Patent ID: 8191183
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: E04H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A suction fitting assembly configured for fitting into a hole in a wall of a bathing installation water receptacle for drawing water from the bathing installation water receptacle to a pump, comprising: a suction cover with a pattern of holes or orifices formed therein to allow water to enter the fitting in normal operation while preventing objects larger than the hole from being sucked into the fitting during pump operation; a wall fitting structure having a generally cylindrical hollow barrel portion with an outer diameter smaller than a diameter of the wall opening, and a flange portion formed at an end of the barrel portion, the flange portion having an outer diameter larger than the wall opening diameter, providing a stop surface, the wall fitting structure having a first end for attachment of the suction cover and an open second end; the wall fitting structure further including a center support structure defining a hollow center passageway, and wherein at least one open area is defined adjacent a first end of the passageway and the suction cover, and the passageway having an open tubular second end; a suction adapter structure including axially aligned, generally cylindrical, first and second hollow body portions, the outer diameter (OD) of the first body portion sized for fitting into the open second end of the wall fitting structure, the second body portion terminating in a suction fitting port configured for connection to a fluid conduit in fluid communication with a suction port of the pump, and wherein the suction fitting port is axially aligned with the wall fitting structure to be generally transverse to the receptacle wall and provide a straight fitting assembly; the suction adapter structure further includes a tube structure having a first tube portion supported in the center of the adapter structure in a coaxial relation such that a center axis of the first tube portion generally coincides with a center axis of the adapter structure, the tube further including a second tube portion forming an angle with the first tube portion and in fluid communication with an air port formed on one of the first and second body portions of the adapter structure, the first tube portion being sized to fit within the open tubular end of said passageway; an air conduit having a first end attached to the air port of the adapter structure and a distal end positioned above the water line of the bathing installation to prevent water from discharging from the line when the pump is not in use, the distal end open to the atmosphere and free of check valves; so that with the pump turned off, water enters into the suction fitting from the water receptacle and into the air conduit to a level of about the receptacle water level, and with the pump turned on in normal operation in which the suction cover openings are not blocked, water is drawn down the air conduit, with sufficient water remaining to block entrance of air into the passageway from the air conduit, and during a blockage condition when some or all the openings in the suction cover are blocked during pump operation, water in the air conduit is drawn out and air is drawn from the atmosphere through the fluid conduit and out the suction port fitting, causing the pump to cavitate so the blockage may be removed.