Swimming pool skimmer with vacuum and sweeping controls

Claim 2

A swimming pool skimmer comprising, in combination: a housing having a skimming inlet, an upper chamber communicating with said inlet; a lower chamber having an outlet for application of pump suction, and partition means separating said chambers, said partition means including a circular valve seat having an eccentrically disposed skimming flow opening; a valve disc rotatable on said seat on a vertical axis, said disc having an eccentrically located skimmer opening aDapted to register with said seat opening in a selected open position of rotation of said disc, thereby to provide a skimming flow port; a vacuum hose coupler fitting on said seat and having a mouth opening through said seat; and a vacuum hose opening in said valve disc adapted to register with said mouth to receive the end of a vacuum hose, the circumferentially positional relation of said vacuum hose opening to said skimmer opening of said valve disc being so related to the circumferentially positional relation of said vacuum hose mouth to said skimming flow opening of said valve seat that said mouth will register with said vacuum hose opening in a position of said valve in which said skimming flow port is at least largely closed; whereby suction developed in said lower chamber is applied to the vacuum hose coupled to said fitting.

Claim 3

A skimmer as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve and seat are of inverted pan form, each having a substantially cylindrical rim provided with a skimming flow opening in the form of a circumferential slot.

Claim 4

A skimmer as defined in claim 1, including means in said housing defining a lateral chamber communicating laterally with said lower chamber; a main drain connection below said lateral chamber on a vertical axis having an upper end defining a valve seat in said lateral chamber and communicating therewith through the bottom thereof; a plug valve disposed in said lateral chamber and having an end adapted to engage said seat to shut off communication between said main drain connection and said lower chamber; and means to hold said plug valve against said seat.

Claim 5

A skimmer as defined in claim 1, including an equalizer inlet in the bottom of said lower chamber; and an equalizer valve comprising a poppet normally covering said equalizer inlet, said poppet having a hub boss; a bracket arm overhanging said poppet; a compression spring engaged between said arm and said poppet boss; and a lockout arm mounted for swinging movement to a position where its end is engaged over said boss to hold said poppet seated over said inlet.

Claim 6

A swimming pool skimmer comprising, in combination: a housing having a skimming inlet, an upper chamber communicating with said inlet; a lower chamber, and partition means separating said chambers, said partition means including a circular valve seat having a skimming flow opening; a valve disc rotatable on said seat, said disc having an opening adapted to register with said seat opening in a selected open position; or rotation of said disc, thereby to provide a skimming flow port; a vacuum hose coupler fitting on said seat and having a mouth opening through said seat; a vacuum hose opening in said valve disc adapted to register with said mouth to receive the end of a vacuum hose in a position of said valve in which said skimming flow port is at least largely closed; whereby suction developed in said lower chamber is applied to the vacuum hose coupled to said fitting; means in said housing defining a lateral chamber communicating laterally with said lower chamber; a main drain connection having an end defining a valve seat in said lateral chamber and communicating therewith; a plug valve disposed in said lateral chamber and having an end adapted to engage said seat to shut off communication between said main drain connection and said lower chamber; and means to hold said plug valve against said seat; said main drain connection communicating with said lateral chamber through the bottom thereof on a vertical axis and having its said seat at its upper end, within said lateral chamber; said plug valve having means for supporting it in an elevated position in which said lateral chamber communicates with said lower chamber.

Claim 7

A swimming pool skimmer comprising, in combination: a housing having a skimming inlet, an upper chamber communicating with said inlet; a lower chamber, and partition means separating said chambers, said partition means including a circular valve seat having a skimming flow opening; a valve disc rotatable on said seat, said disc having an opening adapted to register with said seat opening in a selected open position; or rotation of said disc, thereby to provide a skimming flow port; a vacuum hose coupler fitting on said seat and having a mouth opening through said seat; a vacuum hose opening in said valve disc adapted to register with said mouth to receive the end of a vacuum hose in a position of said valve in which said skimming flow port is at least largely closed; whereby suction developed in said lower chamber is applied to the vacuum hose coupled to said fitting; means in said housing defining a lateral chamber communicating laterally with said lower chamber; a main drain connection having an end defining a valve seat in said lateral chamber and communicating therewith; a plug valve disposed in said lateral chamber and having an end adapted to engage said seat to shut off communication between said main drain connection and said lower chamber; and means to hold said plug valve against said seat; said main drain connection communicating with said lateral chamber through the bottom thereof on a vertical axis and having its said seat at its upper end, within said lateral chamber; said plug valve having means for supporting it in an elevated position in which said lateral chamber communicates with said lower chamber.

Claim 8

A skimmer as defined in claim 5, wherein said partition means extends across said lateral chamber and has an opening to receive said plug valve; said plug valve supporting means comprisiNg radial lugs on the sides of said plug valve, engageable above said partition means; said opening in the partition means having radial extensions through which said lugs may be passed to seat said plug valve on its said seat.

Claim 9

A skimmer as defined in claim 6, wherein said means to hold said plug valve against its seat is an integral part of the under side of said partition means adjacent the periphery of said plug valve opening therein.

Claim 10

A skimmer as defined in claim 7, said means to hold said plug valve against its seat being a circumferential land having a ramp at its end adjacent said opening extension.