Patent ID: 6495034
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
In a swimming pool installation including a swimming pool and a recirculating system having first and second pool cleaning devices and a pump that cycles between inactive and active conditions, apparatus comprising:a housing defining a main chamber and a seat extending from the housing dividing the main chamber into a first chamber which is coupled to the first cleaning device and a second chamber which is coupled to the second cleaning device and to the pump; a piston having a seal and mounted in the main chamber for reciprocal movement of the seal away from the seat and against the seat isolating the first chamber from the second chamber; a pawl mounted to the piston for rotation; first and second stops supported by the housing adjacent the pawl; and means for biasing the piston away from the seat; the piston being responsive to a cyclical application and removal of water movement there across in a direction from the first chamber to the second chamber caused by the cyclical operation of the pump between inactive and active conditions so as to move in reciprocal directions, which causes the pawl to sequentially interact with the first and second stops and cycle between a locked condition against one of the first and second stops securing the seal away from the seat and an unlocked condition permitting the seal to move against the seat.