US3598132A

US3598132A - Automatic jet-action swimming pool cleaner attachment device

Info

Publication number: US3598132A
Application number: US837285A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eldon S Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-06-27
Filing date: 1969-06-27
Publication date: 1971-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-10

Abstract

A device for attachment to the bottom drain of swimming pools is described, comprising a cylindrical housing structure seatable and securable over the drain and having a plurality of radially outwardly extending flexible tubes. Operation is effected by directing the inlet flow of pool water in the filtering circulatory system to the bottom drain, whereat it passes under pressure through the housing structure to discharge at the open ends of the tubes with jet action. The resulting whipping about of the tubes at the bottom of the pool serves to maintain dirt particles in suspension for automatic removal by the filtering apparatus instead of settling as dirt and sludge.

Description

United States Patent Primary ExaminerNile C. Byers, .lr. Attorney-Emest H. Schmidt ABSTRACT: A device for attachment to the bottom drain of swimming pools is described, comprising a cylindrical housing structure seatable and securable over the drain and having a plurality of radially outwardly extending flexible tubes. Operation is effected by directing the inlet flow of pool water in the filtering circulatory system to the bottom drain, whereat it passes under pressure through the housing structure to discharge at the open endsof the tubes with jet action. The resulting whipping about of the tubes at the bottom of the pool serves to maintain dirt particles in suspension for automatic removal by the filtering apparatus instead of settling as dirt and sludge.

PATENTEDmsmnsn 3,598 132 5 l/Vl/E/UTOK ELDON s. MILLER 5X Q M 5M TTOF-WUEX AUTOMATIC JET-ACTION SWIMMING POOL CLEANER ATTACHMENT DEVICE My invention relates to swimming pools of the type having a built-in water purifying circulatory system including a pump and filter, and is directed particularly to an attachment device for use in association with such pool circulatory systems and operative to continuously agitate the water at the bottom of the pool to prevent sedimentation of dirt and sludge.

In presently installed swimming pools, whether of large size for commercial use or of smaller size as commonly used in residential backyard installation, it is common practice to provide a water circulation system including a pump and filter for removing solid particles of dirt, etc., including solid chemical compounds or precipitates formed by chemicals added from time to time to the water for purification, i.e., to maintain the water at a low bacteria level safe for swimming. In such systems, water is drained from the upper level of the pool to collect surface dirt along with suspended dirt or foreign particles, fed through the filter to remove the dirt and clarify the water, and returned, usually through one or more jetlike openings distributed around the inside of the pool in such a manner as to create a circulatory flow of the water in the pool for more efficient filtering action. A large drain is also built into the bottom of the pool and piped to the pump with provision for alternative connection to the input of the pump for pumping through a drainage conduit when it becomes necessary to empty the pool. While such pump and filter circulatory systems have proved to be most satisfactory when properly used together with a program of chemical treatment, to maintain pool water in a clear and pure condition for safe and enjoyable swimming, they are deficient in that, no matter how good the filtering action, there is always a settling of heavy dirt particles to the bottom of the pool which must be manually cleaned periodically, usually by means of a water vacuum device operated from the input of the pool circulatory system by connection, for example, to the pool skimmer input port.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to eliminate or substantially eliminate the accumulation of dirt and sludge at the bottom of swimming pools of the character described by the provision of water agitation means at the bottom of a pool operated by the circulatory system and operative to maintain heavier dirt particles in suspension for removal by the pool filter, thereby eliminating the need for periodically vacuuming the pool bottom.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a swimming pool cleaner attachment device of the character described including a cylindrical housing member adapted to be attached in enclosing relation over the main drain at the bottom of the pool and having a plurality of thin-walled, sidewardly extending turbulence tubes communicating with the interior of the housing member and operative, when the bottom drain conduit is connected with the output of the pump filter system instead of or in addition to the poolside input openings, to oscillate and to whip about aimlessly in reaction to jetstreams projecting from the free ends of the tubes, thereby keeping the water at the bottom of the pool in a continuous state of agitation to prevent settling and encourage filtering.

Yet another object is to provide an attachment device of the above nature which can readily be attached to the usual main drain of an automatic pool pump and filter system and which will be automatically controlled by the pumping action thereof.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus of the above nature which will be low in cost, simple in structure and operation, and long wearing in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings,

' wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. I is a plan view of a swimming pool equipped with a pool-cleaning device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the pool bottom illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the pool-cleaning device on an enlarged scale with portions broken away to reveal constructional details;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cleaning attachment device taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale and illustrating the mechanical details including the mechanism for attachment to a swimming pool bottom drain;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the piping of a typical swimming pool pump and filter system, modified to provide for circulating water input flow through the bottom drain for operation of the pool-cleaning attachment device comprising the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, generally, a pool-cleaning attachment device embodying the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 as being attached for use upon a typical bottom drain cup II imbedded in the bottom 12 of a swimming pool 13 with its circular upper edge 14 substantially flush with the pool bottom (see FIG. 3). The imbedded sidewall of the drain cup 11 is provided with an opening communicating through conduit IS with the pump and filter circulatory system in the manner and for the purpose hereinbelow more particularly described. The drain cup 11, typically, is formed at its upper end with a shallow annular recess 16 which normally seats a perforated circular cover plate (not illustrated) substituted for by the poolcleaning attachment device embodying the invention, next to be described in detail.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pool-cleaning device I0 comprises a shallow, cylindrical housing member 17 integrally formed of die-cast metal or of a molded tough, rigid, synthetic plastic material, for example. The housing member I7 is formed with a short, cylindrical sidewall portion 18 merging at its upper end with an upper end wall portion I9 having a central opening 20 defined by an upwardly curved, peripheral lip 21. The interior surface of the lip 21 provides a rounded, circular seat for a lightweight check valve ball 22, such as a pingpong ball, preventing the escape of water under pressure supplied through conduit l5 and into the interior of the device 10.

Means is provided for attaching the pool-cleaning device I0 with respect to the drain cup II so that the lower end of its sidewall portion 18 is firmly seated against the annular recess 16 of said drain cup, the diameters thereof being substantially the same. To this end, the interior of the housing member sidewall portion 18 is integrally formed with an inwardly projecting annular flange 23, the underside of which has a con centric, downwardly directed annular boss 24 slightly spaced with respect to the interior surface of the said sidewall portion to provide a downwardly directed narrow slot 25. Retained within the slot 25 is an outwardly projecting, resilient sealing ring 26 of rubber, neoprene or the like, the outer edge of which is adapted to contact interior surface portions of the annular recess 16 of the drain cup II to prevent water leakage under pressure, as is hereinbelow described.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the upper surface of the annular flange 23 is formed, at four equidistantly spaced intervals thereabout, with pairs of opposed, curved, upwardly extending sidewall portions 27, 28 defining therebetween an upwardly directed, semicircular seat 29 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. As means for strengthening the seats 29, each seat has integrally formed therebelow a triangular rib 30 extending between the annular flange 23 and the annular boss 24.

The pool-cleaning device attachment means further comprises an anchor crossmember 31 having a central, cylindrical collar 32, preferably of metal, welded or otherwise affixed about the outer peripheral wall whereof are four radially outwardly extending, equidistantly spaced support rods 33 of such length and diameter as to be seata ble, one each at their outer ends, in the semicircular seats 29 of the housing member I7 when assembled thereto. The collar 32 has a central opening 34 received within and extending downwardly with respect to which is a headed attachment machine screw 35. The downwardly extending end of the machine screw 35 is threadable in an anchor nut 36 having a plurality (four in the illustrated embodiment) of radially outwardly extending, equidistantly peripherally spaced threaded anchor lugs 37 (see H08. 3 and 4). The threaded anchor lugs 37 are threadingly received in internally threaded, elongated adjusting nuts 38, conically pointed at their outer ends, as indicated at 39, and having hexagonal body portions 40 at their inner ends to facilitate turning with a wrench upon installation.

To install the pool-cleaning device [0, the assembly comprising the anchor nut 36, its anchor lugs 37 and the adjusting nuts 38 will be positioned horizontally within the drain cup 11 and secured thereat by turning said adjusting nuts so that their conically pointed outer ends 39 jam or bite into interior wall portions of said drain cup (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The housing member 17, together with the anchor crossmember 31 assembled thereto as described above, will then be positioned in place upon the drain cup I], and the headed attachment machine screw 35 screwed in place with respect to the anchor nut 36 affixed within said drain cup as described above. It will be noted that, in attaching the housing member 17 in place, a screwdriver will be inserted through the central top opening 20 to turn the attachment screw 35, the check valve ball 22 being readily displaceable for this purpose.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the sidewall portion l8 of the housing member 17 is provided with a plurality of equidistantly peripherally spaced openings 50 (eight in the embodiment illustrated) secured within each of which,

I as by headed friction plug tubes 52, is an outwardly projecting,

thin-walled, flexible tube 51.

Referring now toFlG. 6, illustrating, schematically, a typical pump and filter circulatory system utilized with the swimming pool 12, it will be seen that the conduit leading from the pool bottom drain connects through a shutoff valve 41 to the input of a pool filter 43. The output of the filter 43 extends through a conduit 44 into an inlet opening 44a in the side of the pool 12 to return the filtered water thereto. Discharge or outlet water from the pool is ordinarily taken through a skimmer device 46a at the top of the pool water and pumped through conduit 46 and shutoff valve 47 to the input of the pump 42. In order to effect water input flow to the pool through the bottom drain, the pool circulatory system is provided with a bypass comprising a conduit 48 having a series shutoff valve 49 communicating between the output of the filter 43 and the drain conduit 15. Thus, in order to effect return of the filtered water from the filter circulatory system through the bottom drain 11 instead of or in addition to ordinary return through the inlet port or ports 44a built into the sidewall of the pool, it is only necessary to close the shutoff valve 41 leading from the conduit 15 to the pump 42, open the shutoff valve 49 in the bypass conduit 48 and close or partially close the shutoff valve 45 in the conduit 44 leading to the swimming pool side inlet port or ports 44a. By such control of the various above-described shutoff valves in the circulatory system, it will be seen that filtered water under pressure from the filter 43 can'be applied to the drain cup 11 and thus to the interior of the housing member 17 attached thereto as described above. When so operated, since the buoyancy of the check valve ball 22 will result in its lodging itself in the seat provided at the central opening 20, full pressure will be applied to the interior of the housing member 14 to force the pumped water through the thin-walled flexible tubes 51. As above described, the jet action of water projecting from the outer open ends of the flexible tubes 51 serves to whip them about at the bottom of the pool, as illustrated by the broken line representations thereof in FIG. I, to maintain the pool water in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the pool in a continuous state of agitation. Such agitation will prevent sedimentation of heavy particles and bring into suspension dirt particles or sludge which may have settled during periods? nonoperation of the circulatory system, thereby ensuring its circulation with the pumped water for removal by the filter.

While I have illustrated and described herein a jet action pool-bottom-cleaning device having eight flexible tubes 51, it is to be understood that a smaller or greater number could also be used, or a different peripheral distribution thereof, could be used to best accommodate to the sedimentation pattern of the particular pool installation with which the device is to be used. Additionally, it is contemplated that in installations where there is a tendency for dirt to accumulate in areas very close to the device [0, additional openings could be provided in the housing member equipped with short, appropriately sized and directed nozzle members or the like for applying sweeping streams of water to such areas. My invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A swimming pool cleaner attachment device for use with swimming pools having a forced-flow filter circulatory system including a bottom drain, comprising, in combination, a housing member defining an interior pressure chamber and having a peripheral sidewall, means for attaching said housing member in relatively fixed relation with respect to a swimming pool bottom drain so that the drain is in communication with said housing chamber with said peripheral sidewall above the pool bottom, and a plurality of flexible tubes connected at one end each to a like plurality of openings in said housing member for communication with the interior pressure chamber thereof, whereby when filter circulatory system pool water is fed under pressure to the bottom drain, it will pass through the outer ends of said tubes with jet action imparting random movement thereto at the bottom of the pool.

2. A swimming pool cleaner attachment device as defined in claim 1, including a check valve in said housing member operative to permit the unimpeded flow of pool water therethrough into said housing member for drainage through the pool drain upon reversal of flow under pressure therethrough.

3. A swimming pool cleaner attachment device as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing member is cylindrical in shape and has an upper end wall, said check valve comprising an opening in said upper end wall defining a circular valve seat and a buoyant ball valve member in said housing chamber and seatable with respect to said valve seat.

4. A swimming pool cleaner attachment device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing member is cylindrical in shape and is provided with an upper end wall, said attachment means comprising an internally threaded anchor nut and means for removably and adjustably securing said anchor nut at a central position within the bottom drain with its thread axis extending substantially in the vertical direction, a headed attachment screw, and means including a centrally apertured collar in said housing member through which said attachment screw extends for centrally supporting said attachment screw in depending relation for threaded reception in said anchor nut.

5. A swimming pool cleaner attachment device as defined in claim 4, including a check valve in said housing member operative to permit the unimpeded flow of pool water therethrough and into said housing member for drainage through the pool drain upon reversal of flow under pressure therethrough, said check valve comprising a central opening in said upper end wall defining a circular valve seat, a buoyant ball valve member in said housing chamber and seatable with respect to said valve seat, said attachment screw being in vertical alignment with said opening to permit access therethrough for turning said attachment screw.

6. A swimming pool cleaner attachment device as defined in claim 5, wherein said attachment-screw-supporting means comprises a plurality of support rods extending radially outward of said collar, and a like plurality of semicircular seats exteriding inwardly and beingdirect e d iwardly with respect to the peripheral interior of said housing member for removably seating respective end portions of said rods.

Claims

1. A swimming pool cleaner attachment device for use with swimming pools having a forced-flow filter circulatory system including a bottom drain, comprising, in combination, a housing member defining an interior pressure chamber and having a peripheral sidewall, means for attaching said housing member in relatively fixed relation with respect to a swimming pool bottom drain so that the drain is in communication with said housing chamber with said peripheral sidewall above the pool bottom, and a plurality of flexible tubes connected at one end each to a like plurality of openings in said housing member for communication with the interior pressure chamber thereof, whereby when filter circulatory system pool water is fed under pressure to the bottom drain, it will pass through the outer ends of said tubes with jet action imparting random movement thereto at the botTom of the pool.

6. A swimming pool cleaner attachment device as defined in claim 5, wherein said attachment-screw-supporting means comprises a plurality of support rods extending radially outward of said collar, and a like plurality of semicircular seats extending inwardly and being directed upwardly with respect to the peripheral interior of said housing member for removably seating respective end portions of said rods.