Hydraulic suction fuse for swimming pools

• US 7,055,189 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paramount Leisure Industries, Inc. (Hayward Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goettl, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US11/008,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 4507-509, 466/1, 210/169
• US Class Current: 4/661
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1236 Bottom drains
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1272 Skimmers integrated in the pool wall

Abstract

A hydraulic suction fuse is mounted in a conventional debris collection trap of a swimming pool, spa or the like, to significantly reduce or eliminate any suction force on the bottom or side wall mounted drain of the swimming pool, spa or the like, as a result of the drain becoming essentially wholly covered by a body part of a person or other drain clogging article. Alternatively, the hydraulic suction fuse may be mounted in a compartment in line between the drain and a suction pump of a swimming pool, spa or the like. Thereby, a person captured by the suction force at the drain will be released and the person is free to move away from the drain essentially instantaneously upon contact with the drain. In one embodiment, the hydraulic suction fuse is self resetting once inflow through the drain is no longer restricted. In another embodiment of the hydraulic suction fuse, the hydraulic suction fuse may be easily manually reset.

Claims

1. A method for relieving the suction force of a drain in a swimming pool or spa, which drain is in fluid communication with a debris collection trap receiving water from the drain in response to a suction pump drawing water from the trap, said method comprising in combination:

a) sealing an aperture of the trap;

b) opening the aperture in response to an increase in suction force within the trap resulting in a drop of water level in the trap; and

c) maintaining a gravity induced flow of water through the aperture and into the trap until the aperture of the trap is resealed.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of automatically resealing the aperture upon filling the trap with water.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of manually resealing the aperture.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of maintaining the aperture sealed with a magnetic force.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2 including a float for exercising said step of resealing.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of maintaining the aperture sealed with a magnetic force.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of sealing includes the step of sealing the aperture with a flexible disc.

8. A method for relieving the suction force of a drain in a swimming pool or a spa, which drain is in fluid communication with a compartment receiving water from the drain in response to a suction pump drawing water from the compartment, said method comprising in combination:

a) sealing an aperture of the compartment;

b) opening the aperture in response to an increase in suction force within the compartment resulting in a drop of water level in the compartment; and

c) maintaining a gravity induced flow of water through the aperture and into the compartment until the aperture of the compartment is resealed.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of automatically resealing the aperture upon filling the compartment with water.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of manually resealing the aperture.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of maintaining the aperture sealed with a magnetic force.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 including a float for exercising said step of resealing.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 including the step of maintaining the aperture sealed with a magnetic force.

14. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of sealing includes the step of sealing the aperture with a flexible disc.