WO1993017207A1

WO1993017207A1 - An outlet arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO1993017207A1
Application number: PCT/AU1992/000388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ira Patrick Francis Quirke
Original assignee: ARK NOMINEES Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ARK NOMINEES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1992-02-19
Filing date: 1992-07-27
Publication date: 1993-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1994-08-19

Abstract

An outlet arrangement suitable for swimming pools, spa baths and similar applications. The outlet arrangement includes a housing (1) defining a spa or swimming pool outlet aperture (5) in low pressure communication with a vent (9). The vent (9) extends to above an upper surface of water within the swimming pool or spa. A housing outlet (10, 11) is in communication with both the container outlet aperture (5) and the vent (9) so that where a negative pressure is induced at the container outlet aperture (5) either by a recirculation pump or spa jet pump arrangement or by reason of a gravitational draining of the water, the negative pressure at the spa or swimming pool outlet aperture (5) is limited. Preferably a low pressure chamber (2) abuts with the swimming pool and is in communication with the pool and has the vent (9) and housing outlet (10, 11) extending from the low pressure chamber (2).

Description

AN OUTLET ARRANGEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for the egress of liquid from a container, and specifically relates to limiting negative pressure at outlets of such containers.

A specific aspect of this invention relates to an outlet arrangement for spas or swimming pools which act as drainage points from the container and/or supply points to circulation and/or jet pumps, back into the container.

Outlets of the type to which this invention relates can have some inherent dangers to users so that in, for example, swimming pools where children may dive or swim to the bottom and perhaps cover such outlets with their hands there is a risk that the negative pressure created by a pump, or simply the pull of gravity in a drain, is sufficient to make a smaller child have difficulty in getting away from the outlet or covering of the outlet. Even where a child or an adult would not by themselves be drawn to the outlet aperture by reason of the negative pressure, but rather by reason an item of clothing or hair becoming entangled by the outlet aperture, at least a considerable time might be needed to disentangle the hair or item of clothing, and cause discomfort or even drowning distress to the individual concerned.

It is possible to reduce the rate of water flow by employing pumps or gravity outlets with reduced flow output, however, it is in most instances undesirable to reduce such a rate of flow. Furthermore negative pressure builds up where a blockage occurs, and the same problem as described above results.

Furthermore where perhaps rubbish is caught within the outlet aperture of the swimming pool or spa, such rubbish can obstruct the outlet, and stop or greatly decrease the flow so as no longer to be commensurate with the capacity of the pump. Under such circumstances seizure of a motor driving the pump can result.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the egress of fluid from a container which will obviate or minimize any one of the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner or at least provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form the invention could be said to reside in an outlet arrangement for a body of liquid within a container, said outlet arrangement including a housing defining a container outlet aperture in low pressure communication with a vent, said vent adapted to extend to above an upper surface of liquid within the container and a housing outlet comprising at least one housing outlet aperture in communication with both the container outlet aperture and the vent, wherein a negative pressure is induced at the container outlet aperture either by a pump or by reason of a gravitational draining of the liquid.

In this specific aspect the present invention provides an outlet arrangement which limits the negative pressure at the outlet aperture such as might be covered by a "grill" or perforated cover to a pressure equivalent to the height of liquid within the container irrespective of atmospheric pressure.

In an alternative form the invention could be said to reside in an outlet arrangement for a body of liquid within a container, said outlet arrangement including a housing defining a container outlet aperture and a chamber, said container outlet aperture communicating between said container and the chamber, a vent in communication with said chamber and adapted to extend to above an upper surface of liquid within the container and a chamber outlet comprising at least one chamber outlet aperture for connection with a negative pressure source.

Preferably the outlet aperture has a cross sectional area substantially greater than the cross sectional area of the chamber outlets and preferably the cross sectional area of the container is three times greater than the area of the chamber outlet.

This preferred form limits the velocity of the fluid through the outlet aperture such as might be covered by a "grill" or perforated cover consequently reducing the vortexing of the fluid downstream of the "grill" and thus reducing the ability of the fluid flow to entangle the hair, apparel or other matter entrapping a user beneath the fluid surface. apertures pass through the cover, the sum of the cross sectional areas of such openings is substantially greater than the sum of the cross sectional areas of the total outlet cross section of the chamber outlet, and wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is of a dimension so as not to allow a digit to pass therethrough or entrapped therein.

The cover may comprise a grilled cover piece or pieces adapted to be removed by means of a tool or force opposing the flow of fluid to the drain and/or pump(s) connected to the chamber.

The cover may comprise a perforated plate or "grill" adapted to be held to the chamber by a detent means with a recess or slot enabling the detent means to be overcome by use of a tool or force opposing the liquid flow. The plate or "grill" is adapted to contain an orifice or orifices of a least three times the total cross sectional area of the drain-outlet and/or pump(s) inlet(s).

The chamber is adapted to contain at least one fluid tube venting to the atmosphere. The vent is of a dimension that preferably enables free movement of liquid therein.

Preferably the cover includes a plurality of spaced apart transverse bars forming a grill supported on a circular frame, the bars being generally elongated with respect to the direction of flow.

In one form of the invention the chamber is in the form of an open cup with the open end adapted for sealing location within the wall or floor of the container, and an opposite closed end of the chamber is adapted to receive pipes or tubes to convey water from the container to the drain or pump(s) inlet(s).

Preferably the cover over the container outlet aperture is of such dimensions that a normal hand cannot cover more than fifty percent of the orificial area.

The invention also relates to a swimming pool or a spa having any one or more of the embodiments described or defined herein fitted thereto. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG 1. is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from behind of a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the second embodiment of the invention, and

FIGS. 4-6 shows detail of the grill of the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Dimensions of certain of the parts as shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity of illustration.

The illustrated forms of the device are particularly suited to manufacture in injected moulded plastics but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to such materials or to such a mode of manufacture.

The outlet arrangement generally comprises a housing 1 defining a chamber 2 within the housing. The chamber is adapted to be fitted into a hole formed in the wall 3 of a container 4 such as might be a swimming pool or spa. The housing is preferably fitted low through the wall of the container or even on the floor. The housing is generally cup shaped with an open end of the housing defines an outlet aperture 5. Whilst a cup shaped chamber housing is described, it is to be understood that many other shapes are possible, provided that a low pressure chamber is achieved, that communicates such low pressure to the outlet aperture. A flange 6 is formed on the outside of the open end of the housing so that the housing can be fitted into the wall of the container from the inside with the flange abutting the inside of the container wall 3. Generally this will be fitted either into the floor or the wall of the container close to the floor. A sealant is used to make the fitting of the housing water tight, the pressure of water within the container, assisting with this sealing process, where elastomeric sealants are used. It might be desired to use a rubber washer, or alternative commonly known sealants such as those based on silicone, or perhaps the housing can simply be rigidly welded or glued to the wall or floor of the container.

A vent sleeve 7 over which a vent pipe can be fitted extends upwardly from the chamber 2 and in the first embodiment extends directly from an uppermost portion of the housing. The second illustrated embodiment has the vent extending upwardly from a vent aperture which passes through the closed end of the cup shaped housing. An elbow 8 is fitted to a generally horizontally positioned vent sleeve 7.

The vent 9 extends upwardly to at least above the level of water within the container, because otherwise water will obviously drain from the vent. The vent illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a covered upper portion to prevent ingress of debris.

The vent, it can be seen, is generally adjacent to the container. Furthermore by positioning the chamber directly in contact with the container or at least in low pressure communication therewith and consequently placing the vent in low pressure communication with the outlet aperture provides that the negative pressure influence of a drain or a pump can be more effectively alleviated.

A first chamber outlet defined within a first outlet sleeve 10 of the illustrated embodiments is used to feed to a recirculation pump in the case of a swimming pool and spa. A second chamber outlet defined within second outlet sleeve 11 is used as a drain or feed to a jet pump, and is perhaps covered with a sealing cap 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2 or extended to a stopcock.

Whilst two chamber outlets are shown, it is to be understood that perhaps only one may be desired, or that more than two may be desired. No particular limit one may be desired, or that more than two may be desired. No particular limit is placed on the number of chamber outlets that are fitted, provided that the chamber can be still used as a low pressure chamber, relative to the combined negative pressures of the chamber outlets. Generally that can be achieved by ensuring that the combined cross sectional areas of the chamber outlets is substantially smaller than the cross sectional area of the container outlet aperture.

Further, one or both of these outlets, is adapted on the interior of the chamber to receive the cuff of a flexible cleaning hose.

The open end of the housing is covered with a cover 13, in the form of a grill fitting over the open end, and engages in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 over the edges of the flange 6 of the housing. The grill is generally in the form of evenly spaced apart and parallel bars 14 extending across a circular frame 15.

In the first embodiment shown a bead 16 extends outwardly from the flange, and a corresponding groove 17 in the circular frame of the grill complements the bead, so as to provide a snap-fit of the cover onto the housing. Where it is desired to pull the cover off, this can be achieve simply by applying sufficient force via a lever tool through the cover apertures to deform the circular frame of the cover, so as to lift off the groove from the bead.

In the second embodiment shown and best seen in FIGS. 3 to 6, the cover fits within the housing, the flange being provided with a suitable internal recess 18 into which the cover fits. The periphery of the housing recess 18 has three indent hollows 19 into which three complementary pips 20 on the circular frame of the cover fit to provide a snap engagement therewith. A key 21 is provided on the cover with a complementary groove 22 in the housing recess 18 for easy alignment of the cover within the housing recess.

A side elevation of the recess is provided by FIG. 5.

Preferably the extent of the snap fit provided by both of these embodiments is such that the cover cannot be lifted off by hand, and requires a special tool, to ensure that the cover is not lifted off outside the servicing requirements. stream, and are generally elongate so as to reduce to the likelihood, and at least the extent of vortexing of water as it passes through the cover. The reduction in vortexing greatly assists the capacity of articles of clothing or hair being entangled on the downstream side of the cover, or caught in the container outlet aperture.

Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An outlet arrangement for a body of liquid within a container, said outlet arrangement including a housing defining a container outlet aperture in low pressure communication with a vent, said vent adapted to extend to above an upper surface of liquid within the container and a housing outlet comprising at least one housing outlet aperture in communication with both the container outlet aperture and the vent, wherein a negative pressure is induced at the container outlet aperture either by a pump or by reason of a gravitational draining of the liquid.

2. An outlet arrangement for a body of water within a container as in claim 1 , said outlet arrangement including a housing defining a container outlet aperture and a chamber, said container outlet aperture communicating between said container and the chamber, a vent in communication with said chamber and adapted to extend to above an upper surface of liquid within the container and a chamber outlet comprising at least one chamber outlet aperture for connection with a negative pressure source.

3. An outlet arrangement as in claim 2 wherein said chamber opens directly into the container by way of the outlet aperture.

4. An outlet arrangement as in either claim 1 or 2 wherein the outlet aperture has a cross sectional area substantially greater than the cross sectional area of the chamber outlets.

5. An outlet arrangement as in claim 2 wherein the cross sectional area of the container outlet is three times greater than the area of the chamber outlet.

6. An outlet arrangement as in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein a cover is provided over the outlet aperture, and a plurality of apertures pass through the cover, the cumulative cross section of such openings is substantially greater than the cross section of the total outlet cross section of the chamber outlet(s), and wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is of a dimension so as not to allow a digit to pass therethrough or become entrapped therein.

7. An outlet arrangement as in claim 5 wherein the outlet aperture has cross sectional area such that an adult hand can cover less than half the total cross sectional area.

8. An outlet arrangement as in claim 6 wherein the cover is reversibly fastened to a housing and not removable by manually pulling the cover into the container.

9. An outlet arrangement as in claim 6 wherein the cover includes a plurality of spaced apart transverse bars forming a grill supported on a circula frame, the bars being generally elongated with respect to the direction of flow.

10. An outlet arrangement as in claim 1 wherein the vent is of a sufficient dimension to allow free flow of water therethrough.

11. A swimming pool wherein the outlet arrangement as in any one of claims 1 to 10 is fitted to the swimming pool as a drain.

12. A swimming pool wherein the outlet arrangement as in any one of claims 1 to 10 is fitted to the swimming pool as part of a liquid recirculation arrangement.

13. A spa bath wherein the outlet arrangement as in any one of claims 1 to 10 is fitted to the spa bath as part of a feeder to a jet pump.

14. A spa or pool including an outlet and recirculating arrangement for a body of water within the spa or pool, said outlet arrangement including a housing defining a spa or pool outlet aperture in low pressure communication with a vent, said spa or pool outlet aperture positioned through a wall or floor of the spa or pool, said vent extending to above a level to which water is filled within the spa or pool and a housing outlet comprising at least one housing outlet aperture in communication with both the container outlet aperture and the vent, wherein a negative pressure is induced at the container outlet aperture either by a pump for recirculation or feeding a jet of water to an inlet or by reason of a gravitational draining of the water from the spa or pool.