Abstract:
Detailed are valves principally useful for automatic swimming pool cleaners. The valves may be made of flexible material and, typically, are generally tubular in shape. Mouths of the valves may be divided into two or more parts, with certain versions having three lobes. These configurations enable larger debris to pass through the valves.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates principally to components of devices for cleaning fluid-containing vessels and more particularly, but not exclusively, to valve assemblies for water interruption-type automatic cleaners for swimming pools.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,833 to Stoltz, et al. (the “Stoltz Patent”), whose contents are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, discloses various valve assemblies useful for automatic swimming pool cleaners. These assemblies typically include flexible, generally tubular diaphragms surrounded by chambers, with the diaphragms interposed in the main fluid-flow paths through the cleaners. In response to variation in pressure internally and externally, the diaphragms contract and expand transversely along at least part of their lengths, thereby controlling fluid flow therethrough.  
         [0003]     Mentioned in the Stoltz Patent is that versions of the diaphragms may have “substantially oval-shaped or diamond-shaped cross section . . . when a total fluid flow interruption is to be achieved.” See Stoltz Patent, col. 3, 11. 36-38. Also detailed in the Stoltz Patent is use of longitudinal ribs “along that part [of a diaphragm] which contracts to the greatest extent.” See id., col. 5, 11. 32-33. According to the Stoltz Patent, such ribs enable a diaphragm to contract to an X-shaped pattern depicted in  FIG. 7  of the patent. See id., 11.33-35.  
         [0004]     Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,593 to Kallenbach (the “Kallenbach Patent”), the contents of which also are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, discloses additional valve assemblies for use with automatic swimming pool cleaners. These assemblies too are generally tubular in shape and made of flexible material. As noted in the Kallenbach Patent:  
         [0005]     The body [of the tubular valve] has an intermediate section between the ends that assumes a substantially collapsed condition over a segment thereof in absence of a pressure differential between the interior and exterior. The section preferably is collapsed transversely over a segment.  
         [0006]     Along the collapsed segment, the body has diverging interior walls in the direction of water flow therethrough. The walls diverge from a substantially constant diameter that extends for a portion of the section adjacent the first end to a substantially constant, but larger, diameter that extends for a portion of the section adjacent the second end. Further, the divergence is a substantially linear function of the distance along the segment. See Kallenbach Patent, col. 1, 11.28-42.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,228 to Chang (the “Chang Patent”), entitled “Pool Cleaner Diaphragm Valve,” likewise addresses diaphragm-style valves and ancillary assemblies for automatic swimming pool cleaners. Apparently, however, these valves are of the type specified in the Kallenbach Patent. Indeed, according to the Chang Patent, this type of valve “is ideal” for the purposes described therein. See Chang Patent, col. 6, 11. 60-65.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides alternatives to the valves of the Stoltz and Kallenbach Patents. Unlike existing diaphragm-type valves, diaphragm valves of the present invention include mouths divided into two or more, and preferably three, parts. This configuration admits a larger through hole within the valves, in turn enabling larger debris to pass. Consequently, use of the present valves may reduce any tendency of the valves to clog when contacted at their mouths by debris entrained within the fluid flowing through the valves.  
         [0009]     Advantageously (but not necessarily), valves of the present invention may be generally tubular in shape and, at least in part, made of elastomeric or other flexible, rubber-like material. Such valves typically will be placed in-line within the operating head of an automatic swimming pool cleaner between its inlets and outlets. Because pool water is induced by a pump to flow through the head, at least some of that water must pass through the in-line valve.  
         [0010]     In some embodiments of the valves, mouths are not positioned at either end but rather in a transversely-collapsed section intermediate the ends. Conceivably, however, the mouth could be positioned at either the inlet or the outlet of the valve. The mouth normally is closed (or substantially so), thereafter opening and closing cyclically when connected to an operating pump.  
         [0011]     Certain presently-preferred versions of the innovative valves are sized so as to substitute directly for commercial versions of the valves of the Kallenbach Patent. Valves of the present invention need not be so sized, however. Instead, they may be dimensioned in any manner appropriate for the objectives to be accomplished or as desired.  
         [0012]     Valves of the present invention may include reinforcing material on either or both of their internal and external surfaces. Such material may, but need not necessarily, be in the form or shape of ribs extending longitudinally along portions of the exterior of the valves. If present, such ribs preferably will be adjacent the outlets of the valves so as to diminish the possibility of undesired collapse of the valves at their outlet ends.  
         [0013]     It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide valves for water interruption-type automatic swimming pool cleaners.  
         [0014]     It is another optional, nonexclusive object of the present invention to provide valves made of flexible material and through which debris-laden fluid may flow.  
         [0015]     It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide valves having mouths divided into three parts.  
         [0016]     It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide valves capable of ingesting debris of greater size than heretofore ingested with commercially-available diaphragm-type valves.  
         [0017]     It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide automatic swimming pool cleaners containing innovative valves.  
         [0018]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant field with reference to the remaining text and drawings of this application.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIGS. 1-2  are perspective views of an exemplary valve of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinally cross-sectioned view of the valve of  FIGS. 1-2 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a transversely cross-sectioned view of the valve of  FIGS. 1-2 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the valve of  FIGS. 1-2 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a partially cross-sectioned, partially schematicized view of an exemplary automatic swimming pool cleaner containing the valve of  FIGS. 1-2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     Depicted in  FIGS. 1-2  is exemplary valve  10  of the present invention. Valve  10  comprises body  14  together with inlet  18  and outlet  22 . Body  14  has exterior surface  26  and interior surface  30  and preferably, although not necessarily, is generally tubular in shape. Body  14  typically is formed of flexible, rubbery material and molded as a single part; those skilled in the appropriate art will, however, recognize that other types of body  14  may be suitable instead.  
         [0025]     Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2  are collars  34  and  38 , recess  42 , and one or more flexible sealing rings  46  of body  14  useful for, among other things, connecting valve  10  to components of automatic swimming pool cleaner  48  (see  FIG. 6 ). Collar  34  and recess  42 , forming part of exterior surface  26  at or adjacent outlet  22 , typically interlock directly or indirectly with extension pipes  50  of cleaner  48  so as to fix the position of outlet  22  relative to the pipes (which in turn typically connect directly or indirectly to a flexible hose). Collar  38  and rings  46 , forming part of exterior surface  26  at or adjacent inlet  18 , connect body  14  of valve  10  to components within head  58  of cleaner  48  adjacent its mouth  62 . None of collars  34  or  38 , recess  42 , or rings  46  need necessarily be present on body  14 , however, as other connecting mechanisms may be used instead.  
         [0026]     Preferably, valve  10  is positioned in the main fluid flow path within cleaner  48 . If so positioned, fluid in the form of water entering mouth  62  must pass through body  14  of valve  10  before exiting via pipes  50 . Entrained in the water stream typically will be debris (e.g. sticks, leaves, etc.), some or all of which also must pass through valve  10  and may tend to clog the passage defined by interior surface  30  of body  14 .  
         [0027]     Intermediate inlet  18  and outlet  22  of valve  10  is section  66 . As illustrated in each of  FIGS. 1-5 , section  66  beneficially is collapsed transversely so as to form mouth  70  of body  14 .  FIGS. 4-5 , especially, detail a preferred mouth  70  having three lobes  74 A-C defined by wall  78  of body  14 , with lobes  74 A-C effectively intersecting at non-zero angles in the transverse center of the fluid-flow passage formed by body  14 . Such a “tri-lobe” mouth  70  (i.e. with adjacent lobes separated radially by approximately one hundred twenty degrees) offers multiple advantages over the collapsed segment of the valve of the Kallenbach Patent, whose transverse cross-section is generally rectangular in shape. In particular, mouth  70  may open to significantly greater extent than the corresponding segment of the valve of the Kallenbach patent, presenting a larger-diameter fluid flow path and enabling passage of debris of greater size. Stated differently, under certain operating conditions tri-lobe mouth  70  is less likely to clog with debris than is that of the valve of the Kallenbach Patent.  
         [0028]     Because mouth  70  normally is of size substantially smaller than the maximum internal diameter D of body  14 , it is considered to be “normally closed” (even though mouth  70  need not necessarily ever close completely). As noted in the Kallenbach Patent, utilizing such a normally closed valve provides for easier starting of operation of cleaner  48 . It also places valve  10  under less stress in opening than would a normally-open configuration.  
         [0029]     During operation of cleaner  48 , mouth  70  repeatedly will expand (open) and return (contract) to its normal position, doing so in a cyclical, or periodic, fashion under influence of a pump. Typically, a fluid-filled chamber forming part of cleaner  48  will surround valve  10 . If the chamber is partially evacuated of fluid, a differential pressure may be created between the interior of body  14  of valve  10  and exterior surface  26  of body  14 , pulling wall  78  outward and causing mouth  70  to open to a diameter approximating that of diameter D. However, absent such manipulative pressure differential across wall  78 , the resilient material of valve  10  will cause mouth  70  to remain in its normally-closed position.  
         [0030]     Depicted in the cross-sectional representation of  FIG. 3  is the convergent and divergent nature of wall  78 . Wall  78  is substantially cylindrical at inlet  18 , where body  14  assumes its maximum internal diameter D. Progressing toward mouth  70 , wall  78  converges, thus reducing the internal diameter of body  14  to its minimum at mouth  70 . Thereafter wall  78  diverges progressing toward outlet  22 , whose internal diameter is again approximately that of maximum internal diameter D. Although  FIG. 3  illustrates a preferred version of valve  10 , wall  78  need not be configured as depicted therein, and the internal diameter of body  14  need not necessarily vary along its length or, if varying longitudinally, need not vary exactly as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0031]     Section  66  may (but need not necessarily) include one or more reinforcing ribs  82  on exterior surface  26 . In some versions of valve  10 , preferably three such ribs  82  are present, one associated with each lobe  74 A-C of mouth  70 . Such one-to-one association between ribs  82  and lobes  74 A-C need not necessarily exist, however, as fewer or greater than three ribs  82  may be employed even if a tri-lobe mouth  70  is used. (Moreover, mouth  70  itself need not necessarily have three lobes  74 A-C, but rather may have fewer or greater numbers of lobes.) Ribs  82 , if present, beneficially extend along the length of section  66  from a position at or near outlet  22  to a central region adjacent mouth  70 .  
         [0032]     Similar to ribs of the valve of the Kallenbach Patent, ribs  82  function to stiffen valve  10  in the axial or longitudinal direction. The stiffness facilitates valve  10  resisting forces acting on it during closure of mouth  70 , reducing likelihood of section  66  collapsing (undesirably) in the vicinity of outlet  22 . In some versions of valve  10 , ribs  82  are molded with and formed of the same material as body  14 . Ribs  82  may, however, be formed of material differing from that used to form body  14 . Although not detailed in the figures, other ribbing or stiffening material may be formed with or attached to either or both of exterior surface  26  and interior surface  30 .  
         [0033]     However, because the tri-lobe structure of valve  10  provides substantial strength in the area of outlet  22 , ribs  82  likely may be omitted without degrading performance of cleaner  48 . Indeed, omitting ribs  82  conceivably could enhance performance of cleaner  48  by not encumbering the opening stroke of body  14 , permitting mouth  70  to open wider and in turn permitting more water and debris to pass through and offering less restriction to flow. The stronger geometric structure produced by the tri-lobe design additionally provides excellent resistance to fluid flow when mouth  70  contracts, resulting in good water-interruption power being supplied to move cleaner  48 . These results, further, may occur notwithstanding that materials from which valve  10  are made may be substantially more flexible than commercial versions of valves constructed as described in the Kallenbach Patent.  
         [0034]     Regardless of whether any ribs  82  are present, because mouth  70  may expand substantially in use, objects of size approximating that of maximum internal diameter D may pass through body  14  from inlet  18  to outlet  22 . Thus, a valve  10  sized to replace a valve of the Kallenbach Patent may provide substantially better debris-ingesting performance without clogging. Increasing maximum internal diameter D of body  14 , moreover, may further enhance the debris-ingesting performance of valve  10 .  
         [0035]     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing exemplary embodiments and certain benefits of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to the illustrated and described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.