Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A shutoff valve mechanism for a pool or the like, comprising: A. a hollow housing having a chamber with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet port; B. a nonmagnetic partition defining part of said housing; C. a venturi downstream of said outlet port; D. a movable valve member at one side of said partition, said movable valve member being movable between an open position and a closed position shutting off outflow of liquid from said chamber, said valve having at least a part of magnetically attractable material; E. means, including a movable pressure-sensitive element defining a pressure chamber, said pressure-sensitive element being exposed to the pressure in said pressure chamber; F. a magnet at the other side of said partition, said magnet being adjacent to and aligned with at least the magnetically attractable part of the valve member for direct magnetic attraction of said attractable part of said valve member when the latter is in the open position; G. a fluid connection between said pressure chamber and said venturi; H. a sensing conduit connected to said pressure chamber, said magnet being adapted to retain the movable valve member in the open position when the pressure in said pressure chamber is normal but when said sensing conduit is closed the pressure in said pressure chamber is reduced and the pressure-sensitive element is moved to effect reduction in the magnetic force acting on the movable valve member and allow said valve member to move to its closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A shutoff valve mechanism for a pool or the like, comprising: A. a hollow housing having a chamber with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet port; B. a nonmagnetic partition defining part of said housing; C. a venturi downstream of said outlet port; D. a movable valve member at one side of said partition, said movable valve member being movable between an open position and a closed position shutting off outflow of liquid from said chamber, said valve having at least a part of magnetically attractable material; E. means, including a movable pressure-sensitive element defining a pressure chamber, said pressure-sensitive element being exposed to the pressure in said pressure chamber; F. a magnet at the other side of said partition, said magnet being adjacent to and aligned with at least the magnetically attractable part of the valve member for direct magnetic attraction of said attractable part of said valve member when the latter is in the open position; G. a fluid connection between said pressure chamber and said venturi; H. a sensing conduit connected to said pressure chamber, said magnet being adapted to retain the movable valve member in the open position when the pressure in said pressure chamber is normal but when said sensing conduit is closed the pressure in said pressure chamber is reduced and the pressure-sensitive element is moved to effect reduction in the magnetic force acting on the movable valve member and allow said valve member to move to its closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet and is attached to and movable with the diaphragm, whereby said magnet is moved away from said valve member when the pressure is reduced in said pressure chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention defined by claim 1, including means for protecting the movable valve member from liquid flow in the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the movable valve member is a flapper valve movable between a horizontal position and a vertical position, said valve being in the open position when horizontal and in the closed position when vertical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention defined by claim 4, wherein the means for protecting the movable valve member from fluid flow in the housing comprises a baffle adjacent to but spaced from the free end of the movable valve member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention defined by claim 3, wherein the movable valve member is a reciprocal valve member and the means for protecting the movable valve member from liquid flow in the housing comprises a cylindrical flange open at the lower end and in which said movable valve member is adapted to reciprocate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention defined by claim 6, wherein the housing has a horizontal partition therein separating said housing into an inlet chamber and an outleT chamber, said partition having a port therein for the flow of liquid from said inlet chamber into the outlet chamber, and said movable valve member has a valve head at the lower end for seating in said port to cut off the flow of liquid from said inlet chamber into said outlet chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the sensing conduit is flexible and there is a weight at the lower end thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the movable pressure-sensitive element comprises a flexible diaphragm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the magnet is an electromagnet secured in position adjacent to said partition, and there is an electric switch connected operably to said electromagnet and adapted to be connected to a source of electric power, said switch being operably connected to said pressure-sensitive element and controlled thereby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention defined by claim 10, wherein said switch is normally closed and includes a movable contact connected to said pressure-sensitive element and controlled thereby, said movable contact being moved to a switch-open position when the pressure-sensitive element responds to a reduction in pressure in the pressure chamber upon closing of the sensing conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention defined by claim 11, including a latch for retaining the movable contact in the open position, said latch being releasable to permit the movable contact to move to the switch-closed position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention defined by claim 12, wherein said latch automatically latches the movable contact in the open position.