Suction fitting with pump control device

• US 5,347,664 A
• Filed: 11/12/1991
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pac-Fab Incorporated
• Original Assignee: KDI American Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamza, Hassan, Olson, Gordon D., Burkitt, Garrett J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US07/791,918
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 4/288, 4/289, 4/292, 4/504, 4/507, 4/509, 4/541.1, 4/541.2, 4/541.3, 4/541.4, 4/668, 4/669, 210/163, 210/166, 210/169, 210/248, 210/416.2, 210/459, 210/461, 210/463, 417/40, 417/43, 417/44, 137/399, 137/563, 137/565
• US Class Current: 4/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0054 with liquid level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6073 Intake mouths for recirculation of fluid in whirlpool baths
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/025 by means of floats
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/74 for sensing changes in level only at discrete points

Abstract

A suction fitting for use in a water circulation system, the fitting having a perforated body that is mounted to permit fluid flow through both front and rear perforated faces, and thereby minimize the possibility of complete blockage of the fitting by entrapped hair or skin. Operation of a circulating pump is controlled to prevent damage to equipment and property and also to minimize the possibility of serious personal injury or death. The suction fitting further includes a suction tube for connection to the pump, for circulating water in the tub or spa back through jets in the tub or spa, and a pressure sensor line connecting the water in the tub or spa to a water level sensor. The front face of the perforated body has a number of grooves, to provide fluid communication between the pressure sensor line and the suction tube, through one or more front-face perforations. When flow into the suction fitting is blocked, a reduced pressure is sensed immediately behind the front face of the perforated body, through the pressure sensor line and the grooves in the front face, and the pump is disabled to prevent damage or physical injury.

Claims

1. For use in conjunction with a fluid circulation pump in a tub or spa, a fluid suction fitting comprising:

a hollow body, having a perforated front wall, a perforated rear wall generally parallel with the front wall, and a circumferential wall joining the front and rear walls, for installation below fluid level in the tub or spa;

a suction tube in fluid communication with the body, for coupling the body, through a wall of the tub or spa, to a circulating pump line; and

means for mounting the hollow body such that it is held away from the wall, to permit water to flow through perforations in the rear wall, whereby the chance of complete blockage of the fitting is minimized by the presence of perforations in the rear wall.

2. A fluid suction fitting as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the hollow body is generally disk shaped; and

the hollow body includes additional perforations in the circumferential wall, to further reduce the chance of complete blockage of the fitting.

3. For use in conjunction with a fluid circulation pump in a tub or spa, a fluid suction fitting comprising:

a hollow body, having a perforated front wall, a perforated rear wall generally parallel with the front wall, and a circumferential wall joining the front and rear walls, for installation below fluid level in the tub or spa;

a suction tube in fluid communication with the body, for coupling the body, through a wall of the tub or spa, to a circulating pump line; and

means for mounting the hollow body such that it is held away from the wall, to permit water to flow through perforations in the rear wall, whereby the chance of complete blockage of the fitting is minimized by the presence of perforations in the rear wall;

wherein a portion of the suction tube is integral with the rear wall of the hollow body; and

wherein the means for mounting the hollow body includes a raised area integral with the rear wall of the hollow body, wherein the raised area is secured against the wall of the tub or spa, and at least a portion of the rear wall is thereby spaced from the wall.

4. A fluid suction fitting as defined in claim 3, wherein:

the suction tube is offset from a central position toward one edge of the rear wall and connects with the rear wall close to its peripheral edge, to facilitate mounting of the suction fitting immediately adjacent to a bottom surface of the tub or spa.

5. For use in conjunction with a fluid circulation pump in a tub or spa, a combination comprising:

a suction fitting for installation beneath fluid level in the tub or spa, to provide fluid communication between the tub or spa and the fluid circulation pump, the suction fitting defining a perforated body having a perforated front wall, a perforated rear wall generally parallel with the front wall, and a circumferential wall joining the front and rear walls, whereby the presence of perforations in both front and rear walls reduces the possibility of complete blockage of the suction fitting;

a suction tube coupled to the perforated body, for connection to a fluid line to the pump;

means integral with the suction fitting for deactivating the pump in response to a condition in which fluid flow through the suction fitting to the pump is impeded; and

means integral with the suction fitting, for mounting the perforated body held away from the wall, to permit water to flow through the perforated rear wall.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the perforated body is generally disk-shaped; and

at least a portion of the circumferential wall is also perforated to further reduce the possibility of complete blockage of the suction fitting.

9. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein:

the suction tube includes a threaded portion integral with the rear wall of the suction fitting; and

the integral means for supporting the hollow body held away from the tub or spa wall includes a raised area surrounding the threaded portion of the suction tube, whereby the threaded portion is secured through the wall of the tub or spa, with the raised portion engaging the wall to hold the rear wall of the perforated body of the suction fitting out from the wall.

7. For use in conjunction with a fluid circulation pump in a tub or spa, a combination comprising:

a suction fitting for installation beneath fluid level in the tub or spa, to provide fluid communication between the tub or spa and the fluid circulation pump, the suction fitting defining a perforated body having a perforated front wall and a perforated rear wall, whereby the presence of perforations in both walls reduces the possibility of complete blockage of the suction fitting;

a suction tube coupled to the perforated body, for connection to a fluid line to the pump;

means integral with the suction fitting for controlling operation of the pump in response to a condition in which fluid flow through the suction fitting to the pump is impeded;

means integral with the suction fitting, for mounting the perforated body held away from the wall, to permit water to flow through the perforated rear wall; and

pressure sensing means integral with the suction fitting, for sensing fluid pressure in the tub or spa during normal operation and for sensing reduced pressure immediately downstream of a blockage in the suction fitting;

wherein the means for controlling operation of the pump in response to a condition in which fluid flow through the suction fitting is impeded, as detected by the pressure sensing means, includes means for shutting off the pump in the event of a detected blockage, whereby the possibility of damage or serious personal injury is minimized;

and wherein the pressure sensing means includes

a sensor tube extending through the suction fitting and having an opening into the tub or spa; and

fluid communication means extending from the opening of the sensor tube to a region immediately downstream of the suction fitting, whereby the pressure sensing means can detect a reduced pressure immediately downstream of the blockage.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein:

the fluid communication means includes a plurality of recessed channels on the front wall of the suction fitting, connecting the sensor tube opening to at least some of the perforations in the front wall, whereby, when the front wall is substantially blocked, the recessed channels provide a fluid path between the sensor tube and a region immediately downstream of the front wall.

10. For use in conjunction with a fluid circulation pump in a tub or spa, a combination comprising:

a suction fitting for installation beneath fluid level in the tub or spa, to provide fluid communication between the tub or spa and the fluid circulation pump, the suction fitting defining a hollow body having a perforated front wall and a perforated rear wall, whereby the presence of perforations in both walls reduces the possibility of complete blockage of the suction fitting;

a suction tube coupled to the hollow body, for connection to a fluid line to the pump;

means integral with the suction fitting for controlling operation of the pump in response to a condition in which fluid flow through the suction fitting to the pump is impeded; and

means integral with the suction fitting, for mounting the hollow body held away from the wall, to permit water to flow through the perforated rear wall;

wherein the suction tube includes a threaded portion integral with the rear wall of the suction fitting;

and wherein the integral means for supporting the hollow body held away from the tub or spa wall includes a raised area surrounding the threaded portion of the suction tube, whereby the threaded portion is secured through the wall of the tub or spa, with the raised portion engaging the wall to hold the hollow body of the suction fitting out from the wall;

and wherein the suction tube is offset toward one edge of the hollow body, to facilitate installation of the suction fitting close to a bottom wall of the tub or spa.