Abstract:
An apparatus for automatically maintaining the water level of a body of water, such as a pool, is described herein. The present invention comprises a float body contained within a float housing chamber and selectively coupled to a float valve, a ball check valve employed as a means for isolating the pressurized water in the circulation system of a body of water from the water in the float chamber and, after pump operation has ceased, allowing the passage of supply water from the float chamber of the apparatus of the circulation system of a body of water. Flexible conduits or tubing may be provided for ease of installation. Furthermore, the present invention is intended to be conveniently located near the equipment of the circulation system for the body of water.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This non-provisional patent application claims priority based on the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/099,669, which application was filed on Sep. 24, 2008, and which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of in-ground bodies of water and more specifically relates to an apparatus for maintaining the desired level of water in a swimming pool, spa, or the like. 
         [0004]    2. Background Art 
         [0005]    Automatic water levelers of varying size, functionality, and complexity have been devised to maintain the water level of a spa, pool, or other similar types of in-ground bodies of water. Generally, automatic water levelers can be divided into two groups; water levelers that are positioned at the side of the body of water and in close proximity to the body of water, and pump-side water levelers. Pump-side water levelers typically employ electrical or mechanical means to monitor the water level of the body of water and, being in communication with the water leveler, maintain the water level of the body of water. The automatic water levelers that employ mechanical means to maintain the water level of a pool or spa most often use a float, or the like, in conjunction with a smaller separate body of water, wherein the water level of the separate body of water is in equilibrium with the water level of the pool, thereby maintaining the water level of the pool. 
         [0006]    The benefits of using a mechanical pump-side automatic water leveler versus an electric water leveler or a pool-side water leveler, are well-known to those skilled in the art. First, the procedure for installing an automatic water leveler in a pre-existing pool deck or wall is often time consuming and costly; furthermore, the end result is, more often than not, aesthetically unpleasing. Second, the distance between the location of the p 
         [0007]    In general, there is an additional cost and complexity associated with the installation of an electric automatic water leveler when compared to that of a mechanical automatic water leveler. Existing electric automatic water levelers, in most cases, require a separate electrical line or power source to supply the necessary power to operate the water leveler. Additionally, there may be one or more control lines to be installed. In those cases where the water leveler is located some distance from the other pool equipment such as the pump and filter, the electrical and/or control lines will typically be run from the pump location to the water leveler. The greater the distance, the greater the expense that will be incurred in the running of electrical and/or control lines to and from the water leveler. 
         [0008]    The conventional mechanical pump-side water leveler is typically comprised of four or more primary assemblies or components; namely: a float assembly, a water canister, a non-return valve, and a water supply valve. The non-return valve is designed to prevent the flow of water into or out of the water canister during pump operation,. Most often, these water-leveler subassemblies or components are situated in two or more locations within the pool system, thus complicating the installation process and increasing the expense. Ideally, a water leveler should require minimum installation and site preparation and, yet, would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention holds significant improvements when compared with the abovementioned water levelers. As an example, the present invention consists of one, easy to install, main assembly. The main assembly is comprised of a non-return valve, a float valve assembly, and a float assembly, all of which are enclosed within a water canister. The only connections that remain to be made prior to water leveler operation are those of the water supply to a float valve assembly and the water canister outlet to a water circulation pipe. 
         [0010]    The design of the ball check valve represents another significant improvement when compared to check valves incorporated in the design of conventional water levelers. According to the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, the non-return valve comprises a valve housing, a ball, a ball seat and guide, and a particulate screen. The check valve is closed during pump operation to prevent the flow of water into the water-leveler canister, and the potential overfilling of the water-leveler canister. While the pool pump is off, the ball check valve is open, allowing supply water to pass through the ball check valve and fill the pool with a relatively small amount of resistance. To ensure that the ball is withdrawn from the ball seat immediately after the pool pump has shut off, the elastic material, of which the water leveler outlet tube is composed, returns to its undisturbed shape and size, thereby resulting in a momentary suction on the outlet of the water leveler that aids in extracting the ball from the ball seat. 
         [0011]    Another distinctive characteristic of the present invention relates to the design of the float assembly. In contrast to most conventional water levelers, the float assembly of the present invention is easily adjustable, thereby providing for quick and easy adjustment of the water level in the swimming pool. In at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the float-rod spring clip is the component of the float assembly that facilitates the height adjustment of the float. This is readily accomplished by pressing both ends of the float-rod spring clip towards each other and positioning the float-rod spring clip such that the water level of the pool will be maintained at the desired level. In an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, a series of “spacer” rings are placed on the rod that is connected to the float assembly. By adding or subtracting spacer rings to the rod, the desired level of the water in the body of water can be calculated for automatic leveling purposes. 
         [0012]    In addition to the abovementioned feature, the float assembly incorporates two other qualities of a notable nature. First, on the opposite end of the float valve armature is a float rod retainer. The float rod retainer may be unthreaded from the float rod, thereby allowing the entire float assembly to become uncoupled from the float valve armature and subsequently extracted from the float chamber. Second, the float assembly employs two counterweights. The counterweights ensure that the float valve closes and opens as the water rises and falls, respectively. Additionally, the counterweights provide further stability for the float assembly and maintain the float rod in a vertical position, which is essential to accurately maintaining the water level of the pool. 
         [0013]    As a means of facilitating the installation of the water leveler, the supply-water tube may be effortlessly connected and disconnected from the water leveler assembly via a combination of a push-lock fittings and a tube composed of nylon, polyvinyl, or the like; or by way of threaded male and female fittings. Additionally, in accordance with at least one preferred embodiments of the present invention, the water leveler inlet and outlet are arranged to minimize the overall width of the water leveler, and consequently, minimize the diameter of hole that, in many cases, must be made in order to accommodate the automatic water leveler of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements, and: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a schematic representation for an in-ground swimming pool system and an automatic water leveler in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of the exterior float assembly housing for the major components of an automatic water leveler in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a section view of an automatic water leveler in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a horizontal ball check valve in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a float valve assembly for a automatic water leveler in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of housing for a check valve assembly in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram of an in-ground swimming pool system  100  coupled to an automatic water leveler  200  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As shown in  FIG. 1 , pool system  100  comprises a pool structure  110 , filled with water  101  wherein the top surface of water  101  is at water level  105 ; a pool deck  115 ; at least one pool outlet  125 ; at least one pool inlet  120 ; a plurality of water circulations pipes  130 ,  135 ,  140 , and  145 ; a pump  155 ; and a filter  160 . 
         [0022]    With the notable exception of automatic water leveler  200  and its associated piping elements, pool system  100  is a fairly standard installation and pool systems of this type are well known to those skilled in the art. The various components of pool system  100  are used to provide a circulating water flow within pool structure  110 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , automatic water leveler  200  is configured to be installable at several different locations on pool system  100 . Automatic water leveler  200  may be communicatively coupled to the system between pump  155  and filter  160  or after filter  160 . This flexibility is due to the unique design of automatic water leveler  200  and existing water leveling systems do not offer this flexibility. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 1A , a float chamber housing assembly  205  in accordance with a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a float chamber body  206 , an end cap  210 , and a float chamber cover  215 . End cap  210  and float chamber cover  215  cover the bottom and top portions of the float chamber body  206 , respectively. According to one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, end cap  210  is secured to the bottom of the float chamber body  206  by means of a water proof glue or adhesive, such as PVC glue or the like. Float chamber cover  215  is loosely secured to the float chamber body  205  in order to provide easy access to the float chamber  207 . In addition, a female thread 90° elbow fitting  270  is provided for coupling float chamber body  205  to an existing water supply or system. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an automatic water leveler assembly  200  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises four major subassemblies, namely: a float chamber housing assembly  205 , a float valve assembly  290 , a float assembly  250 , and a ball check valve assembly  300 . The float valve assembly  290 , the float assembly  250 , and the ball check valve assembly  300  are contained within, and/or attached to, the float chamber body  206 . Aside from the four subassemblies, the present invention comprises additional components used to connect water leveler assembly  200  to the water supply and the pool circulation system. 
         [0025]    The float chamber housing assembly  205  is comprised of a float chamber body  206 , an end cap  210 , and a float chamber cover  215 . In most applications the float chamber housing assembly  205  is situated partially below ground level  106 . The float chamber body  206  has two apertures that are aligned vertically at either end of the float chamber body  206 . The float chamber housing inlet aperture  285  permits the mounting of the float valve assembly  290  to the float chamber body  206 ; and likewise, the float chamber housing outlet aperture  240  permits the mounting of the ball check valve assembly  300  to the float chamber body  206  and serves as an outlet port for the water as the water fills the pool. 
         [0026]    Another aperture, float chamber vent orifice  220 , is a feature of the float chamber cover  215 . Float chamber vent orifice  220  permits the influx or efflux of ambient air, thereby enabling the absolute static air pressure inside float chamber housing assembly  205  to be in equilibrium with the absolute static air pressure acting perpendicular to the surface of the pool water. Float chamber vent orifice  220  ensures that the water level  105  found in float chamber  207  is at the same water level  105  of the pool. 
         [0027]    End cap  210  and float chamber cover  215  cover the bottom and top portions of the float chamber body  206 , respectively. According to one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, end cap  210  is secured to the bottom of the float chamber body  206  by means of a water proof glue or adhesive, such as PVC glue or the like. Float chamber cover  215  is loosely secured to the float chamber body  205  in order to provide easy access to the float chamber  207 . 
         [0028]    Float valve armature  292  is coupled to float valve  291  via an internally mounted pin and is selectively coupled to float assembly  250 . As float assembly alters its vertical position, float valve armature  292  rotates about a pin mounted with float valve  291 . In essence, float valve armature  292  behaves as a lever arm, wherein the force applied to stop the flow of water is several times greater than the force applied to float valve armature  292  by spring clip  265 . Alternatively, a series of spacer rings  266  may be added to float rod  260  for purposes of adjusting the position of the float assembly  250  within float body chamber  206 . The inner diameter of each spacer ring  266  is large enough to fit over the outer diameter of float rod  260 . By adding or removing one or more spacer rings  266 , the position where float valve  291  is activated can be easily altered and adjusted. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , float valve armature  292  completely constrains the side-to-side motion of float assembly  250 , with respect to float valve  291 . 
         [0030]    In the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, float valve  291  is secured to the float chamber body  206  by way of a male-by-female threaded coupler  293 . To secure the male-by-female threaded coupler to water leveler assembly  200 , the male portion of the male-by-female threaded coupler is threaded tightly into the adjoining float chamber body  206  and female thread 90° elbow fitting  270 . Float valve  291  is, in turn, threaded tightly into the female portion of the male-by-female threaded coupler. As a means to ensure that no water enter or escapes from float chamber housing inlet aperture  285 , an adhesive is applied to the outer threads of the male-by-female threaded coupler and subsequently threaded into its final assembly configuration. 
         [0031]    Float assembly  250  is comprised of a float  245 ; an upper and lower float counterweights  255  and  254 , respectively; a float rod  260  secured to float  245  and lower float counterweight  254  with a bolt  256 ; a float rod retainer  261 ; and a spring clip  265  or spacer rings  266 . According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, upper float counterweight  255  is joined to float rod  260  by a fillet weld  257 . Float  245  is affixed to float rod  260 , by compressing float  245  between upper and lower float counterweights  255  and  254 , respectively. This compression is achieved by threading bolt  256  onto the threaded portion of float rod  260  and against lower float counterweight  254  while upper float counterweight  255  remains affixed to float rod  260  by means of weld  257 . 
         [0032]    Float assembly  250  is supported by water  101  and float valve armature  291 . When the water level  105  is sufficiently low enough, so as to support less than the total weight of float assembly  250 , float valve armature  291  applies a force to float rod retainer  261  that is sufficient to support the remainder of the weight of float assembly  250 . Additionally, when the abovementioned conditions prevail, float valve  291  is throttled from the closed positioned to an opened position, thereby allowing water  101  to fill the pool. When the water level  105  is high enough, so as to meet or exceed the water level  105  of the pool, spring clip  265  applies an upward force on float valve armature  291  sufficient to block the flow of water  101  through float valve  291 . Spring clip  265  maintains its vertical position on float rod  260  by exerting a normal force, and consequently a frictional force, on float rod  260  as a result of the elastic deformation impinged upon spring clip  265 . To adjust the water level  105  of the pool, the ends of spring clip  265  are brought closer together so as to overcome the spring force and subsequently adjust the position of spring clip  265  corresponding to the desired water level  105  of the pool. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , ball check valve assembly  300  is comprised of a ball check valve housing  305 ; ball seat and screen retainer fittings  310  and  335 , respectively; ball seat and screen retainer rings  315  and  340 , respectively; particulate screens  320  and  345 ; ball seat  325 ; and ball  330 . During normal operation of pump  155 , the pressurized water  101  causes ball  330  to seat against ball seat  325 , thus obstructing the flow of water  101  through ball check valve assembly  300 . Ball guides  350  are optional elements and may be included as a feature of ball seat retainer fitting  310  to facilitate the motion of ball  330  to ball seat  325 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , and according to one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , water leveler outlet tube  165  is manufactured from a rubber-like material. When pump  155  ceases operation, the elastic material, of which water leveler outlet tube  165  is composed, returns to its undisturbed shape and size, thereby resulting in a region of low pressure (i.e. suction), relative to the pressure of water  101  inside float chamber  207 , near the outlet of the water leveler assembly  200 , that aids in extracting ball  330  from ball seat  325 . From thence, the water level  105  inside the float chamber  207  equalizes with the water level  105  of the pool. While water  101  is flowing through ball check valve assembly  300  to pool inlet  120  and pool outlet  125 , particulate screen  345  prevents ball  330  from obstructing the flow of water  101  through ball check valve assembly  300 . 
         [0035]    According to the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, ball seat retainer fitting  310 , ball seat retainer ring  315 , screen retainer fitting  335 , retainer ring  340  are secured to the adjacent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrate by means of pipe adhesive. Particulate screens  320  and  345  and ball seat  325  are held in place by ball seat retainer ring  315  and retainer ring  340 . 
         [0036]    According to the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, ball  330  is composed of a polymer material whose density is near that of water. By making ball  330  from a material whose density is near that of water, the buoyancy force acting on ball  330  is overcome easier than if a ball  330 , of density much different than that of water, was employed. Other key characteristics of ball  330  include the smoothness and roundness of ball  330 . To ensure that ball  330  forms a tight seal against ball seat  325 , ball  330  should be round and have a smooth surface. Additionally, ball seat  325  is composed of a rubber-like material so as to minimize the effect that ball  330  out-of-roundness or roughness may have on the seal created by ball  330  and ball seat  325 . 
         [0037]    The preferred method of installing water leveler assembly  200  as a component of pool system  100  involves several actions. First, a site is chosen, preferably near the pool filter  160  and pool pump  155 , where the water leveler assembly  200  will be situated. Then the site is prepared to accommodate water leveler assembly  200 . This may include excavating soil from the area or placing mounting brackets on an adjacent structure and digging a hole in the ground for the installation of water level assembly  200 . Next, tee fitting  150  is connected to second water circulation pipe  135  and third water circulation pipe  140 . Water leveler outlet tube  165  is connected to barbed fitting  151  and the opposite end of water leveler outlet tube  165  is connected barbed fitting  230 . The water level can also be determined by the use of a piece of rubber hosing and siphoning some water from the body of water into another container and determining the desired level of water by allowing the level of the water in the other container to stablize. 
         [0038]    The installer positions water leveler assembly  200  in horizontal space so that the central portion of float chamber body  206  is approximately at the same level as the desired water level for the relevant body of water. The installer makes note of the desired water level and aligns a water level mark on the outer surface of float chamber body  206  to coincide with the predetermined water level  105 . Water leveler assembly  200  is then secured in place by a method known to one skilled in the art. Water leveler outlet tube  165  is connected to barbed fitting  225  and water supply tube  280  is connected from its water supply source to push-lock fitting  275 . Finally, the installer tests water leveler assembly  200  to ensure proper operation. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , float valve assembly  290  is comprised of float valve  291 , float valve armature  292 , and male-by-female threaded coupler. Float valve  291  is a standard float valve used in many swimming pool applications. Among other benefits, float valve  291  affords reliable operation, ease of installation, and exhibits the desired throttling action which minimizes float valve  291  cycling, thereby reducing water hammer. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a cross sectional view of a portion of the interior of the body of ball check valve  300  is depicted. In this embodiment of the present invention, a series of guides or ridges  380  are employed to ensure that ball  330  does not begin “oscillating” in the interior of the body of ball check valve  300 . In certain environments, it ball  330  may oscillate instead of seating firmly into position, thereby preventing ball check valve  300  from performing its intended function. 
         [0041]    From the foregoing description, it should be appreciated that a water leveler assembly  200  preferred embodiment and a method for producing and installing said water leveler assembly  200  are provided and present significant benefits that would be apparent to one skilled in the art. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations in the embodiments exist. Lastly, it should be appreciated that these embodiments are preferred exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description provides those skilled in the art with a convenient framework for implementing a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in the exemplary preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.