Sequentially-gated multi-port water distribution valve
OwnerThomas V. Lopezinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water distribution valve for directing a flow of fluid through a swimming pool cleaning system includes a housing having an inlet and outlets. A plurality of gates are mounted in the housing, each corresponding to a respective one of the outlets. Each gate is mounted to open and close the respective one of the outlets to which the gate corresponds in response to the flow of fluid into the housing from the inlet.
Claims31
A water distribution valve for directing a flow of fluid through a swimming pool cleaning system, the water distribution valve comprising:
- a housing having an inlet and outlets;
- a plurality of gates, each corresponding to a respective one of the outlets and being mounted for reciprocation in the housing radially with respect to a center of the gates;
- and
- each gate is mounted to open and close the respective one of the outlets to which the gate corresponds in response to the flow of fluid into the housing from the inlet.
A water distribution valve for directing a flow of fluid through a swimming pool cleaning system, the water distribution valve comprising:
- a housing having an inlet, outlets, a bottom, a panel disposed above the bottom, and a plurality of tracks defined between the panel and the bottom, each track including an aperture formed in the panel and an aperture formed in the bottom;
- a plurality of gates, each corresponding to a respective one of the outlets, and each mounted in the housing for reciprocal movement between a retracted position closing the respective one of the outlets and an advanced position opening the respective one of the outlets;
- the gates are carried in the tracks, and each gate has a port formed through the gate;
- in the advanced position of each gate, the port of the gate is aligned with the apertures formed in the panel and bottom in the respective track;
- in the retracted position of each gate, the port of the gate is misaligned with the apertures formed in the panel and bottom in the respective track;
- a drive assembly carried by the housing and operably coupled to each of the gates;
- and
- in response to application of the flow of fluid into the housing, the drive assembly imparts reciprocation to the plurality of gates.
A water distribution valve for directing a flow of fluid through a swimming pool cleaning system, the water distribution valve comprising:
- a housing having an inlet, outlets, a bottom, a panel disposed above the bottom, and a plurality of tracks defined between the panel and the bottom, each track including an aperture formed in the panel and an aperture formed in the bottom;
- a plurality of gates carried by the housing, each corresponding to a respective one of the outlets and mounted for reciprocal movement between a retracted position closing the one of respective outlets and an advanced position opening the one of the respective outlets;
- the gates are carried in the tracks, and each gate has a port formed through the gate;
- in the advanced position of each gate, the port of the gate is aligned with the apertures formed in the panel and bottom in the respective track;
- in the retracted position of each gate, the port of the gate is misaligned with the apertures formed in the panel and bottom in the respective track;
- and
- a cam operatively coupled to each of the gates to impart reciprocal and sequential movement to the gates in response to rotational movement of the cam;
- wherein application of the flow of fluid through the housing from the inlet imparts rotational movement to the cam, sequentially urging the gates into the advanced position opening the respective one of the outlets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.