US20150211248A1

US20150211248A1 - Pool float valve and cover

Info

Publication number: US20150211248A1
Application number: US14/163,122
Authority: US
Inventors: Darwin Dew Nicol
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-24
Filing date: 2014-01-24
Publication date: 2015-07-30

Abstract

The present pool filling system is designed to retrofit manual or aging pool filling systems with a ball valve held within an enclosure. The enclosure has a number of apertures through the side walls and bottom wall for allowing water to enter and exit the enclosure to equalize the interior and pool water level. The float valve is protected from continuous cycling by the baffling effect provided by the apertures which prevents wave action from the pool from entering the enclosure. The enclosure may be clamped to a bracket strapped about the plumbing and may be directly attached to the pool wall by mounting tape on a flange. The enclosure also acts to reduce sound levels due to water exiting the float valve under pressure.

Description

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to systems for filling pools; and more particularly, systems for regulating the water level in pools by using a float valve.
A large portion of swimming pools, spas, and the like have been in use for many years without upgrade. Thus, there are numerous pools in service utilizing original and outdated equipment. In particular, the water filling systems in pools are aging and in need of retrofitting. Pools lose water throughout the day, primarily from evaporation, splashing, and maybe small leaks in the pool wall or linin. Older pools may have a manual spigot that a person must open by hand to fill the pool, and close by hand to stop the filling process. A water pipe protrudes through the wall of the pool for introducing water into the pool from the spigot.
Manual spigots have numerous shortfalls due to requiring constant attention during the filling process. When filling the pool, the person must take care not to over-fill the pool, causing flooding. Thus, the person must regularly check the filling process to insure the spigot is turned off when the appropriate level is obtained. On the other hand, if the person permits the pool water level to drop too much before filling, the water level in the pool may drop below the skimmer inlet and permitting the drawing in of air, thus damaging the skimmer pump.
Float valves have been used to automatically control the water level. However, float valves are susceptible to frequent opening and closing of the valve due to splashing, when the pool is in use. Further, debris, such as leaves, may interfere with the operation of the float valve. Additionally, float valves make a hissing noise in operation that some find unpleasant.
What is needed is a water filling system that reduces the disadvantageous operation of the float valve. The system should automatically control the water filling process. The system needs to be protected from contact and should provide a means to reduce the undulating effect of splashing on the float. What is further needed is a system that reduces water noise during the filling process.

SUMMARY

A pool filling system is provided herein for retrofitting an existing water inlet extending through a wall of a pool, where the water inlet is connected to a water source for filling the pool. The system is primarily comprised of a float valve, an enclosure surrounding the float valve, and a plurality of apertures formed through the enclosure. The float valve has an inlet port in fluid communication with the existing water inlet and an outlet port. The float valve is configured to change position with a change in a pool water level. The enclosure has an interior defined by a front face, an open face opposite the front face, a right side, a left side opposite the right side, a top side, and a bottom side opposite the top side. The float valve is configured to be wholly situated within the interior of the enclosure and configured to permit the float valve to change position without interference. The enclosure is positioned in abutment with the wall of the pool at the open face, with the outlet port of the float valve configured to deliver water to the interior. A plurality of apertures are formed through the right side, the left side, and the bottom side. The apertures are minimally sized to permit the water from the inlet to freely exit the enclosure without creating a substantial differential between an interior water level within the enclosure and the pool water level. Additionally, the apertures are maximally sized to serve as a baffle to prevent splashing within the pool from substantially changing the interior water level.
Optionally, the enclosure may further include a flange extending about the perimeter of the open face. A water resistant adhesive may be applied between the flange and wall of the pool to adhere the enclosure to the wall. An elbow fitting may be fitted in line between the existing water inlet and the inlet port of the float valve. The existing water inlet, the elbow fitting, and the float valve form a structure, with the structure held in position relative to the wall of the pool through the existing water inlet. A clamp may be wrapped about at least a portion of the structure, with the clamp being fastened to the enclosure and holding the enclosure to the structure. The clamp may be fastened to the front face of the enclosure with a plurality of screws. A load distributing bar may be positioned an outer surface of the front face, with the screws inserted through the load distributing bar and through the front face to fasten to the clamp.
Optionally, the enclosure provides a muffling effect to reduce the sound of the water exiting the outlet port when the float valve is actuated. Again optionally, at least some of the apertures are configured to be positioned above the interior water level and the pool water level to permit the ingress and egress of air. At least some of the apertures may be formed through the top wall, where the enclosure is configured to be positioned such that the top wall is above the pool water level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing the pool filling system installed within a pool;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view showing the pool filling system fully assembled;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the pool filling system;

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the pool filling system of FIG. 1, the section taken at 4-4, and showing the pool water level at a maximum; and

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the pool filling system of FIG. 1, the section taken at 4-4, and showing the pool water level at a minimum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

By way of example, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the present pool filling system (10) comprises an enclosure (12) attached to a pool wall (50). Within the enclosure (12) and fluidly connected to the water inlet pipe (44) is a float valve (17) with a movable float (18) which floats atop the water and moves with the water level. The enclosure (12) has a plurality of apertures (14) in one or more places. The enclosure (12) has a top side (52), a bottom side (60), a right side (54), a left side (58), a front face (56), and an open face (62). Surrounding the perimeter of the open face (62) is a flange (16), which permits a flat surface for adhering the enclosure (12) to the pool wall (50) through an adhesive means, such as water resistant mounting tape (15).
Referring now to FIG. 3, the present pool filling system (10) is shown in an exploded view. The existing water inlet pipe (44) normally extends from the pool wall (50) and is connected to a water source for filling the pool. The pool filling system (10) is adapted to retrofit and attach to the existing water inlet pipe (44) through a connecting pipe (35). The connecting pipe (35) is inserted into the existing water inlet pipe (44) after coating both with primer and solvent cement to permanently glue the two together. Depending on the configuration of the existing water inlet pipe (44), different connecting pipes (35) or other connectors may be used to attach the pool filling system (10) to the water inlet pipe (44). An elbow fitting (34) is attached to the connecting pipe (35) by one end and a thread (32) extending from the valve body (30) of the float valve (17) by the opposite end. A pivoting arm (20) extends from the valve body (30) to hold a float (18) on the surface of the water.
A pipe bracket (16) is positioned over the elbow (34) or part of the float valve (17) so that the enclosure can be fastened to the float valve (17) assembly. In the illustrated example, a load distributing bar (39), acting much like a washer, is positioned on the outer surface of the front face (56) so that two screws (38) can be inserted through the holes (41), through holes (40) in the enclosure (12), and into the holes (37) of the bracket (36) for fastening. Mounting tape (15) on the flanges (16) further fastens the enclosure (12) to the pool wall (50).
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the pool filling system (10) attached to the pool wall (50) and in operation. FIG. 5 shows a scenario where the pool water level (46) and the interior water level (47) have dropped to a minimum due to evaporation, splashing, etc. The float (18) drops down as a result of the low interior water level (47), which is related to the pool water level (46), but without the variation due to wave action. The pivoting arm (20) rotates clockwise about pivot (23), causing the valve plug (24) to be lifted from its seat to permit the water flow (48) to travel through the inlet port (28) and out of the outlet port (26), thus depositing water into the interior of the enclosure (12). The apertures (14) are of a size and quantity to permit the interior water level (47) to equalize with the pool water level (46) by allowing water to travel through the apertures (14) as the water leaves the float valve (17). Further, apertures (14) are provided on at least the top side (52) of the enclosure (12), above the maximum water level, to permit air to enter and exit the enclosure (12) so that a suction or pressurized effect is not created.
FIG. 4 shows a scenario where the pool water level (46) and the interior water level (47) have increased to a maximum due to the float valve (17) introducing water into the pool. The arm (20) and the float (18) have rotated counterclockwise to force the valve plug (24) into the seat to stop the water flow (48). Again, because the enclosure (12) provides a baffling effect due to the apertures (14) being located on the sides walls (54, 58) and bottom wall (60), so that extreme splashing that causes significant changes in the pool water level (46) due to wave action is substantially prevented changing the interior water level (47). The size of the apertures (14) must be so large as to permit the wave action from entering the enclosure (12) to cause the float valve (17) to continuously cycle on and off. Furthermore, the enclosure (12) is made of a thermoformed plastic material with a thickness and density sufficient to deaden the sound of flowing water when the float valve (17) is on.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A pool filling system for retrofitting an existing water inlet extending through a wall of a pool, the water inlet being connected to a water source for filling the pool, the pool filling system comprising:

a float valve with an inlet port in fluid communication with the existing water inlet and an outlet port, the float valve configured to change position with a change in a pool water level;

an enclosure, the enclosure having an interior defined by a front face, an open face opposite the front face, a right side, a left side opposite the right side, a top side, and a bottom side opposite the top side, the float valve configured to be wholly situated within the interior of the enclosure, the enclosure configured to be in abutment with the wall of the pool at the open face, the enclosure permitting the float valve to change position without interference, the outlet port of the float valve configured to deliver water to the interior;

a plurality of apertures formed through the right side, the left side, and the bottom side, the apertures minimally sized to permit the water from the inlet to freely exit the enclosure without creating a substantial differential between an interior water level within the enclosure and the pool water level, the apertures maximally sized to serve as a baffle to prevent splashing within the pool from substantially changing the interior water level.

2. The pool filling system of claim 1 wherein, the enclosure further comprises a flange extending about a perimeter of the open face.

3. The pool filling system of claim 2 wherein, a water resistant adhesive is applied between the flange and wall of the pool to adhere the enclosure to the wall.

4. The pool filling system of claim 1 wherein, an elbow fitting is fitted in line between the existing water inlet and the inlet port of the float valve.

5. The pool filling system of claim 4 wherein, the existing water inlet, the elbow fitting, and the float valve form a structure, with the structure held in position relative to the wall of the pool through the existing water inlet, a clamp being wrapped about at least a portion of the structure, the clamp additionally being fastened to the enclosure, the clamp holding the enclosure to the structure.

6. The pool filling system of claim 5 wherein, the clamp is fastened to the front face of the enclosure.

7. The pool filling system of claim 6 wherein, the clamp is fastened to the front face of the enclosure with a plurality of screws, a load distributing bar being positioned an outer surface of the front face, the screws being inserted through the load distributing bar and through the front face to fasten to the clamp.

8. The pool filling system of claim 1 wherein, the enclosure provides a muffling effect to reduce the sound of water exiting the outlet port when the float valve is actuated.

9. The pool filling system of claim 1 wherein, at least some of the apertures are configured to be positioned above the interior water level and the pool water level to permit the ingress and egress of air.

10. The pool filling system of claim 9 wherein, at least some of the apertures are formed through the top wall, where the enclosure is configured to be positioned such that the top wall is above the pool water level.