Pressurized drain trap priming system

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a drain trap primer system comprises a water supply line for fluid connection between a pressurized water source and a drain trap. A valve which is operable between an open position and a closed position is in fluid connection within the supply line. An actuation means is provided for switching the valve between the closed position and the open position, and a control mechanism signals the actuator to open and close the valve at selected time intervals.

1 . A drain trap primer comprising:
 a water supply line for fluid connection between a pressurized water source and a drain trap;   a valve operable between an open position and a closed position, said valve being in fluid connection within the supply line;   an actuation means for switching the valve between the closed position and the open position; and   a control mechanism for signaling the actuator to open and close the valve at selected time intervals.   
     
     
         2 . The drain trap primer of  claim 1 , wherein the valve and the actuation means comprise a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         3 . The drain trap primer of  claim 2 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a timer and a signal relay. 
     
     
         4 . The drain trap primer of  claim 3 , wherein the timer is selected from the group consisting of mechanical timer, electromechanical timer, electronic timer, and digital timer. 
     
     
         5 . The drain trap primer of  claim 1  wherein the supply line further comprises a manifold in fluid connection within the supply line downstream of the valve in fluid connection with a plurality of subsidiary supply lines to supply plurality of said drain traps. 
     
     
         6 . The drain trap primer of  claim 5  further comprising a pressure throttle in fluid connection within the subsidiary supply line. 
     
     
         7 . A method of using a pressurized water source to prime a drain trap comprising the steps of:
 a. connecting a solenoid valve into a water supply line;   b. providing a timer to operate the solenoid valve;   c. connecting the water supply line to a drain trap; and   d. connecting the water supply line to a pressurized water source.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the insertion of a manifold into the water supply line downstream of the solenoid valve and in fluid connection with a plurality of subsidiary supply lines. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the insertion of a pressure throttle in fluid connection within the subsidiary supply line. 
     
     
         10 . A method of scheduling the priming of a drain trap comprising the steps of:
 a. storing a routine comprising a plurality of time intervals and a corresponding on or off signal for each time interval;   b. executing the routine;   c. determining a current time interval of the executing routine;   d. determining the on or off signal corresponding to the current time interval of the executing routine; and   e. sending an on or off signal to a solenoid valve in fluid connection in a line between a pressurized water source and one or more drain traps if the current signal corresponding to the current time interval comprises an on signal or an off signal.