Fluid handling – Self-proportioning or correlating systems – Self-controlled branched flow systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-08
2001-09-18
Hepperle, Stephen M. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Self-proportioning or correlating systems
Self-controlled branched flow systems
C269S268000, C269S268000, C269S907000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289918
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related generally to bypass valves for swimming pool suction cleaning systems.
2. Background of the Invention
Liquid suction systems are employed in a variety of settings and for a variety of purposes. One notable application is in automatic pool cleaning systems and main drains. When liquid suction lines become obstructed with debris, damage to the lines and equipment may result if the excessive vacuum pressures are not quickly released. Furthermore, the risk of bodily injury exists if a vacuum or suction device accidentally comes into contact with a person.
An example of a prior art valve with bypass features is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,660 (Chauvier). The '660 patent discloses a vacuum sleeve valve for controlling the flow of water to a filter of a swimming pool. In use, when flow is obstructed upstream of the valve, the vacuum chamber collapses and opens an auxiliary opening to allow bypass. When the obstruction has been removed, the valve automatically returns to the operational position. However, if the obstruction (whether or not a matter of urgent concern) remains, the system will continue to operate in a compromised mode, which may involve unwanted application of vacuum pressure, rather than end any unwanted application of vacuum pressure until the obstruction can be removed. Furthermore, with the system of the '660 patent, obstruction removal can be impeded by the immediate resumption of suction pressure during removal attempts, unless the entire system has been shut down.
The prior art fails to disclose or suggest a bypass valve which, if a substantial blockage happens to occur, automatically ends application of upstream suction pressure without the need to shut down the entire system. The prior art fails to disclose or suggest a bypass valve which allows removal of a substantial obstruction without the reimposition of suction pressure during removal. Likewise, the prior art fails to teach or suggest such a valve progressively open and automatically reset over a predetermined normal bypass-operating range, while also solving the above-noted problems.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved bypass valve overcoming some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art.
It is an object of this invention to provide a bypass valve which automatically locks in the open bypass position when vacuum pressure exceeds a normal bypass-operating range of vacuum pressure.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a bypass valve which can automatically lock in the open bypass position and which can progressively open and automatically reset over a normal bypass-operating range of vacuum pressures.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bypass valve which, when in the open and locked position, requires manual resetting prior to resuming normal operation.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a bypass valve which allows full system vacuum pressure to be bypassed and which allows customization of bypass flow to accommodate particular vacuum system parameters.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a bypass valve which is simple in construction and easily maintained.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is an improved bypass valve for use in liquid suction systems. The bypass valve is of the type including a valve body defining a chamber with a first vacuum-reactive surface and a bypass-blocking wall, an inner member which is in sliding engagement with the valve body and has a bypass opening and a second vacuum-reactive surface in the chamber and opposed to the first vacuum-reactive surface, and a spring between the valve body and the inner member against which the vacuum-reactive surfaces move axially relative to each other. The invention is an automatically locking bypass valve which overcomes some of the problems and shortcoming of the prior art.
In the improved bypass valve, the valve body has a guide and the inner member has a guide-follower which is (a) slidably engaged with the guide in one rotational alignment with the valve body in a normal operating range of relative axial positions of the inner member and valve body and (b) out of sliding engagement with the guide beyond such normal operating range of relative axial positions. The spring is held in rotational tension such that it rotates the valve body into a locked bypass position with respect to the inner member when the guide and guide-follower are out of sliding engagement.
More specifically, the bypass valve of this invention includes: (1) a valve body defining a chamber and having an outlet end structure forming a first spring-abutment, a first vacuum-reactive surface, a guide channel, and a bypass-blocking wall; (2) an inner assembly in sliding engagement with the valve body and forming an axial passageway therethrough, the inner assembly including (
2
a
) an upstream member having a second spring-abutment facing the first spring-abutment and a second vacuum-reactive surface in the chamber and opposed to the first vacuum-reactive surface, and (
2
b
) a downstream member fixed to the upstream member and having a bypass opening and a guide-follower arm. The guide-follower arm is slidably engaged with the guide channel in one rotational alignment with the valve body in a normal operating range of axial positions with respect thereto; the guide-follower arm is out of sliding engagement with the guide beyond such normal operating range. The bypass valve includes a spring in axial compression and rotational tension between the first and second spring-abutments. The spring is compressible by vacuum force on the vacuum-reactive surfaces to axially move the valve body with respect to the inner member. The spring rotates the valve body into a locked bypass position when the guide channel and guide-follower arm are out of sliding engagement. This feature alerts users of an obstruction in the line and allows investigation and corrective action to be taken without the possibility of the system resetting itself prior to completion of the investigation and/or corrective action.
In preferred embodiments, the outlet end structure (a) terminates axially inwardly in a sleeve having an inward cylindrical sleeve wall which forms the bypass-blocking wall, and (b) forms at least one radially-extending guide channel, the guide channel bounded by a sidewall joining the sleeve wall and terminating in a downstream edge; and the downstream member includes (c) a cylindrical tube portion received in mating fashion within the sleeve, the tube portion forming part of the axial passageway and defining the bypass opening, and (d) a guide-follower arm extending radially from the tube portion into the guide channel. Such embodiments preferably include a pair of the guide-follower arms extending in radially-opposite directions and a pair of the guide channels each receiving one of the guide-follower arms. The guide-follower arms may be painted red or have other indicia so a user can readily observe the relative axial positions of the valve body and inner member to ascertain changes in system vacuum pressures.
In certain preferred embodiments, the outlet end structure includes a stop engageable by the guide-follower arm to limit rotation of the valve body when the guide-follower arm is out of sliding engagement with the guide channel. Most preferably, the stop is an axially-extending portion of the guide channel sidewall.
In highly preferred embodiments, the tube portion of the downstream member and the valve body are substantially concentric and form an annular sub-chamber therebetween terminating upstream and downstream in the vacuum-reactive surfaces, such sub-chamber being in fluid communication with the axial passageway. The tube portion has an upstream end portion, and the upstream member has a cylindrical downstream end portion sized for mating engagement with the
Rief Dieter J.
Schlitzer Hans Raines
Hepperle Stephen M.
Jansson & Shupe & Munger Ltd.
Poolvergnuegen
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