Abstract:
An apparatus for draining the water from a waterlogged pressure bladder tank wherein the apparatus uses a drill bit which may be drilled through the tank and then passed outwardly through a valve member to a suitable drain.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for draining water from the air pressure chamber of a pressure bladder tank which has become waterlogged due to a failure of the bladder of the pressure bladder tank. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Bladder pressure tanks are commonly used in conjunction with waterwells to supply water under pressure to a household or a commercial facility. A bladder pressure tank contains pressurized air and water separated by a flexible bladder. These tanks are typically pre-charged with air at the factory. As water pressure changes, the volume of air in the bladder tank contracts and expands. If it appears that a bladder tank is not operating correctly, the bladder inside the tank may have a tear or a hole in it. In that case, the air pressure chamber of the pressure bladder tank becomes filled with water or becomes waterlogged. If the bladder becomes inoperative, it is frequently necessary to replace the bladder pressure tank. If the pressure bladder tank is filled with water, the tank will be extremely heavy for a person to remove the pressure tank from service. Although many of the pressure bladder tanks have a discharge valve for discharging water from beneath the bladder, those prior art discharge valves do not function to drain water from the waterlogged air pressure chamber of the tank. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     An apparatus is disclosed for use with a pressure bladder tank having upper and lower ends, an internal compartment in the tank having upper and lower ends, a flexible bladder in the lower end of the internal compartment which separates the internal compartment into a pressurized air chamber above the bladder and a water chamber below the bladder. The apparatus of this invention includes a tee fitting having a first open end, a second open end in line with the first open end, and a third open end which extends transversely with respect to the first and second open ends. A first seal is positioned in the first open end of the tee fitting and a second seal is positioned in the second open end of the tee fitting. The apparatus also includes an angle valve assembly having an inlet end and a discharge end with the inlet end of the valve assembly being in fluid communication with the third open end of the tee fitting. The discharge end of the angle valve assembly is configured to have a water drain hose secured thereto. The angle valve assembly includes a movable valve member positioned between the inlet and the discharge ends thereof. The apparatus also includes an elongated drill bit having an outer shank and an inner cutting end. The drill bit extends through the first seal in the first open end of the tee fitting and through the second seal in the second open end of the tee fitting. An adjustable strap is operatively secured to the tee fitting which may be extended around the tank to hold the second open end of the tee fitting in sealed engagement with the exterior of the tank so that the drill bit may be rotated to drill into the internal compartment of the tank to drain water from the internal compartment in the event that the pressurized air chamber has become waterlogged due to a failure of the bladder. The tee fitting may be positioned adjacent to the lower end of the tank so that the drill bit drills through the bladder into the internal compartment. 
     When the drill bit is pulled from the opening in the tank and the valve member is in the open position, the water from the internal compartment of the tank is drained through the discharge end of the angle valve assembly. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an apparatus for draining the water from a waterlogged pressure bladder tank. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described which is conveniently attached to a pressure bladder tank to facilitate the drilling of an opening into the internal compartment of the tank so that water may be drained from the internal compartment to a drain or the like located some distance from the tank thereby reducing the weight of the tank. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus of this invention mounted on a pressure bladder tank; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial exploded perspective view of the apparatus of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of this invention which illustrates a hole being drilled through the side wall of a pressure bladder tank and through the bladder of the tank; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the apparatus of this invention drilling a hole through the tank and bladder which are shown in section; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the apparatus illustrating how water is drained from the waterlogged air pressure chamber which is shown in section. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The apparatus of this invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral  10  and is designed to be used with a pressure bladder tank  12  of conventional design. Tank  12  includes a lower end  14  and an upper end  16 . Tank  12  has an opening (not shown) formed therein to permit water to be pumped into the lower end of internal compartment  20  of tank  12  and withdrawn therefrom by way of conventional valving generally designated by the reference numeral  22 . A conventional bladder  24  is positioned within internal compartment  20  to separate the internal compartment  20  into an air pressure chamber  26  above the bladder  24  and a water chamber  28  below the bladder  24 . Tank  12  includes a Schrader valve  30  at the upper end thereof which is in communication with the air pressure chamber  26  to charge the same in conventional fashion. 
     If the bladder  24  fails, water from the water chamber  28  will fill the air pressure chamber  26  to create a “waterlogged” condition, as seen in  FIGS. 5  and  6 . The apparatus  10  is designed to permit the water within the air pressure chamber  26  to be drained therefrom to reduce the weight of the waterlogged tank to facilitate the removal and replacement of the tank as will now be described. 
     Apparatus  10  includes a tee fitting  32  having a first open end  34 , a second open end  36  and a third open end  38 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the first open end  34  is in line with the second open end  36 . A packing gland or seal  40  is positioned in open end  34  and has a central opening  42  formed therein. A seal  44  is positioned in open end  36  and has a central opening  46  formed therein. As seen in  FIG. 4 , the outer end of seal  44  protrudes somewhat from open end  36 . The numeral  48  refers to an angle valve which has its inlet end  50  operatively secured to open end  38  of tee fitting  32  by a union or other plumbing fixture  47 . Angle valve  48  includes an exteriorly threaded discharge end  52  which extends therefrom. Angle valve  48  includes a valve member  54  which selectively prevents water from passing outwardly from discharge end  52 . 
     The numeral  56  refers to an elongated drill bit having an outer shank portion  58  and an inner fluted cutting portion  60 . Preferably cutting portion  58  has a stepped down portion  62  at the outer end of cutting portion  58 . Prior to packing gland  40  being secured to tee fitting  32 , the shank portion  58  of drill bit  56  is extended outwardly through opening  42  of packing gland  40 . The packing gland  40  is then secured to the fitting  32 . 
     The numeral  64  refers to a conventional strap assembly which has one end operatively secured to the apparatus  10  by a hook  65 . Strap  64  is extended or wrapped around the tank  12  so that the outer portion of seal  44  is in sealing engagement with the exterior surface of tank. The other end of strap  64  is secured to the buckle of the strap  64  in conventional fashion. The apparatus will usually be positioned at the exterior side of the tank below the upper outer end of the bladder  24 . 
     A drill D is then connected to the shank  58  of drill bit  56 . At this time the valve member  54  will be in its closed position. The cutting edge  60  of drill bit  56  is then placed into engagement with the exterior surface of the tank  12 . The drill D is then operated to drill a hole  64  through the wall of the tank  12  and to drill a hole  66  through the bladder  24 . The drill bit  56  is then partially withdrawn with respect to the tank  12  so that the drilled hole  64  in the tank  12  communicates with the interior of the tee fitting  32 . At that time, the stepped-down portion  62  will be in sealing engagement with the inner end of gland  40 . A garden hose  68  or the like will be secured to the outlet end  52  of angle valve  48  if not already secured thereto. The discharge end of the hose  68  will be placed in communication with a floor drain or the like. The valve member  54  is then opened so that the water within the air pressure chamber  26  will be drained therefrom. Once the water has been drained from the air pressure chamber  26 , the apparatus  10  is removed from the tank  12 . At that time, the weight of the tank  12  will be considerably less to enable the pressure tank  12  to be taken out of service. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.