Safety device for avoiding entrapment at a water reservoir drain having a secondary blowing pump

• US 5,865,601 A
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernard J. Miller
• Original Assignee: Bernard J. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Bernard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Freay, Charles G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gartenberg, Ehud
• Application Number:
  US09/019,873
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 417/2, 417/286, 417/253, 4/541.2, 4/509
• US Class Current: 417/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/01 Pressure before the pump inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2207/703 Stopping
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/022 by means of pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04

Abstract

A safety device for avoiding entrapment at a water reservoir drain by using a vacuum operated switch to interrupt power to the reservoir pump and by using a pressure pump to generate a positive pressure to dislodge the obstruction from the drain should a blockage occur. In addition, a manual reset switch requires human intervention to re-activate the reservoir pump once the blockage condition is removed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically dislodging a person or thing trapped at the drain of a liquid reservoir having a liquid reservoir pump in fluid communication with the drain at a reservoir pump inlet, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a pressure pump and a valve coupled together in fluid communication with each other, said pressure pump having an inlet coupled in fluid communication with a liquid source and said valve having an outlet coupled in fluid communication with the drain; and

(b) an electrical circuit that automatically shuts-off power to the liquid reservoir pump whenever the drain becomes obstructed, while energizing said pressure pump and opening said valve to permit the generation of positive pressure into the drain to dislodge the obstruction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit further comprises an alarm that is automatically activated whenever the drain becomes obstructed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit further comprises a reset switch, said reset switch permitting said pressure pump, said valve and said alarm to be shut-off only when the obstruction is dislodged from the drain.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said reset switch permits the re-energization of the reservoir pump only after the obstruction has been dislodged from the pump.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the liquid source is a return to the reservoir and wherein the return to the reservoir is in fluid communication with a reservoir pump outlet.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said electrical circuit further comprises an alarm that is automatically activated whenever the drain becomes obstructed.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said electrical circuit further comprises a reset switch, said reset switch permitting said pressure pump, said valve and said alarm to be shut-off only when the obstruction is dislodged from the drain.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said reset switch permits the re-energization of the reservoir pump only after the obstruction has been dislodged from the pump.

9. An apparatus for automatically dislodging a person or thing trapped at the drain of a liquid reservoir having a liquid reservoir pump in fluid communication with the drain at a reservoir pump inlet, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a pressure pump and a valve coupled together in fluid communication with each other, said pressure pump having an inlet coupled in fluid communication with an air source and said valve having an outlet coupled in fluid communication with the drain; and

(b) an electrical circuit that automatically shuts-off power to the liquid reservoir pump whenever the drain becomes obstructed, while energizing said pressure pump and opening said valve to permit the generation of positive pressure into the drain to dislodge the obstruction.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said electrical circuit further comprises an alarm that is automatically activated whenever the drain becomes obstructed.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said electrical circuit further comprises a reset switch, said reset switch permitting said pressure pump, said valve and said alarm to be shut-off only when the obstruction is dislodged from the drain.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said reset switch permits the re-energization of the liquid reservoir pump only after the obstruction has been dislodged from the pump.