Pneumatically actuated drain stopper system and apparatus

Abstract

A pneumatically actuated drain stopper system and apparatus which includes a source of compressed gas, a pressure regulator, a piston drain, a push-button or toggle switch interposed between the piston drain and the pressure regulator, and pneumatic lines connecting the piston drain to the switch and the switch to the gas source, and bringing all elements into fluid communication with one another.

1 . A pneumatic system for actuating drain stoppers, comprising: 
 a source of compressed gas;    at least one pneumatic line in fluid communication with said source of compressed gas;    a pressure regulator interposed between said source of compressed gas and said pneumatic line so as to regulate the pressure of gas within said pneumatic line;    at least one piston drain connected to said pneumatic line; and    at least one selectively operable switch interposed on said pneumatic line between said piston drain and said pressure regulator.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said source of compressed gas supplies a gas selected from the group consisting of air, HFC-134a, and CO 2 .  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said source of compressed gas comprises a compressed gas cylinder.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said source of compressed gas is an air compressor having a compressed air storage tank.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said piston drain includes: 
 a pneumatic housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, an opening in said upper portion, said pneumatic housing having an interior side, ceiling, and floor defining an interior volume, and having a gas inlet disposed in said lower portion, said gas inlet connected to said pneumatic line;    a piston head slidingly disposed within said interior side of said pneumatic housing and sealed to substantially prevent the passage of gas;    a compression spring disposed between said piston head and said ceiling of said pneumatic housing, such that said piston is urged generally downwardly;    a drain stopper; and    a connecting rod disposed through the opening in said upper portion of said pneumatic housing and connecting said piston head to said drain stopper;    such that when said selectively operable switch is pushed or toggled, said switch allows pressurized gas to flow into the interior volume of said pneumatic housing through said gas inlet and below said piston head, thus urging said piston upward, and wherein when said selectively operable switch is next pushed or toggled, said switch allows pressurized gas to flow out of the interior volume of said pneumatic housing through said gas inlet and said compression spring moves said piston head downward.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said piston drain further includes a gas exit port not under the control of said switch and which is dimensioned to permit a slow flow of air to pass during operation of the mechanism in an amount insufficient to disable the force effecting the elevation of said piston head, and wherein gas continues to pass through said exit port after said piston head has been elevated until the force of the compressed gas beneath the piston and urging it upwardly is surpassed by the force of the compression spring urging the piston downwardly.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said piston drain includes: 
 a pneumatic housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, an opening in said upper portion, said pneumatic housing having an interior side, ceiling, and floor defining an interior volume, and having a gas inlet disposed in said upper portion, said gas inlet connected to said pneumatic line;    a piston head slidingly disposed within said interior side of said pneumatic housing and sealed to substantially prevent the passage of gas;    a compression spring disposed between said piston head and said floor of said pneumatic housing, such that said piston is urged generally upwardly;    a drain stopper; and    a connecting rod disposed through the opening in said upper portion of said pneumatic housing and connecting said piston head to said drain stopper;    such that when said selectively operable switch is pushed or toggled, said switch allows pressurized gas to flow into the interior volume of said pneumatic housing through said gas inlet and above said piston head, thus urging said piston downward, and wherein when said selectively operable switch is next actuated, said switch allows pressurized gas to flow out of the interior volume of said pneumatic housing through said gas inlet and said compression spring moves said piston head upward.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said piston drain includes: 
 a pneumatic housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, an opening in said upper portion, said pneumatic housing having an interior side, ceiling, and floor defining an interior volume, and having a first gas inlet disposed in said lower portion and a second gas inlet disposed in said upper portion, each of said first and second gas inlets connected to said pneumatic line;    a piston head slidingly disposed within said interior side of said pneumatic housing and sealed to substantially prevent the passage of gas;    a drain stopper; and    a connecting rod disposed through the opening in said upper portion of said pneumatic housing and connecting said piston head to said drain stopper;    such that when said selectively operable switch is pushed or toggled, said switch allows pressurized gas to flow into the interior volume of said pneumatic housing through said first gas inlet and below said piston head while simultaneously allowing pressurized gas to flow from the interior volume above said piston head through said second gas inlet, thereby urging said piston upward; and such that when said selectively operable switch is next pushed or toggled, said switch allows pressurized gas to flow into the interior volume of said pneumatic housing through said second gas inlet and above said piston head while simultaneously allowing pressurized gas to flow from the interior volume below said piston head through said first gas inlet, thereby urging said piston downward.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said switch includes a push button or toggle element for activation of said switch.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , including a plurality of switches, pneumatic lines, and piston drains.