Adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system for swimming pools and spas

Abstract

An adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system includes a housing having first and second shells cooperatively defining an inner chamber in fluid communication with a pump of a pool circulation system. A sealing element within the housing is biased against an air inlet aperture of the housing by a spring so as to seal the inner chamber of the housing from the ambient air. To accommodate for different pumps, the first and second shells of the housing are connected to one another such that the compression of the spring can be altered to adjust for the pump's characteristics. During elevated negative pressure operating conditions, the sealing element is pushed into the inner chamber, permitting ambient air to flow into the inner chamber and the pump, causing the pump to rapidly lose its prime. An electronic circuit may be actuated, via a switch, for shutting off power to the pump.

1 . An adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system for a human-occupiable pool having a water circulation system including an intake line and a water output line fluidly connected to a pump, the adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system comprising:
 a housing having a first shell and a second shell cooperatively defining an inner chamber in fluid communication with the pump;   an air inlet aperture formed in the housing and open to ambient air;   a sealing element disposed within the housing inner chamber;   a spring disposed within the inner chamber and adapted to bias the sealing element against the air inlet aperture so as to prevent ambient air from entering the inner chamber and into the pump during normal pressure conditions, but be compressed and permit the sealing element to be pushed away from the air inlet aperture and the flow of ambient air into the inner chamber and into the pump such that the pump loses its prime during elevated negative pressure operating conditions;   wherein the first shell and the second shell are configured so as to be adjustably connected to one another so as to alter the compression of the spring and adjust for pump characteristics.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , including a visually readable pressure gauge operably connected to the housing so as to read a pressure within the inner chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure gauge is connected to a port of the housing in fluid communication with the inner chamber of the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is attached to the pump. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the housing is threadedly attached to a drainage port of the pump. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first shell and the second shell are threadedly attached to one another. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element includes at least one leg biased against a wall of the inner chamber. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , including a spring for biasing the at least one leg against the wall of the inner chamber. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , including a switch actuatable by the sealing element, wherein actuation of the switch shuts off power to the pump. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the switch includes a depressible member engageable with a portion of the sealing element so as to actuate the switch. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , including an electronic circuit operably connected to the switch for shutting off power to the pump. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic circuit includes a timer circuit configured to temporarily shut off power to the pump, and after a predetermined period of time restore power to the pump. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , including a delay circuitry configured to delay shutting off power to the pump during a predetermined pump start up period. 
   
   
       14 . An adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system for a human-occupiable pool having a water circulation system including an intake line and a water output line fluidly connected to a pump, the adjustable vacuum relief safety valve system comprising:
 a housing attached to the pump and having a first shell and a second shell cooperatively defining an inner chamber in fluid communication with the pump;   an air inlet aperture formed in the second shell of the housing and open to ambient air;   a sealing element disposed within the housing chamber;   a spring disposed within the inner chamber and adapted to bias the sealing element against the air inlet aperture of the second shell so as to prevent ambient air from entering the inner chamber and into the pump during normal pressure conditions, but be compressed and permit the sealing element to be pushed away from the air inlet aperture of the second shell and the flow of ambient air into the inner chamber and into the pump such that the pump loses its prime during elevated negative pressure operating conditions; and   a visually readable pressure gauge operably connected to the housing so as to read a pressure within the inner chamber;   wherein the first shell and the second shell are connected so as to be adjustably moved toward and away from one another so as to alter the compression of the spring until a reading from the pressure gauge is generally constant.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the housing is threadedly attached to a drainage port of the pump. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first shell and the second shell are threadedly attached to one another. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the sealing element includes at least one leg biased against a wall of the inner chamber. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , including a spring for biasing the at least one leg against the wall of the inner chamber. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , including an electronic circuit, including a switch actuatable by movement of the sealing element, wherein actuation of the switch activates the electronic circuit to shut off power to the pump. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the switch includes a depressible member engageable with a portion of the sealing element so as to actuate the switch. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the electronic circuit includes a timer circuit configured to temporarily shut off power to the pump, and after a predetermined period of time restore power to the pump. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19 , including a delay circuit configured to delay shutting off power to the pump during a predetermined pump start up period.