Vacuum relief valve

Abstract

A vacuum relief valve releases vacuum force at a pool suction cover when the suction cover is obstructed. A valve plunger rests against a valve seat within a valve body under normal pool operating conditions. A biasing member maintains the valve plunger against the valve seat. The biasing member compresses and moves the valve plunger to a position away from the valve seat when the suction cover is obstructed. Once the obstruction is removed, the valve plunger is automatically returned to its resting position against the valve seat. The valve body is attached to fluid conduit that carries a source of air to the pump when the valve plunger is moved away from the valve seat.

1 . A pool system, comprising: p 1  a pool body; p 1  a suction cover built within said pool body; p 1  a pump that communicates with said suction cover; and p 1  a vacuum relief valve located in a piping system on a suction side of said pump, said vacuum relief valve allowing a source of air to enter said piping system and cavitate said pump responsive to blockage of said suction cover and automatically block said source of air responsive to said suction cover becoming unblocked.  
   
   
       2 . The pool system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pump communicates with said suction cover via said piping system.  
   
   
       3 . The pool system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said source of air is atmosphere.  
   
   
       4 . The pool system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum relief valve includes a valve body, a valve plunger and a biasing member.  
   
   
       5 . The pool system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said valve body defines a flow path between said source of air and said piping system.  
   
   
       6 . The pool system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said valve plunger is positioned within said valve body.  
   
   
       7 . The pool system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said biasing member is attached to said valve plunger, said biasing member operative to compress and selectively locate said valve plunger in an open position allowing said source of air to enter said piping system and cavitate said pump.  
   
   
       8 . The pool system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said biasing member is operative to automatically decompress and selectively locate said valve plunger in a closed position responsive to said suction cover becoming unblocked thereby blocking said source of air from entering said piping system.  
   
   
       9 . The pool system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said valve plunger is horizontally slideable along a plurality of valve plunger guides in said valve body responsive to said biasing member compressing and decompressing.  
   
   
       10 . The pool system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said valve body defines a cylindrical boss, said cylindrical boss maintaining the positioning of said biasing member within said valve body.