Swimming pool main drain assembly

• US 5,759,414 A
• Filed: 11/07/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Essex Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Essex Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Cooke, George J., Wilkes, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPOVICS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US08/745,043
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 4/509, 210/169, 210/163, 210/416.2, 210/774, 210/805
• US Class Current: 210/774
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1236 Bottom drains

Abstract

A swimming pool main drain assembly comprises a cup-shaped fitting recessed in a pool bottom and having an open mouth substantially coplaner with the pool bottom. A port is provided in the fitting which communicates with the suction inlet of a circulation pump. A return port assembly is provided in the fitting which communicates with an outlet of the circulation pump. The return port assembly includes an outlet conduit which directs water in a substantially vertical direction out of the main drain and educts a portion of the pool water.

Claims

1. A swimming pool main drain assembly comprising a cup-shaped fitting recessed in a pool bottom and having an open mouth substantially coplanar with the pool bottom, a port in said fitting communicating with a suction inlet of a circulation pump, a return port assembly in said fitting communicating with an outlet of said circulation pump, said return port assembly including an outlet conduit which directs fluid flow in a substantially vertical direction.

2. A swimming pool main drain assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outlet conduit is substantially axially aligned with the open mouth of said cup-shaped fitting to define an upwardly directed flow path of fluid from said outlet of said circulation pump and, with said open mouth, to define a downwardly directed flow path of fluid to said inlet of said circulation pump.

3. A swimming pool main drain according to claim 2, including a venturi nozzle axially aligned with said outlet conduit and being adapted to educt a portion of fluid from said downwardly directed flow path and inject said fluid in said upwardly directed flow path.

4. A swimming pool main drain assembly according to claim 3, wherein a perforated cover plate is provided to cover said open mouth, said cover plate having a conical recess comprising said venturi nozzle for said outlet conduit.

5. A swimming pool main drain assembly according to claim 4, wherein one end of said conical recess concentrically surrounds an end portion of said outlet conduit to define an annular eduction chamber.

6. A method of circulating water in a swimming pool having a circulating pump, a filter having an inlet connected to an outlet of said circulating pump, an inlet port connected to an outlet of said filter to deliver filtered water to said pool, and an outlet port connected to an inlet of said circulating pump comprising the steps of introducing said filtered water at a bottom of said pool in an upward stream withdrawing water from said pool in a downward stream in immediate adjacency to said upward stream, and diverting a portion of said downward stream into said upward stream.

7. A method of circulating water according to claim 6, wherein said downward stream surrounds said upward stream.

8. A method of circulating water according to claim 6, including the step of heating said upward stream.