Abstract:
An arrangement for protecting a waste water line from plugging due to debris includes a pipe with spikes projecting upstream toward the oncoming waste water flow.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 61/039,811, filed Mar. 27, 2008, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention relates to a device for protecting a waste water line from debris which it is not intended to handle. When debris which may otherwise clog a waste water line is flushed down a toilet, the device intercepts it for easy and quick removal before the debris travels farther along the waste water line making it more difficult to remove, and it does so without interfering with the passage of normal waster into the waste waterline. 
     There is a continual problem in jails and prisons with inmates intentionally flushing debris down their toilets and plugging up the Waste water system. They may flush clothing, sheets, or anything else they can find. The debris that is inserted into one toilet usually passes down into the common waste line where it plugs up the waste line for several toilets. This causes a back-up of the waste line, with flooding that can do serious damage, including flooding of the building on floors below the level of the toilet where the problem originated. The cost to replace carpets, ceilings, wallboards, documents, and computers from such flooding can be very expensive. It is also expensive to have to regularly call out plumbers to unplug the waste lines and retrieve debris that is wedged a long distance into the waste line. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a waste water line protection device made in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of the waste water line protection device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side View of a typical toilet installation in a facility such as in a prisons or correctional facility; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 4 , but with a waste water line protection device added to the installation; 
         FIG. 6  is a partially broken away, enlarged view of the detail  6  of  FIG. 5 , showing the waste water line protection device; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 6 , but showing some debris which has been intercepted by the waste water line protection device; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of another embodiment of a waste water line protection device installed in a 45 degree elbow fitting; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of another embodiment of a waste water line protection device installed in a 90 degree elbow fitting; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic end view of the waste water line protection device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view, along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view similar to that of  FIG. 11 , but for yet another embodiment of a waste water line protection device; and 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view similar to that of  FIG. 11 , but for yet another embodiment of a waste water line protection device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The protection device  10  of  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 - 7  includes a hollow cylindrical pipe wall  12 , which, in this embodiment, is six inches long and four inches in inside diameter. The pipe wall  12  defines an upstream end  11  and a downstream end  13 . Two spikes  14 ,  16  project inwardly and upstream from points on the inner surface of the pipe wall  12  that are about two inches in from the upstream end  11  of the pipe  12 , into which the waste water enters. Each spike  14 ,  16  is approximately ¾″ to 1-⅛″ long. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the spikes  14 ,  16  are welded to the pipe  12  at points  18 ,  20  that lie at 10:00 and 2:00 positions (so the angles A and B are each 30 degrees from an imaginary horizontal diameter  24  extending through the axis  22  of the pipe. This means that the angle C defined by radii extending to the points  18 ,  20  is 120 degrees. It is preferred that the angle C be at least thirty degrees, more preferable that it be at least ninety degrees, and most preferable that it be between 110 degrees and 130 degrees. The tips  38  of the spikes  14 ,  16  also lie at the same angle C relative to each other. In this embodiment, the points  18 ,  20  are identical to each other and lie in the same vertical plane  40  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  22  (see  FIG. 11 ). it is preferable that they lie in close to the same vertical plane, so that their tips  38  also lie in nearly the same vertical plane and can function together to catch debris. It is estimated that the tips  38  of the spikes  14 ,  16  should lie in vertical planes that are within two inches of each other, preferably within one inch, and most preferably within one-half inch in order to perform most effectively. The tips  38  are free and pointed, so that can snag clothing or sheets or other debris that is inserted into the wastewater line. 
     As best appreciated in  FIG. 11 , the spikes  14 ,  16  are directed at an upstream angle D of 45 degrees from the vertical toward the oncoming waste flow W. It is preferred that the upstream angle D from the base  36  of the spike (at the inner surface of the pipe wall  12 ) to the tip  38  of the spike be at least twenty degrees, more preferable that it be at least thirty degrees, and most preferable that it be at least forty degrees. 
     The spikes  14 ,  16  have a larger cross-sectional area at their base  36  (at the points  18 ,  20  where they secure to the pipe wall  12 ) than at their tips  38 , and the tips  38  preferably are sharpened to a point in order to help snag the debris. Since these spikes  14 ,  16  are directed toward the oncoming waste flow W and are sharp at the tips  38 , they will catch or snag sheets, clothing, or other debris  26  (See  FIG. 7 ) that is flushed down the toilet, preventing it from passing further down into the waste line. Also, since the spikes  14 ,  16  only project part-way into the pipe  12 , preferably terminating in the top half of the interior space defined by the pipe wall  12 , which is the space above the horizontal diameter line  24  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), they leave a large portion of the lower part of the pipe  12  from and open to permit the free flow of normal waste. The spikes  14 ,  16  preferably extend inwardly from the inner surface of the pipe wall  12  a distance that is from 20% to 40% of the inside diameter of the pipe wall  12 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment of a device  10 A, which is the same as the device  10 , except that the pipe  12 A includes a 45 degree bend or elbow  28 . Similarly,  FIG. 9  shows another alternative embodiment of a device  10 B, wherein the pipe  12 B includes a ninety-degree elbow  30 . The plumber will select the embodiment that fits the installation best in order to connect the waste line of the toilet into the waste line of the building&#39;s waste system. In both of these embodiments, the spikes  14 ,  16  extend from the 10:00 and 2:00 positions at an upstream angle of 45 degrees toward the incoming flow W of waste as described with respect to the first embodiment  10 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a typical toilet installation in a correctional facility. There is a long wall  100 , with a hallway or chase area  110  to the right of the wall, and toilets  112  are mounted at intervals along that wall  100 , one behind the other. There is a small opening  114  in the wall  100  at each toilet  112  which permits the water line  32  which is upstream of the toilet, and the waste water line  34 , which extends downstream from the toilet, to extend through the wall  100 . The toilets  112  are securely bolted to the wall  100  by means of bolts  113  (which are not accessible from inside the cell) and cover the openings  114 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the protection device  10  is mounted in line with the waste water line  34  directly behind the toilet  112 , with the spikes  14 ,  16  directed upstream toward the incoming waste flow and the bases of the spikes  14 ,  16  located at the 2:00 and 10:00 positions, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The pipe wall  12  is a structurally independent member, which, for the purpose of this specification, means that it is a separate piece from the toilet  112 , so that it can be placed downstream of the outlet pipe  34  that extends rearwardly from the toilet and through the wall  100  behind the toilet  112 . The spikes  14 ,  16  are located entirely in the top half of the interior space defined by the pipe wall  12 . The tips  38  of the spikes preferably are less than five feet away from the back of the toilet  112  and more preferably less than three feet away from the back of the toilet  112 , in order to make it easy to reach the debris that they catch with an auger inserted into the toilet  112 . 
     Because there are no spikes or other projections in the bottom half of the interior space defined by the pipe wall  12 , leaving the bottom half of the interior space free and open, the device allows for the flow of normal waste through the waste line  34  without any interference. In addition, the spikes  14 ,  16  will catch any debris  26  that a prisoner flushes down the toilet  112  directly behind that single toilet  112 , before the debris  26  enters any common waste line. This is advantageous for several reasons. 
     First, the debris  26  can be removed very easily using a hand-held toilet auger, which can be handled by the building&#39;s maintenance personnel, without having to call a plumber. Second, since the debris  26  remains lodged adjacent to the toilet where it was inserted, it is easy to identify the source of the problem and hold the culprit accountable. Third, the only water back-up that might occur would be at the single toilet, where it will not cause much damage. 
     While this device was designed to solve a problem for prisons or correctional facilities, it also may be used in other environments, such as hospitals, hotels, or other facilities where this problem may occur. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic end view of the protection device  10  described above, incorporating the two spikes  14 ,  16  at the 2:00 O&#39;clock and 10:00 O&#39;clock positions, respectively, and directed at an upstream angle D of 45 degrees (with the upstream direction being opposite to the direction of the wastewater flow W) (See  FIG. 11 ) from an imaginary vertical plane  40  extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  22  of the pipe  12  and through the bases  36  of the spikes  14 ,  16 . 
     Each spike  14 ,  16  defines a base  36  which is secured to the pipe wall  12  of the protection device  10 , and extends to a sharpened tip  38 . In this embodiment, each spike  14 ,  16  has a straight line axis from the base  36  to the tip  38  and is directed upstream along its entire length. This shape of spike is preferable, because, if a toilet auger is inserted from the toilet  112 , in the direction of flow of the waste water W, so as to pull out any debris  26  snagged by one or both of the spikes  14 ,  16 , the toilet auger can then be pulled back upstream, out of the toilet  112 , without concern about catching or snagging on one or both of the spikes  14 ,  16 . However, other shapes of spikes could be used, such as curved spikes, provided that they are well-supported by the pipe wall  12  and do not create problems with catching the auger so that it cannot readily be pulled back upstream. 
     The protection device  10  also includes a projection  44  (See  FIG. 1 ) on the outer surface of the pipe wall  12  in the shape of a raised arrow to serve as an indicator of the top of the device  10  and to indicate the direction of wastewater flow, in order to assist the installer in ensuring the correct orientation of the device  10  when it is being installed. If the device  10  is installed with the projection  44  on top and with the wastewater flow in the direction of the arrow, the spikes  14 ,  16  will automatically be in their correct orientations. Instead of a projection  44 , there could be a marking, sticker, or indentation or other form of indicator on the outer surface of the pipe wall  12  to provide the same information, namely, the location of the top of the pipe wall  12  and the direction of wastewater flow. 
       FIG. 12  depicts another embodiment of a protection device  10 E. In this embodiment  10 E, there also are two identical spikes with their bases  36 E at the 10:00 and 2:00 positions and lying on the same vertical plane  40 , as with the previous embodiment, but the spikes have a different shape. The spike  16 E is generally L-shaped, having a longer leg  17 E and a shorter leg  19 E, both of which are directed in the upstream direction for their entire length, so they will not snag an auger that is being used to remove the debris that is caught on them. The upstream angle D from the base  36 E to the tip  38 E is the same as in the first embodiment. The shorter legs  19 E extend directly upstream, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe wall  12 E. An end view of this embodiment is essentially the same as the view in  FIG. 2 , except that the diameter of the long legs  17 E remains constant, and the taper on the spikes is on the shorter legs  19 E, which taper toward the sharply pointed tip  38 E. The angle C between the bases  36 E of the spikes is the same as in the first embodiment, as is the angle C between the tips  38 E of the spikes. 
       FIG. 13  depicts yet another embodiment of a protection device  10 H. This embodiment is made as a one-piece casting. This view only shows one of the spikes  16 H, but again in this embodiment there are two identical spikes, and they have the same orientation as in the first embodiment and extend in a straight line from the base  36 H to the tip  38 H. This embodiment differs in that it includes a solid web  42  extending from the spike  16 H to the inner surface of the pipe wall  12 H to reinforce the spike in order to help ensure that the spike  16 H will not break off when it snags a heavy, or a swiftly-flowing, piece of debris. The end portion of the spike  16 H from the web  42  to the tip  38 H is tapered to a point and is long enough to snag the debris, preferably at least one-half inch long. 
     All of the aforementioned protection devices may be installed onto the waste line  34  in a manner that is well-known by plumbers, such as by using suitable devices such as Clamp-Alls, manufactured by Clamp-All Products, 2430 East Walton Blvd., Auburn Hills, Mich. 48326. 
     It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention.