FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to plumbing devices in buildings. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for use in discharge and stormwater pipes where the pipework is tested before it can be certified for use.

BACKGROUND With the construction of new buildings and building renovations, pipework is tested to ensure that it holds water and there are no leaks. To test the pipework, a plumber usually positions a plug in a discharge pipe above an inspection outlet. Water then fills the pipework and the relevant authority such as a council inspector inspects the tested pipework. After the relevant authority has inspected and certified the pipework, the plumber inserts his hand through the inspection outlet and releases the plug. The accumulated water discharges under pressure. The plumber's hand is caught by the discharging water and is at risk of being injured. This risk of injury is a serious safety concern. Furthermore if the plug is washed downstream then it is necessary to locate it, remove a section of the pipe, remove the plug and reinsert the pipe section to order to avoid a downstream blockage. Removing a downstream blockage is expensive consuming labour and resources. There does not appear to be any suitable system or device that performs the testing of pipework and provides adequate safety for the plumber or tester.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve assembly that will overcome one or more of the above mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a valve assembly for opening and closing a pipe including a valve housing; a valve mounted in the valve housing; and operating means for opening and closing the valve, wherein the valve assembly is rendered non-operational after the valve is opened to substantially prevent unauthorized access to the valve assembly. In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a valve assembly for opening and closing a discharge pipe including a valve housing; a valve mounted in the valve housing, said valve includes a valve positioning portion and a removable valve portion locatable within the valve positioning portion; and cap means for substantially preventing unauthorized access to the valve assembly.

A valve housing is any suitable mounting for the valve that can be located in¬ line with the discharge pipe. Preferably the valve housing has a pipe diameter corresponding to the pipe diameter of the discharge pipe.

The valve preferably has a valve positioning portion that can be positioned within the valve housing. Preferably the valve positioning portion can be inserted in a complementary receiving section of the valve housing. The valve positioning portion preferably has a handle for positioning the valve positioning portion and a complementary end portion to fit within the cap means. The end portion and cap

means preferably serve to prevent unauthorized access to the valve assembly and seal the valve assembly.

The valve positioning portion preferably has a valve aperture that has the substantially same diameter as the diameter of the discharge pipe. Preferably there is a rebate around the perimeter of the valve aperture for the positioning of the removable valve portion. The rebate or the removable valve portion preferably has a sealing ring which forms a closed and sealed valve when assembled.

In another form, the handle for positioning the valve positioning portion is attachable. The handle preferably has a screw thread and can be fastened to the valve positioning portion. When the valve has been tested, the handle is removed thereby preventing unauthorized access to the valve assembly.

The removable valve portion is preferably a planar member that can fit within the rebate of the valve positioning portion. The removable valve portion is preferably circular with substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the discharge pipe. When the valve assembly is being tested and the valve is closed, the removable valve portion is positioned and seals with the rebate of the valve positioning portion.

After the valve assembly has been tested, the valve positioning portion is removed from the valve housing and the removable valve portion is removed from the rebate and the valve positioning portion is repositioned. When repositioned within the valve housing, the valve positioning portion provides an aperture corresponding to the aperture of the discharge pipe and allows discharge to pass through the valve assembly.

The cap means preferably includes a cap that can retain the valve positioning portion in place in the valve assembly. Preferably the cap has an internal threaded surface that is complementary to an outside threaded surface of the valve housing.

Preferably the cap has an aperture in a top outer wall. The cap aperture preferably has a perimeter rebate for placement of a planar insert. In one preferred form the planar insert may have a sign, symbol or wording indicating that the valve assembly has been tested. The planar insert preferably serves to prevent access to the valve positioning portion.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a method of testing a building's pipework using the aforementioned valve assembly including locating the valve assembly in a suitable position in the pipework; locating the valve positioning portion with the removable valve inserted in the aperture of the valve positioning portion within the valve housing; allowing the water to fill the pipe upstream of the valve assembly; inspecting the upstream pipe; withdrawing the valve positioning portion to allow the accumulated water to discharge when the testing is finished; and repositioning the valve positioning portion without the removable valve portion within the valve housing and fastening the cap to the valve housing thereby preventing unauthorized access to the valve positioning portion of the valve assembly.

In a further aspect the present invention broadly resides in a valve assembly for opening and closing a discharge pipe including a valve housing; a valve mounted in the valve housing; and operating means for opening and closing the valve and including an externally-located handle, wherein the handle is removed or rendered non-

operational after the valve is opened thereby preventing unauthorized operation of the valve assembly.

The handle may be rendered non-operational by means of a sacrificial portion that allows the handle to be separated from the valve housing. Preferably, the sacrificial portion is a section of weakness that allows the handle to be snapped off when bent upwardly.

Preferably, the handle is removable from the valve housing. The handle preferably has a configuration at one end complementary to a receiving means in the valve housing. In a preferred embodiment, the handle has a protrusion which is engageable within a recess of the valve housing. Alternatively, the handle may have a recess that is engageable with a complementary protrusion from the valve housing. In one preferred embodiment the handle has a protrusion extending laterally from one end wherein said protrusion has a configuration and is engageable with a complementary shaped recess in the valve housing. Preferably, the handle protrusion acts like a key that can operate the position of the valve.

The valve assembly may also include an indicator means for indicating when the valve is open and closed. In one embodiment, a particular colour such as green may be revealed when the valve is open and when the valve is closed a different colour such as red may be revealed. The valve may be any suitable type of valve including a ball valve, gate valve, slide valve, butterfly valve and check valve. Preferably, the valve is a ball valve or a slide valve.

Preferably, the valve assembly is positioned in or adjacent expansion joints. In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a method of testing a building's pipework using the aforementioned valve assembly including

locating the valve assembly in a suitable position in the pipework; turning the handle so that the valve is closed; allowing the water to fill the pipes upstream of the valve; inspecting the upstream pipes; turning the handle to open the valve to discharge the accumulated water when the testing is finished; and removing or rendering the handle non-operational after the valve is opened thereby preventing unauthorized operation of the valve assembly.

The valve assembly used in the aforementioned method includes the references to the different embodiments of the valve assembly described above.

Preferably, the valve assembly is inserted in or adjacent expansion joints in the pipework. Preferably, a valve assembly is inserted at least every two floors of a building. Preferably a valve assembly is inserted on every floor.

Preferably the valve assembly has pipe receiving ends that will accommodate the building's pipes. The valve assembly may have a male / female, male / male or female / female ends to join to the building's pipes.

The valve assembly is preferably made of any suitable plastics including PVC and preferably has a pipe diameter that can accommodate pipework having diameters between 40mm to 400mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a pipe with a valve assembly with the valve in the closed position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the valve assembly with the valve in the closed position;

Figure 3 is a sectional end view of the valve assembly with the valve in the closed position; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a pipe with a valve assembly with the valve in the open position;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the valve assembly with the valve in the open position;

Figure 6 is a sectional end view of the valve assembly with the valve in the open position;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic top view of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly; Figure 9 is a diagrammatic side view of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic front view of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic bottom view of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of the valve housing of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic top view of the valve housing of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly;

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic exploded view of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly with the removable valve;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic exploded view of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly without the removable valve portion; Figures 16, 17 and 18 are partial sectional views of the second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly;

Figure 19 is a diagrammatic exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of the valve assembly without the removable valve portion; and

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of the valve assembly with the removable valve portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the Figure 1 and 4, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of the valve assembly 10 adjacent to the expansion joint 11 of pipe 12. The pipe 12 has an inspection port 13 which can be opened for access inside the pipe. The valve assembly 10 has a valve housing 15 with a handle 16 located in a handle recess 17. The valve assembly 10 shown in Figure 1 has the handle 16 at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pipe 12. The valve of the valve assembly shown in Figure 1 is closed. In contrast the handle 16 of the valve assembly shown in figure 4 is substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the pipe 12. The valve of the valve assembly in figure 2 is open.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, there is shown the valve assembly 10 with valve housing 15. The preferred embodiment has a ball valve 20. The ball valve 20 has an internal passage which when in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the pipe 12 allows water to pass there through. With the valve 20 in the closed position

the passage of water is blocked and water subsequently accumulates upstream of the valve. In figure 2 there is shown handle 16 engaged within the complementary handle recess 17. The handle 16 has a projection 18 in the shape of a star and the handle recess 17 has a complementary recess shape. The handle recess 17 is surrounded by wall 23 of the valve housing 15. Figure 3 shows a sectional end view without the handle.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the valve assembly with the valve in the open position. When the ball valve 20 is open there is a passage which can communicate between both sides of the pipe and allow water to pass there through. The method of testing of discharge pipework includes positioning the valve assembly 10 adjacent expansion joints or between pipe sections and locating the valve assembly 10 on every floor of the building. The handle 16 is inserted into the handle recess 17. The handle 16 has a protrusion of a specific shape which serves as a key to engage a complementary recess and move the valve between an open and closed position. The handle 16 may be specific for operating this type of valve assembly and other handles cannot engage the handle recess 17 and or operate the valve assembly 20. The handle 16 may be held by and only used by the relevant authorities such as licensed plumbers so that they alone can open and close the valve. The positioned handle 16 is turned a quarter turn so that is substantially at right angles with the longitudinal axis of the pipe in order to close the valve 20. Taps are then turned on and water allowed to accumulate in the discharge pipes upstream of the closed valve 20. The pipes upstream of the closed valve are then inspected to see if there is any leakage. When the inspection is finished, the handle is turned substantially in line with the longitudinal axis of the pipe to open the valve 20 and allow the accumulated water to be discharged. If the pipes pass inspection, they are

then certified. The handle is then removed leaving no means for an unauthorized person to close the valve.

With reference to Figures 7 to 18 there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the valve assembly 30 or one or more of its components. The valve assembly 30 includes a valve housing 31. The valve housing 31 is positionable within the pipe work of a discharge pipe. It is preferably positioned in or near an expansion joint in the discharge pipe. The valve housing 31 has an internal bore 32 with approximately the same diameter as the diameter of the discharge pipe. The valve housing 31 serves to receive the valve and position the valve in an open or closed orientation. The valve housing 31 has internal guides 33 for receiving and positioning the valve positioning member 34. The internal guides 33 are formed substantially about the internal bore 32 of the valve housing 31. Positioning of the valve positioning member 34 within the valve housing 31 is directed with locator protrusion 39 on the valve positioning member 34 locating within locator recess 44 on the internal surface of the valve housing 31.

The valve positioning member 34 has an aperture 35 within the pipe engagement portion 36. The pipe engagement portion 36 is substantially planar. The aperture 35 has a diameter substantially the same as the pipe diameter. The valve positioning member 34 has a circular outer end portion 37 that is substantially perpendicular with the pipe engagement portion 36. In the preferred embodiment the pipe engagement portion 36 is guided into position by internal guides 33 within the valve housing 31 and is locatable at a slight declining angle within the valve housing 31. The valve positioning member 34 is inserted as a single unit within the valve housing 31. The valve positioning member 34 is accommodated and retained in position by the internal guides 33 within the valve housing 31.

The pipe engagement portion 36 has a circular outer end portion 37 with an o- ring 51 about the outer surface of the end portion 37 for forming a seal and preventing escape of gases through the valve assembly 30.

The aperture 35 within the valve positioning member 34 has a rebate perimeter 38. The valve member 40 is substantially circular and can be sealingly fitted to the rebate perimeter 38. The valve member 40 is circular and has a diameter that is substantially the same as the pipe diameter. In order to achieve a seal there is an o-ring 41 seated on the rebate perimeter 38.

When the valve member 40 is removed, the handle 42 can be removed. When the valve positioning member 34 is positioned within the valve housing

31 with or without the valve member 40, an end cap 45 with an internal thread 46 is fastened to the complementary-threaded circular outer surface 47 of the valve housing 31 to close the valve assembly 30 and limit unauthorized access. In the preferred second embodiment the end cap 45 has an aperture 48 to allow fixing of an end insert 49. The end insert 49 is held in place by retaining protrusions 50. The end insert 49 may display a symbol, sign or wording to inform a person that the valve assembly 30 has been tested.

In another embodiment the pipe engagement portion 36 is comparatively wider with the valve positioning member 34 shaped to fit within the valve housing 31 via internal guides 33 to form a seal. The comparatively wider opening between the internal guides 33 allows access for a drain cleaning tool to clear away blockages formed within the building's pipework.

During testing, the valve positioning member 34 is positioned in the valve housing 31 with the valve member 40 located on the rebate perimeter 38 and forming a seal with the rebate perimeter 38. The discharge water accumulates

upstream of the valve member 40 during the testing. When the testing has finished, the valve positioning member 34 is withdrawn, at least partially, to allow the accumulated water to discharge. With partial withdrawal, the valve positioning member 34 maintains its seal with the valve housing 31 via o-rings 52 and 53. When the accumulated water has discharged, the handle 42 is used to withdraw the valve positioning member 34. The valve member 40 is then removed and the valve positioning member 34 is repositioned. The end cap 45 is then located on the valve housing 31 with the end insert 49 positioned in the end cap 45. The end insert 49 is imprinted with a capital T indicating that the valve assembly 30 has been tested. In one embodiment the end insert 49 is the valve which when positioned in the valve positioning member 34 prevents discharge but when repositioned with the end cap it serves as an end insert.

In another preferred embodiment the cap is a one piece cap with the end insert is integral with the end cap to form a threaded cap. In another preferred embodiment the pipe engagement portion 36 has a fixed valve member 40 integral with the valve positioning member 34 and replaced by another pipe engagement portion 36 which has an aperture 35 rather than a valve member 40 within the valve positioning member 34. In this embodiment when the pipework has been tested, the pipe engagement portion 36 incorporating the valve member 40 is withdrawn and replaced by the alternate pipe engagement portion 36 without the valve member 40.

With particular reference to Figure 15, handle portion 43 which are integral with the circular outer end portion 37 is the preferred handle as it enables a person to withdraw the pipe engagement portion 36 while still allowing end cap 45 to be

positioned about the threaded circular outer surface 47 of the valve housing 31 with the pipe engagement portion 36 enclosed therein.

With reference to Figures 19 and 20, there is shown a third preferred embodiment of a valve assembly 60 with a valve housing 61 , a valve positioning member 62, handle 63 and end cap 64. There is also shown a valve member 65 positionable within a rebated aperture 66 of the valve positioning member 62. When the valve member 65 is removed, a corresponding open member 67 is positionable within the rebated aperture 66. The handle 63 serves to form sealing engagement of the valve positioning member 62 with the valve housing 61 in a comparable fashion as described with the second preferred embodiment. The handle 63 also serves to assist in positioning the valve positioning member 62 within the valve housing 61. The handle 63 is removable thus preventing unauthorized access to the valve assembly 60. An end valve insert 68 is positionable within the end cap 64.

The valve assembly is preferably made of suitable plastics including PVC. The valve assembly is preferably formed to accommodate pipework of varying diameters including pipes having diameters between 40mm and 400mm.

ADVANTAGES

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that they provide an alternate, safe method of closing and opening a valve in a discharge pipe in order to perform the required legislative tests. Several embodiments are described with each substantially preventing unauthorized access to the valve assembly.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.