Valve assembly for a bilge pump system

1. A valve assembly for a bilge pump system having first and second bilge pumps each connected to a hull outlet and each operatively connected to an electrical system to selectively provide electrical power to each of the first and second bilge pumps so that the first and second bilge pumps can be separately energized to pump bilge water, the valve assembly comprising, in combination:

a valve body having a first inlet port for connection to the first bilge pump, a second inlet port for connection to the second bilge pump, and an outlet port for connection to the hull outlet;

a first one-way valve operating at the first inlet port and configured to allow bilge water to flow in through the first inlet port and out through the outlet port, and to prevent bilge water from flowing in through the second inlet port and out though the first inlet port; and

a second one-way valve operating at the second inlet port and configured to allow bilge water to flow in through the second inlet port and out through the outlet port, and to prevent bilge water from flowing in through the first inlet port and out though the second inlet port.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the valve body is Y-shaped.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second one-way valves are each ball valves.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second one-way valves are each threaded onto external threads of the valve body.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second one-way valves are each threaded onto internal threads of the valve body.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second inlets ports are each provided with a barbed connection for receiving a bilge hose.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the barbed connection is sized for a 1⅛ inch diameter bilge hose.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising an adapter having barbs for receiving a ¾ inch diameter bilge hose and secured to one of the first and second inlet ports so that a ¾ inch bilge hose can be connected to the respective one of the first and second inlet ports.

9. The valve assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the adapter is threaded onto internal threads at the barbed connection.

10. The valve assembly according to claim 8 , further comprising another adapter having barbs for receiving a ¾ inch diameter bilge hose and secured to the other one of the first and second inlet ports so that a ¾ inch diameter bilge hose can be connected to each of the first and second inlet ports.

11. A bilge pump system comprising, in combination:

a hull outlet located in a wall of a hull;

a first bilge pump located in a bilge and having an outlet;

a second bilge pump located in the bilge and having an outlet;

wherein the first and second bilge pumps are each operatively connected to an electrical system to selectively provide electrical power to the first and second bilge pumps so that the first and second bilge pumps can be separately energized to pump bilge water from the bilge to the outlets of the first and second bilge pumps;

a valve assembly comprising

a valve body having a first inlet port for connection to the first bilge pump, a second inlet port for connection to the second bilge pump, and an outlet port for connection to the hull outlet;

a first one-way valve operating at the first inlet port and configured to allow bilge water to flow in through the first inlet port and out through the outlet port, and to prevent bilge water from flowing in through the second inlet port and out though the first inlet port; and

a second one-way valve operating at the second inlet port and configured to allow bilge water flow in through the second inlet port and out through the outlet port, and to prevent bilge water flow in through the first inlet port and out though the second inlet port;

a first bilge hose connecting the outlet of the first bilge pump with the first inlet port of the valve assembly;

a second bilge hose connecting the outlet of the second bilge pump with the second inlet port of the valve assembly; and

a third bilge hose connecting the outlet port of the valve assembly with the hull outlet.

12. The valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the valve body is Y-shaped.

13. The valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second one-way valves are each ball valves.

14. The valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second one-way valves are each threaded onto external threads of the valve body.

15. The valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second one-way valves are each threaded onto internal threads of the valve body.

16. The valve assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second inlets ports are each provided with a barbed connection for receiving a bilge hose.

17. The valve assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the barbed connection is sized for a 1⅛ inch diameter bilge hose.

18. The valve assembly according to claim 17 , further comprising an adapter having barbs for receiving a ¾ inch diameter bilge hose and secured to one of the first and second inlet ports so that a ¾ inch bilge hose can be connected to the respective one of the first and second inlet ports.

19. The valve assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the adapter is threaded onto internal threads at the barbed connection.

20. The valve assembly according to claim 18 , further comprising another adapter having barbs for receiving a ¾ inch diameter bilge hose and secured to the other one of the first and second inlet ports so that a ¾ inch diameter bilge hose can be connected to each of the first and second inlet ports.