Test plug for a plumbing system

Abstract

A plumbing fitting for a drain line of a plumbing system has a fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a cleanout port in fluid communication with a cavity defined by the fitting body. A releasable plug is positioned in the plumbing fitting upstream of a strainer body that prevents the releasable plug from passing through the fluid outlet in the released position. The releasable plug may be an expandable plug that is installed upstream of the strainer or may be a closure member that seals the strainer and is removed from the strainer to unseal the drain line. The releasable plug is actuated to a released state from outside the plumbing fitting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plumbing fitting for a drain line of a plumbing system, comprising:
 a fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a cleanout port in fluid communication with a cavity defined by the fitting body, the fitting body being adapted to connect to the drain line;   a cleanout cover that closes the cleanout port, the cleanout cover having a control line aperture;   an expandable plug that has an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein:
 in the expanded state the expandable plug is adapted to engage and seal the fluid inlet of the fitting body or the drain line upstream of the fluid inlet; and 
 in the contracted state the expandable plug has a diameter that is less than the expanded state sized to engage the fluid inlet of the fitting body; 
   a control line that extends from the expandable plug to the control line aperture of the cleanout cover such that a working end of the control line is accessible when the cleanout cover closes the cleanout port, wherein actuating the working end of the control line releases the expandable plug; and   a strainer body that permits fluid flow therethrough and prevents the expandable plug from passing through the fluid outlet, the strainer being removably installed in the fitting body downstream of the expandable plug.   
     
     
         2 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the strainer body comprises an outer engagement surface that engages the fluid outlet of the fitting body, and a second end that comprises one or more apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the strainer comprises a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported across the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable plug is inflatable. 
     
     
         5 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 4 , wherein the control line comprises a fluid line, and the working end comprises a valve that selectively releases pneumatic pressure from the expandable plug. 
     
     
         6 . A method of testing a plumbing system having fitting body installed on a drain line, the fitting body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a cavity and a cleanout port, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting an expandable plug, in a contracted state, into the cavity of the fitting body through the cleanout port, a control line being connected to the expandable plug and having a working end that is accessible when the cleanout port is closed;   positioning the expandable plug within the fluid inlet and expanding the expandable plug to such that the expandable plug forms a seal upstream of the cavity;   installing a strainer body in the cavity, the strainer body permitting fluid flow therethrough and preventing the expandable plug from passing through the fluid outlet;   closing the cleanout port with a cleanout cover, the cleanout cover having a control line aperture through which the working end is accessible;   passing a fluid into the drain line upstream of the expandable plug; and   manipulating the working end via the control line to cause the expandable plug to contract such that the expandable plug disengages and permits fluid flow through the cavity; and   removing the fluid plug from the cavity via the cleanout port.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the strainer body comprises an outer engagement surface that engages the fluid outlet, and a second end that comprises one or more apertures. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the strainer comprises a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported  30  across the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the expandable plug is inflatable. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the control line comprises a fluid line, and the working end comprises a valve that selectively releases fluid pressure from the expandable plug. 
     
     
         11 . A test kit for a plumbing system for use with an expandable plug that has an expanded state and a contracted state, wherein, in the expanded state, the expandable plug is adapted to engage and seal an upstream end of a plumbing fitting and in the contracted state, the expandable plug is adapted to be installed and removed from the plumbing fitting, the test kit comprising:
 a control line having a plug end and a working end, the plug end being connected to the expandable plug;   a cover that is adapted to close an access port in the plumbing fitting, the cover having an aperture that is sized to receive the control line at a point between the plug end and the working end such that the working end of the control line is accessible when the cover is installed on the plumbing fitting; and   a strainer body that is adapted to be removably installed downstream of the expandable plug in the plumbing system and within the plumbing fitting.   
     
     
         12 . The test kit of  claim 11 , further comprising the expandable plug and/or the control line, the control line having a plug end connected to the expandable plug and the working end that is remote from the plug end. 
     
     
         13 . The test kit of  claim 11 , wherein the strainer body comprises an outer engagement surface that engages an outlet of a fitting body, and a second end that comprises one or more apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The test kit of  claim 11 , wherein the strainer comprises a plate body having an engagement portion and a strainer portion, the engagement portion being supported within a passage of the plumbing fitting that terminates in a cleanout valve such that the strainer portion is supported across the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The test kit of  claim 11 , wherein the expandable plug is inflatable. 
     
     
         16 . The test kit of  claim 16 , wherein the control line comprises a fluid line, and the working end comprises a valve that selectively releases pneumatic pressure from the expandable plug. 
     
     
         17 . A plumbing fitting, comprising:
 a fitting body having an inlet, an outlet, an inner cavity, and an outer surface;   a seal body that seals the outlet of the fitting body, the seal body having a flow opening that is selectively closed by a closure member; and   an actuator operably connected to the closure member to open the flow opening when actuated, wherein the actuator is accessible from outside the plumbing fitting.   
     
     
         18 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator comprises a linkage that is controlled by a moveable handle positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the fitting body. 
     
     
         19 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 17 , wherein the fitting body comprises a cleanout port, and the actuator comprises an elongate actuator that extends through an aperture of the cleanout port to engage the closure member. 
     
     
         20 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 17 , wherein the closure member is a plug or sheet of material  20  that covers the flow opening, the plug being moved from the flow opening when acted upon by the actuator. 
     
     
         21 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 20 , wherein the closure member is secured by adhesive, by friction, or by a frangible connection to the closure member. 
     
     
         22 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 a hinged gate member positioned within the inner cavity of the fitting body;   an elongate connector between the closure member and the hinged gate member; and   a handle adjacent to the outer surface of the fitting, the handle being operably connected to control a position of the hinged gate member and cause the elongate connector to open the closure member.   
     
     
         23 . The plumbing fitting of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the fitting body is a backwater valve body, and the hinged gate member is a valve gate that moves between an open position and a closed position in which the valve gate seals the inlet of the backwater valve body; and   the handle moves the gate member toward the closed position.