Method of regulating pool surface agitation at low pump rpm using butterfly valve eyeball fittings

Abstract

A method of improving pool surface agitation, to reduce settling of debris at low filter pump RPMs, comprising use of standard eyeball fittings that permits unrestricted return flow, and a second eyeball fitting configuration comprising a bi-fold split-disk butterfly valve being normally biased into a closed position. The biasing is calibrated to selectively inhibit filter pump return flow below a threshold flow rate. One or more standard eyeball fittings and one or more second eyeball fittings are alternately installed in a pool's sidewall. When the filter pump is operated at high RPMs, the selective return flow comprises return flow being discharged through standard eyeball fittings and through second eyeball fittings; and when the filter pump setting is reduced whereby return flow is below the threshold, the selective return flow comprises butterfly valves in second eyeball fittings closing, with the return flow being discharged solely through the standard eyeball fittings.

1 . A method of improving pool surface agitation to reduce settling of debris at low filter pump RPMs, using butterfly valves in eyeball fittings, said method comprising:
 a first eyeball fitting, said first eyeball fitting permitting free return flow of filter pump water, one or more of said first eyeball fittings being installed in a pool;   a second eyeball fitting, said second eyeball fitting comprising a bi-fold split-disk butterfly valve being normally biased into a closed position with said biasing being calibrated to selectively inhibit return flow of filter pump water, one or more of said second eyeball fittings being installed in said pool to be interspersed between said installation of said one or more first eyeball fittings.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein when said filter pump is set to operate at high RPMs, said selectively inhibited return flow comprises said return flow being discharged through said first eyeball fittings and through said second eyeball fittings. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein when said filter pump setting is reduced from said high RPMs, said selectively inhibited return flow comprises said butterfly valve in one or more of said second eyeball fittings partially closing, and said return flow being discharged through said first eyeball fittings and discharged partially through said second eyeball fittings. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein when said filter pump setting is further reduced to operate at low RPMs, said selectively inhibited return flow comprises said butterfly valve in each of said second eyeball fittings completely closing, and said return flow being discharged solely through said first eyeball fittings. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said biasing of said bi-folding split-disk is by a torsion spring. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said one or more first and second eyeball fittings installed in said pool comprises a plurality of first eyeball fittings and a plurality of said second eyeball fittings being installed in said pool. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said torsion springs in each of said plurality of second eyeball fittings each comprises a unique spring constant resulting in closing of said second eyeball fitting across a spectrum of flow rates. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a number of said plurality of first and second eyeball fittings, and said closing of said second eyeball fittings across a spectrum of flow rates, is calibrated to occur based upon length and width dimensions of a pool. 
     
     
         9 . A method of improving pool surface agitation at low filter pump RPMs using flow control valves in eyeball fittings to reduce settling of debris, said method comprising:
 a first eyeball fitting, said first eyeball fitting permitting free return flow of filter pump water; one or more of said first eyeball fittings being installed in one or more sidewalls of a pool; and   a second eyeball fitting, said second eyeball fitting comprising a valve being biased to inhibit return flow of filter pump water being at or below a threshold flow rate, one or more of said second eyeball fittings being installed in said one or more sidewalls of said pool to alternate with said installation of said one or more first eyeball fittings.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein when said filter pump is operating at high RPMs, said return flow is discharged through said first eyeball fittings and through said second eyeball fittings; and wherein when said filter pump is operating at low RPMs to produce return flow at or below said threshold rate, said valve in each of said second eyeball fittings is biased closed, and said return flow is discharged solely through said first eyeball fittings. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said valve comprises a bi-fold split-disk butterfly valve. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said butterfly valve comprises a bi-folding split-disk butterfly valve. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said bi-folding split-disk of said butterfly valve is biasing by a torsion spring. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said one or more first and second eyeball fittings installed in said pool comprises a plurality of first eyeball fittings and a plurality of second eyeball fittings being installed in said pool. 
     
     
         15 . A swimming pool eyeball fitting comprising:
 a housing; said housing being adapted to have a portion therein be installable into an orifice in a pool sidewall;   a tubular sleeve;   a bi-folding split-disk assembly; said split-disk assembly comprising: a pair of demi-disks, a biasing means, and an axle; each of said pair of demi-disks being pivotally attached to said axle and being biased by said biasing means to be in-line in a closed position, and wherein when said biasing is overcome by return flow to deflect said demi-disks, said demi-disk then being oriented to be parallel to each other in an open position; said split-disk assembly being mounted in said sleeve with a first end and a second end of said axle being received in corresponding first and second orifices in said sleeve; said tubular sleeve with split disk assembly being installed into an opening in said housing;   an eyeball, said eyeball being received in an opening in said tubular sleeve; and   a cover plate, said cover plate serving to retain said eyeball within said tubular sleeve to be moveable therein.   
     
     
         16 . A swimming pool eyeball fitting according to  claim 15 , wherein said biasing means comprises a torsion spring 
     
     
         17 . A swimming pool eyeball fitting according to  claim 16 , wherein said pivotal mounting of said demi-disks upon said axle comprises a clevis on each of said demi-disks, said clevis comprising an orifice to receive said axle therethrough. 
     
     
         18 . A swimming pool eyeball fitting according to  claim 17 , wherein said axle comprises a hollow cylinder, a helical compression spring, and two pins; and wherein said helical compression spring is disposed within said cylinder to bias said first and second pins to protrude out from first and second ends of said cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . A swimming pool eyeball fitting according to  claim 17 , wherein said axle comprises a cylinder, and said corresponding first and second orifices in said sleeve comprises in-line through-holes to slidably receive said axle. 
     
     
         20 . A swimming pool eyeball fitting according to  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of said tubular sleeve comprises a spherical interior surface and at least a portion of said eyeball comprises a spherical outer surface; and wherein said eyeball being moveable within tubular sleeve comprises said spherical exterior surface of said eyeball permitting eyeball adjustment to variable angular orientations relative to said spherical interior surface of said tubular sleeve.