Pool float valve and cover

Abstract

The present pool filling system is designed to retrofit manual or aging pool filling systems with a ball valve held within an enclosure. The enclosure has a number of apertures through the side walls and bottom wall for allowing water to enter and exit the enclosure to equalize the interior and pool water level. The float valve is protected from continuous cycling by the baffling effect provided by the apertures which prevents wave action from the pool from entering the enclosure. The enclosure may be clamped to a bracket strapped about the plumbing and may be directly attached to the pool wall by mounting tape on a flange. The enclosure also acts to reduce sound levels due to water exiting the float valve under pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pool filling system for retrofitting an existing water inlet extending through a wall of a pool, the water inlet being connected to a water source for filling the pool, the pool filling system comprising:
 a float valve with an inlet port in fluid communication with the existing water inlet and an outlet port, the float valve configured to change position with a change in a pool water level;   an enclosure, the enclosure having an interior defined by a front face, an open face opposite the front face, a right side, a left side opposite the right side, a top side, and a bottom side opposite the top side, the float valve configured to be wholly situated within the interior of the enclosure, the enclosure configured to be in abutment with the wall of the pool at the open face, the enclosure permitting the float valve to change position without interference, the outlet port of the float valve configured to deliver water to the interior;   a plurality of apertures formed through the right side, the left side, and the bottom side, the apertures minimally sized to permit the water from the inlet to freely exit the enclosure without creating a substantial differential between an interior water level within the enclosure and the pool water level, the apertures maximally sized to serve as a baffle to prevent splashing within the pool from substantially changing the interior water level.   
     
     
         2 . The pool filling system of  claim 1  wherein, the enclosure further comprises a flange extending about a perimeter of the open face. 
     
     
         3 . The pool filling system of  claim 2  wherein, a water resistant adhesive is applied between the flange and wall of the pool to adhere the enclosure to the wall. 
     
     
         4 . The pool filling system of  claim 1  wherein, an elbow fitting is fitted in line between the existing water inlet and the inlet port of the float valve. 
     
     
         5 . The pool filling system of  claim 4  wherein, the existing water inlet, the elbow fitting, and the float valve form a structure, with the structure held in position relative to the wall of the pool through the existing water inlet, a clamp being wrapped about at least a portion of the structure, the clamp additionally being fastened to the enclosure, the clamp holding the enclosure to the structure. 
     
     
         6 . The pool filling system of  claim 5  wherein, the clamp is fastened to the front face of the enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The pool filling system of  claim 6  wherein, the clamp is fastened to the front face of the enclosure with a plurality of screws, a load distributing bar being positioned an outer surface of the front face, the screws being inserted through the load distributing bar and through the front face to fasten to the clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The pool filling system of  claim 1  wherein, the enclosure provides a muffling effect to reduce the sound of water exiting the outlet port when the float valve is actuated. 
     
     
         9 . The pool filling system of  claim 1  wherein, at least some of the apertures are configured to be positioned above the interior water level and the pool water level to permit the ingress and egress of air. 
     
     
         10 . The pool filling system of  claim 9  wherein, at least some of the apertures are formed through the top wall, where the enclosure is configured to be positioned such that the top wall is above the pool water level.