Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to a flow regulation device for the
cleaning system of a pool and, more particularly, of a swimming
pool.
Most pools and virtually all swimming pools include a water
filtration system having one or more suction units placed close
to the surface of the water to remove debris lying on the water
surface. The technical name for these suction units is
"skimmers'.
In addition, it is typical to use mobile cleaning devices
which pass over the walls and floor of the pool, beneath the
water surface, brushing the floor and walls and sucking up the
dislodged debris.
Typically the mobile cleaning devices are powered by a water
stream drawn through the units by vacuum. Conveniently the
vacuum is applied to the mobile cleaning device through a
flexible hose which is typically connected to the water
filtration system through an aperture in the skimmer plate. The
arrangement is such that, until relatively recent times, if the
mobile cleaning device was connected to the skimmer plate, the
skimmer unit itself could not function.
European patent specification 0,206,498 and US patent
4,683,599 disclose two forms of bypass valve which can be
connected between the skimmer plate and the mobile pool cleaner
to enable the skimmer and mobile pool cleaner to function
simultaneously. However, in both cases, the form of valve
described has a substantially horizontally aligned bypass
aperture and when wave rnotion is present in the pool, the bypas~
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: apertures of the valves can easily become exposed above the
water surface thus allowing air to bleed into the water
filtration system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a form
of bypass valve for use in the cleaning system of a pool, in
particular of a swimming pool, which will go at least some way
in overcoming the disadvantages of the forms of bypass valve
used hereinbefore or which will at least provide the public with
a useful choice.
. Accordingly, the invention consists in a flow regulation
device for mounting between a swimming pool skimmer unit and a
vacuum operated mobile underwat0r swimming pool cleaner, said
. device including a substantially cylindrical flow conduit having
a first end communicable with a source of vacuum applied at the
skimmer and a second end communicable with a mobile swimming
:. pool cleaner, said flow conduit having an aperture in the wall
thereof; and valve means having a substantially cylindrical
valve surface slidable over that part of the flow conduit
including said aperture, said cylindrical valve surface having
an aperture therein adjustably alignable with the aperture in
said flow conduit, and a peripheral skirt extending from, and
about, said cylindrical valve surface to define a void in
communication with the aperture in said cylindrical valve
surface, the entrance to said void being in a plane located
closer to said first end of said flow conduit than that part of
the aperture in said cylindrical valve surface located closest
to said first end.
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In use the flow device i~ preferably located sustantially
vertically on a skimmer plate incorporated in the swimming pool
skimmer unit. Accordingly the first end of the flow conduit is
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the lower end while the second end is the upper end. When in
position the skirt incorporated in the valve member extends
below the lowest boundary of the aperture in the cylindrical
valve member.
The skirt preferably extends vertically downward from an
annular ring extending about the upper edge of the valve member
and thus a substantially annular void is defined which is sealed
at the upper end. Suitable projections may be provided on the
annular ring which co-operate with an abuttment extending from
the outer wall of the flow conduit to define two limit positions
of the valve member with respect to the flow conduit. These
limit positions, in turn, indicate when the apertures are
perfectly aligned with one another and when the aperture in the
flow conduit is completely covered by the valve member.
To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates,
many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments
and applications of the invention will suggest themselves
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in
the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions
herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any
sense limiting.
One preferred form of the invention will now be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 shows a schematic isometric view of a swimming poolincluding a filtration and cleaning system;
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Fiqure 2 shows a schematic isometric view of a swimming pool
skimmer unit having a mobile pool cleaner attached thereto
through a flow regulation device according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows an upper plan view of a flow regulation
device according to the invention;
-; Figure 4 shows a section along the line IV - IV in Figure
3;and
Figure 5 shows a vertical section through part of the flow
regulation device according to the invention showing detail of
the apertures in the flow conduit and valve member which are
relatively alignable with respect to one another.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a swimming pool 1 is
depicted containing a body of water whose level is indicated by
. reference numeral 2. The pool 1 includes at least one skimming
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device 3 which will be referred to hereinafter by its typical
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name ~skimmer~. The skimmer includes a weir 4 in the front
~ thereof. The weir 4 may be formed by part of the wall surface
; of the pool 1 and is located slightly below the water level 2 so
that the surface water in the pool may be drawn toward the
~; skimmer 3 by vacuum applied at the skimmer.
A pipe 7 leads downwardly from the skimmer 3 and connects
with drainage piping 8 through a valve 7a. With the valve 7a
open, water can be drawn from the sklmmer 3 through pipe works 7
and 8 and through filtration unit 9 by pump 10. The filtered
water is subsequently pumped back to the pool through delivery
pipe 11 and distribution pipes 12. Water may also be drawn
through bottom intake 14 which is connected to the inlet side of
~;i the filtration unit through connecting pipe 13 and valve 13a.
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Finally, a mobile cleaner 16 is generally provided which, in
the form shown, is connected to a vacuum aperture located in a
convenient location and provided on the distal end of pipe 15
which is connected into the drainage pipe 8 via valve 15a. The
cleaner 16 is connected to the pipe 15 by a flexible pipe 16a
which permits the cleaner 16 to move over the floor and walls of
the pool 1 beneath the surface 2. The form of pool cleaner is
not part of the invention and may comprise any of the forms of
vacuum operated swimming pool cleaner. Some examples include
those sold with reference to the trade marks QUESTA 2000, POOL
VAC and KREEPY ~RAULY.
When the pump 10 is operating and the valve 7a is in the
open position, water from the pool 1 is drawn in by the skimmer
3 together with debris floating on the water surface 2. Vacuum
applied at the skimmer in combination with the current generated
as water is returned to the pool through pipes 12 ensures a
continuous flow of water toward the skimmer 3.
When it is desired to clean the floor and walls of the pool
1 the pool cleaner 16 may be connected to vacuum pipe 15 by a
flexible hose 16a. In this event it is necessary to ad~ust
valves 7a and 15a so that the appropriate vacuum is applied to
the cleaner 16. In some instances it is possible to effect the
appropriate adjustments through valves 7a and 15a but, in those
instances, it is still necessary to use considerable manual
effort, adjusting the various valves, in order to achieve the
optimium speed for the pool cleaner.
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In many swimming pool applications there is no separate
vacuum line 15 provided for the mobile pool cleaner. In these ~-
applications the flexible hose 16a is connected to the source of
vacuum applied at the skimmer 3. In this situation the skimmer
cannot operate as the vacuum aperture in the ~kimmer is occupied
by the inner end of hose 16a. Further, the valve 7a is not
always readily accessible and, when relatively high powered
pumps lO are incorporated in the filtration system, the mobile
pool cleaner is often over-powered.
In accordance with the invention a flow regulation device is
provided which is fitted to the skimmer 3 between the skimmer 3
and the flexible pipe 16a connected to the mobile cleaner 16.
This device, which is shown in Figures 3 to S, permits the
skimmer 3 and mobile cleaner to operate simultaneously and also
permits the relative amounts of vacuum applied to each to be
simply adjusted. This, in turn, enables the speed of the pool
cleaner to be adjusted.
Referring now to Figure 2 the flow regulation device
according to the invention is fitted to an aperture 17 commonly
provided in the skimmer plate 6a which, in typical skimmers,
covers skimmer basket 6. The skimmer basket 6 collects debris
drawn in through the skimmer. The vacuum source which operates
the skimmer i9 applied through pipe 7 which, as can be seen, is
located beneath the skimmer basket 6.
Referring now to Figures 3 to 5 the flow regulation device
comprises a cylindrical flow conduit 18 having a port or
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aperture 19 in the wall thereof. The particular shape and size
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of the port 19 is not essential to the invention but, in the
form shown, the aperture 19 is trapezoidal in shape.
The flow regulation device further includes a valve member
which is slidable with respect to the flow conduit 18, the valve
member having a cylindrical valve surface 20 which includes a
port 21 in the wall thereof, the port 21 preferably being of the
same shape as the port or aperture 19 in the flow conduit.
Extending from and about the cylindrical valve surface is a
skirt 23. The skirt 23 is configured and arranged to overlie,
but be spaced from, the aperture 21 and define a void about the
aperture so that when the device is in position the skirt 23
extends below the lower boundary of the aperture 21. As can be
seen in Figure 4, the skirt 23 preferably projects vertically
downward from an annular plate 22 extending outwardly from the
upper edge of the cylindrical valve surface 20.
The particular configuration of flow regulation device
herein described preferably provides for rotational sliding
movement between the flow conduit 18 and the valve member.
Further, suitable stop meanC are preferably provided to limit
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the relative rotational movement between the valve member and
the flow conduit between a first limit-position in which the
aperture~ or ports 19 and 21 are fully aligned and a second
limit-position in whlch the aperture 19 is fully covered by the l -.
cylindrical valve surface 20. To this end a pair of pro~ections
26 and 27 are included on the annular plate 22 forming part of
the valve member. These pro~ections 26 and 27 co-operate with
an abuttment 28 pro~ecting from the outer wall of the flow
conduit 18. In use, when the valve member is rotated so that
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surface 26a of projection 26 contacts the abuttment 28, the ;
apertures or ports 19 and 21 are placed in full alignment thus
allowing substantial vacuum to be applied at the skimmer and
minimum vacuum to be applied to the mobile cleaner. However,
when the valve member is rotated so that surface 27a of
projection 27 contacts the abuttment 28, the aperture 19 in the
cylindrical through channel is fully blocked by the cylindrical
valve surface 20 thus applying the full vacuum to the mobile
cleaner and none to skimmer 3.
It will be seen that the plate section 22 preferably
includes visual markings thereon to indicate the positions of
the valve member with respect to the flow conduit.
As can be seen from Pigure 4 suitable sealing means is
preferably provided between the valve member and the flow
conduit. In the form shown the sealing means comprises a rubber
O-ring 24 located in peripheral groove 25 provided around the
outer wall of the flow condui~ above the aperture or port 19.
Furthermore, a bush 30 is preferably provided on the lower end
of the flow conduit to allow a sealing fit between the flow
conduit and the skimmer plate 6a. The bush 30 is preferably
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made from a flexible material such as, for example, neoprene and
may include an internal stop 31 to limit the extent of its fit
on the flow conduit 18. As can be seen from Figure 4 the bush
30 is preferably formed with a slightly conical lower end 30a.
This allows the bush 30 to be used as an external cover for a
4 nozzle or, alternatively as an internal fit in a cylindrical
opening.
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In use the flow regulation device as herein desribed is
fitted substantially vertically to the skimmer plate 6a of a
swimming pool skimmer by inserting end 30a of the bush fitted to
the lower end of the device into the aperture 17 in the skimmer
plate 6a. When in position the lower end of skirt 23 is
submerged beneath the surface 2 of the water within the pool as
can be seen from Figure 4. As a result the skirt prevents any
suction o~ air upon operation of the pump 10.
The flexible hose 16a attached to the mobile cleaner 16 may
then be fitted to the upper end of the flow conduit 18 and power
applied to the pump 10. The operator may then rotate the valve
member between the limits imposed by the projections 26 and 27
to adjust the water flow through the mobile cleaner 16 and thus
the speed of operation thereof.
It will thus be appreciated that the invention provides a
simple yet effective form of bypass valve which not only permits
the water flow through a mobile cleaner to be simply adjusted
but also permits the mobile cleaner to operate simultaneously
with the pool surface skimmer.
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