ADJUSTABLE VACUUM RELIEF SAFETY VALVE SYSTEM FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS
First Claim
1. An adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system for a human-occupiable pool having a water circulation system including an intake line and a water output line fluidly connected to a pump, the adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system comprising:
- a housing having a first shell and a second shell cooperatively defining an inner chamber in fluid communication with the pump;
an air inlet aperture formed in the housing and open to ambient air;
a sealing element disposed within the housing inner chamber;
a spring disposed within the inner chamber and adapted to bias the sealing element against the air inlet aperture so as to prevent ambient air from entering the inner chamber and into the pump during normal pressure conditions, but be compressed and permit the sealing element to be pushed away from the air inlet aperture and the flow of ambient air into the inner chamber and into the pump such that the pump loses its prime during elevated negative pressure operating conditions;
wherein the first shell and the second shell are configured so as to be adjustably connected to one another so as to alter the compression of the spring and adjust for pump characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system includes a housing having first and second shells cooperatively defining an inner chamber in fluid communication with a pump of a pool circulation system. A sealing element within the housing is biased against an air inlet aperture of the housing by a spring so as to seal the inner chamber of the housing from the ambient air. To accommodate for different pumps, the first and second shells of the housing are connected to one another such that the compression of the spring can be altered to adjust for the pump'"'"'s characteristics. During elevated negative pressure operating conditions, the sealing element is pushed into the inner chamber, permitting ambient air to flow into the inner chamber and the pump, causing the pump to rapidly lose its prime. An electronic circuit may be actuated, via a switch, for shutting off power to the pump.
27 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system for a human-occupiable pool having a water circulation system including an intake line and a water output line fluidly connected to a pump, the adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system comprising:
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a housing having a first shell and a second shell cooperatively defining an inner chamber in fluid communication with the pump; an air inlet aperture formed in the housing and open to ambient air; a sealing element disposed within the housing inner chamber; a spring disposed within the inner chamber and adapted to bias the sealing element against the air inlet aperture so as to prevent ambient air from entering the inner chamber and into the pump during normal pressure conditions, but be compressed and permit the sealing element to be pushed away from the air inlet aperture and the flow of ambient air into the inner chamber and into the pump such that the pump loses its prime during elevated negative pressure operating conditions; wherein the first shell and the second shell are configured so as to be adjustably connected to one another so as to alter the compression of the spring and adjust for pump characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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14. An adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system for a human-occupiable pool having a water circulation system including an intake line and a water output line fluidly connected to a pump, the adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system comprising:
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a housing attached to the pump and having a first shell and a second shell cooperatively defining an inner chamber in fluid communication with the pump; an air inlet aperture formed in the second shell of the housing and open to ambient air; a sealing element disposed within the housing chamber; a spring disposed within the inner chamber and adapted to bias the sealing element against the air inlet aperture of the second shell so as to prevent ambient air from entering the inner chamber and into the pump during normal pressure conditions, but be compressed and permit the sealing element to be pushed away from the air inlet aperture of the second shell and the flow of ambient air into the inner chamber and into the pump such that the pump loses its prime during elevated negative pressure operating conditions; and a visually readable pressure gauge operably connected to the housing so as to read a pressure within the inner chamber; wherein the first shell and the second shell are connected so as to be adjustably moved toward and away from one another so as to alter the compression of the spring until a reading from the pressure gauge is generally constant. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification