초록 ▼

A dual-action vent check valve is disclosed. The valve includes a first check valve which is responsive to elevated fluids inside the valve. A second check valve is responsive to elevated fluids external to the valve. The first check valve prevents overflow from a vented structure, such as a sewer o

A dual-action vent check valve is disclosed. The valve includes a first check valve which is responsive to elevated fluids inside the valve. A second check valve is responsive to elevated fluids external to the valve. The first check valve prevents overflow from a vented structure, such as a sewer out-fall line, from passing through and out of the valve, thereby preventing spills. The second check valve operates to prevent floodwater from passing into an underground structure, such as a sewer, through the vent. One embodiment of the invention includes a basket for enclosing a deodorizing material inside the valve for deodorizing gases which pass through the valve.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vent check valve comprising:(a) an outer housing including a first port and a second port, the first and second ports being arranged to permit gases to pass through and between the first and second ports in two opposed directions during dry conditions; (b) a first check valve in the housing, th

1. A vent check valve comprising:(a) an outer housing including a first port and a second port, the first and second ports being arranged to permit gases to pass through and between the first and second ports in two opposed directions during dry conditions; (b) a first check valve in the housing, the first check valve being designed to substantially prevent a first elevated liquid inside the valve that has risen to or above a first trigger level from passing through the valve; (c) a second check valve in the housing, the second check valve being designed to substantially prevent a second elevated liquid external to the valve that has risen to or above a second trigger level from passing through the valve; (d) wherein the first and second check valves are substantially vertically aligned one above the other; and (e) wherein the outer housing includes at least one removable panel, the at least one panel being configured to permit access to at least one of the check valves in the valve housing when the panel is removed from the valve. 2. A vent check valve comprising:(a) an outer housing including a first port and a second port, the first and second ports being arranged to permit gases to pass through and between the first and second ports in two opposed directions during dry conditions; (b) a first check valve in the housing, the first check valve being designed to substantially prevent a first elevated liquid inside the valve that has risen to or above a first trigger level from passing through the valve; (c) a second check valve in the housing, the second check valve being designed to substantially prevent a second elevated liquid external to the valve that has risen to or above a second trigger level from passing through the valve; (d) wherein the first and second check valves are substantially vertically aligned one above the other; and (e) wherein the valve further includes a deodorizer basket for holding an odor adsorbing material, wherein the basket is positioned in the valve such that gas or vapor passing through the valve passes through the odor adsorbing material in the basket before exiting the valve. 3. A vent check valve comprising:(a) an outer housing including a first port and a second port, the first and second ports being arranged to permit gases to pass through and between the first and second ports in two opposed directions during dry conditions; (b) a first check valve in the housing, the first check valve being designed to substantially prevent a first elevated liquid inside the valve that has risen to or above a first trigger level from passing through the valve; (c) a second check valve in the housing, the second check valve being designed to substantially prevent a second elevated liquid external to the valve that has risen to or above a second trigger level from passing through the valve; (d) wherein the first and second check valves are substantially vertically aligned one above the other; (e) wherein the second port includes a screen designed to substantially prevent solids from entering the valve through the second port; and (f) wherein the screen is affixed to a baffle cover, the baffle cover being removably affixed to an outer surface of the outer housing proximate the second port, and the baffle cover is configured to permit gases to pass through the screen and second port while at least partially covering the second port. 4. A vent check valve comprising:(a) an outer housing including a bottom and a front, the bottom including a lower port and the front including an upper port; (b) a partition dividing the outer housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the partition including a first valve opening having a first valve seat; (c) an inner housing disposed in the upper chamber, the inner housing including a top having a second valve opening and a second valve seat, and a window in communication with the upper port; wherein the lower port, the first valve opening, the second valve opening, the window, and the upper port together define a gas flow path through the valve; (d) a lower float disposed in the lower chamber, the lower float being designed to cooperate with the first valve seat to substantially prevent rising liquid in the lower chamber which has entered the valve through the lower port from passing from the lower chamber into the upper chamber; and (e) an upper float disposed in the inner housing in the upper chamber, the upper float being designed to cooperate with the second valve seat to substantially prevent rising liquid exterior to the outer housing which has entered the valve through the upper port from passing from the upper chamber into the lower chamber; (f) wherein the second valve opening is substantially vertically above the first valve opening and is substantially vertically aligned therewith. 5. A vent check valve according to claim 4 wherein outer surfaces of the outer housing substantially form a parallelepiped.6. A vent check valve according to claim 4 further including a pipe portion having a top end connected to the lower port of the outer housing, and a bottom end configured for connection to a substantially vertical vent pipe.7. A vent check valve according to claim 6 wherein the bottom end of the pipe portion includes a flange suited for connection to a mating flange on the vent pipe.8. A vent check valve according to claim 6 wherein the bottom end of the pipe portion includes a socket portion designed for engagement with the vent pipe.9. A vent check valve according to claim 4 wherein the front of the outer housing includes a removable panel, the removable panel being designed to permit access to the lower chamber when the cover is removed from the housing.10. A vent check valve according to claim 9, wherein the removable panel includes the upper port.11. A vent check valve according to claim 9 wherein the housing includes a panel sealing surface, and further comprising a cover gasket, the gasket being suited for assembly between the panel and the sealing surface of the housing to substantially seal against the passage of fluids between the panel and housing sealing surface when the panel is mounted to the housing.12. A vent check valve according to claim 4, further comprising an outer screen, wherein the outer screen is affixed to the housing and substantially overlays the upper port, and wherein the outer screen is configured to substantially prevent solids from entering the valve through the upper port while permitting gases and fluids to pass through the upper port.13. A vent check valve according to claim 12 wherein the outer screen is removably affixed to the housing.14. A vent check valve according to claim 12, wherein the outer screen is affixed to a baffle cover and the baffle cover is affixed to an outer surface of the outer housing proximate the upper port, the baffle cover being configured to permit gas to pass through the upper port and screen while at least partially covering the upper port and screen.15. A vent check valve according to claim 14 wherein the baffle cover is removably affixed to the outer housing.16. A vent check valve according to claim 15, the valve further including a secondary screen, the secondary screen having a finer mesh than a coarser mesh of the outer screen, wherein the secondary screen is entrapped between the outer housing and the baffle cover.17. A vent check valve according to claim 4 wherein the upper and lower floats are substantially spherical and the first and second valve openings have substantially circular shapes.18. A vent check valve according to claim 4 wherein the first and second valve seats include elastomeric seals for cooperation with the upper and lower floats, the elastomeric seals being designed to substantially seal the first and second valve openings when the floats are cooperatively engaged with the seals.19. A vent check valve according to claim 4 and further including a deodorizer basket in the upper chamber proximate the second valve opening, wherein the deodorizer basket is designed for containing a quantity of odor adsorbing material such that gas passing from the lower port to the upper port substantially passes through the basket and the odor adsorbing material contained therein.20. A vent check valve according to claim 19 wherein the deodorizing basket includes activated carbon as the odor adsorbing material.21. A vent check valve according to claim 19 wherein the outer housing includes a top having a basket receiving opening, wherein the basket can be inserted into and removed from the outer housing through the basket receiving opening, and further including a removable cap configured to cover and seal the basket receiving opening when the cap is affixed to the outer housing.22. A vent check valve according to claim 4 wherein the inner housing is removably affixed to the outer housing.23. A vent check valve according to claim 4, wherein the front of the outer housing includes a removable cover, the removable cover being designed to permit access to the lower chamber when the cover is removed from the housing, wherein the removable cover includes the upper port, and wherein the inner housing is affixed to the removable cover such that the window of the inner housing is coextensive with the upper port.