Delivery nozzle to regulate a delivery flow towards inside of a swimming pool tank

Abstract

Delivery nozzle (10) to regulate a delivery flow towards an interior of a tub of a swimming pool, comprising a hollow body (20) comprising a longitudinal through opening (30) adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow, a stem (25) arranged within said through opening (30) along a longitudinal axis (L), a hollow threaded set screw (60) comprising a head (63) adapted to be engaged by a screwing tool, comprising a longitudinal through opening (70) adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow, an external threaded portion (64) adapted to be screwed with a threaded wall (46) arranged within the longitudinal through opening (30), so as to switch said hollow threaded set screw (60) from a more screwed configuration to a less screwed configuration along said longitudinal axis (L), wherein said longitudinal through opening (70) of said hollow threaded set screw (60) comprises a housing portion (72) adapted to house at least a portion of said stem (25), wherein said delivery nozzle (10) is adapted to switch from an open configuration to a closed configuration of the delivery flow.

Description

[0001] The present invention refers to a delivery nozzle to regulate a delivery flow towards an interior of a tub of a swimming pool.

[0002] In the state of the art, delivery nozzles for swimming pools are known for introducing water or air into a tub of a swimming pool. The delivery nozzles for air are also referred to as air inlets.

[0003] Disadvantageously, it is not possible to regulate a flow of water or air from the hydraulic system towards the interior of the tub of the swimming pool through the delivery nozzles when the tub of the swimming pool is full and when the delivery nozzle is operating, because it is necessary to empty the tub at least down to the depth at which the delivery nozzle is located, disassemble the delivery nozzle, and regulate the delivery flow of water or air towards the interior of the tub.

[0004] Other delivery nozzles of the state of the art are, for example, described in US 2011 / 272498 A and US 2007 / 290078 A1.

[0005] Regulating a delivery flow means regulating a delivery flow of water or air towards the interior of the tub of the swimming pool.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to make a delivery nozzle capable of regulating a delivery flow towards an interior of a tub of a swimming pool even when the tub is full of water and the delivery nozzle is submerged in the water of the tub and is operating.

[0007] In accordance with the invention, such object is achieved with a delivery nozzle according to claim 1.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to make a process for regulating a delivery flow towards an interior of a tub of a swimming pool even when the tub is full of water and a delivery nozzle is submerged in the water of the tub and is operating.

[0009] In accordance with the invention, such other object is achieved by a process for regulating a delivery flow towards an interior of a tub of a swimming pool according to claim 10.

[0010] Other features are provided in the dependent claims.

[0011] The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, provided by way of example and without limitation, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a delivery nozzle to regulate a delivery flow according to the present invention in an open configuration, in which the delivery nozzle comprises a hollow threaded set screw in a less screwed configuration to allow the passage of a delivery flow through a through opening of said hollow threaded set screw; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of said delivery nozzle to regulate the delivery flow according to the present invention in a closed configuration, in which said delivery nozzle comprises a stem arranged within a through opening of said nozzle and arranged along the longitudinal axis, wherein the hollow threaded set screw is in a more screwed configuration along said longitudinal axis until a housing portion of said longitudinal through opening of said hollow threaded set screw houses at least a portion of said stem, closing said longitudinal through opening of said hollow threaded set screw and preventing the passage of the delivery flow; Figure 3 is a downstream view with respect to the delivery flow of a hollow body of the delivery nozzle; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hollow body along line IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is an upstream view with respect to the delivery flow of the hollow body of Figure 3; Figure 6 shows a downstream view of a hollow flanged body comprising a hollow portion adapted to be mounted with the through opening of the hollow body of the delivery nozzle; Figure 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the hollow flanged body along line VII-VII of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows an upstream view of the hollow flanged body of Figure 6; Figure 9 shows a downstream view of a flanged cover body adapted to switch from an assembled configuration with said hollow body to a disassembled configuration from said hollow body, wherein said flanged cover body comprises a hollow portion, wherein said assembled configuration of said flanged cover body provides that said hollow portion is assembled within said longitudinal through opening of said hollow body, wherein said hollow portion comprises a single longitudinal through opening adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow; Figure 10 shows a longitudinal sectional view along line X-X of Figure 9; Figure 11 shows a downstream view of an alternative flanged cover body comprising a plurality of longitudinal through openings adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow; Figure 12 shows a longitudinal sectional view along line XII-XII of Figure 11; Figure 13 shows an upstream view of the alternative flanged cover body of Figure 10.

[0012] With reference to the figures mentioned and in particular to Figures 1 and 2, a delivery nozzle 10 is shown to regulate a delivery flow towards an interior of a tub of a swimming pool.

[0013] Delivery flow means both a delivery flow of water and a delivery flow of air towards the interior of the tub of the swimming pool.

[0014] The delivery nozzle 10 comprises a hollow body 20 also shown in Figures 3-5.

[0015] The hollow body 20 comprises a longitudinal through opening 30 adapted to allow a passage of said delivery flow from upstream 31 to downstream 33.

[0016] The hollow body 20 comprises a stem 25 arranged within said through opening 30 along a longitudinal axis L.

[0017] The delivery nozzle 10 comprises a hollow threaded set screw 60 comprising a head 63 adapted to be engaged by a screwing tool.

[0018] Preferably, said head 63 of said hollow threaded set screw 60 is a hexagonal head, and said screwing tool is an Allen key.

[0019] As shown in particular in Figures 1 and 2, said hollow threaded set screw 60 comprises a longitudinal through opening 70 adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow from upstream to downstream.

[0020] Said hollow threaded set screw 60 comprises an external threaded portion 64, and more generally said delivery nozzle 10 comprises a threaded wall 46 arranged within the through opening 30 of the hollow body 20.

[0021] Said external threaded portion 64 is adapted to be screwed with said threaded wall 46, enabling said hollow threaded set screw 60 to switch from a more screwed configuration as shown in Figure 2 to a less screwed configuration along said longitudinal axis L as shown in Figure 1.

[0022] It is to be noted that the hollow threaded set screw 60 passes through a plurality of positions between said more screwed configuration and said less screwed configuration, allowing a flow rate of the delivery flow to be regulated.

[0023] Said longitudinal through opening 70 of said hollow threaded set screw 60 comprises a housing portion 72 adapted to house at least a portion of said stem 25.

[0024] Preferably, said housing portion 72 has larger transverse size than that of the remaining portion of the longitudinal through opening 70 of said hollow threaded set screw 70.

[0025] More generally, said delivery nozzle 10 is adapted to switch from an open configuration shown in Figure 1 to a closed configuration of the delivery flow shown in Figure 2.

[0026] Said closed configuration corresponds to said more screwed configuration of said hollow threaded set screw 60 and provides that said hollow threaded set screw 60 is screwed along said longitudinal axis L until said housing portion 72 of said longitudinal through opening 70 of said hollow threaded set screw 60 houses said at least one portion of stem 25, closing said longitudinal through opening 70 of said hollow threaded set screw 60 and preventing the passage of the delivery flow, as shown in Figure 2.

[0027] Said open configuration corresponds to said less screwed configuration of said hollow threaded set screw 60 and provides that said hollow threaded set screw 60 is screwed along said longitudinal axis L until said at least one portion of stem 25 clears at least a portion of said longitudinal through opening 70 of said hollow threaded set screw 60, allowing the passage of the delivery flow, as shown in Figure 1.

[0028] Advantageously, it is possible to screw or unscrew the hollow threaded set screw 60 even when the tub of the swimming pool is full and the delivery nozzle 10 is submerged in the water contained within the tub of the swimming pool, since the hollow threaded set screw 60 is accessible from the outside without needing to disassemble the delivery nozzle 10 and without needing to empty the pool to allow the delivery flow to be regulated.

[0029] Preferably, the delivery nozzle 10 comprises a flanged cover body 80 as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 9-13. The flanged cover body 80 switches from an assembled configuration with said hollow body 20 to a disassembled configuration from said hollow body 20.

[0030] Said flanged cover body 80 comprises a hollow portion 81.

[0031] Said assembled configuration of said flanged cover body 80 provides that said hollow portion 81 is assembled within said longitudinal through opening 30 of said hollow body 20, as shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 2.

[0032] Figures 9 and 10 show a flanged cover body 80 preferred for the delivery flow of water, and provide that said hollow portion 81 comprises a single longitudinal through opening 90 adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow.

[0033] Figures 11-13 show an alternative flanged cover body 80 preferred for the delivery flow of air, and provide that said hollow portion 81 comprises a plurality of longitudinal through openings 94 adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow, preferably of air.

[0034] Said disassembled configuration of said flanged cover body 80 allows said head 63 of said hollow threaded set screw 60 to be engaged by said screwing tool.

[0035] Advantageously, it is possible to regulate the delivery flow simply by unscrewing the flanged cover body 80 of Figures 9 and 10 or the alternative flanged cover body 80 of Figures 11-13, to allow the hollow threaded set screw 60 to be screwed or unscrewed without needing to disassemble the delivery nozzle 10 or empty the tub of the swimming pool, since the screwing or unscrewing of the hollow threaded set screw 60 can also be performed underwater.

[0036] Even more preferably, the delivery nozzle 10 comprises a hollow flanged body 40 comprising a hollow portion 41 assembled within said longitudinal through opening 30 of said hollow body 20.

[0037] Said hollow portion 41 comprises a longitudinal through opening 50 adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow.

[0038] Said hollow portion 41 comprises said threaded wall 46 adapted to allow said hollow threaded set screw 60 to switch from said more screwed configuration to said less screwed configuration.

[0039] Advantageously, the hollow flanged body 40 allows the delivery nozzle 10 to be made more easily, since it would be more complicated to machine the interior of the hollow body 20 providing the threaded portion 46 directly inside the through opening 30 of the hollow body 20, whereas assembling the hollow flanged body 40 with the hollow body 20 facilitates the making of the delivery nozzle 10.

[0040] Additionally, the hollow flanged body 40 advantageously allows the transverse size of the through opening 70 of the hollow body 20 to be regulated by means of an appropriate geometry that allows a better passage of the delivery flow.

[0041] Alternatively, it is also possible to provide that the hollow body 20 and the hollow flanged body 40 are made as a single piece.

[0042] Even more preferably, said hollow body 20 comprises a flanged portion 24 as shown in Figures 1-5.

[0043] Said hollow flanged body 40 comprises a flanged portion 42 as shown in Figures 6-8, which is assembled with said flanged portion 24 of said hollow body 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0044] Preferably, the flanged portion 42 of said hollow flanged body 40 comprises countersunk housings 44 for assembling screws between the hollow flanged body 40 and the hollow body 20; and the hollow body 20 comprises housings 28 arranged correspondingly with said countersunk housings 44 so as to house the assembling screws between the hollow flanged body 40 and the hollow body 20 when said hollow flanged body 40 and said hollow body 20 are assembled together, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The assembling screws are not illustrated in these figures.

[0045] Preferably, said hollow flanged body 40 comprises an upstream threaded portion 43, as shown in particular in Figures 1, 2, 6, and 7. Said hollow portion 81 of said flanged cover body 80 comprises at least one external threaded portion 84. Said external threaded portion 84 is adapted to be screwed with said upstream threaded portion 43 so as to allow said hollow flanged body 40 to switch from the assembled configuration to the disassembled configuration.

[0046] Advantageously, said two threaded portions 43 and 84 allow to select a transverse size of the through opening 50 of the hollow flanged body 40 and of the through opening 90 of the flanged cover body 80 of Figures 9 and 10.

[0047] Preferably, said stem 25 comprises a first upstream portion 21 and a second downstream portion 26. Said first upstream portion 21 is smaller in size than said second downstream portion 26 in terms of transverse size along the cross-section. Said second downstream portion 26 comprises a pointed portion 23, which is particularly advantageous for allowing the passage of the delivery flow and for facilitating the insertion of the stem 25 within the housing 72 of the through opening 70 of the hollow threaded set screw 60, which has maximum transverse size equal to that of the second downstream portion 26. Indeed, during the screwing movement of the hollow threaded set screw 60 from the less screwed configuration to the more screwed configuration, it is particularly important that the second downstream portion 26 comprises said pointed portion 23 to promote the flow of the delivery flow by better channelling it within the through openings 30, 50, 70, 90, and 94. Said second downstream portion 26 comprises said at least one portion of said stem 25 adapted to be housed by said housing portion 72 of said longitudinal through opening 70 of said hollow threaded set screw 60.

[0048] As shown in particular in Figures 1, 2, and 4, preferably, said second downstream portion 26 further comprises an oblique upstream wall 22. Advantageously, the oblique upstream wall 22 of the second downstream portion 26 of the stem 25 allows the delivery flow to be better channelled.

[0049] Even more preferably, as shown in particular in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, said hollow body 20 comprises a septum wall 29 which mounts said stem 25 in a central position along said longitudinal axis L. Said septum wall 29 comprises two longitudinal through openings 32 adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow. Advantageously, the longitudinal through openings 32 are at least two to better regulate the delivery flow, but alternatively it is also possible to provide that said longitudinal through openings 32 can be more than two.

[0050] Advantageously, the delivery nozzle 10 of the present invention allows a delivery flow to be regulated towards the interior of the tub of the swimming pool even when the tub is full of water and the delivery nozzle 10 is submerged in the water of the tub and the delivery nozzle 10 is operating, allowing the passage of the delivery flow, indeed the hollow threaded set screw 60 is also accessible from the outside even when the delivery nozzle 10 is submerged in water and can therefore be conveniently screwed or unscrewed, regulating the delivery flow.

[0051] As regards operation, the process for regulating the delivery flow towards the interior of the tub of the swimming pool is carried out through the delivery nozzle 10 according to the invention described above. The process comprises an operation of screwing said hollow threaded set screw 60 by means of said screwing tool, wherein said screwing operation comprises switching the hollow threaded set screw 60 from said more screwed configuration to said less screwed configuration along said longitudinal axis L, wherein said closed configuration corresponds to said more screwed configuration of said hollow threaded set screw 60, and wherein said open configuration corresponds to said less screwed configuration of said hollow threaded set screw 60.

[0052] Furthermore, preferably, the process comprises a preliminary operation of disassembling said flanged cover body 80, especially when said flanged cover body 80 is the alternative one according to Figures 11-13, whereas in the case of the flanged cover body 80 of Figures 9 and 10, the hollow threaded set screw 60 is accessible from the outside even without disassembling the flanged cover body 80.

[0053] Preferably, therefore, said disassembling operation provides switching said flanged cover body 80 from said assembled configuration to said disassembled configuration.

[0054] Advantageously, the process allows to regulate the delivery flow towards the interior of the tub of the swimming pool according to the present invention even when the tub is full of water and the delivery nozzle 10 is submerged in the water of the tub and the delivery nozzle 10 is operating.

[0055] The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants that fall within the exclusive scope of the claims. In practice, the materials used, as well as the size, can be any depending on the technical requirements.

Claims

1. Delivery nozzle (10) to regulate a delivery flow towards an interior of a tub of a swimming pool, said nozzle comprising a hollow body (20) comprising a longitudinal through opening (30) adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow, a stem (25) arranged within said through opening (30) along a longitudinal axis (L), wherein said delivery nozzle (10) further comprises a hollow threaded set screw (60) comprising a head (63) adapted to be engaged by a screwing tool, wherein said hollow threaded set screw (60) comprises a longitudinal through opening (70) adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow, wherein said hollow threaded set screw (60) comprises an external threaded portion (64), wherein said delivery nozzle (10) further comprises a threaded wall (46) arranged within the through opening (30) of the hollow body (20), wherein said external threaded portion (64) is adapted to be screwed with said threaded wall (46) by switching said hollow threaded set screw (60) from a more screwed configuration to a less screwed configuration along said longitudinal axis (L), wherein said longitudinal through opening (70) of said hollow threaded set screw (60) comprises a housing portion (72) adapted to house at least a portion of said stem (25), wherein said delivery nozzle (10) is adapted to switch from an open configuration to a closed configuration of the delivery flow, wherein said closed configuration corresponds to said more screwed configuration of said hollow threaded set screw (60) and provides that said hollow threaded set screw (60) is screwed along said longitudinal axis (L) until said housing portion (72) of said longitudinal through opening (70) of said hollow threaded set screw (60) houses said at least one stem portion (25) closing said longitudinal through opening (70) of said hollow threaded set screw (60) and preventing the passage of the delivery flow, wherein said open configuration corresponds to said less screwed configuration of said hollow threaded set screw (60) and provides that said hollow threaded set screw (60) is screwed along said longitudinal axis (L) until said at least one portion of stem (25) clears at least a portion of said longitudinal through opening (70) of said hollow threaded set screw (60) allowing the passage of the delivery flow.

2. Delivery nozzle (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a flanged cover body (80) adapted to switch from a configuration assembled with said hollow body (20) to a configuration disassembled from said hollow body (20), wherein said flanged cover body (80) comprises a hollow portion (81), wherein said assembled configuration of said flanged cover body (80) provides that said hollow portion (81) is assembled within said longitudinal through opening (30) of said hollow body (20), wherein said hollow portion (81) comprises at least one longitudinal through opening (90, 94) adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow, wherein said disassembled configuration allows said head (63) of said hollow threaded set screw (60) to be engaged by said screwing tool.

3. Delivery nozzle (10) according to any one or more than one of claims 1 or 2, characterised by comprising a hollow flanged body (40) comprising a hollow portion (41) assembled within said longitudinal through opening (30) of said hollow body (20), wherein said hollow portion (41) comprises a longitudinal through opening (50) adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow, wherein said hollow portion (41) comprises said threaded wall (46) adapted to allow said hollow threaded set screw (60) to switch from said more screwed configuration to said less screwed configuration.

4. Delivery nozzle (10) according to claim 3, characterised in that said hollow body (20) comprises a flanged portion (24), that said hollow flanged body (40) comprises a flanged portion (42) assembled with said flanged portion (24) of said hollow body (20).

5. Delivery nozzle (10) according to any one or more than one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that said hollow flanged body (40) comprises an upstream threaded portion (43), wherein the hollow portion (81) of said flanged cover body (80) according to claim 2 comprises at least one external threaded portion (84), wherein said external threaded portion (84) is adapted to be screwed with said upstream threaded portion (43) so as to switch said hollow flanged body (40) from the assembled configuration to the disassembled configuration.

6. Delivery nozzle (10) according to any one or more than one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said head (63) of said hollow threaded set screw (60) is a hexagonal head and that said screwing tool is an Allen key.

7. Delivery nozzle (10) according to any one or more than one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said stem (25) comprises a first upstream portion (21) and a second downstream portion (26) wherein said first upstream portion (21) is smaller in size than said second downstream portion (26), wherein said second downstream portion (26) comprises a pointed portion (23), wherein said second downstream portion (26) comprises said at least one portion of said stem (25) adapted to be housed by said housing portion (72) of said longitudinal through opening (70) of said hollow threaded set screw (60).

8. Delivery nozzle (10) according to claim 7, characterised in that said second downstream portion (26) comprises an oblique upstream wall (22).

9. Delivery nozzle (10) according to any one or more than one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said hollow body (20) comprises a septum wall (29) which mounts said stem (25) and that said septum wall (29) comprises at least two longitudinal through openings (32) adapted to allow the passage of said delivery flow.

10. Process for regulating a delivery flow towards an interior of a tub of a swimming pool through a delivery nozzle (10) according to any one or more than one of claims 1-9, characterised in that it comprises an operation of screwing said hollow threaded set screw (60) by means of said screwing tool, wherein said screwing operation comprises switching said hollow threaded set screw (60) from said more screwed configuration to said less screwed configuration along said longitudinal axis (L), wherein said closed configuration corresponds to said more screwed configuration of said hollow threaded set screw (60), wherein said open configuration corresponds to said less screwed configuration of said hollow threaded set screw (60).

11. Process according to claim 10, characterised in that it comprises a preliminary operation of disassembling said flanged cover body (80) according to claim 2, wherein said disassembling operation provides switching said flanged cover body (80) from said assembled configuration to said disassembled configuration.

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