SAFETY AND FLUID FLOW ENHANCEMENT DEVICE FOR FLUID TRANSFER SYSTEMS

Abstract

A safety device for installation in a fluid transfer system includes an adapter having a front opening and a rear opening for directional flow of water therethrough, and a funnel-shaped flange surrounding the front opening for directing fluid flow through the adapter in a laminar flow with less turbulence. In one embodiment, the adapter is installed within a coupler sleeve for joining two pipe sections together to thereby improve fluid flow through the pipe in a fluid transfer system, while reducing vacuum pressure. In another embodiment, the adapter is fitted with a protective cap wherein the combined adapter and protective cap function as a standalone safety device to prevent entrapments and mitigate eviscerations. In still another embodiment, the adapter is fitted within a pump strainer basket to improve flow and reduce turbulence at the pump of the fluid transfer system.

Claims

1. A safety device for use in a fluid transfer system, comprising: an adapter having a front opening and a rear opening for directional flow of water therethrough, the front opening being surrounded by a funnel-shaped flange, the funnel-shaped flange being shaped, structured and configured for directing flow of fluid in a laminar flow through the adapter for exit at the rear opening; and the adapter being structured and disposed for inline installation within a fluid transfer pipe of the fluid transfer system.

2. The safety device as recited in claim 1 wherein the adapter is structured and disposed for installation within a coupler sleeve joining two pipe sections together, with the funnel-shaped flange of the adapter positioned between opposing ends of the pipe sections.

3. The safety device as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a cap structured and disposed for releasable attachment over the funnel-shaped flange of the adapter to cover the front opening of the adapter, and the cap including a plurality of openings therethrough for allowing fluid to flow through the cap and through the adapter.

4. The safety device as recited in claim 3 wherein the cap includes an anti-hair entanglement mesh structure cooperating with the plurality of openings therethrough.

5. The safety device as recited in claim 1 wherein the adapter is structured and disposed for placement within a pump strainer basket in the fluid transfer system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a front side elevational view illustrating the safety device of our prior invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the safety device of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an adapter used in conjunction with the safety device of FIGS. 1-2;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the adapter;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing a coupler for joining two sections of pipe in a fluid transfer system;

[0043] FIG. 6 is an isolated view in partial cross-section, taken from the area indicated as FIG. 6 in FIG. 5 and showing the adapter of FIGS. 3-4 installed within the coupler between the two sections of pipe;

[0044] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the safety device of the present invention including the adapter and a cap having a plurality of openings and anti-hair entanglement mesh configuration, wherein the cap is shown removed from the adapter;

[0045] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view showing the safety device of the present invention with the cap fitted to the funnel end of the adapter in a fully assembled state; and

[0046] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the adapter fitted within a pump basket for connection with the intake line of the pump basket in a fluid transfer system, such as a swimming pool pump system.

[0047] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-2, the safety device 10 of our prior invention (U.S. Pat. No. 9,388,593) is shown. The prior safety device 10 includes a T shaped drain adjunct member 12 having vacuum relief holes 14, anti-hair entangling mesh 16, and a semi-annular receiving rim 18 partially surrounding an attachment opening 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the drain adjunct member 12 includes opposing orifices 21A and 21B extending outwards from a main body 19. Preferably each orifice 21A and 21B is at least partially covered in anti-hair entangling mesh 16. The T shaped drain adjunct member 12 is predominantly hollow, forming a water flow passage 23 between the attachment opening 20 and the multiple water inlets (vacuum relief holes 14 and anti-hair entangling mesh 16) to produce a directional flow of water therethrough into a main drain pipe 24.

[0049] Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the vacuum relief holes 14 extend along the top side and back side of the drain adjunct member 12. The arrangement of the vacuum relief holes 14 prevents a vortex from forming by pulling water from several different locations through the drain adjunct member 12 and into the drain adjunct member 12, thereby disrupting the flow pattern of the water being pulled into the main drain pipe. While the vacuum relief holes 14 are shown to be arranged in single file order along the center line of the top side and back side of the drain adjunct member 12, the relief holes 14 may be arranged in any manner suitable for preventing the vortex effect upon entering the water flow passage of the drain adjunct member 12. In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum relief holes 14 are sized to allow entry of debris that enters the drain sump, thereby allowing the debris to passively pass through the main drain pipe and filtration system for removal by the pool or spa filter.

[0050] The anti-hair entangling mesh 16 is provided to prevent entrapment by hair entanglement and further serves as an additional inlet for water to enter the water flow passage of the drain adjunct member 12 for further disrupting the water flow pattern. As shown in the Figures, the anti-hair entangling mesh 16 is included on orifices 21A and 21B as well as the front and back sides of the main body 19 of the drain adjunct member 12.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 3, an attachment adapter 22 is provided for securing the drain adjunct member 12 to the main drain pipe 24, which is in connection with the pool or spa pump. The attachment adapter 22 includes prongs 26 extending from the main body of the adapter 22 sized for fitted insertion within a main drain pipe. When the prongs 26 are fully inserted within the main drain pipe, a first annular rim 28 that is sized larger than the opening of the main drain pipe comes into abutment against the opening of the main drain pipe, leaving a second annular rim 30, which is sized larger than the first annular rim 28, exposed. The second annular rim 30 is provided for attachment to the drain adjunct member 12, wherein the semi-annular receiving rim 18 on the drain adjunct member 12 is sized to receive the second annular rim 30 for secured attachment thereto. The design of the adapter 22 reduces fluid turbulence and creates a laminar flow which results in a parabolic effect within the piping. In particular, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the funnel-shaped entry 31 of the adapter 22 leading to the adapter interior serves to direct the water in a laminar flow with less turbulence. This effect, in turn, streamlines the flow of water into the main drain pipe, resulting in less power required to run the pool or spa filtration system. The design of the adapter 22 that structures the laminar flow can be applied to skimmers as well as various locations within the piping system to continue the structured flow. This in turn will decrease the work load on the pump and increase water flow thereby saving energy by decreasing the pump's work load and limiting the time that the pump needs to run to accomplish the necessary water turnover.

[0052] A problem that exists in pools today is that a bather can put their limbs into the skimmer vacuum orifice and have said limb pulled into the piping creating an entrapment. Although the bather is above water level, the pool piping frequently needs to be removed from the pool decking in order to extricate the limb. Installing an adapter 22 in a skimmer not only improves the flow rate and increases the debris removal by increasing the flow rate, but it also acts as a safety device. Should a bather have their limb pulled into the adapter 22 located in the skimmer return orifice, the bather may simply pull back from the vacuum force, thereby pulling the adapter 22 and the limb from the skimmer return orifice and eliminating the entrapment.

[0053] The safety device of the present invention utilizes the same adapter technology as a previously patented safety device with modifications. Referring to FIGS. 7-8, the modification is to place a protective cap over a modified adapter. The adapter attaches to the piping in the same manor, by utilization of a single sticky sided Teflon type tape to hold it securely in the piping, then glued into place before or after attaching the safety cap. The domed angle of the cap will aid in elimination of various types of entrapments.

[0054] A series of holes are placed between the slot of the ridge. This allows for deviation of vacuum in the event of a blockage in the surface of the adapter. Using this means of deviation in vacuum, the vacuum cannot be created on the adapter to even require the need to pull it free although it still can be if desired. The cap as shown in the picture wraps around the holes in the ridge with larger holes of its own allowing water passage (vacuum). As stated earlier, these holes in the cap can be also constructed of anti-hair entangling mesh or a combination of mesh and holes if desired depending on desired flow. Of importance, all venting holes must conform to the current pool code which is currently no larger diameter than . If the code changes the maximum diameter size, the product relief holes will conform to the current changes.

[0055] Although not required to pass a 15-pound buoyancy blockage test, due to the fact that we are a diverter and no tests are required of diverters, the adapter when configured with multiple relief holes can allow the blocking element to release from the adapter unless in an over powered system. In this event, the adapter will still deviate vacuum away from the blocking element, in actual usage situations that would be a bather, and require minimal effort to break the vacuum on the adapter while the relief holes are still diverting the force away from the bather/blocking element. If desired, the adapter can be pulled from the piping but it would not be necessary as the holding force of the pump is minimal on the adapter.

[0056] The safety device of FIGS. 7-8, with the relief holes actually deviates vacuum proportional to the amount of vacuum being created by the system. If the system is flowing at the appropriately designed flow rate, there would be no need to remove the adapter in the event of a bather coming into contact with it as the diversion of vacuum would not require such an action. In the event of a system that has been changed or over powered, the relief holes will still divert the majority of the vacuum force but may have too much residual force to allow a sufficient amount of vacuum to be diverted through the relief holes. In this event, the adapter may still have to be pulled from the piping as originally designed, yet a minimal amount of physical force will allow the bather to break the vacuum on the adapter while the relief holes are functioning. This type of safety device works best when the system has not been over pumped by increasing the size of the pump on the system.

[0057] Interestingly enough, in field fabricated sumps, the safety device of the present invention can protect against full body entrapment along with hair, mechanical and limb entrapments. We cannot claim evisceration in this embodiment as that threshold has not been fully established. Under worst case scenarios the safety device could allow the human buttocks to cover a majority of its surface area so an evisceration could be possible except that there would be nowhere for intestinal material to go so the resulting damage would more than likely be an avulsion.

[0058] The cap of the safety device is constructed with a hair entrapment mesh located over the main fluid orifice. The relief holes would most usually be present in the area distal to the laminar structuring flange for deviation of vacuum should an entrapment begin to occur. The mesh could take on many configurations depending on the available area it would have to fit within under the drain cover. The cover could also be configured with holes in place of the mesh for additional flow or could be used in combination with the mesh as in our prior safety device shown in FIGS. 1-2. The holes are only that diameter since that is the largest diameter allowed by code in the pool/spa industry. The hole size could be of any desired size if used in any industry other than the pool/spa industry.

[0059] Convex designs would make it more difficult to cover in the event of a drain cover becoming compromised or missing and would actually eliminate all the mechanisms of entrapment including evisceration as a blockage could not occur nor would the pipe be exposed to allowing bodily material to access it.

[0060] The assembled safety device (FIG. 8) is constructed to allow the top section (cap) to be pulled free in an emergency situation while still maintaining the bottom section of the adapter in the piping providing an additional layer of protection until the cap can be replaced. If necessary, to comply with safety standards or codes, the cap can be attached with stainless steel screw(s). This would be unfortunate and would be appealed to by us to compliance committees to allow for a double backup safety system instead of just one.

[0061] The same design can be made utilizing a series of holes where the mesh is located. The biggest advantage in using this method is the acquisition of even more open area for water to flow through. Both of the versions eliminate hair entanglement, but the version with the open holes can function at a higher level than should be moved through a 1 or a 2 pool/spa system. Any sized safety device of the present invention can be made to fit any size pipe as it is not restricted to any given size pipe. It is merely a direct correlation of pipe size to the safety device size.

[0062] The aspects of increasing fluid/gas transfer are one of the unanticipated consequences which we will go into great detail. The discovery protects and advances performance with the same introduction of the technology into the same application which makes this technology invaluable to both life safety but also to better usage of fluid in motion and energy consumption because by moving fluid more efficiently, less energy is consumed.

[0063] Using water as the medium discussed, although we know that the technology is not restricted to water or even fluid, it has been shown that the adapter technology, depending on the area of placement within the system can: [0064] 1. Decrease energy usage by allowing less running time of the pump to accommodate the same desired water turn-over rate. (PA) and/or (AA) [0065] 2. Decrease work load on a pump by increasing preload requiring the pump to work less hard, possibly also decreasing energy requirements but definitely increasing the speed and overall ability of a pump to gain its prime. (PA) and/or (AA) [0066] 3. Increasing flow through the system, in front of or after pumps, appliances, turns or whatever obstruction that disrupts flow. In many placements a decrease in running vacuum is acquired while maintaining the same or increased flow. (PA) and/or (AA) [0067] 4. Reduce or eliminate turbulence at and/or after 90 degree turns that obstruct water flow at the molecular level and can even contribute to less breakdown of materials being carried within the water medium by decreasing the effect of the turbulence following 90 degree turns and also the length of time the turbulence affects the water and materials being transported within it, example being chlorine or other chemicals used to clean and sanitize the water. (PA) and/or (AA) [0068] 5. Increase the speed of travel through the piping system by creating a laminar flow pattern that makes for a smoother, freer flowing fluid. When longer runs are present, a parabolic pattern can develop increasing flow even further. (PA) and/or (AA) [0069] 6. Use of a collector to enhance the pick-up of fluid into the adapter, which in turn enhances the benefits seen from an adapter without the collector. (AA)

[0070] The relief holes in the adapter of the present invention (see FIGS. 7-8) allow some water to flow through them because of the vacuum of the pump. The majority of the flow takes the path of least resistance which is through the adapter's main orifice (front) opening. This is the opening where the laminar flow pattern is developed. As the flow through the adapter's main orifice passes the relief holes, due to its higher velocity a venturi effect develops and increases the flow through the relief holes which in turn increases the pull of the surrounding water towards the main orifice opening enhancing the laminar effect. The greater the angle away from the 90 degrees the more participation is seen via the venture effect. At 90 degrees, there develops a slight turbulent resistance as the water through the relief holes collides with the laminar developed flow through the main orifice. As the angle drops off from the 90 degree a smoother flow can be seen due to the elimination of the conflicted water flowing through the relief holes. Instead of being forced through the 90-degree holes, the water is enhanced by joining the flow of the laminar structured pattern of the water.

[0071] The adapter as originally designed and tested by the University of Denver showed a decrease in Turbulent Kinetic Energy in the sump in which it was connected and also showed the formation of a laminar flow pattern in the water passing through it. This function was covered in a previous provisional patent application. Since that filing we have become aware of a system of pool construction that does not use a drain sump in the bottom or sidewall of pools. In fact, pipes are brought directly into position in the pool and a drain cover is attached directly over the pipe (field fabricated sumps).

[0072] Using the technology discovered in the adapter has led to using the same technology directly inside the piping system. In essence, the adapter, instead of being used as a stand-alone device outside of the system with the adaptations necessary to allow it to be used accordingly; it is known that the adapter in its original configuration can be built into pumps or piping systems to gain the value of the technology to more effectively move fluid and gas but not limited to these mediums.

[0073] When pipe is connected together, a coupler is used. An example of a coupler 40 used to join two pipe extensions 42, 44 together is shown in FIG. 5. Couplers come in various lengths. Couplers are designed in such a way as to be slightly larger than the outside diameter of the pipe to be joined (glued). When the glue is brushed around the end of the pipe (42, 44) and the internal diameter of the coupler, the pipe (42, 44) slides into the coupler 40 and rests on a built-in stop. The stop is in the center of the coupler 40 and is a VERY small raised area so the pipe only goes this far into the coupler.

[0074] The adapter 22 of the present invention is designed to slide into the coupler 40without glue. It would only be long so it would not take up too much of the glued area of the coupler and so not compromise the integrity of the pipe that will now glue into the remaining section of the coupler. Referring to FIG. 6, the adapter 22 is shown securely held into place within the coupler 40 by the glued pipe sections 42, 44. This does not eliminate the possibility of gluing the insert in the piping but just offers a simpler method of secure attachment.

[0075] All the benefits of an adapter can now be delivered as often as desired when connecting piping by using the adapter 22 in existing couplers or premade adapter couplers that already contain the adapter 22 as mentioned above.

[0076] Of importance, although the principle of the adapter insert is to make for a smooth transition of water from the pipe and entering the adapter insert 22 and then leave the adapter insert with little or no turbulence created in the continuing pipe, there is an unusual occurrence known where the turbulence can be of benefit. The overall design is to limit the turbulent kinetic energy and create a laminar flow, but the knowledge of how to create a desired amount of turbulence is known and can be duplicated if desired. Also, the angle of design of the adapter insert 22 can change the flow rate (laminar flow) of material (fluid, gas, etc. . . . ) and the amount of turbulent kinetic energy that results from the degree of angle. By increasing or decreasing the angle, the desired results can be altered with the understanding that various materials being transported will react differently to different angles.

[0077] Further, the inclusion of the adapter technology can be incorporated into the design and manufacture of all current and future pump strainer baskets (see FIG. 9) that, when the basket/adapter product is inserted into the pump basket receptacle, will line up with the piping in the pump intake side of the pump, improving flow to the pump relieving back pressure and enhancing priming operations of the pump.

[0078] While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention which is not to be limited except as defined in the following claims as interpreted under the Doctrine of Equivalents.