AU2007200840A1 - A valve assembly - Google Patents

Description

S&F Ref: 799893 O AUSTRALIA

O

PATENTS ACT 1990 CCOMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(N

FOR A STANDARD PATENT 0

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F1- Name and Address Zodiac Pool Care Europe S.A., of Applicant 34 Rue Francine Fromont, 69120 Vaulx-En-Velin, France Actual Inventor(s): Andrew William Dawson Address for Service: Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A valve assembly Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country: [31] Appl'n No(s): [32] Application Date: AU 2006901300 14 Mar 2006 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c(692735_1) A VALVE ASSEMBLY o Technical Field The present invention relates to valve assemblies and more particularly but not Sexclusively to valve assemblies employed with swimming pools. More specifically the i s present invention relates to a valve assembly to be incorporated in a "skimmer box" of a swimming pool and to be used in conjunction with a pool cleaning device to be connected to the suction side of a pool pump.

00 Background of the Invention Swimming pools are generally provided with a "skimmer box" through which O 10io water is drawn by a pump, the water passing through a filter before being returned to the pool.

It is not uncommon to use pool cleaning devices that are connected by means of a flexible tube to the skimmer box so as to be driven by water being delivered to the pump.

In use of the above described pool cleaning devices, if the pool cleaning device and/or the flexible tube extending therefrom becomes clogged (blocked), the pump receives insufficient water causing heating of the pump and/or electric motor associated therewith. This can frequently lead to damage of the pump/motor assembly.

To alleviate the above problem, a valve assembly is introduced between the flexible tube and a "suction" plate located in the skimmer box. This valve assembly provides a second inlet through which water is drawn should the pool cleaning device and/or flexible tube become clogged or at least partly blocked. This additional inlet has a movable valve member (door) that moves to an open position should pressure within the valve assembly drop below a predetermined pressure, that is a circumstance has arisen in which the pump is receiving insufficient water. This additional inlet and movable valve members are generally positioned adjacent the weir door of the skimmer box.

A problem in respect of the above valve assemblies is that the weir door can interfere with operation of the movable valve member, again resulting in the pump receiving insufficient water.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

1 104445-1:hxa Summary of the Invention 0 There is disclosed herein a valve assembly through which a fluid is to pass, the N assembly including: a hollow body providing a first duct extending from a first inlet to an outlet, and D 5 a second duct extending from the first duct to a second inlet; a movable valve member operatively associated with the second duct so as to be movable relative thereto between a first position at least substantially closing the second 0 duct so as to prevent or at least substantially restrict flow through the second duct, and a second position offering less resistance to flow through the second duct compared to resistance to flow provided by the movable valve member in the first position; Smeans urging the movable valve member to the first position; and wherein said first duct includes a first duct portion extending from the first inlet, and a second duct portion extending in a predetermined direction from the first duct portion to the outlet, with the second duct portion being displaced angularly from the first duct portion so as to extend from the first duct portion in a predetermined direction, and said second duct extends from said first duct so as to locate said second inlet at a position displaced from said first duct portion by a distance incorporating a component extending in the direction of extension of said second duct portion.

Preferably, said first duct portion has a longitudinal axis, and said second duct portion has a longitudinal axis extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the first duct portion.

Preferably, said second duct extends generally parallel to said second duct portion.

Preferably, said second duct portion is located between said first inlet and said second duct.

Preferably, said movable valve member is a flap pivotally attached to said housing for movement about a pivot axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said second duct.

Preferably, said flap is pivotally mounted adjacent said second inlet.

Preferably, said flap is urged to the first position thereof by a tensioned spring.

Preferably, said flap when in said first position is substantially coterminus with said second inlet.

Preferably, said flap when moving from said first position to said second position moves angularly to be displaced from said second inlet.

2 104445-1:hxa Brief Description of the Drawings O A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of N example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: SFigure 1 is a schematic top isometric view of a valve assembly; and Ns Figure 2 is a schematic bottom isometric view of the valve assembly of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In the accompany drawings there is schematically depicted a valve assembly 00 0The valve assembly 10 is intended to be located in the "skimmer box" of a swimming pool. The valve assembly 10 engages an adapter 11 that threadably engages, by means of a threaded length 12, with the threaded opening in a suction plate located in the skimmer N box. The valve assembly 10 is intended to be attached to a flexible tube (hose) extending to a pool cleaning device that relies on water be drawn therethrough by a pump downstream of the skimmer box.

The adapter 11 has a circular top opening 13 provided by a tubular body 14. The upper end of the tubular body 14 terminates with a flange 15 of annular configuration that is to abut an upper surface of the suction plate.

The valve assembly 10 includes a hollow body 16 having a first duct 17 extending from a first inlet 18 to an outlet 19. The first duct 17 includes a first duct portion 20 that extends from the inlet 18 and provides a "frusto-conical" part 21 that engages the end extremity of the flexible tube extending to the pool cleaning device. The first duct portion 20 has a longitudinal axis 22. Extending downwardly from the first duct portion 20 is a second duct portion 23 having a longitudinal axis 24. The second duct portion 23 extends at an angle from the first duct portion 20, more preferably the longitudinal axis 24 is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 22, with the second duct portion 23 therefore extending downwardly from the first duct portion 20 to the outlet 19.

Also extending downwardly from the first duct portion 20 is a second duct The second duct 25 has a longitudinal axis 26 that is generally perpendicular to the axis 22 and therefore generally parallel to the axis 24.

The first duct portion 20 is generally circular in transverse cross-section as is the second duct portion 23. However the second duct 25 is generally rectangular or square in transverse cross-section. The second duct 25 extends from the first duct portion 20 to a 3 104445-1:hxa second inlet 27. As best seen in Figure 2, the inlet 27 is generally rectangular in O configuration and is located in a plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis 26.

Pivotally mounted in the housing 16 adjacent the inlet 27 is a movable valve member 28, which in this embodiment is a flap. The valve member 28 is pivotally ID 5 mounted for angular movement about an axis 29 that is located adjacent the inlet 27.

Fixed to the member 28 is an arm 30, the extremity of which is provided with a circular projection 31. Extending between the circular projection 31 and a further circular 0 r projection 32 is a spring 33. The projection 32 is fixed to the body 16. The spring 33 is 00 tensioned so that the arm 30 is urged to pivot in the direction of the arrow 34, thus urging 1o the valve member 28 to a closed position in respect of the inlet 27 (as shown in Figure 2).

The closed position of the member 28 is defined by means of a stop 35 that is engaged by the arm Preferably the projection 32 is attached to a sleeve 36 having a tab 36 that may be gripped by a user. The sleeve 36 is slidable over a selected one of three flanges 37.

Is By positioning the sleeve 36 on a selected on of the flanges 37 the distance of the projection 32 from the projection 31 can be altered thereby altering the tension in the spring 33. By altering the tension in the spring 33, the pressure difference across the member 28 required to move the member 28 is altered.

If so required the valve assembly 10 can be provided with a second spring 33 that engages a second arm 30. The arms 30 are located on opposite sides of the second duct 31.

The second duct portion 23 has a "frusto-conical" end 38 that fits within the aperture 36.

In operation of the above described valve assembly 10, the adapter 11 is threadably located in the suction plate in the skimmer box. Thereafter the portion 38 is located in the aperture 13 so that the inlet 18 faces the skimmer box opening. Thereafter the flexible tubing extending to the pool cleaning device is attached to the portion 21. In this respect it should be appreciated that at least the lower end of the second duct (particularly the inlet 28) is below water level in the skimmer box.

The pump is then turned on and water is drawn in through the skimmer box and therefore through the valve assembly 10 and ultimately through the pool cleaning device.

Should the pool cleaning device and/or flexible tubing extending to the pool cleaning device become blocked, lowering of pressure within the housing 10 and in particular the second duct 15 will apply a pressure difference across the movable valve member 28.

4 104445-I :hxa This pressure difference will create a moment about the axis 29 that is counted by the O moment resulting from the spring 37 applying a force to the extremity of the arm c However should the pressure difference across the member 28 exceed the moment Sapplied by the spring 33, then the valve member 28 will pivot in the opposite direction to 5 the arrow 34 to open the inlet 27. Accordingly the valve member 28 will move from a position preventing flow (or at least greatly restricting flow) to a position at which inlet S27 is opened or at least the member 28 is in the position at which a reduced restriction to Sflow is applied. Water will flow through the opening 28 and ultimately to the pump to inhibit the pump overheating.

104445-1 :hxa

Claims (7)

1. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said first duct portion has a longitudinal axis, and said second duct portion has a longitudinal axis extending generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the first duct portion.
2. 3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein said second duct extends generally parallel to said second duct portion.
3. 4. The assembly of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said second duct portion is located between said first inlet and said second duct. The assembly of anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein said movable valve member is a flap pivotally attached to said housing for movement about a pivot axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said second duct.
4. 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said flap is pivotally mounted adjacent said second inlet.
5. 7. The assembly of claim 5 or 6, wherein said flap is urged to the first position thereof by a tensioned spring.
6. 8. The assembly of claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein said flap when in said first position is substantially coterminus with said second inlet. 6
7. 104445-1:hxa 9. The assembly of anyone of claims 1 to 8, wherein said flap when 0 moving from said first position to said second position moves angularly to be displaced N from said second inlet. A valve assembly substantially hereinbefore described with reference to ND 5 the accompanying drawings. Dated 23 February, 2007 Zodiac Pool Care Europe S.A. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person 00 SPRUSON FERGUSON 7 104445-I:hxa