Swimming pool flowmeter that serves as a safety vacuum release system
View Patent ↗The flowmeter of the present invention is primarily used in swimming pools and is configured to deactivate a swimming pool pump when the drain in the swimming pool is blocked or covered. Swimming pool drains are often blocked or covered by the body of a swimmer. When the drain is blocked or covered, the pump creates substantial suction force that entraps the body of a swimmer against the drain. By deactivating the pump when the drain is blocked or covered, the flowmeter of the present invention serves as a safety vacuum release system that prevents entrapment of a person by the drain of the swimming pool.
1. A pool flowmeter comprising:
a casing;
a front attachment and a back attachment that promote the attachment of said casing to a pipe through which a liquid flows into said casing;
a rotor within said casing that is displaced by said liquid flow whereby said displacement of said rotor correlates to a flow rate of said liquid;
a sensor that senses said displacement of said rotor so as to measure said flow rate;
a switch that deactivates when said flow rate is below a predetermined value for more than a predetermined period of time;
a flow protector inserted within said front attachment; and
whereby said flow protector remains normally closed by a spring and opens when said liquid flow overcomes said spring.
2. The pool flowmeter of claim 1 whereby said switch reactivates after a second predetermined period of time has lapsed since said switch deactivated said pump.
3. The pool flowmeter of claim 1 further comprising:
a data storage unit configured to store predefined preference data;
a data manager configured to retrieve flow rate data from said sensor and compare said flow rate data with said predefined preference data;
a first communications device configured to receive a message from said data manager, and to transmit said message to a second communications device that is located remotely from said first communications device when said flow rate is below said predetermined value for more than said predetermined period of time;
said second communications device configured to receive said message from said first communications device, and to transmit said message to said switch; and
said message indicating that said switch must deactivate.
4. The pool flowmeter of claim 3 whereas said data manager transmits a second message to said switch via said first and second communications devices after a second predetermined period of time has lapsed since said pump was last deactivated and indicative that said switch must reactivate.
5. The pool flowmeter of claim 1 further comprising:
a display unit that displays said flow rate.
6. The pool flowmeter of claim 5 whereby said display unit is encased inside a display case that is capable of being angled from an upright vertical position to a downward facing horizontal position.
7. The pool flowmeter of claim 6 whereby said display case is rotatable attached to a control box.
8. The pool flowmeter of claim 1 whereby said casing is made out of a clear material.