Ships – Valves – Sea cocks
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-05-08
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Valves
Sea cocks
C440S08800J, C210S108000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227133
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a manifold system for a marine vessel which provides fitting for safely connecting the output of a strainer to multiple water-using devices and guarantees that none of the devices receives inadequate water flow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a marine vessel, it is not unusual to draw water into the vessel through a through-hull fitting for use, for example, as cooling water for an engine or for other purposes. The water is normally conducted through a strainer and then is piped to the engine or other device.
Whenever water is drawn in in this fashion, it is important to be sure that the water flow is adequate for the consumer, i.e., for the article using the water. If the consumer is the engine, it is essential for the flow to be adequate for the engine's needs to avoid possible severe damage to the engine. The same is true for other devices such as an air conditioning pump, generator, deckwash pump, desalination pump or the like. While the engine is obviously the most critical consumer, and generally uses more water than other devices, providing inadequate flow to any of the consumers can result in damage requiring expensive repairs.
Because of the critically of this flow, the use of a manifold is avoided. While a manifold could theoretically be used to provide water to an engine and also to two or more other devices, it is has been considered dangerous to do so because, if a manifold is used, it is possible for an installer of the equipment to select improper sizes of hoses or pipes to the engine and other consumers, allowing too little flow to the engine or one or more of the other devices. Thus, water is often drawn in through more than one through-hull fitting, one for each water consumer. While this works, it causes additional expense and additional openings through the hull, both of is which are undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the invention comprises a manifold system for supplying water to a plurality of consumer devices on a marine vessel, the vessel having a primary consumer and a plurality of secondary consumers. A primary conduit leads to the primary consumer, the primary conduit having an interior cross-sectional area determined by water requirements of the primary consumer. A manifold has a threaded inlet fitting, a primary outlet fitting dimensioned to be connectable to the primary conduit, and a plurality of secondary outlet fittings connectable to secondary conduits for secondary consumers, the manifold having a cross-sectional area determined by dimensions of said primary outlet fitting A strainer has an inlet connected to a through-hull fitting for receiving and straining incoming raw water and an outlet having a threaded connector for attachment to the manifold inlet fitting, the strainer having a flow capacity determined by the diameter of the strainer outlet, the cross-sectional area of the manifold inlet being larger than the combined cross-sectional areas of the primary conduit and the secondary conduits and being determined by the cross-sectional area of the primary conduit so that the strainer and manifold always have sufficient flow capacity to supply the water needs of the primary and secondary consumers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2350598 (1944-06-01), Faville
patent: 4061571 (1977-12-01), Banner
patent: 4915017 (1990-04-01), Perlov
patent: 5009251 (1991-04-01), Pike et al.
patent: 5034124 (1991-07-01), Kopf
patent: 5195428 (1993-03-01), Gawlitta et al.
patent: 5240854 (1993-08-01), Berry et al.
patent: 5275201 (1994-01-01), Zimmerly
patent: 5337615 (1994-08-01), Goss
patent: 5471835 (1995-12-01), Friedman
patent: 5833503 (1998-11-01), Kallio
Pearne & Gordon LLP
Sotelo Jesus D.
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