Abstract:
Flow control and indicator assemblies are detailed. The assemblies are especially (although not necessarily exclusively) useful in allowing fluid to bypass automatic pool cleaners (APCs) and may serve as adaptors between APCs and adjacent hoses. The assemblies additionally may provide information about flow rates relative to a desired threshold, for example.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/695,456, filed Aug. 31, 2012, and having the same title as appears above, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to assemblies through which fluid may flow and more particularly to valving mechanisms both regulating and indicating fluid flow in connection with water-cleaning systems for pools and spas (or otherwise as appropriate). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,743 to Bauckman, whose contents are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, discloses exemplary flow control assemblies for use especially with automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs). As disclosed in the Bauckman patent, versions of the assemblies may be “place[d] between lengths of hose or fittings used in swimming pools,” for example. See Bauckman, col. 3, 11. 26-27. Such an assembly may include a body having an inlet and an outlet together with a pivoting cover. When the cover pivots to an open position because of reduced pressure inside the body, a bypass inlet to the body is formed. See id., 11. 48-53. 
         [0004]    Commonly-owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0226361 of van der Meijden, et al., whose contents likewise are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, describes other bypass devices for use principally with pool and spa water-cleaning systems. Referenced in the van der Meijden application as “idler mechanism[s],” at least one version of the devices may be “configured as an interface unit for positioning between a hose and a body of an APC.” See van der Meijden, p. 1, ¶0012. This version may include both an inlet and an outlet as well as an additional opening intended, when open, to allow fluid to bypass the APC. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Protecting APCs from unsuitably high water flow rates may reduce risk of damage to internal components of the APCs and thus prolong their useful lives. The present invention hence provides alternatives to, among others, the bypass devices of the Bauckman patent and the van der Meijden application. In particular, devices of the present invention may function both to allow fluid to bypass APCs and to indicate (at least generally) the rate of fluid flow through their bodies. The devices further may serve as adaptors or interfaces between APCs and hoses, for example, thus requiring their presence as part of water recirculation circuits before the APCs will operate. Placement of the devices adjacent APCs causes them to experience substantially the same flow conditions as do the APCs. Alternatively, as with at least idler mechanisms of the van der Meijden application, devices of the present invention may be incorporated into either or both of an APC or a hose (or elsewhere in a circuit). 
         [0006]    Continuously indicating fluid flow rate may assist in diagnosing certain issues sometimes existing in pool and spa water-cleaning systems. Indication of low flow through a device of the present invention may diagnose clogged filters or water lines, undesirably low pump speed, or diversion of fluid from the circuit containing the APC, for example. By contrast, indication of high flow might suggest undesirably high pump speed—thus wasting electricity and potentially diminishing pump life—or other issues. 
         [0007]    At least some embodiments of the innovative devices of the present invention may employ spring-loaded pistons as valves. The pistons normally close the bypass openings. However, should sufficient pressure differential exist between the fluid external to a device (e.g. ambient pool or spa water) and the interior of the device, the spring force may be overcome resulting in movement of a piston. As the piston moves relative to its normal position, it opens a bypass port allowing pool water to enter or exit the device (depending on whether the interior pressure is lower or higher than ambient). Presently-preferred versions of the devices intended for use with suction-type APCs allow water to enter the device via the bypass port. By allowing water to enter via the bypass port, water flow entering through a main inlet (connected to an APC) may be maintained at or below a maximum flow rate. 
         [0008]    Positioning of the piston at a particular time also provides useful information about fluid flow through a device of the present invention. The piston thus may itself be marked for flow-indicating purposes or connected to or in communication with an indicator of fluid flow. In at least one presently-preferred embodiment of the invention, the piston may have sections of different colors providing visual indications of flow status. 
         [0009]    Versions of the devices additionally may incorporate bypass ports of irregular shapes to compensate for non-linear relationships between flow rates and pressure differentials. Additionally, devices may design pistons as dashpots so as to dampen the rate of piston movement in response to changing pressures. Such dampening may be beneficial when, for example, an APC ingests large debris (e.g. a large leaf) that puts temporary additional load on a recirculation system. Rather than have the piston respond immediately to open the bypass port (which thus reduces the suction available to move the debris through the system to a filter), the dashpot design would limit immediate piston movement and retain most of the suction to continue moving the debris. Yet additionally, various travel stops or locking mechanisms may be added to limit piston travel or to latch a piston in a particular position (as can occur in assemblies of the Bauckman patent, for example). 
         [0010]    It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide flow control assemblies. 
         [0011]    It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide assemblies that both control and indicate flow. 
         [0012]    It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide flow control and indicator assemblies configured to function as adaptors or interfaces between APCs and hoses of pool- or spa-water recirculation systems. 
         [0013]    It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide flow control assemblies having spring-loaded pistons normally closing bypass openings. 
         [0014]    It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide flow control assemblies in which sections of pistons may be colored differently for purposes of providing visible flow indication information. 
         [0015]    It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide flow control assemblies having irregularly-shaped bypass openings. 
         [0016]    It is yet another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide flow control assemblies with pistons acting as dashpots or with travel stops or latching mechanisms for pistons. 
         [0017]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in relevant fields with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an exemplary flow control assembly of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  shown connected to an exemplary APC. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4A-C  are elevational views of the assembly of  FIG. 1  illustrating different positions of a piston of the assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A-D  are elevational view of an alternate flow control assembly of the present invention illustrating different positions of a piston of the assembly. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A-C  are elevational views of another alternate flow control assembly of the present invention illustrating different positions of a piston of the assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Depicted in  FIGS. 1-5  is exemplary flow control assembly  10  consistent with the present invention. Assembly  10  preferably comprises body  14 , piston  18 , and a biasing mechanism such as spring  22 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 5  are seal  26  and ring  30 . If desired, body  14  may comprise threaded (nominally) upper and lower sections  34  and  38 , respectively; as so threaded, the sections  34  and  38  may be connected or disconnected merely by rotating one relative to the other. 
         [0026]    Illustrated as being present on lower section  38  are clips  40 . The clips  40 , when present, may connect to corresponding components of APC  41  so as to help interconnect assembly  10  and APC  41 . Clips  40  thus may function similarly to clips of commonly-owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0137451 of Bauckman, et al. (the “Bauckman Application”), whose contents also are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
         [0027]    Body  14  defines main openings  42  and  46  and a hollow interior region therebetween. Water or other fluid thus may flow through body  14  from opening  42  to opening  46  (or vice-versa). Preferably, however, assembly  10  is used with a suction-type APC  41 , in which case main opening  42  forms an inlet to body  14  and main opening  46  constitutes an outlet. 
         [0028]    Also shown as included as parts of lower section  38  are at least one bypass opening  50  and one or more auxiliary openings  54 . Bypass opening  50  may, but need not, have regular shape. Indeed, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2  and  4 - 5 , bypass opening  50  preferably is shaped irregularly, with its (nominally) lower boundary  58  being longer than its (nominally) upper boundary  62 , (nominally) left boundary  66  being straight, and (nominally) right boundary  70  being curved. Persons skilled in the art will recognized that, even if shaped irregularly, bypass opening  50  may be shaped other than as depicted in  FIGS. 1-2  and  4 - 5 . 
         [0029]    Beneficially, though, the irregular shaping of bypass opening  50  may help maintain generally constant flow through main opening  42  when the bypass opening  50  is open. This is because pressure differential change is a function of the square of flow rate rather than a linear function thereof. As piston  18  moves longitudinally within body  14 , the effective size of bypass opening  50  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 4A-C ) likewise changes non-linearly. Auxiliary openings  54  allow (typically higher-pressure) pool water to communicate with the underside of flange  72  of piston  18 . 
         [0030]    Depicted as present on upper section  34  are protrusions  74 . The protrusions  74 , when present, may connect to corresponding channels  76  or recesses of hose section  78 . Protrusions  74  thus may operate like protrusions of the Bauckman Application. 
         [0031]    Spring  22  preferably biases piston  18  so that its sidewall  82  completely closes bypass opening  50 . In preferred versions of assembly  10 , optimal or desired fluid flow rates will result in sidewall  82  barely closing bypass opening  50 , so that a small increase in flow rate thereafter will overcome force of spring  22  sufficiently to cause at least slight (nominally upward) movement of the piston  18 .  FIGS. 4A-B  illustrate this concept: In  FIG. 4A , the actual fluid flow rate is less than desired, and sidewall  82  completely closes bypass opening  50 . By contrast, in  FIG. 4B , the actual fluid flow rate approximates the desired rate; although sidewall  82  continues to close bypass opening  50  completely, it has moved (upward) so that marking  86  (shown in  FIG. 4B  as a solid dark-colored line) has become visible adjacent lower boundary  58 . 
         [0032]    Finally, for purposes of illustration in  FIG. 4C , the actual fluid flow rate has become higher than desired. In this instance piston  18  has moved upward substantially, so that marking  86  is visible adjacent upper boundary  62 . Bypass opening  50  thus is essentially completely open at this time, allowing substantial fluid to enter therethrough in lieu of all flow coming through APC  41 . 
         [0033]    In at least one version of assembly  10 , ring  30  may be green in color and piston  18  may be red in color. Ring  30  may include a flange that abuts the end of piston  18  so as to add a color band thereto. Depending on the position of piston  18 , as noted above, different colors (red, green, or both) may be visible. Of course, piston  18  and ring  30  need not necessarily be colored or, if colored, need not necessarily be colored red and green, respectively. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6A-D  similarly illustrate a manner of indicating flow rate in connection with a bypass opening  50 . As shown therein, assembly  10 ′ may include numeric (or other) flow rate indicators adjacent bypass opening  50 , with positioning of marking  86  identifying a rate of flow through the assembly  10 ′. In the example of  FIGS. 6A-D , numeric indicators “25” and “35” appear adjacent bypass opening  50 , with “25” signifying that a flow rate of twenty-five gallons of fluid per minute is desired. Because marking  86  is not opposite indicator “25” in  FIG. 6A , clear is that the actual flow rate through assembly  10 ′ (and thus through APC  41 ) at the time of this example is less than desired. By contrast, marking  86  is opposite indicator “25” in  FIG. 6B , indicating the desired flow rate has been achieved.  FIGS. 6C-D  depict marking  86  near indicator “35” instead, signifying that a substantially higher than desired flow rate of thirty-five gallons per minute is occurring. Persons skilled in the art will, of course, recognize that indicators “25” and “35” are not the only possible numeric indicators available for use, and assemblies  10  and  10 ′ may function satisfactorily at flow rates lower or higher than the range bounded by twenty-five to thirty-five gallons per minute. 
         [0035]    In a typical use in a pool or spa, assembly  10  (or  10 ′) may be connected between a fluid outlet of APC  41  and a hose section  78 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Hose section  78  communicates (via other hose sections and pipes) to an inlet of water-recirculation pump. Activating the pump partially evacuates hose section  78  and APC  41 , drawing debris-laden water into and through APC  41  (which may or may not include an internal debris filter) and then into body  14  through main opening  42 . Depending on the rate of water flow through body  14  at any particular time, piston  18  will assume a position such that bypass opening  50  is either closed or open, with marking  86  continuously providing visual indication of the rate and of the extent to which bypass opening  50  has opened. Water having entered body  14  from either or both of main opening  42  and bypass opening  50  exits assembly  10  (or  10 ′) through main opening  46  of the body  14  so as to enter hose section  78  and continue its travel toward the pump. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 7A-C  show another alternate flow control assembly  10 ″. Assembly  10 ″ may be identical or similar in many respects to assembly  10 . However, as depicted in  FIGS. 7A-C , assembly  10 ″ may include bypass opening  50 ′ shaped irregularly, albeit differently, than opening  50 . Like boundaries  58 ,  62 , and  70  of assembly  50 , corresponding nominally lower boundary  58 ′ of assembly  50 ″ preferably is longer than normally upper boundary  62 ′, with boundaries  58 ′ and  62 ′ being generally straight and nominally right boundary  70 ′ being curved. By contrast, whereas nominally left boundary  66  of assembly  10  is generally straight, boundary  66 ′ of assembly  10 ″ may be curved. 
         [0037]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Further modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Any terms of direction and relative positioning (e.g. upper, lower, upward, left, right, etc.) are used to identify nominal or preferred, rather than absolute, orientations or relationships of components and may be modified as appropriate.