초록 ▼

A method and device are provided for preventing a child or an object from being trapped by suction to a drain of a swimming pool filter pump system. The invention entails a safety valve capable of causing the filter pump to immediately lose its prime when a child or object becomes trapped against th

A method and device are provided for preventing a child or an object from being trapped by suction to a drain of a swimming pool filter pump system. The invention entails a safety valve capable of causing the filter pump to immediately lose its prime when a child or object becomes trapped against the drain of a swimming pool, so that the vacuum created by the filter pump is completely eliminated. The valve of this invention can be mounted directly to a suction line fluidically interconnecting the drain and the filter pump, and is constructed to permit air to rapidly flow into the suction line if a predetermined vacuum level is exceeded within the suction line, as is the case if the drain becomes partially or completely obstructed. The influx of air causes the filter pump to rapidly lose its prime, thereby completely eliminating the vacuum and the resulting hazardous condition.

대표청구항 ▼

A swimming pool equipped with a pump for drawing water from the pool and through a filter system, the swimming pool comprising: an inlet disposed in the swimming pool; a suction line in fluidic communication with the inlet and the pump such that the pump operates to draw water from the swimming pool

A swimming pool equipped with a pump for drawing water from the pool and through a filter system, the swimming pool comprising: an inlet disposed in the swimming pool; a suction line in fluidic communication with the inlet and the pump such that the pump operates to draw water from the swimming pool through the inlet; a vacuum relief safety valve mounted to the suction line, the vacuum relief safety valve being adapted to sense and respond to a vacuum level within the suction line so as to open and thereby deliver air to the suction line if a maximum allowed vacuum level within the suction line is exceeded; and means for damping closing of the vacuum relief safety valve so as to promote the delivery of air to the suction line as the vacuum level within the suction line begins to drop.