Abstract:
A diverter valve is disclosed that includes a cylindrical body having a bottom and lid and a plurality of body openings. A closure member is included within the cylindrical body that is movable to block one of the housing holes. A handle is connected to the closure member, with the handle being external to the cylindrical body. The turning of the handle causes the closure member to move within the body. The handle has a first set of vertical teeth and a spline on the lid has a second set of vertical teeth. The first and second sets of vertical teeth engage to lock the handle in place and disengage to allow the handle to turn. A plurality of label tags can also be included, at least one of which is mounted to the diverter adjacent to one of the body openings to indicate the source or destination of fluid flowing through said openings.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates to pools and spas and more particularly to a diverter valve used in pool and spa plumbing.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Pools are commonly built with an adjacent spa and the pool and spa plumbing can be arranged so that they share components, such as the water pump, filter, heater, air pump, etc. Under certain circumstances it may be desirable to divert the output of one of these components so that it enters the pool or spa only. For example, when using only the spa it may be desirable to divert the heated output of the water pump to the spa, while preventing the output from entering the pool.  
           [0005]    Additional aesthetic features are more commonly being added to pools and spas, such as fountains and waterfalls, which can also be connected to the output of a common water pump. It may be desirable to divert the output of the water pump between these features or to block water to both.  
           [0006]    Spas can also be arranged with different “banks” of jets or inlets that separately provide a certain massaging effect, and together provide a different massaging effect. The different banks can be attached to the same water pump and it may be desirable to switch between the different banks or to have both the banks operating. It may also be desirable to have none of the banks operating to provide no massaging effect.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,429 to Johnson, discloses a three-way rotary plug valve that can be used to block the flow in two of its three passageways. The valve includes an internal valve closure member that is turned by an external lever arm. When the lever arm is positioned in alignment with one of the two passageways, the flow through the passageway is blocked while the flow in the remaining passageway is unobstructed. The valve closure member can also be positioned so that the flow through the two passageways is unobstructed. Once the lever arm is in the desired position, a knob is threaded into an internally threaded sleeve to lock the lever in its position.  
           [0008]    One disadvantage of the Johnson plug valve is that the position of the closure member cannot be changed quickly and easily. The knob must be loosened from the threaded sleeve before the handle is turned and tightened again after it is turned. This can be difficult, particularly if the valve is located in a hard to reach location. If the knob is accidentally turned too far out of the threaded sleeve the knob&#39;s threads will fully disengage from the threaded sleeve and the knob can be dropped and lost. Also, if the knob is not tightened enough the lever arm is free to move if bumped.  
           [0009]    Another disadvantage of this plug valve is that there are no indicators showing the type of device that is coupled to each of the passageways to show which device is being blocked depending on the position of the lever arm. For instance, there are no indicators showing whether a particular passageway is an inlet to the plug valve or an outlet to a pool or spa.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention seeks to provide a diverter valve where the closing member can be quickly and easily moved to block one of the diverter&#39;s passageways. The invention also seeks to provide a means for easily identifying what type of device is coupled to each of the passageways.  
           [0011]    One embodiment of a diverter valve according to the present invention includes a cylindrical body having a bottom and lid, with the cylindrical body having a plurality of body openings. A closure member is included within the cylindrical body that is movable to block one of the housing holes. A handle is connected to the closure member, with the handle being external to the cylindrical body. The turning of the handle causes the closure member to move within the body. The handle has a first set of vertical teeth and a spline on the body&#39;s lid has a second set of vertical teeth. The first and second sets of vertical teeth engage to lock the handle in place and disengage to allow the handle to turn.  
           [0012]    Another diverter according to the present invention includes the same cylindrical body, body opening and closure member with a handle, but also includes a plurality of label tags. At least one of the tags is mounted to the diverter adjacent to one of the body openings to indicate the source or destination of fluid flowing through the openings.  
           [0013]    A pool system according to the present invention is also disclosed that includes a reservoir of water and a plurality of system devices external to said reservoir of water. The system devices accept water from and return water to said reservoir of water, with the system devices conditioning the water. A plumbing system is included that provides a plurality of conduits for circulating water between the reservoir of water and the system devices. One or more diverter valves are also included within the plumbing system to divert water carried by the plurality of conduits.  
           [0014]    These and further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a diverter valve according to the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the diverter valve shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the diverter valve shown in FIG. 1; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pool and spa using a diverter valve according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    FIGS.  1 - 3  show one embodiment of a diverter valve  10  according to the present invention. Most of its components are formed from a water impervious plastic such as CPVC, PVC, or ABS. It is particularly adapted to be integrated with the plumbing system of a pool, spa, hot tub, waterfall, and the like, and their related devices such as waterfalls, fountains, skimmers, cleaners, pumps, filters, and the like. The diverter valve  10  is considered a three-way valve because it has three passageways  18 ,  19 ,  20 . However, diverter valves according to the invention can have two passageways or four or more passageways.  
         [0020]    The diverter  10  includes a diverter body  12  having a vertically oriented cylindrical housing  14 . A circular bottom section  16  is mounted to the circular bottom opening in the housing  14  with a watertight seal between the two. The body  12  also includes three cylindrical passageways  18 ,  19 ,  20 , that extend horizontally from the housing&#39;s cylindrical surface. Substantially rectangular holes  21 ,  22 ,  23 , in the housing  14  are aligned with the passageways  18 ,  19 ,  20 , so that each passageway provides a water inlet or outlet to or from the interior of the housing  14 . Each passageway  18 ,  19 ,  20 , includes a transition section adjacent to the housing so that each passageway can transition from its respective rectangular opening  21 ,  22 ,  23 , to the cylindrical shape of the passageways. Each passageway  18 ,  19 ,  20 , is arranged so that it can be connected to the pool or spa&#39;s plumbing system, which circulates water between the pool or spa and system&#39;s heater, pump, filter, or related device. In one embodiment, each passageway  18 ,  19 ,  20 , can be coupled to the conduits of a plumbing system, with a respective conduit being mounted within one of the passageways by gluing, although other mounting methods can be used.  
         [0021]    A generally circular housing lid  24  is mounted on the top opening of the housing  14  by mounting screws, although many other methods can be used including, but not limited to, pins, clips or adhesives. Eight housing holes  32   a - 32   h  are included around the outside surface of the body  14  adjacent to the housing&#39;s top opening  13 , with two of the eight holes arranged over each one of the passageways  18 ,  20 ,  22 . For instance, holes  32   b,    32   c  are arranged over the middle passageway  20 . The two housing holes  32   g,    32   h  are not over one of the passageways are arranged opposite the holes  32   b,    32   c.    
         [0022]    The housing lid  24  also includes four tabs  30   a - 30   d  that are positioned around the circumference of the housing lid  14 , with each of the tabs  30   a - 30   d  having tab holes  28   a  and  28   b.  Each set of tab holes  28   a,    28   b  align with a respective pair of housing holes  32   a - 32   h.  Each of the housing holes  32   a - 32   h  has threads to mate with the threads on the mounting screws  26 . The screws  26  pass through the lid holes  28   a,    28   b  in each of the lid tabs  30   a - 30   d  and turn into the housing holes  32   a    32   h.  The lid tabs  30   a - 30   d  are sandwiched between the heads of the screws  26  and top surface of the housing holes  32  so that the lid is held securely on the housing&#39;s top opening. A lid O-ring  33  is included between the lid  24  and the edge of the housing&#39;s top opening to provide a watertight seal between the housing  14  and the lid  24 .  
         [0023]    The lid  24  has a central lid hole  34  that is aligned with the housing&#39;s longitudinal axis  36 . A central bottom hole  41  (shown in FIG. 2) is also included in, but not through, the inner surface of the bottom section  16 . The bottom hole is also aligned with the housing&#39;s longitudinal axis  36 .  
         [0024]    A diverter  38  is arranged within the housing  14 , between the bottom surface  16  and the lid  24 . It has a generally cylindrical rod  40  that passes through the central lid hole  34  and it also has a cylindrical plug  42  that is positioned within the bottom hole  41 . The diverter includes a closure member  44 , the top of which is mounted to the rod  40  by an upper arm  46  that extends between the top of the closure member  44  and the bottom of the rod  40 . The member  44  is mounted to the plug  42  on its bottom by a lower arm  48  that extends between the bottom of the closure member  44  and the plug  42 . When the diverter arm  38  is installed in the housing  14  and the housing lid  24  is mounted on the housing  14 , the lid  24  is adjacent to the top arm  46  and the rod  40  extends through the central hole  34 .  
         [0025]    The closure member  44  is formed in an arc that has substantially the same diameter as the inner surface of the housing  14 . A rectangular seal  50  is positioned on the outside surface of the member  44  and is held onto the member by a seal retainer  52 . Many different seals can be used with the preferred seal being coated by a material such as Teflon®, so that the seal does not need to be lubricated through use. Alternatively, a seal can be used that requires lubrication, and the diverter valve  10  can include an apparatus to lubricate the valve during use.  
         [0026]    When the diverter  38  is mounted in the housing  14 , there is a small space between the inner surface of the housing  14  and the retainer  52 . However, the seal  50  contacts the inner surface of the housing and provides a watertight seal. As the closing member  44  is rotated around the housing&#39;s longitudinal axis  36 , it intersects the passageways  18 ,  19 ,  20 . When the closing mechanism  44  is aligned with one of the substantially rectangular holes  21 ,  22 ,  23 , water is blocked from passing through the passageway. In that position, the seal  50  provides a watertight seal with the housing&#39;s inner surface, around the circumference of the blocked housing opening.  
         [0027]    A diverter handle  54  is mounted to the diverter arm  38  and can rotate the diverter  38 , which in turn rotates the closing member  44  within the housing  14 . The diverter handle  54  has a handle hole  56  that mates with the section of the rod  40  that extends from the lid hole  34 . The handle hole  56  has longitudinal tabs  58  that mate with longitudinal slots  60  in the rod  40 . The diverter handle  54  is held on the diverter  38  by an assembly screw  55 , which has threads that mate with threads in the rod&#39;s longitudinal hole  62 .  
         [0028]    A trigger  64  is mounted to the underside of the handle  54  by pins  66  on the trigger  64  that are inserted in pin holes  68  in the handle  54 . The trigger has a first section  67  on one side of the pins  66  and a second section  69  on the other side. The trigger  64  can rock back and forth about the pin and hole connection. A spring  70  is held between the handle  54  and the trigger&#39;s first section  67 , biasing the trigger&#39;s first section  67  away from the handle  54 . This in turn biases the second section  69  toward the diverter&#39;s longitudinal axis  36 .  
         [0029]    The handle  54  is normally locked in its position by the mating of opposing teeth. The second section  69  has a row of first vertical teeth  72  along its lower edge. A circular spline  76  is arranged around the central hole  34  and has a row of second vertical teeth  74  that mate with the trigger&#39;s first teeth  72 . When the spring  70  biases the first section  67  of the trigger  64  away from the handle  54 , the first teeth  72  are biased against and engage the spline teeth  74 , so that the handle  54  cannot be rotated. To rotate the handle, the trigger&#39;s first section  76  is compressed toward the handle  54 , compressing the spring between the handle  54  and the trigger  64 . In response to this action, the trigger teeth  72  are disengaged from the spline teeth  74 , freeing the handle to be rotated.  
         [0030]    The trigger  64  also has a locking hole  75  arranged so that a locking device such as a padlock can be inserted in the hole  75 . The padlock blocks the trigger  64  from being compressed within the handle  54 , which prevents the trigger teeth  72  from disengaging from the spline teeth  74 . The handle  54  cannot be rotated and is effectively locked in its position until the locking device is removed.  
         [0031]    The diverter  10  also includes label tags  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 , that can include writings on their top surface to indicate the source or destination of the water passing through the passageways  18 ,  20 ,  22 . In the embodiment shown, an INLET label  76  is mounted above the passageway  20  and indicates that the passageway is connected to a source of water, such as a spa&#39;s water pump. POOL label  78  and SPA label  80  show that the passageways  18  and  22  are connected to a pool and spa, respectfully. In the three-passageway embodiment shown, the blank label  82  does not correspond to a passageway, but could include information such as instructions for use of the diverter  10  or company logos. Alternative labels could include but are not limited to the following: SKIMMER, for the pool or spa skimmer; CLEANER, for the pool cleaner; WATERFALL, for a waterfall; FOUNTAIN, for a pool fountain; and WASTE for backwash from the filter.  
         [0032]    The labels can be mounted to the diverter  10  in many different ways and in many different locations such as the top of the housing  14 , on the passageway  18 ,  20 ,  22  or on the screws  26 . A preferred mounting location is to the lid tabs  30   a - 30   d.  Each of the labels  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82  have two vertical pins  83   a,    83   b  that are inserted into two label holes  85   a,    85   b  in the respective tab. This can be done during manufacture of the diverter valve  10 , or at the spa when the diverter valve  10  is installed. The tags can be mounted to the each set of label holes  85   a,    85   b  by many different methods such as press fit or screws, with a preferred method being gluing.  
         [0033]    If the tags are not mounted until installation of the poop or spa, the diverter valve  10  provides the flexibility to be configured to match the particular pool or spa plumbing system. The diverter handle  54  has an OFF label  83  arranged so that when the closure member  44  blocks water from passing through a particular passageway, the OFF label is aligned adjacent to the blocked passageway&#39;s label  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 . Rod O-rings  84 ,  86  are included to provide a watertight seal between the rod  40  and the lid  24 .  
         [0034]    In one application of diverter valve  10 , passageway  20  is connected to the pool or spa water pump. Blockage of the passageway  20  by the closure member  44  can result in damage to the pump. Accordingly, the lid  24  can have stops  88  to prevent the handle  54  from being turned to block the flow of water through passageway  20 .  
         [0035]    In operation of one embodiment according to the invention, the diverter valve  10  is connected to the plumbing system of a pool and a spa, or other mechanisms (described above) that utilize the water supplied by a water pump or filter. Water from the pump enters the diverter valve  10  through passageway  20 . If the water from the pump is to be supplied to the spa only, the handle  54  is turned until the handle&#39;s OFF label  83  aligns with the POOL label  78 . The closure member  44  is positioned to block water from entering passageway  18  and all of the water from the pump passes though passageway  22  and into the spa. If the water pump is to be supplied to the pool only, the handle  54  is similarly turned to align the OFF label  83  with the SPA label  80 . If water is to be supplied to both the pool and spa, the handle  54  is turned so that the OFF label  83  aligns with label  82 . In this position the closure member  44  is positioned so that it is not interfering with water flow through any of the passageways  18 ,  20 ,  22 .  
         [0036]    The diverter valve  10  allows the spa and pool user to control where the pump&#39;s water is directed. If the pool is not being used, the pump&#39;s water can be blocked from entering it. Conversely, if the spa is not being used the pump&#39;s water can be blocked from entering it. A single pump can then be used to supply water a spa, pool, waterfall, etc.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4 shows a pool  90  and spa  91 , which in combination use a three way diverter valve  92  according to the present invention, although the diverter valve  92  can be used with a pool or spa alone or used with other reservoirs of water. The diverter valve  92  can have different labels mounted around its lid (as described above) and can be coupled to many different pool/spa systems, such as the heater, pump, filter, or related device. In the embodiment shown, the diverter INLET labeled passageway  93  is coupled through conduit  94  to the water pump  95 , with the water pump  95  circulating water throughout the pool and spa combination. The POOL labeled passageway  98  is coupled to the pool  90  through conduits  100 , and the SPA labeled passageway  102  is coupled to the spa  91  through conduits  102 .  
         [0038]    An air system  112  can also be included that provides air to the jets in the spa  91 , through an air conduit  116  to aerate the water flowing through the jets. The air system  112  can be pump driven to increase the pressure of the air entering the jet, or the system can be vacuum based with the venturi located within the jets drawing air into the jet water streams.  
         [0039]    In operation, conduit  94  provides a stream of water to the diverter valve through the INLET passageway  93 . The diverter valve  92  can be manipulated by the handle  118  to divert the entering stream of water to the pool  90  or spa  91 , or allow the water to pass into both. To divert the water to the pool  90  the handle is turned so that the handle&#39;s OFF label is aligned with the SPA labeled passageway  102  and to divert water to the pool, the OFF label is aligned with the POOL labeled passageway  98 . To allow water to pass into the pool  90  and spa  91 , the OFF label is aligned with the label tag that is positioned on the lid where it is not over a passageway. In this position the internal closure member (described above) is positioned so it is not blocking any of the passageways.  
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred configurations, other versions are possible. The diverter valve could have more or less than three passageways. Other assemblies could be connected to the diverter valve  10 , with their corresponding label. Therefore, the spirit and scope of this invention should not be limited to the preferred versions described above.