Patent ID: 8820355

Claim:
A method for improving the energy efficiency of a cleaning system of a swimming pool that includes (i) a water circulation pump driven by an electric motor, said pump having a pressurized outlet in fluid communication with a filter and a suction inlet in fluid communication with at least one drain in said pool; (ii) a multiport water distribution valve controlled by a rotating cam, said distribution valve having an inlet port in fluid communication via said filter with the outlet of the pump and having a plurality of outlet ports for sequentially distributing flow from the inlet port, wherein said cam includes: (a) a cam plate having a center of rotation connected to a drive shaft of said distribution valve; (b) a leading cam surface to control the opening of said plurality of outlet ports, said leading cam surface extending circumferentially from said cam plate at an included angle between about 46 and 52 degrees; (c) a trailing cam surface to control the closing of said plurality of outlet ports, said trailing cam surface extending circumferentially from said cam plate at an angle of between about 54 and 66 degrees; and (d) a transitioning cam surface extending between said leading and trailing cam surfaces to selectively maintain the outlet ports in their open position and to allocate and minimize concurrent flow through two adjacent outlet ports as one port closes and the adjacent port opens; (iii) plural sets of popup cleaning heads each of said heads having an inlet in fluid communication with one of the plurality of outlet ports from said distribution valve and further having a jet-forming aperture in fluid communication with an outlet from the head, said heads being mounted in the pool surface and, in response to a flow of water having a predetermined minimum pressure, extending from said surface and directing a jet of water along the adjacent surface of the pool for the purpose of moving debris and suspending particles for incorporation into the return flow to said circulation pump; the method including the steps of: controlling said motor to operate at a first speed to deliver a flow of water to said heads at a pressure that exceeds said predetermined minimum pressure by an amount required for normal operation of said popup heads; and minimizing the total operation time of said motor, over any 24-hour period, when the pressure delivered to said popup heads exceeds said pre-determined minimum pressure while maintaining movement of debris and suspension of particles from the surfaces of said pool adjacent to said popup heads.