Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Including controlling process in response to a sensed condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-06-26
Hruskoci, Peter A. (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Including controlling process in response to a sensed condition
C004S504000, C004S509000, C004S541200, C137S526000, C137S907000, C210S805000, C210S120000, C210S167150, C210S416200, C210S472000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06251285
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to pool safety equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to a lint trap cover for installation on a lint trap unit located upstream of a pool filter pump, in which the cover is configured to vent air into the lint trap unit when a vacuum level within the unit exceeds a specified vacuum limit, so that an obstruction is prevented from being trapped by suction to an inlet of the filter pump system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A vacuum relief safety valve for preventing a child or an object from being trapped by suction to a drain or any other suction line of a swimming pool filter pump system is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,624 to Ciochetti, incorporated herein by reference. The Ciochetti safety valve offers significant safety advantages for many pool applications. However, it would be desirable if a safety valve were available that could be more readily retrofitted to an existing pool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided 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 lint trap cover preferably has a damped mode of operation so that the pump system does not recover before the obstruction is removed. According to the invention, 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.
In a preferred embodiment, the lint trap cover includes a valve assembly constructed as part of the cover. With the cover of this invention, a lint trap unit causes air to rapidly flow into the filter pump if a predetermined vacuum level is exceeded within the suction lines upstream of the lint trap unit, e.g., when the drain or one of the pool's suction line inlets becomes partially or completely obstructed. The rapid influx of air eliminates the vacuum within the pump and suction lines and, therefore, the resulting unsafe condition. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the valve assembly includes a piston and flapper body that reciprocate within a bore, with the piston being connected to a diaphragm through which air is vented to the vacuum line. The flapper body damps the response of the piston within the cylinder such that the valve will remain open sufficiently long to cause the filter pump to completely lose its prime, but can recover quickly if only a very brief obstruction occurs.
An advantageous aspect of this invention is that an existing pool can be readily retrofitted with the safety valve of this invention. In particular, the invention does not necessitate that the drain or suction line be modified or reconstructed, such that the benefits of the invention can be realized without altering or disturbing the pool or suction line. Instead, the invention can be implemented by modifying an existing lint trap cover to include the safety valve or replacing the existing cover with one equipped with a safety valve in accordance with this invention.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3747761 (1973-07-01), Heinrich, Jr.
patent: 3935106 (1976-01-01), Lipner
patent: 4917795 (1990-04-01), Sable et al.
patent: 5265631 (1993-11-01), Goetti
patent: 5682624 (1997-11-01), Ciochetti
patent: 5865601 (1999-02-01), Miller
patent: 6038712 (2000-03-01), Chalberg et al.
patent: 6098648 (2000-08-01), Bertoia
Hartman Domencia N. S.
Hartman Gary M.
Hruskoci Peter A.
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