Skimmer to main drain diverter valve
AssigneeAquastar Pool Products, Inc.
InventorOlaf Mjelde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A main drain to diverter valve assembly for a swimming pool circulation system is disclosed. The valve assembly is configured to selectively control suction balance and water flow between a skimmer inlet and a main drain outlet. The assembly includes a housing enclosing to interconnected valves configured to move simultaneously, where a first valve controls skimmer inlet suction and water flow and second valve controls main drain suction and water flow. The main drain diverter valve assembly is configured to provide multiple selectable flow modes, including full skimmer flow, full main drain flow, and combined flow modes. The main drain to diverter valve assembly is adapted for installation in existing pool skimmers and provides improved usability, durability, and ease of replacement.
Claims20
A diverter valve assembly for use in a swimming pool skimmer, comprising:
- a housing having a skimmer inlet, a main drain inlet, a pump outlet and a locking feature;
- a door valve operable to control water flow through the skimmer inlet to the pump outlet;
- a butterfly valve operable to control water flow through the main drain inlet to the pump outlet;
- wherein the door valve and the butterfly valve are physically interconnected by means of a splined connection such that door valve and butterfly valve move in unison;
- wherein the locking feature comprises a plurality of serrations formed on the door valve which mate with a plurality of serrations formed on the housing which are engageable by means of a knob to lock the door valve and the butterfly valve in one of a plurality of positions;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of positions corresponds to a different distribution of suction and water flow between the skimmer inlet and the pump outlet and the main drain inlet and the pump outlet.
A diverter valve assembly for use in a swimming pool circulation system, comprising:
- a housing having a skimmer inlet, a main drain inlet, an outlet and a locking feature;
- a door valve operable to control water flow through the skimmer inlet to the outlet;
- a butterfly valve operable to control water flow through the main drain inlet to the outlet;
- wherein the door valve and the butterfly valve are physically interconnected such that door valve and butterfly valve move in unison;
- wherein the locking feature is configured to lock the door valve and the butterfly valve in one of a plurality of positions;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of positions corresponds to a different distribution of suction and water flow between the skimmer inlet and the outlet and the main drain inlet and the outlet.
A diverter valve assembly, comprising:
- a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet, an outlet and a locking feature;
- a first valve operable to control water flow through the first inlet to the outlet;
- a second valve operable to control water flow through the second inlet to the outlet;
- wherein the first valve and the second valve are physically interconnected such that the first valve and the second valve move in unison;
- wherein the locking feature is configured to lock the first valve and the second valve in one of a plurality of positions;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of positions corresponds to a different distribution of suction and water flow between the first inlet and the outlet and the second inlet and the outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.