum cleaner has a handle, a suction nozzle, a trigger switch to turn on a battery powered suction motor and an outlet port. The docking assembly fits into a central vacuum cleaner mounting plate, and provides a cradle to store the hand held vacuum cleaner. Recharging contacts, a latch mechanism, seals and an intake port are provided on the docking assembly. When the hand held unit is in the docking assembly it may be electrically charged, and emptied of dirt and debris by activation of the central vacuum system. The docking assembly also includes an access port for a conventional central vacuum hose.

Abstract: A hand held vacuum cleaner unit and docking assembly for a central vacuum system is shown. The hand held vacuum cleaner has a handle, a suction nozzle, a trigger switch to turn on a battery powered suction motor and an outlet port. The docking assembly fits into a central vacuum cleaner mounting plate, and provides a cradle to store the hand held vacuum cleaner. Recharging contacts, a latch mechanism, seals and an intake port are provided on the docking assembly. When the hand held unit is in the docking assembly it may be electrically charged, and emptied of dirt and debris by activation of the central vacuum system. The docking assembly also includes an access port for a conventional central vacuum hose.

Abstract: A vent for a building has a cover attached to a base. The base has an aperture permitting gas to pass. A moisture directing means on an underside of the cover directs moisture move under the influence of gravity to fall outside of the aperture. The cover may include a slanted side wall portion, with the aperture positioned with its center displaced from the center of the cover toward the slanted side. The base may include a pair of moisture deflecting features along at least a portion of one of the nonslope sides to prevent moisture flowing along the base from within an area on the base covered by the cover to outside of the covered area at the nonslope sides. The base may also include a water deflecting ridge on its underside positioned between a downslope edge and the aperture to deflect water away.

Abstract: A female electrical receptacle for mounting behind an inlet valve of a central vacuum cleaning system, having a base portion and a cover portion wherein the base portion defines three open topped channels and two side channels include an electrically conductive bayonet extending into said channel. The central channel retains the ground wire. Each bayonet is electrically connected to a female pin receptacle located toward one end of said base portion. The cover is sized and shaped to be field securable to said base portion to close said open top channels onto said bayonets, The female electrical receptacle further includes attachment features adjacent the pin receptacles, which are sized and shaped to engage with said inlet valve to permit said one end to be mounted behind said inlet valve and connected to a plug opening in said inlet valve.

Abstract: A hand held vacuum cleaner unit and docking assembly for a central vacuum system is shown. The hand held vacuum cleaner has a handle, a suction nozzle, a trigger switch to turn on a battery powered suction motor and an outlet port. The docking assembly fits into a central vacuum cleaner mounting plate, and provides a cradle to store the hand held vacuum cleaner. Recharging contacts, a latch mechanism, seals and an intake port are provided on the docking assembly. When the hand held unit is in the docking assembly it may be electrically charged, and emptied of dirt and debris by activation of the central vacuum system. The docking assembly also includes an access port for a conventional central vacuum hose.