US5507310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System of plumbing for recreational vehicles
Assignee: Watts Regulator Co
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Filing: 1995-04-14
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Granted: 1996-04-16
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Expires: 2015-04-14
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides an improved system of plumbing for transportation conveyances including over-the-road, domestic vehicles, railway cars and yachts. The system includes a compact, unitary water distribution manifold for distributing water from an external supply of water. The manifold defines a system of conduits having inlets and outlets for connecting the conduits alternatively to a pressurized external water supply, or, where the external supply is not pressurized, to a pump, with a valve for draining water from the manifold and connected piping, e.g. for cold weather storage.
Inventors
- 👤 David L. Sordello
- 👤 Carl A. Engstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:07
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R15/00; A; A01; A01M; A01M7/00; E; E03; E03B; E03B7/00; E03B7/09; E03B7/10; E03B7/12; E03C; E03C1/00; E03C1/02; F; F16; F16K; F16K11/00; F16K11/02; F16K11/06; F16K11/065; F16K11/07; F16K27/00; F16K27/04; F16K27/041; F16K49/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6416; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6855; Y10T137/6881; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/85954; Y10T137/87249
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A system of plumbing for a transportation conveyance, with one or more inlets for connection to pressurized and non-pressurized sources of water and one or more outlets for delivery of water for consumption within the conveyance, said system of plumbing comprising: a water distribution manifold defining a system of conduits for flow of water therethrough, a shuttle valve comprising an elongated body and a set of spaced valve heads mounted therealong, said shuttle valve disposed within said water distribution manifold for movement among at least a first position, a second position and a third position for predetermined positioning of said valve heads relative to said system of conduits defined by said water distribution manifold, and said system of conduits defining one or more inlets for connection to the pressurized and non-pressurized sources of water, a heater outlet for flow of water from said system of conduits toward a water heater, at least one utility outlet for flow of water from said system of conduits for consumption within the transportation conveyance, and a drain port for flow of water from said system of plumbing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
A system of plumbing for a transportation conveyance, with one or more inlets for connection to pressurized and non-pressurized sources of water and one or more outlets for delivery of water for consumption within the conveyance, said system of plumbing comprising: a water distribution manifold defining a system of conduits for flow of water therethrough, a shuttle valve comprising an elongated body and a set of spaced valve heads mounted therealong, said shuttle valve disposed within said water distribution manifold for movement among at least a first position, a second position and a third position for predetermined positioning of said valve heads relative to said system of conduits defined by said water distribution manifold, and said system of conduits defining one or more inlets for connection to the pressurized and non-pressurized sources of water, a heater outlet for flow of water from said system of conduits toward a water heater, at least one utility outlet for flow of water from said system of conduits for consumption within the transportation conveyance, and a drain port for flow of water from said system of plumbing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of plumbing of claim 1 wherein said shuttle valve, in said first position, is adapted to permit flow of water from an inlet among said one or more inlets, through said system of conduits, toward a water storage tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of plumbing of claim 2 wherein said inlet among said one or more inlets is connected to a pressurized source of water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of plumbing of claim 2 wherein said inlet among said one or more inlets is connected to a non-pressurized source of water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system of plumbing of claim 2 wherein, in said first position of said shuttle valve, a first said valve head is disposed in sealing engagement with a surrounding conduit wall of said water distribution manifold to resist flow of water within said system of conduits toward said drain port, and a second said valve head is disposed in sealing engagement with a surrounding conduit wall of said water distribution manifold to resist flow of water from an inlet coupled to said water heater toward said drain port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of plumbing of claim 1 wherein said shuttle valve, in said second position, is adapted to permit flow of an inlet among said one or more inlets, through said system of conduits, to said heater and utility outlets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of plumbing of claim 6 wherein said inlet among said one or more inlets is connected to a pressurized source of water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of plumbing of claim 6 wherein said inlet among said one or more inlets is connected to a non-pressurized source of water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system of plumbing of claim 6 wherein, in said second position of said shuttle valve, a first said valve head is disposed in sealing engagement with a surrounding conduit wall of said water distribution manifold to resist flow of water from said system of conduits toward said drain port and a third said valve head is disposed in sealing engagement with a surrounding conduit wall of said water distribution manifold to resist flow of water from said system of conduits toward said inlet coupled to the non-pressurized source of water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of plumbing of claim 1 wherein said shuttle valve, in said third position, is adapted to permit flow of water from said system of conduits through said drain port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of plumbing of claim 10 wherein, in said third position of said shuttle valve, said first, second and third valve heads are spaced from sealing engagement with surrounding conduit walls of said water distribution manifold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of plumbing of claim 1 wherein said drain port is disposed at a lowest point of said system of conduits and said system of plumbing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a pump mounted adjacent said water distribution manifold and defining a pump inlet and a pump outlet, said pump, upon actuation, adapted to deliver water received at said pump inlet from said pump outlet under pressure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
A transportation conveyance having a system of plumbing with one or more inlets for connection to pressurized and non-pressurized sources of water and one or more outlets for delivery of water for consumption within the conveyance, said system of plumbing comprising: a water distribution manifold defining a system of conduits for flow of water therethrough, a shuttle valve comprising an elongated body and a set of spaced valve heads mounted therealong, said shuttle valve disposed within said manifold for movement among at least a first position, a second position and a third position for predetermined positioning of said valve heads relative to surrounding conduit walls of said system of conduits, and said system of conduits defining one or more inlets for connection to pressurized and non-pressurized sources of water, a heater outlet for flow of water from said system of conduits toward a water heater, at least one utility outlet for flow of water from said system of conduits for delivery for consumption within the transportation conveyance, and a drain port for flow of water from said system of plumbing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
180 words
A transportation conveyance having a system of plumbing with one or more inlets for connection to pressurized and non-pressurized sources of water and one or more outlets for delivery of water for consumption within the conveyance, said system of plumbing comprising: a water distribution manifold defining a system of conduits for flow of water therethrough, a shuttle valve comprising an elongated body and a set of spaced valve heads mounted therealong, said shuttle valve disposed within said manifold for movement among at least a first position, a second position and a third position for predetermined positioning of said valve heads relative to surrounding conduit walls of said system of conduits, and said system of conduits defining one or more inlets for connection to pressurized and non-pressurized sources of water, a heater outlet for flow of water from said system of conduits toward a water heater, at least one utility outlet for flow of water from said system of conduits for delivery for consumption within the transportation conveyance, and a drain port for flow of water from said system of plumbing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 14 wherein said shuttle valve, in said first position, permits flow of water from an inlet among said one or more inlets, through said system of conduits, toward a water storage tank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 15 wherein said inlet among said one or more inlets is connected to a pressurized source of water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 15 wherein said inlet among said one or more inlets is connected to a non-pressurized source of water.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 15 wherein, in said first position of said shuttle valve, a first said valve head is disposed in sealing engagement with a surrounding conduit wall of said water distribution manifold to resist flow of water within said system of conduits toward said drain port, and a second said valve head is disposed in sealing engagement with a surrounding conduit wall of said water distribution manifold to resist flow of water from an inlet coupled to said water heater toward said drain port.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 14 wherein said shuttle valve, in said second position, is adapted to permit flow of an inlet among said one or more inlets, through said system of conduits, to said heater and utility outlets.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 19 wherein said inlet among said one or more inlets is connected to a pressurized source of water.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 19 wherein said inlet among said one or more inlets is connected to a non-pressurized source of water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
90 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 19 wherein, in said second position of said shuttle valve, a first said valve head is disposed in sealing engagement with a surrounding conduit wall of said water distribution manifold to resist flow of water from said system of conduits toward said drain port and a third said valve head is disposed in sealing engagement with a surrounding conduit wall of said water distribution manifold to resist flow of water from said system of conduits toward said inlet coupled to the non-pressurized source of water.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 14 wherein said shuttle valve, in said third position, is adapted to permit flow of water from said system of conduits through said drain port.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 23 wherein, in said third position of said shuttle valve, said first, second and third valve heads are spaced from sealing engagement with surrounding conduit walls of said water distribution manifold.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The transportation conveyance of claim 14 further comprising a pump mounted adjacent said water distribution manifold and defining a pump inlet and a pump outlet, said pump, upon actuation, adapted to deliver water received at said pump inlet from said pump outlet under pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-16 | 1999-10-16 | 2000-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-16 | 2003-10-16 | 2004-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-16 | 2007-10-16 | 2008-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |