Rotary swimming pool valve

Claim 2

In a filtering system of a swimming pool including a filter tank and a plurality of pipes positioned within the filter tank and operable to provide different paths of fluid flow through the filtering system, the combination therewith of a unitary multiport rotary valve and cover, said multiport rotary valve and cover comprising: a. a cover member providing a hollow central chamber portion; b. a fluid flow distributor mounted in said central chamber portion for rotational movement therein relative to said cover member; c. an externally accessible handle on said cover rotatable between a plurality of different positions and operatively connected to said fluid flow distributor whereby said fluid flow distributor is also rotated between a plurality of different positions when said handle is rotated; d. gasket means underlying said distributor and having an inlet passage and a plurality of outlet passages therein; e. an end plate underlying said gasket means and having an inlet passage and a plurality of outlet passages therein, some of said outlet passages corresponding to the outlet passages of said gasket means, said distributor being dimensioned and configured to provide flow between various of said inlet and outlet passages of said end plate depending upon the rotated position thereof; f. fastening mEans securing said gasket means and said end plate within said cover member with said end plate enclosing the bottom of said hollow central chamer portion of said member whereby said gasket means and fluid flow distributor are disposed within said hollow central chamber portion and said gasket means is in abutting engagement with said fluid flow distributor and said end plate is in abutting engagement with said gasket means and said inlet passage and said plurality of outlet passages of said gasket means are aligned with said inlet passage and said plurality of outlet passages of said end plate; and g. mounting means provided on said cover member mounting said multiport rotary valve and cover directly onto the filter tank to form an integral unit therewith and with said member comprising the cover of the filter tank and said inlet passage and said plurality of outlet passages of said end plate connected in fluid flow relation with the plurality of pipes positioned in said filter tank whereby the piping connections between said multiport rotary valve and cover and said filter tank are made internally of the integral unit formed by said multiport rotary vlave and cover and said filter tank and whereby different paths of fluid flow through the filtering system are capable of being provided by selectively rotating said handle between said plurality of different positions thereof.

Claim 3

In a filtering system, the improvement of a multiport rotary valve and cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gasket means includes a gasket carrier and a gasket supported on said gasket carrier whereby said gasket when in engagement with the bottom surface of said fluid flow distributor is compressed thereby providing a seal between said inlet passage and said plurality of outlet passages of said gasket means thereby to prevent leakage of fluid therebetween.

Claim 4

In a filtering system, the improvement of a multiport rotary valve and cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inlet passage and said plurality of outlet passages of said end plate are each defined by a tubular sleeve member integrally formed in said end plate and wherein each of said tubular sleeve members receives therein one end of a corresponding one of the plurality of the pipes positioned in the filter tank.

Claim 5

In a filtering system, the improvement of a multiport rotary valve and cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover, said gasket means and said end plate each have a plurality of openings formed therein, and said fastening means comprises a plurality of fasteners positioned in said plurality of openings in said cover, said gasket means and said end plate, and a plurality of nuts threaded onto said plurality of fasteners and tightened thereon.

Claim 6

In a filtering system, the improvement of a multiport rotary valve and cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a laterally outwardly extending shoulder on said cover member about the open end thereof and a depending flange formed at the outer edge of said shoulder, said shoulder corresponding in width to the rim at the mouth of the filter tank and said shoulder having a plurality of openings formed therein and receiving a plurality of securing means for securing said multiport rotary valve and cover in place on said filter tank.

Claim 7

In a filtering system, the improvement of a multiport rotary valve and cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of outlet passages formed in said gasket means correspond in number to said plurality of outlet passages formed in said end plate which are connected to said pipes.

Claim 8

A unitary multiport rotary valve and cover, particularly adapted for use in connection with the filtering system of a swimming pool and for mounting upon the open mouth of a filter tank, comprising: a. an integral housing having an open end and a hollow central chamber portion spaced inwardly therefrom; b. a fluid flow distributor mounted in said central chamber portion for rotation therein relativE to said housing and including a hub having a hollow interior and an opening provided in one of the side walls of said hub; c. an externally accessible handle on said housing rotatable between a plurality of different positions and operatively connected to said fluid flow distributor whereby said fluid flow distributor is also rotated between a plurality of different positions when said handle is rotated; d. gasket means underlying said distributor and comprising a gasket carrier and a gasket supported on said gasket carrier, said gasket carrier and said gasket each having an inlet passage and a plurality of outlet passages formed therein; e. an end plate underlying said gasket means and having an inlet passage and a plurality of outlet passages therein each defined by a tubular sleeve member formed in said end plate and operable to receive therein one end of a pipe means for making piping connections between the filter tank and the multiport rotary valve, some of said outlet passages corresponding to the outlet passages of said gasket means, said distributor being dimensioned and configured to provide flow between various of said inlet and outlet passages of said end plate depending upon the rotated position thereof; f. fastening means securing said gasket means and said end plate within said housing with said end plate enclosing the bottom of said hollow central chamber portion of said housing, then said gasket means and fluid flow distributor are disposed within said hollow central chamber portion and said gasket means being in engagement with the bottom surface of said fluid flow distributor and said end plate being in engagement with the bottom surface of said gasket carrier, said inlet passage and said plurality of outlet passages of said gasket means and said inlet passage and some of said plurality of outlet passages of said end plate being aligned whereby a path of fluid flow is established through said inlet passage of said end plate and said gasket means upwardly into said hollow interior of said hub of said fluid flow distributor and therefrom through said opening provided in the side wall of said hub and thence downwardly through one of said plurality of outlet passages in said gasket means and one of said plurality of outlet passages in said end plate, said one of said plurality of outlet passages in each of the said gasket means and said end plate being selectively determined by rotation of said handle between said plurality of different positions thereof; and g. mounting means on said housing about the periphery of the opening thereof for mounting said multiport rotary valve and cover directly onto a filter tank to form an integral unit therewith said piping connections between the filter tank and the multiport rotary valve being made internally of said integral unit.

Claim 9

A unitary multiport rotary valve and cover, particularly adapted for use in connection with the filtering system of a swimming pool and for mounting upon the open mouth of a filter tank, comprising: a. an integral housing having an open end and a hollow central chamber portion spaced inwardly therefrom; b. a fluid flow distributor mounted in said central chamber portion for rotation therein relativE to said housing and including a hub having a hollow interior and an opening provided in one of the side walls of said hub; c. an externally accessible handle on said housing rotatable between a plurality of different positions and operatively connected to said fluid flow distributor whereby said fluid flow distributor is also rotated between a plurality of different positions when said handle is rotated; d. gasket means underlying said distributor and comprising a gasket carrier and a gasket supported on said gasket carrier, said gasket carrier and said gasket each having an inlet passage and a plurality of outlet passages formed therein; e. an end plate underlying said gasket means and having an inlet passage and a plurality of outlet passages therein each defined by a tubular sleeve member formed in said end plate and operable to receive therein one end of a pipe means for making piping connections between the filter tank and the multiport rotary valve, some of said outlet passages corresponding to the outlet passages of said gasket means, said distributor being dimensioned and configured to provide flow between various of said inlet and outlet passages of said end plate depending upon the rotated position thereof; f. fastening means securing said gasket means and said end plate within said housing with said end plate enclosing the bottom of said hollow central chamber portion of said housing, then said gasket means and fluid flow distributor are disposed within said hollow central chamber portion and said gasket means being in engagement with the bottom surface of said fluid flow distributor and said end plate being in engagement with the bottom surface of said gasket carrier, said inlet passage and said plurality of outlet passages of said gasket means and said inlet passage and some of said plurality of outlet passages of said end plate being aligned whereby a path of fluid flow is established through said inlet passage of said end plate and said gasket means upwardly into said hollow interior of said hub of said fluid flow distributor and therefrom through said opening provided in the side wall of said hub and thence downwardly through one of said plurality of outlet passages in said gasket means and one of said plurality of outlet passages in said end plate, said one of said plurality of outlet passages in each of the said gasket means and said end plate being selectively determined by rotation of said handle between said plurality of different positions thereof; and g. mounting means on said housing about the periphery of the opening thereof for mounting said multiport rotary valve and cover directly onto a filter tank to form an integral unit therewith said piping connections between the filter tank and the multiport rotary valve being made internally of said integral unit.

Claim 10

The multiport rotary valve and cover as set forth in claim 7 wherein said mounting means about the periphery of said housing includes a laterally outwardly extending shoulder on said housing about the open end thereof and a depending flange formed at the outer edge of said shoulder to fit about the periphery of the tank upon which it is to be mounted.

Claim 11

The multiport rotary valve as set forth in claim 7 wherein said housing, said gasket means and said end plate each have a plurality of openings formed therein, and said fastening means comprises a plurality of fasteners positioned in said plurality of openings in said housing, said gasket means and said end plate, and a plurality of nuts threaded onto said plurality of fasteners and tightened thereon.

Claim 12

The multiport rotary valve as set forth in claim 7 wherein said plurality of outlet passages provided in said gasket carrier and said gasket are at least equal in number to said plurality of outlet passages provided in said end plate for connection to pipes.