Flow blockage suction interrupt valve
First Claim
1. A flow blockage suction interrupt valve adapted for attachment to and fluid communication with a suction piping system of a pool system, said valve comprising:
- a housing defining a flow path between atmosphere and said piping system;
a dynamic plug means positioned in said housing for opening and closing said flow path;
a spring-loaded first actuator means attached to said dynamic plug means and operative to place said valve in an armed state or a tripped state, wherein in the armed state, said dynamic plug means closes said flow path, preventing atmospheric air from reaching said suction piping system through said valve and allowing normal pool system operation;
a spring-loaded second actuator means normally not acting on said plug means adapted to reposition said plug means and open said flow path to relieve excessive suction in said piping system and;
a triggering means activated by a predetermined vacuum level, operatively connected to second actuator means, wherein when said predetermined vacuum level activates said triggering means, said second actuator means acts on said plug means, predominating said first actuator means, opening said flow path, allowing atmosphere to enter said piping system, and placing said valve in said tripped state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow blockage suction interrupt of the present invention reduces the dangerous possibility of bodily suction entrapment of a bather in a swimming, wading, or hydrotherapy pool. The safety valve operates to instantaneously introduce atmosphere into a suction piping system of a pool when a dangerous vacuum condition is detected. The incoming atmosphere breaks the vacuum, freeing entrapped bather. The safety valve includes a dynamic plug and dual spring-loaded actuators, one closing and one opening the valve to atmosphere. The closing actuator is dominant until the opening actuator is triggered by the dangerously high vacuum level that accompanies bodily suction entrapment. The preferred embodiment incorporates a spring-loaded telescopic actuator shaft that is spring-loaded to open fully once triggered, and is triggered by a factory-calibrated diaphragm-actuated suction sensor. Once this safety valve has been tripped, it must be manually reset by the pool operator.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A flow blockage suction interrupt valve adapted for attachment to and fluid communication with a suction piping system of a pool system, said valve comprising:
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a housing defining a flow path between atmosphere and said piping system; a dynamic plug means positioned in said housing for opening and closing said flow path; a spring-loaded first actuator means attached to said dynamic plug means and operative to place said valve in an armed state or a tripped state, wherein in the armed state, said dynamic plug means closes said flow path, preventing atmospheric air from reaching said suction piping system through said valve and allowing normal pool system operation; a spring-loaded second actuator means normally not acting on said plug means adapted to reposition said plug means and open said flow path to relieve excessive suction in said piping system and; a triggering means activated by a predetermined vacuum level, operatively connected to second actuator means, wherein when said predetermined vacuum level activates said triggering means, said second actuator means acts on said plug means, predominating said first actuator means, opening said flow path, allowing atmosphere to enter said piping system, and placing said valve in said tripped state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification