Abstract:
A fluid shock absorber assembly having a shut-off valve, a water hammer arrester device and a water inlet. The assembly is comprised of a low profile adaptor structure constructed and arranged to permit the assembly to be mounted in a housing enclosure for aligning and joining water lines to form washing machine and icemaker connection structures. The housing enclosure which mounts to a building structure is designed to further allow the fluid shock absorber assembly components to be installed, maintained and replaced therein.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/278,208 filed on Feb. 23,2001. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to a fluid shock absorber assembly. Particularly, the invention relates to a water shock absorber assembly comprising a low profile adapter structure having a water hammer arrester device, valve means and a water inlet. The assembly is constructed and arranged for mounting in a housing enclosure for aligning and connecting water lines to form washing machine and icemaker connection structures, for example. More particularly, the invention provides a versatile shock absorber plumbing fitting for water systems. The versatile plumbing fitting comprises a low profile adapter structure having a water inlet, valve means and a water hammer arrester device for mounting in a housing for connection to appliances and having means to mount the housing within a building wall, for example.  
           [0003]    The fluid shock absorber assembly of the invention includes a water hammer arrester device. Water hammer arrester devices are constructed and arranged to absorb fluid forces that result when fluid flow in a pipe is quickly abrupted, i.e., by a water shutoff valve in a washing machine or icemaker, for example. Commonly referred to as “hammering”, pipe movement and resultant noises are generated when fluid flow is abruptly stopped. Repeated “hammering” is both aggravating to the homeowner and may damage water lines over a period of time. As a result, plumbing codes have been promulgated to require the utilization of water hammer arrester devices in plumbing systems that are subject to the quick interruption of water flow. For example, the International Plumbing Code (IPC) as well as other plumbing codes require the use of water hammer arrester devices in connection with quick closing valves where water flow is rapidly abrupted, i.e., in connection with washing machines.  
           [0004]    A water hammer arrester device is typically constructed of a cylinder and piston arrangement in communication with a water line. A compressible fluid, such as a gas, is trapped between the piston and the cylinder end to create a pressure chamber so that forces directed to the piston are absorbed as the piston compresses the gas within the cylinder. Water hammer arrester devices are incorporated in the plumbing fixture enclosure assemblies of the present invention. The adapter structure of the invention permits the water hammer arrester devices to be mounted adjacent and in proximity to the valve structure. This proximate mounting of the arrester to the valve has been found to be most effective in dealing with water shock that results in water hammering.  
           [0005]    Although water hammer arresters are known in connection with water lines, the installation and use of these devices have been time consuming and limited. The assemblies of the present invention overcome these difficulties and limitations by providing ease and versatility in installation, use and maintenance.  
           [0006]    It is an object of the invention to provide a fluid shock absorber assembly which utilizes a low profile adapter structure having means to replacably receive a water hammer arrester device, a shut off valve and which has means to connect the assembly to a water supply line.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a fluid shock absorber assembly utilizing water arrester devices which meet the requirements of ASSE 1010 and ANSI A 111.26.1M.  
           [0008]    It is another object to provide an economical and effective water shock absorber assembly which is versatile in use and easy to install.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a fluid shock absorber assembly which may be mounted in a housing to form connecting boxes for washing machines and ice makers, for example.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The fluid shock absorber assembly of the invention comprises a low profile adapter having a water inlet, a water hammer arrester device and a valve structure mounted thereto. The assembly is constructed and arranged for mounting within a housing enclosure whereby various water lines may be connected and the water hammer arrester devices and valve structures may be easily replaced within the housing cavity.  
           [0011]    Plumbing fixture enclosure assemblies are further provided utilizing the fluid shock absorber assembly of the invention. The enclosure assemblies comprise housing enclosure structures with openings to provide access for the connection and replacement of the fluid shock absorber assemblies. The housing structures have means to mount the housing enclosures to building structures, such as between vertical wall studs. Various enclosure assembly embodiments are constructed and arranged to form washing machine and icemaker connection structures or outlet boxes.  
           [0012]    Further provided by the invention are enclosure assemblies which have raised bottom portions which are constructed and arranged to funnel any water or drainage into the drain portion positioned in the bottom panel of the housing.  
           [0013]    In summary, enclosure assemblies are provided which are mountable within a wall and constructed and arranged to align and join with water lines and drain lines within the wall of a building structure and which allows easy access to the fluid shock absorber and valve assemblies in the housing enclosure for connection and operation with the water and drain lines of a washing machine or icemaker, for example.  
           [0014]    These and other benefits of this invention will become apparent from the following description by reference to the drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the fluid shock absorber assembly of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the low profile adapter structure of the assemblies of the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the adapter structure of FIG. 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a front plan view showing an embodiment of a plumbing fixture enclosure assembly utilizing the fluid shock absorber assembly of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a sectional top view of the plumbing fixture enclosure assembly of FIG. 4;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of the plumbing fixture enclosure assembly of FIG. 4;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a front plan view showing another embodiment of the plumbing fixture enclosure assembly of the invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a sectional top view of the assembly of FIG. 7;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a front plan view showing another embodiment of the plumbing fixture enclosure assembly of the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 is a front plan view showing another embodiment of the plumbing fixture enclosure assembly of the invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 is a front plan view showing another embodiment of the plumbing fixture enclosure assembly of the invention; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 is a sectional top view of the assembly of FIG. 11.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    Referring to FIG. 1, the fluid shock absorber assembly  10  of the present invention is shown. The assembly  10  is shown comprised of an adapter structure  11  having a body structure  12 , a first connecting member  13  and a second connecting member  14 , a conduit portion  15  and a downwardly extending connecting member  16 . A water hammer arrester device  20  is shown having a cylindrical body  21  and a base  22 . The water hammer device  20  has means, i.e., threads, to connect the body  21  to the first connecting member  13  of the adapter structure  11 . For example, a pair of wrenches may be used to engage the first connecting member  13  and the base  22  of arrester device  20 , respectively, to threadingly secure the arrester device  20  to the adapter structure  11 . A valve assembly  23  having an operating lever  24  and hose connector  25  is shown connected to the second connecting member  14  of the adapter structure  11 . It is within the purview of the present invention to utilize and incorporate other valve means in the fluid shock absorbing assemblies of the present invention. The downwardly extending member  16  is preferably vertically aligned with the second connecting member  14  to form a Y-shaped body, although other structures may be utilized.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 2, the adapter structure  11  is shown to have a unitary body  12 , a first connecting member  13  and a second connecting member  14 , both preferably being internally threaded. The first connecting member  13  is shown in FIG. 1 to be the connection for the water hammer arrester  20  and the second connecting member  14  is shown to be the connection for the valve  23  assembly. The connecting conduit  15  is shown to have a low profile configuration which permits the adapter structure  11  to have a lower overall height and thereby reducing the height requirement of the housing enclosure within which the fluid shock absorber assembly  10  is mounted.  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting conduit  15  of adapter structure  11  is shown to have a flattened or oval cross-section. The adapter structure  11  further has a water supply connection  16  with peripheral flange  18  and a second connector member  14  for receiving the water hammer arrester  20 . The water supply connection  16  is shown to be a conduit having means for connection, such as exterior threads  17 , to a water supply pipe or conduit. The utilization of the low profile adapter body structure  12  permits the valve structures and water hammer arresters to be mounted and replaced within a housing enclosure, as will be further described.  
         [0030]    The water hammer arrester devices  20  herein are shown to have generally cylindrical body structures  21  having a bottom connection portion which secures the device  20  to the adapter body  12 . The devices  20  have an internal piston which has a pressure chamber thereabove for equalizing the vibration forces generated when the water line extending from the adjacent valve is abruptly shut off. The arrester device  20  preferably has a low height which in combination with the low profile adapter structure  11  permits the various elements to be installed and replaced within a housing enclosure having predetermined dimensions. Although water hammer arrester devices having a movable piston and compressible fluid chambers are described herein, other fluid shock absorbing devices may be utilized in the assemblies of the present invention.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS.  4 - 6 , a washing machine outlet assembly  30  is shown. The assembly  30  is shown comprised of an enclosure or housing structure  26  having means for mounting to a building structure, such as a wall stud. The housing  26 , preferably constructed of a molded plastic, for example, forms an enclosure having an internal cavity, a front opening and apertures in the bottom panel  27  to align and connect plumbing fixtures to water supply lines and to a drainpipe. As shown, an offset or raised portion  28  is molded as part of the bottom panel  27  for connecting plumbing fixtures to hot and cold water supply lines. A drainpipe portion  31  is shown extending from the bottom panel  27  adjacent the raised portion  28  of the housing  26 . The drainpipe portion  31  is adapted to receive the hooked end of the drain conduit or hose extending from a washing machine. The fluid shock absorber assemblies  10  are shown mounted on the raised bottom portion  28  and are comprised of a pair of adapter structures  11  having hot and cold water outlet connections  19  and  29 , respectively, for attachment to the washing machine. The pair of assemblies  10  are shown mounted on the raised portion  28  whereby the peripheral flange  18  of the adapter body  12  makes contact with the top surface of raised portion  28 . A threaded locking nut (not shown) or like tightening member, may be threaded onto the exterior threads  17  of the downward extending water inlet member  16  to secure the assembly  10  within the housing enclosure  26 .  
         [0032]    The assemblies  10  are further shown to have valve means  23 , i.e., on/off ball valves to control and shut off the flow of hot and cold water from the supply lines to the washing machine. The valve structures  23  are shown to have hose thread connectors  25  for connecting to the water supply hose ends, which extend from the washing machine. The hose thread connectors  25  are preferably removable from the valve structure  23 , for example, by means of an internally formed hexagonal portion adapted for engagement by a tool, such as an Allen wrench. Thus, various water line connector members may be used with the valve structures mounted on the adapters  11  of the invention. In communication and adjacent to the hot and cold water valves are water hammer arresters  20  mounted to each adapter structure  11 .  
         [0033]    As particularly shown in FIG. 5, the fluid shock absorber assembly  10  is shown mounted on platform  28  at an angle “x” with respect to the rear wall of enclosure  26 . This angled mounting configuration provides space economy of the placement of the assembly  10  in the housing  26 . The angle “x” is shown to be an acute angle and is preferably approximately 25 degrees. Further, the internal threading of the first and second connecting members  13  and  14  is arranged so that the hose connector  25  of the valve assembly  23  faces outward perpendicularly to the rear wall of the rectangular housing  26  to provide easy connecting access. Although the valve assemblies  23  are preferably shown mounted to the second connecting member  14  which is vertically aligned with water inlet  16 , other mounting arrangements may be utilized within the purview of the present invention. Depending upon housing enclosure configuration for example, the valve means and water hammer arrester devices may be mounted to either the first and second connecting members. Thus, preferably both internal thread configurations of connecting members  13  and  14  will provide an outward valve connection position, as shown, when the valve assembly is tightened into the adapter structure body.  
         [0034]    The housing structures shown and described herein preferably have mounting means to connect the housing structures within the walls of a building. For example, the housing may have slots or connected slot structures adapted to receive a strap which extends or spans between adjacent wall studs, i.e., 16 inches apart, and which are fastened by nails or screws to the studs. Other fastening or mounting means known in the art may also be utilized to align and secure the enclosure assemblies of this invention within or to the wall of a building.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, an icemaker outlet box assembly  35  is shown. The plumbing fixture enclosure assembly  35  is shown to have an enclosure or housing structure  36  for mounting a fluid shock absorber assembly  10  to the raised portion  38  on bottom panel  37  of the housing  36  and for connection to a water supply line. The assembly  10  further includes a valve  23  with an on/off lever  24  and a water connection member  39  for communication to the water conduit extending to the icemaker. The water connection member  39  is shown comprised of a compression nut fitting, i.e., ½ inch, for connecting a {fraction (1/4)} inch or a ⅜ inch water supply tube which extends to the icemaker assembly, however, the compression nut may be of any desired size and adapted to receive any desired supply tube diameter.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 9 shows another washing machine outlet connection box  40  and which has two drain conduits  45  and  46  extending from the bottom panel  42  of the enclosure  41 . Depending upon the configuration of the water supply lines and the drain of the building, the assemblies  10  and the drain may be configured to match and align with the existing plumbing configuration of the building. The fluid shock absorber assemblies  10  are shown mounted to raised portions  43  and  44  and whereby the water hammer devices  20  are angled rearwardly at an acute angle with respect to the front and rear of the housing enclosure  41 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 10 shows a washing machine outlet connection box  50  wherein the hot and cold water supply lines are shown connected at the bottom corners of the enclosure  51  and positioned respectively on raised or offset bottom portions  52  and  53 , respectively. The drain conduit  54  is shown positioned between the opposing raised bottom portions  52  and  53  and is positioned generally in the center of the bottom panel  49 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 11 and 12 show another washing machine outlet connection enclosure  55  having the hot and cold water supply connections at one side of the bottom panel  60  and mounted on a raised bottom portion  57 . The bottom portion  57  is further shown to have a pair of drain conduits  58  and  59 , which in FIG. 11 are shown to funnel into a single drain outlet. The pair of fluid shock absorber assemblies  10  are shown mounted on raised portion  57  whereby the adapter structure  11  is positioned at an acute angle, as particularly shown in FIG. 12.  
         [0039]    The housing enclosures  26  (FIG. 4),  36  (FIG. 7),  41  (FIG. 9),  51  (FIG. 10) and  56  (FIG. 11) having dimensions, i.e., width, height and depth which permit the adapter structures  11  to be positioned and mounted on the respective bottom panels or platforms of the enclosures. Thereafter, the water hammer devices  20  and valve assemblies  23  may be connected and/or removed and replaced within the housing enclosure. For example, one embodiment of the adapter structure  11  with {fraction (3/4)}″ diameter top and bottom connectors and a width of approximately 2 ½ inch, a height of approximately 1 ¼ inches and a bottom extension  16  having a length of approximately 2 inches, may be used in a housing enclosure (i.e., enclosures  26 ,  41 ,  51  and  56 ) having a width of approximately 8-10.5 inches, a height of approximately 6.6-7.7 inches and a depth of approximately 3.5-3.7 inches. The latter exemplary dimensions permit the adapter structures to be installed into the housing and to be utilized with water hammer arrester devices having a height of approximately 4.5 inches and a valve assembly having a height of approximately 2.0 inches.  
         [0040]    The use and placement of the fluid shock absorber assemblies of the present invention in the housing enclosures shown in FIGS.  4 - 12  are exemplary. The fluid shock absorber assemblies of the invention may be utilized in a variety of settings to reduce the effects of water hammering.  
         [0041]    As many changes are possible to the plumbing fixture embodiments of this invention, utilizing the teachings thereof, the description above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense.