SHOWER STATION TESTING ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURE TESTING PLUMBING
The present invention provides a testing assembly for pressure testing a plumbing system in a building where the building has a shower station with a drain and a shower inlet. The testing assembly includes a drain adapter, a hose fitting on the shower inlet, and a hose removably connecting the shower inlet and the drain adapter. The drain adapter has a hose end fitting and a drain sealing element in fluid communication with the hose end fitting. The sealing element is adapted to be in fluid communication with the drain.
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In new building construction, the plumbing system needs to be checked for leaks before an inspection process is completed. This test involves sealing off outlets such as drains. When the testing operation is to take place, a plug is put in the bottom drain of a shower station/bathtub and a seal plate is placed at the end of the shower on the overflow drain, if one is present as in a shower station/bathtub arrangement. Then water is run down a vent in the plumbing system until the water reaches a level above all of the plumbing system outlets. The plumber or inspector then determines whether any of the piping leaks.
The water supplied for this test is typically obtained by the plumber getting on the roof of the building, and using a hose to run water down the top of the vent pipe of the plumbing system. Running a hose up to the roof is a cumbersome, hazardous and time intensive procedure which often results in wasting large amounts of water.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a testing assembly for pressure testing plumbing systems which eliminates the need to run water through the roof vent.
A further object of the invention is to provide a testing assembly which utilizes an inlet and a drain of a shower station to pressure test plumbing systems.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a testing assembly having a drain adapter which allows for a watertight connection between the shower station inlet and drain.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a testing assembly for pressure testing a plumbing system in a building where the building has a shower station with a drain and a shower inlet. The testing assembly includes a drain adapter, a hose fitting on the shower inlet, and a hose removably connecting the shower inlet and the drain adapter. The drain adapter has a hose end fitting and a drain sealing element in fluid communication with the hose end fitting. The sealing element is adapted to be in fluid communication with the drain.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference to
In the conventional pressure testing of the plumbing system 12, the drains 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, and outlet 44 are all sealed to fluid flow. Then water is added to the plumbing system 12 via vent 42 to check for leaks in the system 12.
In the present invention, however, drain 16 is not sealed to fluid flow; rather it is placed in fluid flow communication with a first shower inlet 46 to supply fluid to the sealed plumbing system 12.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the term shower inlet, as used herein, includes but is not limited to shower spouts, bath spouts, or one of these spouts fitted with any transitional fitting (which may be used to prevent damage to the finished spout).
With reference to
With reference to
Testing assembly 60 provides an apparatus for placing the first shower inlet 46 in fluid flow communication with bottom drain 16. Testing assembly 60 includes a bottom drain adapter 62 adapted to removably engage bottom drain 16 in fluid flow communication to form a watertight seal; an upper connector 64 having a threaded surface 65 adapted to removably engage the threaded head 50 to form a watertight seal; a lower connector 66 having a threaded surface 67 removably engaged in with the drain adapter 62 to form a watertight seal; and a hose 68 connected in fluid flow communication between the upper and lower connectors 64 and 68.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
Referring to
It is therefore seen that this invention provides a testing assembly for pressure testing plumbing systems which eliminates the need to run water through the roof vent. The invention also provides a testing assembly which utilizes an inlet and a drain of a shower station to pressure test plumbing systems. In addition, the invention provides a drain adapter which allows for a watertight connection between a shower station inlet and drain.
It is therefore seen that this invention will accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.
Claims
1. A testing assembly for pressure testing a plumbing system in a building where the building has a shower station with a bottom drain, an overflow drain, and a shower spout, the testing assembly comprising:
- a drain adapter having a hose end fitting and a bottom drain sealing element in fluid communication with the hose end fitting, the sealing element adapted to be in fluid communication with the bottom drain;
- a seal for the overflow drain for preventing outward fluid flow;
- a hose fitting on the shower spout;
- a hose removably connecting the shower spout and the drain adapter;
- wherein the drain adapter further comprises a fastener, the fastener being an externally threaded centrally located post adapted to removably engage the bottom drain to form a watertight seal between the sealing element and the bottom drain; and
- wherein the fastener is adapted to removably engage the bottom drain via a threaded surface centrally located in the bottom of the drain.
2-3. (canceled)
4. The testing assembly of claim 1, wherein the drain adapter further includes a perforated base having an aperture, the aperture slidably receiving the fastener.
5. The testing assembly of claim 1, wherein the hose is removably connected to the drain adapter by a lower connector removably engaged with the hose end fitting of the drain adapter to from a watertight seal.
6. The testing assembly of claim 1, wherein the hose is removably connected to the shower spout by an upper connector having a threaded surface adapted to removably engage the hose fitting to form a watertight seal.
7-13. (canceled)
14. A method for pressure testing a plumbing system in a building where the building has a shower station with a bottom drain an overflow drain and a shower inlet, the method comprising:
- connecting the shower inlet to select one of the bottom and overflow drains for water tight communication of fluid from the shower inlet to the selected drain;
- sealing the non=selected drain closed;
- initiating fluid flow from the shower inlet, through the non-sealed drain, and into the plumbing system; and
- determining if there are any leaks in the plumbing system.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of supplying an overflow end fitting with internal threading adapted to removably engage an externally threaded surface of the overflow drain to form a watertight seal.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of supplying a lower connector with an externally threaded screw adapted to removably engage with a centrally located threaded surface in the bottom of the bottom drain to form a watertight seal.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 14, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 5, 2006
Applicant: WCM INDUSTRIES, INC. (Colorado Springs, CO)
Inventors: William BALL (Colorado Springs, CO), Duane CONDON (Ramona, CA)
Application Number: 11/423,996
International Classification: G01M 3/02 (20060101);