FLOW CONTROLLER FOR A POOL CLEANER

摘要

A flow controller (10) for maintaining a constant suction pressure for a pool cleaner (12) is provided. The flow controller is located submerged in the pool water in line along a vacuum hose connected to the pool cleaner (12). The flow controller comprises a tubular housing (28) and a pivotally mounted flap valve (42), which is normally biased closed by spring (54). The flap valve (42) is drawn open by vacuum toward a modulated pressure to prevent the vacuum from exceeding a preset threshold level. An adjustment knob (74) turns a worm gear (64), which turns a spur gear (60) to adjust the bias of the spring (54), which determines the threshold pressure. The spur gear (60) has an arcuate gap segment (76) without gear teeth to define limit stops to prevent spring force adjustment beyond a predetermined range.