Skimming system of backwashing water tank

Abstract

The pool skimming apparatus includes: a debris collection chamber having a pool water entry throat closable by a floating gate; the leaf basket is fixed below the sundry collecting chamber, and a backwater outlet and a backwashing water inlet are formed below the leaf basket; and a backwash debris outlet, the backwash debris outlet being above the debris collection chamber, whereby, during normal operation, pool water and debris will be extracted, passed through the opened floating gate and into the debris collection chamber, the debris trapped in the leaf basket, the pool water flowing to the return water outlet; and in the backwashing operation, water enters the device from a backwashing water inlet below the leaf basket and upwards flows through the leaf basket so as to force sundries in the leaf basket to upwards enter the sundries collecting chamber, pass through the closed floating gate and are discharged from a backwashing sundries outlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a skimming system for swimming pools, including apparatus and methods for skimming and removing debris from the surface of a swimming pool. Background Technology

[0002] Swimming pools are typically equipped with skimming devices to remove debris floating on the pool surface. These devices are connected to a recirculating fluid system, including a pump, located off-pool. The pump draws pool water through a skimming chamber built into the pool's sidewall. The skimming chamber usually includes a removable filter basket (often called a "blade basket") to trap debris as it passes through. The coarsely filtered water then flows from below the blade basket out of the skimming device and into a fine filtration system, usually located off-pool and in conjunction with the pump, before returning to the pool.

[0003] The throat of the skimmer box between the skimmer box and the pool wall usually includes a floating gate that automatically adjusts to accommodate rising or falling water levels. The automatic adjustment is as follows: when the pump draws water into the skimmer box, debris is allowed to flow through the gate into the skimmer box, but when the pump is not running, debris is prevented from floating back into the pool from the skimmer box.

[0004] Therefore, this type of skimming equipment can operate relatively simply to capture and retain floating debris on the surface of a pool, allowing the pool water to undergo further filtration or treatment before returning to the pool. However, such equipment still requires regular attention from the pool owner to empty the blade basket, sometimes several times a day (depending on the amount of debris that may enter a pool each day). In fact, when the blade basket is clogged with debris, it becomes blocked and obstructs water flow, which can lead to basket breakage or damage to various components of the skimming equipment and recirculation fluid system (pumps and filters) due to obstructed fluid flow and increased pressure. This can cause starvation in the pumps of the recirculation system, resulting in cavitation, which is a destructive force that will damage the pump if left unchecked.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a skimming system for swimming pools that can empty the skimming basket without requiring the pool owner to manually remove it from the skimmer box for cleaning.

[0006] The foregoing discussion of conventional systems, devices, and apparatuses is included in this specification for the purpose of providing background information for the present invention. It does not imply or represent that any or all of these contents constitute part of the prior art, or that they were common knowledge in the relevant field prior to the priority date of the claims of this application. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention provides a water tank skimming device, comprising: A debris collection chamber having a pool water inlet that can be closed by a floating gate; The leaf basket, fixed below the debris collection chamber, has a return water outlet and a backwash water inlet below it; and A backwash debris outlet is located above the debris collection chamber; thus, During normal operation, pool water and debris are pumped out, pass through the opened floating gate, and enter the debris collection chamber. The debris is trapped in the blade basket, while the pool water flows to the return water outlet. During backwashing operation, water enters the device from the backwash water inlet below the blade basket and flows upward through the blade basket, forcing debris in the blade basket upward into the debris collection chamber, through the closed floating gate, and out from the backwash debris outlet.

[0008] In this broadest form of the invention, those skilled in the art will understand and recognize that, in use, the routine operation of the skimming device will result in debris floating on the surface of the pool being drawn into the debris collection chamber in a conventional manner through a floating gate designed to allow such floating debris to enter. Typically, such movement is facilitated by a skimming device connected to a recirculating fluid system located away from the pool, which includes a pump (and typically one or more fine filters) for drawing pool water from the pool, passing it through throats in the pool sidewall, and into the debris collection chamber. In the broadest form, it is also conceivable to use such an arrangement with the skimming device of the present invention.

[0009] However, when the skimming device of the present invention is in backwash operation, it will not operate in the conventional manner. Instead, it utilizes an innovative arrangement of the backwash inlet and outlet relative to the blade basket, such that water from the pool does not or almost does not pass through the pool water throat and flows downward through the blade basket. Instead, water flows from below the blade basket through the backwash water inlet and upward through the blade basket to dissolve debris remaining in the blade basket and move it with the backwash water flow, passing through a closed float gate (thus not returning to the pool) and exiting the skimming device through the backwash debris outlet. The backwash debris outlet can be connected to a collection tank or similar material for further filtration or separation of debris and usable water for return to the pool or other uses.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the skimming device further includes a guide vane installed within the skimming device, above the debris collection chamber, and angled towards the backwash debris outlet to facilitate the entry and exit of backwash water. In this regard, the conventional configuration of the skimming device adjacent to the pool is such that the normal pool water level is ideally located at a point within a throat formed in the pool wall. This leaves an empty space within the skimming device from the water level to the height of the pool deck surrounding the pool (where a skimming device cover is typically located). Positioning the guide vane at approximately the normal pool water level within the skimming device minimizes the possibility of cavitation above the water level (and within the skimming device), thereby preventing debris from being trapped in this space and unable to pass through the backwash debris outlet.

[0011] In one form, the flow guide may be a baffle, preferably transparent, so that the pool owner can observe the system's operating status and whether the impeller basket is clogged with debris. The baffle may be configured to be removable or pivotable as needed.

[0012] Regarding the blade basket, it should be understood that during backwashing operations, if the blade basket is visibly clogged with debris, the backwash water can apply a certain amount of force from below to impact the blade basket, which is conventionally installed in the skimmer. This conventional method involves manually pressing the blade basket into a suitably sized opening to create a tight frictional fit, at least overcoming the inherent buoyancy of the blade basket to hold it in place. However, when cleaning the blade basket is required, it can still be easily removed manually (e.g., via a simple twist-lock system).

[0013] In this invention, given the forces that may be applied to the blade basket from below, the blade basket is preferably secured in its position within the skimming device, below the debris collection chamber. Such securing can be permanent, but is preferably temporary, so that the pool owner can still remove the blade basket when needed (e.g., for maintenance, repair, or replacement) (again, for example, by a simple twist-lock system).

[0014] As previously described, during backwashing operation, water flows out from the backwash water inlet below the blade basket and upwards through the blade basket, forcing debris in the blade basket upwards into the debris collection chamber, through the closed floating gate, and out of the backwash debris outlet. Of course, backwashing operation is not the regular operating mode of the skimming device of this invention, but rather a temporary operating mode. In this temporary mode, the floating gate needs to be closed or at least partially closed, allowing very little (or preferably none) debris to pass through the gate, flow out of the throat, and return to the pool.

[0015] In one embodiment, the closure of the floating gate is preferably achieved by simply stopping routine operation, thereby halting the pumping of pool water and debris through the open (almost horizontally inclined) floating gate and into the debris collection chamber. With the cessation of this water flow and the initiation of backwashing operation, causing water to flow at any velocity (flow rate and pressure) induced by the backwashing system from the backwash water inlet below the impeller basket and upward through the impeller basket, the floating gate preferably automatically reorients itself vertically, thereby closing and substantially preventing the passage of debris.

[0016] For initiating backwash operation, the flow of backwash water from below through the impeller basket can be initiated by a backwash pump integrated into a recirculation fluid system located away from the water tank. This backwash pump can be a separate pump from the one used in regular operation, or it can be the same pump used in regular operation, appropriately controlled and integrated into the recirculation fluid system to perform both functions. In another configuration, the backwash pump can be located in or near the skimming device. In either case, the backwash pump must be in fluid communication with the backwash water inlet below the impeller basket.

[0017] In another embodiment, the flow of backwash water from below the blade basket through the blade basket can be caused by gravity and a suitable amount of backwash water stored in the surge tank. In this embodiment, where a backwash pump is not integrated into the skimming device of the present invention, the backwash water inlet is a surge inlet in fluid communication with the surge tank, and the water in the surge tank is released by appropriate valves and controls when normal operation stops and backwash operation starts. The duration of the backwash operation can end when the surge tank is emptied, or it can end earlier when the surge tank only needs to provide a smaller amount of water to flush away debris from the blade basket.

[0018] In this configuration (i.e., the configuration using a water tank to provide backwash water), the skimming device of the present invention still requires a normal pump (referred to in this application as the "operating pump") to draw pool water from the pool and pass it through the skimming device. This operating pump can be conventionally integrated into a recirculating fluid system located away from the pool, or alternatively, it can be located near or integrated into the skimming device, preferably vertically integrated below the blade basket.

[0019] In this preferred embodiment, such a vertically integrated operating pump positioned below the impeller basket can advantageously serve as the object of a preferred control mechanism of the type described in the applicant's co-pending international patent application (titled "Axial Flow Centrifugal Hydraulic Pump"), both of which were filed on the same date as this application. The contents of the two co-pending patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0020] A preferred vertically integrated pump would be an axial-flow centrifugal hydraulic pump with an axially extending pump body (vertically configured), wherein the pump body has an inlet at one end (top) and an outlet at the opposite end (bottom). The pump will preferably include a low-voltage (below 30V DC) direct current (DC) motor centrally located within the pump body, between the inlet and outlet, and having a central rotating shaft. Ideally, a turbine impeller is provided, coupled to the DC motor via the rotating shaft, adjacent to the inlet and configured to rotate about the axis to pump water from the inlet to the outlet within the pump body. In one form, the turbine impeller may have a plurality of impeller blades. The pump may also include guide vanes mounted to the pump body near the outlet, having a plurality of guide vane blades that mate with the impeller blades to create laminar flow of water at the outlet as the pumped water flows through the guide vanes. Ideally, the guide vanes extend at least partially axially to the DC motor, and the pumped water passes through the DC motor to cool and insulate it during use.

[0021] In this configuration, and in the case where the pump is vertically integrated below the skimmer basket, the pump will draw water during normal operation, causing the water to flow downward through the skimmer basket and into the pump inlet, and the DC electric motor is an extra-low voltage DC electric motor (i.e., below 30V DC).

[0022] The extra-low voltage DC electric motor can be safely submerged in the skimming device, and the pumped water passes through the DC electric motor to cool and insulate it during use. Furthermore, because this preferred type of pump occupies little space and has no external cooling fan, it can be easily installed underground or underwater, even below the impeller basket.

[0023] In this preferred form of pump, the guide vane blades and turbine impeller blades are ideally evenly spaced around the guide vane and turbine impeller, respectively. Ideally, the number of guide vane blades differs from that of the turbine impeller blades. For example, the guide vane may have seven guide vane blades evenly spaced around it, while the turbine impeller has eight turbine impeller blades evenly spaced around it. This matching turbine impeller and guide vane minimizes energy losses associated with converting mechanical energy into hydraulic energy of the pumped water via a centrifugal impeller driven by an electric motor. Compared to radial pumps, the preferred in-line design with axially aligned inlet and outlet of this preferred axial-flow centrifugal hydraulic pump also reduces energy losses associated with changes in the directional flow of the pumped water and minimizes pressure drop.

[0024] In another preferred form of the pump, each blade of the turbine impeller extends axially from the inlet and spirally from the eye of the impeller. Furthermore, each guide vane extends axially from the pump outlet and spirally. The shape of the guide vanes is therefore preferably designed to guide water away from the impeller and achieve a broad, gentle deflection of the water to create laminar flow. Laminar flow reduces turbulence, further minimizing pump energy loss.

[0025] Ideally, the guide vanes are adjacent to the pump body and extend radially toward the DC motor. As mentioned earlier, the guide vanes extend at least partially to the DC motor, allowing the pumped water to pass through it in a laminar flow, thus cooling and insulating the DC motor during operation. Typical centrifugal pumps, on the other hand, require an additional external air fan to cool the motor, which is noisy and requires extra power.

[0026] Furthermore, the turbine impeller blades preferably extend radially toward the pump body from the rotational shaft adjacent to the DC electric motor, and the diameter of the turbine impeller is preferably within the width of the guide vane blades. In other words, the preferred form of axial-flow centrifugal pump achieves a compact design through its in-line configuration, allowing the impeller diameter to be close to the pump body diameter, thereby increasing the water flow rate relative to the pump size.

[0027] The rotating shaft preferably has a conical cap near the inlet, which is configured to deliver water at an angle to the axis of the impeller into the impeller eye. The conical cap or cone reduces turbulence of the water entering the impeller eye. In particular, the angle at which the water enters the impeller eye is not 90 degrees to the impeller exit as in a radial impeller. For example, the angle between the water flow entering the impeller eye and the axis of the shaft is between 40 and 50 degrees (e.g., 40 degrees). This angle reduces the change in direction of the water within the impeller, thereby reducing energy loss. Furthermore, the conical cap is preferably made of a non-corrosive, non-ferrous metal and acts as a radiator to transfer heat from the rotating shaft to the water delivered to the impeller eye.

[0028] In another form, the pump vertically integrated below the skimmer can be a reversible pump / motor, enabling it to: draw water from the pool during normal operation, pass the throat, through the float gate, and downward through the skimmer; and additionally, draw water from the discharge outlet during backwash operation, allowing the water to flow upward through the skimmer to disperse and remove debris from it. Therefore, in this form, the skimmer does not necessarily include a backwash tank to provide backwash water. In this embodiment, as described below, the outlet of the return pool (RTP) is preferably below the water level, and any filter designed adjacent to the skimmer is preferably a cartridge filter below the water level. An additional benefit of this configuration is that some fine debris is removed from the filter (by reverse velocity).

[0029] Regarding backwashing operations, it should be understood that the skimming device of the present invention can rely on and simultaneously include a backwash pump and a water tank, with suitable connections and controls, allowing the pool owner to choose either option for backwashing operations. In some cases, it is advantageous to use a simpler, potentially less energy-intensive water tank instead of operating a backwash pump, for example, where the water tank can be manually opened by the pool owner during, for example, a power outage. In another case, assuming the water tank contains a limited amount of water for a single backwashing operation, it may be necessary to run the backwash pump for a longer period than a reasonably sized water tank can provide in order to ensure thorough cleaning of the impeller. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1a This is a cross-sectional view of a water tank skimming device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1b yes Figure 1a Enlarged sectional view of pump 19 in the middle; Figure 2a , Figure 2b and Figure 2c These are, respectively, isometric views, top views, and side views of the pool skimming device according to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, but combined with the pool filtration equipment; and Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, but combined with the water inrush tank. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Figure 1a An embodiment of a pool skimming device 10 according to the present invention is shown. The device 10 includes a debris collection chamber 12 having a pool water inlet throat 14 that can be closed by a floating gate 16. An impeller basket 18 is fixed below the debris collection chamber 12, a running pump 19 is vertically integrated below the impeller basket 18, a backwash water inlet 22 is also below the impeller basket 18, a return water outlet 20 is below the running pump 19, and a backwash debris outlet 24 is above the debris collection chamber 12.

[0032] During normal operation, pool water and debris (not shown) will be pumped out through the opened floating gate 16 ( Figure 1a (Displayed as open) and enters the debris collection chamber 12, where debris is trapped in the impeller basket 18, while the pool water flows to the return water outlet 20 via the operating pump 19. During backwashing operation, water enters the device 10 from the backwash water inlet 22 below the impeller basket 18 and flows upward through the impeller basket 18, forcing debris (also not shown) in the impeller basket 18 upward into the debris collection chamber 12, passing through the floating gate 16 which is closed at this time (although...). Figure 1a(It is shown in the open position) and discharged from the backwash debris outlet 24.

[0033] The skimming device 10 also includes a guide member 30, which is installed inside the device 10, above the debris collection chamber 12, and angled toward the backwash debris outlet 24 to assist the backwash water flow into and out of the backwash debris outlet 24. The guide member 30 also helps to prevent the rising backwash water from impacting the cover 32 and potentially blowing it open.

[0034] The standard configuration of the skimming device for the adjacent pool is as follows: the water level in the pool is ideally located at a point within the throat 14 formed in the pool wall, for example, at... Figure 1a Near the dotted line AA in the diagram. This leaves space within the skimming device from the water level to the height of the pool deck surrounding the pool (see...). Figure 1a The empty space between the dashed lines BB in the diagram, with a cover 32 at the height of the pool deck. A guide 30 is provided at a height approximately level with the top of the backwash debris outlet 24 within the device 10 to minimize the possibility of cavitation above the water level (and within the device 10) during backwashing operation, thereby preventing debris from being trapped in this space and unable to pass through the backwash debris outlet 24.

[0035] In this embodiment, the flow guide 30 is a transparent plate, allowing the pool owner to view the system's operational status and whether the blade basket 18 is clogged with debris. The flow guide 30 is configured to be removable and is preferably secured in place by a simple twist-lock mechanism (not shown) using four locating tabs and grooves. Appropriately sized molded handles may be provided for easy removal and replacement. The tabs can be positioned in such a manner that the flow guide 30 can only be repositioned in the correct orientation.

[0036] The leaf basket 18 is temporarily secured in its position below the debris collection chamber 12 so that the pool owner can still remove it when needed (e.g., for maintenance, repair, or replacement). The leaf basket can also be secured in place via a simple rotary locking mechanism, similarly using four tabs and grooves. A suitably sized molded handle is also available for easy removal and replacement; however, in this case, orientation is less important, allowing all four rotary locking tabs to be evenly positioned.

[0037] For initiating backwash operation, the flow of backwash water from below through the impeller basket can be initiated by a backwash pump (also not shown) integrated into a recirculation fluid system (not shown) located away from the water tank. This backwash pump can be a separate pump from the one used in regular operation, or it can be the same pump used in regular operation, appropriately controlled and integrated into the recirculation fluid system to perform both functions. Such a backwash pump is in fluid communication with the backwash water inlet 22 below the impeller basket 18, allowing water to enter the device 10 from the backwash water inlet 22 and flow upward through the impeller basket 18. The water velocity is sufficient to force debris in the impeller basket 18 upward into the debris collection chamber 12, through the closed float gate 16, and out of the backwash debris outlet 24.

[0038] However, in this embodiment, the flow of backwash water from below the blade basket 18 through the blade basket 18 is influenced by gravity and the inrush tank 50 (see...). Figure 3 The backwash is caused by a suitable amount of backwash water stored in the inlet tank 50. In this form, the backwash water inlet 22 is actually a water inlet in fluid communication with the inlet tank 50, and is used by a suitable valve 52 and control to release water from the inlet tank 50 when normal operation stops and backwash operation starts. This operation can be automatically controlled by an integrated control system (not shown). In this embodiment, the system ideally senses that the impeller basket 18 has been filled (blocked) and can stop the pump's normal filtration cycle. Subsequently, the system can start a backwash cycle using the inlet tank 50 and its valve 52, which can be timed or simply based on a predetermined capacity of the inlet tank 50; then, the automatic controller can restore the pump to the normal filtration cycle and allow water to be refilled into the inlet tank. In this regard, predetermined electrical parameters can be used to determine whether the impeller basket has been successfully backwashed (blocked).

[0039] For the operating pump 19 in this embodiment, such as Figure 1b As shown more clearly, pump 19 includes an axially extending pump body 60 having an inlet at one end (top) and an outlet 64 at the opposite end (bottom). Pump body 60 is cylindrical, and a cylindrical low-voltage direct current (DC) electric motor 66 is centrally located within pump body 60 between the inlet 62 and outlet 64 of pump 19. The vertically positioned pump 19 is located on a fixed discharge plate at the bottom and has a removable (rotary lock) plate at the top. This allows pump 19 to be serviced / disassembled after removing the guide vane 30 and impeller basket 18. Figure 1b Arrow 68 in the diagram indicates the direction in which water flows through pump 19.

[0040] As previously mentioned, the DC electric motor 66 is preferably an extra-low voltage (ELV) DC electric motor. Specifically, the ELV DC electric motor 66 operates at a ripple-free DC voltage typically below 30V, allowing the motor 66 to be safely submerged in pool water and within the pump body 60 (classified as "O" zone in AS3000 wiring guidelines). The ELV motor 66 can have a power range of 100-800 watts and is used to rotate the central rotating shaft 70 housed within the waterproof motor body.

[0041] Typically, AC electric motors used in axial or radial centrifugal water tank pumps operate at bipolar speeds of 3000 rpm in countries using 240V / 50Hz and at bipolar speeds of 3600 rpm in countries using 110V / 60Hz. In this embodiment, the ELV DC motor 66 operates at a lower speed of approximately 2000-2400 rpm, with a designed operating speed range between 1000 and 2800 rpm. This reduced pump speed offers several design advantages, including lower energy consumption and less noise.

[0042] Pump 19 further includes a turbine impeller 72 adjacent to inlet 62, coupled to a DC electric motor 66 via a rotating shaft 70. The turbine impeller 72 is configured to rotate about an axis to pump water axially from inlet 62 toward outlet 64 within pump body 60. The turbine impeller 72 has a plurality of impeller blades 74 evenly spaced around it for pumping water.

[0043] Each turbine impeller blade 74 extends axially from the inlet 62 and spirally from the wheel eye of the impeller 72. The turbine impeller 72 also includes a back plate angled to its axis, and the turbine impeller blades 74 extend axially from the back plate. The turbine impeller blades 74 also extend radially toward the pump body 60 from the rotating shaft 70 adjacent to the DC electric motor 66.

[0044] Pump 19 further includes guide vanes 80 mounted to pump body 60 adjacent to outlet 64. Guide vanes 80 include a plurality of guide vane blades 82 that mate with impeller blades 74 to create laminar flow of water at outlet 64 as the pumped fluid flows through guide vanes 80. Guide vane blades 82 extend axially in part to DC electric motor 66, and the pumped water passes through DC electric motor 66 to cool and insulate DC electric motor 66 during operation.

[0045] As previously mentioned, the DC electric motor 66 is designed to operate at speeds between 1000 and 2800 rpm, which is optimal for achieving better flow characteristics in the turbine impeller 72. In this embodiment, the DC electric motor 66 is a high-efficiency brushless permanent magnet DC electric motor (BLDC), thus enabling inherent DC-to-DC speed control via a motor controller (not shown). Additionally, the pump 19 includes a DC power supply (not shown) for the DC electric motor 66. The DC electric motor 66 may also be powered by one or more photovoltaic panels and / or by batteries (not shown). Since both are natively DC, there is no need to convert the electricity from AC to DC and then back to AC according to a "truncated" sine wave; therefore, the motor controller generates less heat and is thus more efficient (e.g., in the 98%-99% range).

[0046] The guide vanes 82 are evenly spaced around the guide vane 80. The number of guide vanes 82 differs from that of the turbine impeller blades 74; in this embodiment, there are eight turbine impeller blades 74 and seven guide vanes 82. This ensures that the impeller blades 74 never completely align with the guide vanes 82 during rotation, thereby avoiding the possibility of pulsation during pump 19 operation and preventing unwanted vibrations in the pump 19.

[0047] The turbine impeller 72 is matched with the guide vanes 80 to generate laminar flow and reduce turbulent vortices, thereby reducing energy loss of the pump 19. In one embodiment, the angles of the eight turbine impeller blades 74 are matched with the angles of the seven guide vane blades 82 to generate laminar flow of water passing through the pump 19.

[0048] More specifically, each guide vane 82 extends axially and helically from the outlet 64 of the pump 19. The guide vane 82 also extends radially toward the pump body 60 via a lip or seal (not shown) and toward the body of the DC electric motor 66. The lip or seal helps reduce backflow of water within the pump. The diameter of the turbine impeller 72 is therefore within the width of the guide vane 82 to maximize the throughput of water passing through the pump 19. That is, a larger impeller diameter than that of a radial impeller can be used in the pump 19 relative to the diameter of the pump body, which must be positioned outside the impeller diameter.

[0049] The angle or spiral design of the guide vane blades 82 ensures that once the water leaves the impeller 72, the blades 82 gently guide the water to flow in a laminar manner through the motor 66 and out of the pump 19 outlet 64, without significant turbulence.

[0050] The turbine impeller 72 is coupled to the rotating shaft 70 of the DC electric motor 66 via a replaceable wear ring 84, which has a wear-resistant outer circumference surface. The wear ring 84 serves a dual purpose. First, it withstands any wear over time, such as wear caused by sand particles in water. The wear ring 84 is replaceable, so it can be easily replaced when the tolerance between the impeller 72 and the wear ring 84 becomes too large, causing a deterioration in the performance of the pump 19. Its second purpose is as an anti-backflow device.

[0051] The outer circumferential wear-resistant surface of the wear ring 84 includes three stepped surfaces to create a tortuous path for water in the pump body 60 that is not within the impeller, reducing backflow of water towards the inlet 62. The first stepped surface forms a first labyrinth seal 86, the second stepped surface forms a second labyrinth seal 88 and a third labyrinth seal 90, and the third stepped surface forms a fourth labyrinth seal 92 and a fifth labyrinth seal 94. When water from the pressure side attempts to return to the low-pressure suction side, the water circulates internally within the pump instead of being pumped out through a resistive conduit. The wear ring 84 provides a tortuous path for the water to reduce backflow and improve the efficiency of the pump 19.

[0052] exist Figure 2a , Figure 2b and Figure 2c In these three figures, the skimming device 10 in Figure 1 is shown in preferred configuration as being in fluid communication with the dual cartridge filter 100. Device 10 includes a debris collection chamber 12 with a pool water inlet throat 14, and an operating pump 19 is vertically integrated below the debris collection chamber 12 and the impeller basket (not visible). A return water outlet 20 is below the operating pump 19 and in fluid communication with the respective cartridge filter 100, while a backwash debris outlet 24 is above the debris collection chamber 12. The operating pump 19 is shown in fluid communication with the respective cartridge filter 100 via a 90-degree elbow. Alternatively, the cartridge filter 100 is adjacent to the operating pump 19 and connected via a straight pipe. It is conceivable that this compact arrangement is feasible and ideal for pool owners due to the vertical integration of the pump 19, allowing the entire pump, backwash, and filtration system to be integrated and underground.

[0053] In this configuration, no dedicated equipment room is required, and the pipes do not need to be exposed. In fact, from... Figure 3 As can be seen in the schematic diagram (which shows the skimming device 10 in Figure 1 in fluid communication with the dual-cartridge filter 100 in a preferred configuration), all are positioned below the pool deck 140 and adjacent to the pool 142. Figure 3The diagram illustrates a preferred arrangement where the flow of backwash water from below the impeller 18 through the impeller 18 is caused by gravity and the appropriate amount of backwash water stored in the inlet tank 50. In this configuration, the backwash water inlet 22 is actually a water inlet in fluid communication with the inlet tank 50, and is controlled by a suitable valve 52 to release water from the inlet tank 50 when normal operation stops and backwash operation starts, with water entering through the backwash water inlet 22.

[0054] It should be understood that various changes, additions and / or modifications can be made to the parts described above without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A scum skimming device for a water tank, comprising: A debris collection chamber having a pool water inlet throat that can be closed by a floating gate; Leaf basket, the leaf basket is fixed below the debris collection chamber, and there is a return water outlet and a backwash water inlet below the leaf basket; as well as A backwash debris outlet is located above the debris collection chamber; thus, During normal operation, pool water and debris are drawn out, pass through the opened floating gate and enter the debris collection chamber, where the debris is trapped in the leaf basket, and the pool water flows to the return water outlet. as well as During backwashing operation, water enters the device from the backwash water inlet below the blade basket and flows upward through the blade basket, forcing debris in the blade basket upward into the debris collection chamber, through the closed floating gate, and out from the backwash debris outlet.

2. The slag skimming device for a water tank according to claim 1, wherein, The backwash debris outlet is in fluid communication with a collection tank for filtering or separating debris and usable water.

3. The water tank skimming device according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a flow guide, the flow guide being installed inside the skimming device, above the debris collection chamber, and obliquely positioned toward the backwash debris outlet to assist the backwash water flow in and out through the backwash debris outlet.

4. The slag skimming device for a water tank according to claim 3, wherein, The flow guide is a flow deflector, which is configured to be detachable or pivotable.

5. The water tank skimming device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The leaf basket is fixed below the debris collection chamber in the skimming device.

6. The slag skimming device for a water tank according to claim 5, wherein, The fixing of the leaf basket is temporary so that the leaf basket can still be removed.

7. The water tank skimming device according to claims 1 to 6, comprising a backwash pump, the backwash pump being integrated in the water tank skimming device and in fluid communication with the backwash water inlet below the blade basket.

8. The slag skimming device for a water tank according to claim 7, wherein, The backwash pump is vertically integrated into the skimming device, below the blade basket.

9. The water tank skimming device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a water inlet tank for storing water, wherein the backwash water inlet thus becomes a water inlet in fluid communication with the water inlet tank, the water inlet tank comprising a valve that, when normal operation stops and backwash operation starts, allows water to flow entirely out of the water inlet tank through the water inlet and flow below through the blade basket to flush away debris in the blade basket.

10. The water tank skimming device according to claim 7 or claim 9, comprising an operating pump for drawing water from the water tank and passing it through the skimming device.

11. The water tank skimming device according to claim 10, wherein, The operating pump is vertically integrated below the impeller basket.

12. The water tank skimming device according to claim 11, wherein, The operating pump is an axial-flow centrifugal hydraulic pump with an axially extending pump body (vertically configured), the pump body having an inlet at one end (top) and an outlet at the opposite end (bottom) of the pump body.

13. The slag skimming device for a water tank according to claim 12, wherein, The axially extending pump body has a top end and a bottom end, and is vertically configured with an inlet at the top end and an outlet at the bottom end.

14. The slag skimming device for a water tank according to claim 13, wherein, The operating pump includes a low-voltage direct current (DC) electric motor centrally positioned within the pump body, between the inlet and the outlet, having a central rotating shaft and a turbine impeller coupled to the DC electric motor via the rotating shaft, adjacent to the inlet and configured to rotate about an axis to pump water from the inlet toward the outlet within the pump body.

15. The water tank skimming device according to claim 14, wherein, The operating pump includes guide vanes mounted to the pump body adjacent to the outlet, the guide vanes having a plurality of guide vane blades that match a plurality of impeller blades to generate laminar flow of water at the outlet as the pumped water flows through the guide vanes.

16. The water tank skimming device according to claim 15, wherein, The guide vanes extend at least partially axially to the DC electric motor, and the pumped water passes through the DC electric motor to cool and insulate it during use.

17. The water tank skimming device according to claims 10 to 16, wherein, The operating pump is a reversible pump, enabling it to: draw water from the pool during normal operation, allowing the water to pass through the throat, the floating gate, and downward through the impeller basket; and additionally, draw water from the backwash water inlet during backwash operation, allowing the water to flow upward through the impeller basket to flush and remove debris from the impeller basket.

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