Abstract:
Assemblies for control of fluid flow are described. The assemblies permit angular adjustment of resilient biasing mechanisms through translation of one of their ends along the assembly exteriors. Although the resilient mechanisms normally facilitate covering a bypass inlet so as to close it with a flap, the mechanisms may be latched with the bypass inlet open.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to assemblies through which fluid may flow and more particularly to valving mechanisms controlling, or regulating, fluid flow in connection with swimming pool water cleaning (or other) systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,713 to Stoltz, et al. discloses, among other things, embodiments of a flow control weir valve. Especially (although not necessarily exclusively) useful in systems for cleaning swimming pool water, the valve of the Stoltz patent typically includes both an inlet and an outlet as well as a covered bypass inlet. Resilient springs may be employed to bias the cover so that it closes the bypass inlet, normally rendering it inoperative. As noted in the Stoltz patent, however: 
     When fluid flows within the valve, the closing force generated by the springs may be overcome by the low pressure generated within the valve, which thus allows the ambient environment to force the cover at least partially open once the fluid flow rate passes a threshold value. . . . The cover is sufficiently responsive to allow a relief flow through the bypass inlet that satisfies rapid and wide-ranging pressure variations created within a cleaning system to which the valve may be attached. 
     See Stoltz, Abstract, 11. 7-17. 
     Valve designs illustrated in the Stoltz patent permit adjustment of the position of their springs relative to the bypass cover or flap. This adjustment may occur because the springs are connected to an anchor, which anchor is moveable along a sloped exterior surface between uses of the valve. So moving the anchor changes the angle of the axis of the springs relative to the cover, although the length of the spring may change as well. See id., col. 8, 1. 58 through col. 9, 1. 4. 
     In use, likewise, displacement of the springs is linear rather than angular. According to the Stoltz patent, although the bypass cover is displaceable a significant distance when operational, the associated spring 
     undergoes only a small displacement because it is positioned at approximately between a 30° to 45° angle (depending on where the anchor is positioned) relative to a horizontal axis passing through the pivot point. . . . [T]he less the distance [the] spring needs to extend, the less force needed to displace it. Thus, the flap will be more sensitive to the changes in pressure within the valve since small pressure variations may exert sufficient opening force on the flap to displace the spring the small amount needed to move the flap to a more or fully open position. Id., col. 9, 11. 7-17 (numerals omitted). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Although commercially useful, valves consistent with the Stoltz patent are not exclusively capable of functioning as fluid-control mechanisms. The present invention thus provides alternative flow-control assemblies which, like those of the Stoltz patent, can (but need not necessarily) be used with systems for cleaning water in swimming pools. The alternative assemblies likewise may include an inlet, an outlet, and a bypass inlet, again covered by a flap or similar component biased normally as to close the bypass inlet. Such bias further may be provided by one or more springs, although other biasing mechanisms known to those skilled in the relevant art may be employed instead. 
     Based at one end of each of the springs is a repositionable anchor. However, unlike that shown in the Stoltz patent, the anchor of the present invention is not moveable along a sloped surface of the valve exterior, but rather is repositionable along a regular cylindrical exterior. As a consequence, the anchored ends of the springs always remain at an endpoint of lines spanning the diameter of the cylinder, regardless of the position of the anchor. Embodiments of the innovative assemblies include three slots, or grooves, into which the anchor may be fitted, although those skilled in the art will recognize more or fewer slots may be provided as necessary or desired. The assemblies likewise need not necessarily have any cylindrical portion and may be shaped or configured otherwise as appropriate. 
     Attached to protruding arms of a cover are the other ends of the one or more springs. In addition to protruding arms, the cover may comprise a flap placed at least partially within the bypass inlet and prongs fitted into corresponding recesses in the assembly. An imaginary line connecting the prongs may be the axis about which the cover pivots in use between a first position—in which the flap closes the bypass inlet—and a second position in which the bypass inlet is functional. To prevent undesired rotation of the cover beyond the first position, the flap may include a stop adapted to engage the interior surface of the valving assembly. 
     Versions of the present invention additionally may include means for latching the cover in its second position so as to open the bypass inlet indefinitely. Numerous latching mechanisms could be suitable depending on relevant circumstances; typically, however, the latching will be performed mechanically utilizing a tongue connected to the pivotable cover. Interposed between the arms of the cover, the tongue itself may be configured so as to rotate between a first position—where it is inoperable—and a second position in which it engages a partial collar and thus retains the cover in its second, or open, position. 
     Assemblies of the present invention may be adapted for in-line placement as, for example, between two lengths of hose, a hose and a fitting, or between two fittings. Depending on their intended placements, the assemblies may have ribbed or threaded (or otherwise featured) inlets or outlets (or both) to facilitate the in-line connections. Yet additionally, if an assembly is to be positioned against a fitting or wall, a plate extending beyond the exterior circumference of the main body of the assembly may be included to provide a grasping surface or to contact the wall or fitting and help fix the position of the assembly relative thereto. 
     It thus is an object of the present invention to provide assemblies for controlling fluid flow. 
     It also is an object of the present invention to provide fluid-flow control assemblies in which a flap may be used to cover a bypass inlet. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide fluid-flow control assemblies in which the flap is normally biased so as to close the bypass inlet. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide assemblies in which the flap can be latched, mechanically or otherwise, to maintain the bypass inlet in an open condition. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide fluid-flow control assemblies in which one end of one or more biasing means may be moved along the exteriors of the assemblies. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide fluid-flow control assemblies in which translating an end of the biasing means along the assembly exterior changes predominantly the angle formed by the biasing means and cover. 
    
    
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the remaining text and drawings of this application. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A-D are various views of an exemplary fluid-flow control assembly of the present invention with its bypass inlet closed. 
     FIGS. 2A-D present various views of the assembly of FIGS. 1A-D with its bypass inlet latched open. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed in FIGS. 1A-D is a version of an assembly  10  adapted to control, or regulate, fluid flowing therethrough. Assembly  10  may include an inlet  14  and an outlet  18 , both shown in FIGS. 1A-D as being tubular. Neither inlet  14  nor outlet  18  need necessarily be so configured, however, as other shapes may be satisfactory. Nevertheless, in certain embodiments of assembly  10  useful for placement between lengths of hose or fittings used in swimming pools, the cylindrical natures of inlet  14  and outlet  18  facilitate their use. Likewise, optionally included as part of assembly  10  may be ribs  22  and plate  26 , either or both of which may assist in positioning the assembly  10  in-line in, for example, a swimming pool cleaning system. 
     Also illustrated in FIGS. 1A-D are springs  30 A and  30 B, anchor  34 , and cover  38 . Springs  30 A and  30 B, either of which could conceivably be omitted in certain circumstances, form one of myriad types of resilient biasing means potentially suitable (as situations warrant) for use with the present invention. Each of springs  30 A and  30 B has a respective first end  42 A or  42 B adapted for connection to anchor  34 . Springs  30 A and  30 B likewise have a respective second end, labelled  46 A and  46 B, intended to be attached to a respective arm  50 A or  50 B of cover  38 . As a result, each spring  30 A and  30 B is connected between anchor  34  and cover  38 , with the nominal spring force attempting to reduce the distance between the two. However, because anchor  34  and cover  38  are positioned opposite each other on (rigid) body  54 , springs  30 A and  30 B tend to retain anchor  34  and cover  38  in their nominal positions (such as those shown in FIGS.  1 A-D). By properly choosing the force of springs  30 A and  30 B, cover  38  may be made to pivot about prongs  58  (illustrated as positioned within collars  62  of body  54 ) and open bypass inlet  66  (see FIGS. 2A-D) when a particular diminished internal pressure within body  54  is achieved. 
     Nevertheless, the internal pressure drop required to cause cover  38  to pivot may be changed by repositioning ends  42 A and  42 B of springs  30 A and  30 B. Such repositioning may occur through movement of anchor  34  along exterior surface  70  of body  54 . To facilitate this movement, certain embodiments of assembly  10  include series of walls  74  protruding from exterior surface  70 , with pairs of the walls  74  defining grooves or slots  78  into which anchor  34  may be fitted. FIGS. 1A-D show anchor  34  fitted into the middle of three slots  78 , resulting in springs  30 A and  30 B not being exactly horizontal when assembly  10  is oriented vertically (see, e.g., FIG.  1 D). Were anchor  34  fitted instead in the (nominally) uppermost slot  78 A of FIG. 1D, springs  30 A and  30 B would be more nearly horizontal. By contrast, were anchor  34  fitted into (nominally) lowermost slot  78 C, springs  30 A and  30 B would be less nearly horizontal than when anchor  34  is fitted in the middle slot  78 . Clear, therefore, is that so moving anchor  34  translates the position of ends  42 A and  42 B along exterior surface  70 , changing the angle A that each of springs  30 A and  30 B makes with cover  38 . 
     Latch mechanism  82  additionally appears in FIGS. 1A-D. Comprising at least tongue  86  (see FIGS. 2B and 2D) and groove  90 , latch mechanism  82  is designed to lock cover  38  in place so that bypass inlet  66  is open. In some embodiments of assembly  10 , mechanism  82  additionally includes tab  94  integrally formed with tongue  86  to provide an actuation mechanism. Further formed with tongue  86  and tab  94  may be partial collar  98 , which may be friction-fitted onto and able to rotate about axle  102  intermediate arms  50 A and  50 B. Manually depressing cover  38  into bypass inlet  66  while depressing tab  94  causes tongue  86  to rotate and be received by groove  90 . To release tongue  86  from groove  90 , cover  38  may be depressed further into bypass inlet  66  and tab  94  manipulated opposite the direction it was depressed. Stop  106  (see FIG.  2 C), finally, may be included as part of cover  38  and protrude so as to contact the interior surface of body  54  when bypass inlet  66  is closed. By doing so, stop  106  prevents cover  38  from extending sufficiently to reopen bypass inlet  66  inadvertently. 
     FIGS. 2A-D illustrate mechanism  82  functioning to maintain bypass inlet  66  operational indefinitely. Those skilled in the art will, of course, recognize that means other than mechanism  82  may be employed to accomplish this purpose if necessary or desired. Likewise, because 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. Finally, incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference is the Stoltz patent discussed earlier.