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Vacuum relief valveRelated Patent Categories: Baths, Closets, Sinks, And Spittoons, Pool Type, Construction Details, Including Water Inlet Or Outlet MeansVacuum relief valve description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060112480, Vacuum relief valve. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a vacuum relief valve for a pool system. [0002] Conventional water circulation systems for swimming pools, whirlpools and the like typically include a suction pump and one or more suction covers built into the bottom or side of the pool and connected to the suction side of the pump. During normal water circulation operation, water is drawn through a line via the suction pump and circulated through any of filtration, aeration, chemical treatment and other equipment, prior to being returned to the pool body via return jets. [0003] Large volumes of water are pumped through suction covers of this type, and as a result suction forces at the suction cover may become extremely high. The suction force can become so extreme that when a human body part comes into contact with the suction cover the body part may become trapped in the suction cover. [0004] Safety valves that continuously draw air into the suction side of a pump are known. Disadvantageously, these safety valves compromise the performance of the pump and the return jets. Safety valves that automatically open and bleed air to the pump when a suction cover becomes blocked are also known. However, these safety valves are complex in design and manufacture. Also, once these valves have been tripped, it is necessary to manually reset the valves. [0005] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a safety valve which is not complex and that does not detract from the performance of the pump and return jets. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] A vacuum relief valve assembly according to the present invention provides vacuum relief at a pool suction cover when the vacuum at a suction cover becomes excessive. [0007] The vacuum relief valve assembly of the present invention includes a valve body, a valve plunger and a biasing member. The valve plunger is located within the valve body and rests against a valve seat when the pool water circulation system is operating under normal conditions. The biasing member is attached to the valve plunger and maintains the valve plunger against the valve seat under normal operating conditions. [0008] The valve body defines a flow path between atmosphere and a fluid conduit. When a pool suction cover becomes obstructed by a body part or the like, the suction force of the pump increases thereby overcoming the biasing force of the biasing member. The biasing member then compresses and moves the valve plunger away from the valve seat. Atmosphere enters the fluid conduit and is carried to the pump thereby cavitating the pump and causing the suction force at the suction cover to drop. Once the suction cover is unobstructed, the biasing member decompresses and the valve plunger returns to its resting position against the valve seat. There is no need for manual resetting. [0009] The vacuum relief valve assembly of the present invention provides an uncomplicated vacuum relief valve that eliminates the need for manual reset after an obstruction is removed from the pool suction cover. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: [0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a pool water circulation system utilizing a vacuum relief valve assembly of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vacuum relief valve of the present invention when in a closed position. [0013] FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view of the vacuum relief valve shown in FIG. 2 along section 2A. [0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vacuum relief valve of the present invention when in an open position. [0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vacuum relief valve assembly of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a pool water circulation system incorporating a vacuum relief valve assembly 10 of the present invention is illustrated. A pool body 12 includes a suction cover 14 at its bottom. It should be understood that when the term pool is used in the present specification it includes but is not limited to swimming pools, spas, whirlpools, bathtubs, ponds, lakes, etc. [0017] During normal pool water circulation operating conditions, pump 16 creates a suction force at the suction cover 14 thereby causing fluid to enter a piping system 18. The piping system 18 carries the fluid from the suction cover 14 of the pool body 12 to various equipment stages such as a sanitizer 20, a filter 22 and a heater 24. The fluid is then delivered back to the pool body 12 at an inlet fitting 26 via the piping system 18. [0018] The vacuum relief valve assembly 10 is located on the suction side of the pump 16. In the event the suction cover 14 becomes obstructed, the pump 16 creates increased vacuum pressure at the suction cover 14. Subsequently, the vacuum relief valve assembly 10 allows a source of air, such as atmosphere, to enter the piping system 18 and thereby cavitate the pump. The vacuum level at the suction cover 14 consequently drops. In the event the obstruction is caused by an occupant of the pool, when the vacuum pressure is relieved, the occupant should be able to move away from the suction cover 14. Once the suction cover 14 becomes unobstructed, the vacuum relief valve assembly 10 automatically returns to a normal position and prevents atmosphere from entering the piping system 18. [0019] Referring to FIG. 2, a cylindrical shaped valve body 28 of the vacuum relief valve assembly 10 is a single-piece injection molded part. The valve body 28 defines a flow path 31 along axis A for a source of air, such as atmosphere, to enter. A valve plunger 30 is positioned within the valve body 28 and rests against a valve seat 32. The flow path 31 is a pathway formed completely through the vacuum relief valve assembly 10 along axis A that communicates with the source of air so that when the valve body 28 rests against the valve seat 32, atmosphere is kept from entering the flow path 31. The flow path 31 communicates with the piping system 18 at an end opposite the valve body 28 from the valve seat 32. The valve body 28 and the valve plunger 30 are preferably constructed of PVC. The valve seat 32 is preferably constructed of a resilient material such as rubber. It should be understood that other materials may be utilized in the construction of the valve body 28, the valve plunger 30 and the valve seat 32 of the present invention. [0020] A biasing member 34 is located within the valve body 28 and is attached between the valve plunger 30 and the inner side of the valve body 28. The biasing member 34 maintains the valve plunger 30 firmly against the valve seat 32. Preferably, the biasing member is a spring. It should be understood that other types of biasing members may be utilized. Pressure spacers 36 may be utilized as support for the biasing member 34 on an inner side of the valve body 28. The pressure spacers 36 provide the biasing member 34 with increased force to maintain the valve plunger 30 against the valve seat 32 when utilizing the pump 16 which has a high horsepower output. Continue reading about Vacuum relief valve... Full patent description for Vacuum relief valve Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vacuum relief valve patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Vacuum relief valve or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Foot operated flushing apparatus and method Next Patent Application: Integrated water feature Industry Class: Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Vacuum relief valve patent info. 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