Swimming Pool Water Leveler With Pilot Valve and Cup Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swimming pool water leveling devices experience rapid water level fluctuations, leading to water hammer and premature wear, and are difficult to adjust and maintain, with electronic systems being expensive and aesthetically unappealing, while pilot operated valves suffer from small orifices causing operational issues and require complex installations.
Innovation Solution
A swimming pool water leveler system with separate fill and sensing chambers, a continuous balance line and overflow line, a water supply line seal valve with a cup seal, and a reducer plug for junk removal, allowing for pressure testing and easy adjustment of water levels using a manually rotatable water level float and actuator mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct operating float valves are used, then water hammer is avoided and valve wear is reduced, but the secondary reservoir must be large to house the long operating arm and the valve is difficult to adjust
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pilot valve mechanism as an intermediary between the float valve and the main water supply valve. The pilot valve uses a long operating arm to sense water level changes and actuate a smaller main valve, thereby eliminating the need for a large secondary reservoir while maintaining the reliability benefits of direct operating float valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is segmented into two separate valves: a pilot valve for sensing and actuation, and a main valve for water flow control. This segmentation allows the long operating arm to be isolated in the pilot valve section, preventing the need for a large reservoir volume while maintaining reliable operation.
2Volume of stationary object
If pilot operated valves are used, then the secondary reservoir can be smaller and more aesthetically pleasing, but water hammer occurs and the small orifices cause troublesome operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pilot valve as an intermediary device that senses water level changes and actuates a main valve with a larger orifice. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the water hammer problems and operational troubles associated with small orifices while maintaining the aesthetic advantage of a smaller secondary reservoir.
3Measurement precision
If electronic sensor controlled electric valves are used, then water level can be precisely controlled, but the system becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic sensor controlled electric valves with a purely mechanical pilot operated float valve system. The mechanical system uses buoyancy forces and lever arms to achieve precise water level control, eliminating the need for expensive electronic components while maintaining adequate measurement precision.
4Reliability
If the balance line is pressure tested, then leaks can be detected to prevent soil swelling and pool breakage, but the difficulty in blocking separate sections makes testing complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the balance line and overflow line into a single continuous line, eliminating the need for separate blocking and testing procedures. This merging simplifies the pressure testing process while maintaining the reliability benefit of detecting leaks in the water supply system.
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 system effectively dampens rapid water level changes, reduces wear, and allows for precise water level adjustment without the need for frequent professional interventions, while being aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective, with the ability to pressure test individual lines for leak detection.
Implementation Method 1
a water level float that senses rapid level changes in the pool
Implementation Method 2
a comparatively small fluid passage between the balance line and the sensing chamber to dampen and smooth rapid level changes in the pool
Implementation Method 3
a water supply line feeding into the valve chamber through a valve, and an adjustable water level float in the housing chamber that provides pressurized water to the valve chamber
Implementation Method 4
a water supply line seal valve with a cup seal
Implementation Method 5
the overflow line is generally not pressure tested because of the difficulty in blocking each of the separate sections of the lines
Data Source
AI summary
A swimming pool water leveler system. Implementations may include a water leveler comprising one or more of the following aspects: separate fill and sensing chambers within the water leveler housing; logical water level adjustment features that provide a tactile indicator of water level change; a continuous balance line and overflow line; a water supply line seal valve with a cup seal; a reducer plug in an outlet between the sensing chamber and the balance line to assist in junk removal; and the ability to pressure test the balance line and overflow line at the same time.