Rotatable Flap Stopper for Pressure-Driven Pool Valve Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pool valves suffer from high pressure loss and lack of control over water systems, leading to inefficient energy use and limited functionality in managing water features and cleaning systems, as they rely on turbines and gears that increase pressure requirements and restrict variable control over water flow.
Innovation Solution
A pool cycling valve with a ratchet assembly that rotates in response to changes in water pressure, allowing for sequential alignment of outlet ports and pausing functionality, reducing pressure loss and enhancing user control by directing water flow through a series of outlets based on pressure changes and pausing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If turbines and gears are used to control water flow in pool valves, then the valve can be operated and directed, but pressure loss increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes turbines and gears from the valve system entirely. Instead of using mechanical rotating parts to control water flow direction, the invention uses a simple rotatable valve body with outlets that can be manually positioned to different orientations, eliminating the need for complex mechanical transmission components and thereby reducing pressure loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using water flow to rotate turbines which then control the valve (conventional approach), the invention inverts the control mechanism by allowing direct manual rotation of the valve body to control water flow direction. This reverses the causal relationship between water flow and valve control, eliminating energy loss to turbine rotation.
2Ease of operation
If turbines and gears are used in pool valves, then the valve can be controlled, but pressure requirements of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the turbine-gear mechanical transmission system from the valve. The simplified design uses direct manual rotation of the valve body to control water flow, eliminating the drag and resistance caused by turbines and gears, thereby reducing the pressure requirements of the overall system.
3Productivity
If existing pool valves are used without pausing capability, then water flow can be directed to outlets, but variable control over time for different outlets is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control capability by allowing the valve body to be held in any rotational position and paused indefinitely. This enables variable time control where different outlets can receive water flow for different durations, and any outlet can be kept open for an indefinite period, providing adaptability for different operational needs.
4Productivity
If multiple pumps are used to run water systems, then more water systems can operate simultaneously, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal valve that can direct water flow to multiple different outlets through simple rotation, allowing a single pump to serve multiple water systems sequentially or simultaneously. This multi-functional capability eliminates the need for multiple dedicated pumps, reducing energy consumption while maintaining the ability to operate multiple water systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces energy consumption by minimizing pressure loss and allows for precise control over water features and cleaning systems, enabling longer operation of specific features and targeted cleaning without the need for multiple pumps, thereby improving efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
rotating the ratchet assembly by a predetermined angle from the closed position to an open position in response to a stream of water
Implementation Method 2
aligning the outlet port aperture with a different outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports in response to a combination of an increase and a decrease in water pressure within the valve body
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a pool cycling valve includes receiving a stream of water into a valve body through an inlet port to a ratchet assembly in a closed position configured to interfere with the stream of water flowing through the inlet port. Rotating the ratchet assembly from the closed position to an open position, directing the stream of water to a bottom plate outlet port aperture aligned with an outlet port of the valve body. Discharging the stream of water through the outlet port aperture and the outlet port. Rotating the ratchet assembly from the open position to the closed position. Aligning the outlet port aperture with a different outlet port in response to a water pressure change, such as a combination of an increase and a decrease in water pressure, within the valve body.