It is known that in-ground swimming pools are built with pressure relief plugs placed at strategic locations in the bottom of the pool. The pressure relief plugs can either be spring activated or mechanically removed when the swimming pool is emptied of water. The pressure relief devices are required so that water pressure building up underneath an empty swimming pool can be forced into the pool and thus removed conveniently. It has been known on several occasions, where there have been no spring activated water pressure relief devices or the mechanical pressure relief devices have not been removed, when the pool is empty and left unattended, that significant water pressure build up underneath the pool has caused the pool to lift out of the ground. After the pool has lifted out of the ground, it is very difficult to get it to go back to its original location. Point of fact, most of the time the swimming pool has to be destroyed and a new pool put in its place.
The construction of concrete pools with pressure relief devices is state of the art. However, the current spring loaded pressure relief valves are so entrusted that, when installed, they project above the bottom surface of the pool.
The present invention pertains to a device to contain a spring loaded pressure relief valve in the bottom of a swimming pool so that the pressure relief device does not protrude above the surface of the pool thus, making a smooth service on the bottom of the pool, one that will not catch debris or interfere with the feet of a swimmer or other person using the pool.
Referring to
In addition to pressure relief plugs in fixtures 18,18′ additional pressure relief devices such as represented by box 19 are installed in the bottom of a pool. One type of device comprises a threaded hollow internally threaded cylindrical receptacle and a threaded cap or plug to close the pressure relief passage defined by the hollow passage extending through the bottom 12 of pool 10. The conventional receptacle positions the plug in generally flush with the bottom 12 of pool 10.
Another type of pressure relief device such as shown at 20 in
As shown in
In the event that a swimming pool is empty and an excessive amount of water builds up in the stone layer 21, the valve closure element 26 can be raised by the water pressure and the water will be caused to flow into the bottom 12 of the pool 10 where it can be conveniently evacuated by an auxiliary pump. As stated above, it is well known that if a pool is emptied and excessive water pressure is not relieved the pool can be lifted clear out of the ground.
The major drawback with the device 20 is that it projects above the floor of the pool 12.
Referring to
The size of the device is such that the upper portion 32 is of a sufficient length to enclose the pressure relief device 20 when it is inserted into the threaded portion 34 of device 30 and that the upper lip 38 of device 30 can be incorporated into the bottom of the pool 12 in a flush position so that when the pressure relief device 20 is inserted into device 30 and the pressure relief device 20 is in a normal closed position maintained by spring 44, the top of the valve closure element 26 of pressure relief device 20 is flush with the upper surface 38 of portion 32 of receiver 30 and in turn flush with the inner surface of the bottom of a pool.
The pressure relief device 20 in the closed position, being flush with the top edge of 38 of device 30, prevents any part of device 20 from coming in contact with the foot of a swimmer or pool user and prevents accumulation of debris against the device 20.
The bottom portion 34 of device 30 is sized so that it will project through the bottom of the pool into the stone layer 21 as shown in