Method for preventing an obstruction from being trapped by suction to an inlet of a pool filter pump system, and lint trap cover therefor

• US 6,251,285 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vac-Alert IP Holdings LLC (Vac-Alert IP Holding)
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Ciochetti
• Inventors: Ciochetti, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Hruskoci, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US09/397,361
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 450/4, 450/9, 454/12, 137/493.1, 137/505.11, 137/526, 137/907, 210/739, 210/805, 210/120, 210/169, 210/416.2, 210/472, 210/741
• US Class Current: 210/741
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/14 Safety devices specially adapted for filtration preventing or minimising fires or explosions A62C; Devices for indicating clogging incorporated in a throw-away filter B01D27/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/26 Filters with built-in pumps filters provided with a pump mounted in or on the casing aquarium pumps or filters A01K63/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/907 Vacuum-actuated valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7897 Vacuum relief type

Abstract

A method for preventing an obstruction from being trapped by suction to an inlet of a pool filter pump system, and a lint trap cover therefor. The cover is for installation on a lint trap unit located upstream of a pool filter pump, and is configured to vent air into the lint trap unit when a vacuum level within the unit exceeds a specified vacuum limit, as is the case if the drain or another inlet connected to the lint trap unit is partially or completely obstructed, such as by a child or foreign object. The rapid influx of air eliminates the vacuum within the pump and suction lines and, therefore, the resulting unsafe condition. The lint trap cover preferably has a damped mode of operation so that the pump system does not recover before the obstruction is removed. The cover can be manufactured as original equipment for the lint trap unit, or an existing cover can be modified to include the components required for venting the lint trap unit without requiring any modifications to the remaining pump system. As such, the present invention provides for a simple installation and can be readily fitted to an existing pool pumping system.

Claims

1. A lint trap cover for a lint trap unit of a pool pumping system, the lint trap cover comprising:

means for closing access to the interior of the lint trap unit;

means for venting air through said cover into the lint trap unit when a vacuum level within the lint trap unit exceeds a vacuum limit, capable of eliminating a vacuum in said pool pumping system.

2. A lint trap cover according to claim 1, including means for installing the lint trap cover in the lint trap unit.

3. A lint trap cover according to claim 1, wherein the venting means is a vacuum relief valve assembly mounted in the lint trap cover.

4. A lint trap cover according to claim 3, wherein the vacuum relief valve assembly comprises a portion that is integrally formed with the lint trap cover.

5. A lint trap cover according to claim 3, wherein the vacuum relief valve assembly is removably mounted within an opening in the lint trap cover.

6. A lint trap cover according to claim 5, wherein the vacuum relief valve assembly comprises threads engaged with threads in the opening in the lint trap cover.

7. A lint trap cover according to claim 3, wherein the vacuum relief valve assembly comprises:

a first member in the lint trap cover;

a second member removably secured to the first member;

at least one opening through which air enters the lint trap unit through the vacuum relief valve assembly when the vacuum level within the lint trap unit exceeds the vacuum limit; and

at least one bleed opening through which air escapes the vacuum relief valve assembly as the vacuum level within the lint trap unit drops below the vacuum limit.

8. A lint trap cover mounted to a lint trap unit of a pool pumping system, the lint trap cover comprising:

at least one vent opening in fluidic communication with the lint trap unit;

sealing means for closing the vent opening when the sealing means is disposed in a closed position and opening the vent opening when the sealing means is disposed in an open position, such that air is vented to the lint trap unit when the sealing means is in the open position;

means for biasing the sealing means toward the closed position such that the vent opening is normally closed, the biasing means enabling the sealing means to move toward the open position when a vacuum level within the lint trap unit exceeds a vacuum limit established by the biasing means;

a housing secured to the lint trap cover and enclosing the vent opening, the sealing means and the biasing means, the housing comprising a chamber, at least a first opening through which air is drawn into the lint trap unit when the sealing means is in the open position, and at least a second opening through which air is drawn into the chamber when the sealing means is in the open position;

means for expelling air from the chamber through the second opening as the sealing means moves from the open position to the closed position; and

means for impeding the expelling of the air from the chamber as the sealing means moves from the open position to the closed position, the impeding means comprising a body reciprocably disposed in the chamber between a first and second position, the body having at least a first bleed hole that fluidically communicates with the second opening of the housing when the sealing means is in the closed and open positions, the body having at least a second bleed hole that fluidically communicates with the second opening of the housing when the body is in the first position within the chamber, the second bleed hole being closed when the body is in the second position within the chamber.

9. A lint trap cover according to claim 8, wherein the impeding means damps movement of the sealing means when traveling from the open position to the closed position.

10. A lint trap cover according to claim 8, wherein the impeding means maintains venting of air into the lint trap unit for a duration after the vacuum level within the lint trap unit no longer exceeds the vacuum limit.

11. A lint trap cover according to claim 8, further comprising means for adjusting the vacuum limit established by the biasing means.

12. A lint trap cover according to claim 8, wherein the expelling means is attached to the sealing means.

13. A lint trap cover according to claim 8, wherein the impeding means is capable of reciprocating with respect to the expelling means.

14. A lint trap cover according to claim 8, including means for installing the lint trap cover in the pool pumping system.

15. A lint trap cover according to claim 8, wherein the vent opening is formed in a body that is removably mounted within an opening in the lint trap cover, the housing being removably secured to the body.

16. A lint trap cover according to claim 15, wherein the body has threads engaged with threads in the opening in the lint trap cover.

17. A method for preventing an obstruction from being trapped by suction to an inlet of a pool filter pump system, the method comprising the steps of:

installing a lint trap cover on a lint trap unit installed in the pool filter pumping system, the lint trap cover comprising means for venting air therethrough; and

venting air through the lint trap cover into the lint trap unit when a selectable vacuum level within the lint trap unit is exceeded, to eliminate a vacuum in said pool filter pump system and prevent said obstruction from being trapped.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of manufacturing the lint trap cover to comprise the venting means, at least a portion of the venting means being integrally formed with the lint trap cover.

19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of installing the venting means in an opening in the lint trap cover, at least a portion of the venting means being removably mounted within the opening.

20. A method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of continuing to vent air through the lint trap cover into the lint trap unit even after the vacuum level within the lint trap unit no longer exceeds the vacuum limit.