U.S. patent application number 15/264201 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-05 for systems including variable speed pumps for cleaning swimming pools and spas.
The applicant listed for this patent is ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS, INC.. Invention is credited to Mark Bauckman, Steve Gutai, Eugene Keith McQueen.
Application Number | 20170002580 15/264201 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51795763 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170002580 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bauckman; Mark ; et
al. |
January 5, 2017 |
SYSTEMS INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED PUMPS FOR CLEANING SWIMMING POOLS
AND SPAS
Abstract
Systems and methods for circulating water of swimming pools or
spas are detailed. The systems may include both a main filtration
pump and a secondary booster pump, with the booster pump containing
a variable-speed motor. By adjusting motor speed of the booster
pump, pressurized water may be supplied to certain automatic
swimming pool cleaners more efficiently, without need for
energy-wasting by-pass paths or restrictor plates.
Inventors: |
Bauckman; Mark; (San Marcos,
CA) ; McQueen; Eugene Keith; (Vista, CA) ;
Gutai; Steve; (San Diego, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS, INC. |
Vista |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51795763 |
Appl. No.: |
15/264201 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14504508 |
Oct 2, 2014 |
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15264201 |
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|
61894008 |
Oct 22, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/1645 20130101;
F04D 15/0066 20130101; E04H 4/1245 20130101; E04H 4/1218 20130101;
E04H 4/1672 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/12 20060101
E04H004/12; E04H 4/16 20060101 E04H004/16 |
Claims
1-5. (canceled)
6. A pool-cleaning system comprising: a. an automatic swimming pool
cleaner having an inlet and configured to operate based at least in
part on pressurized water supplied to the inlet; b. connection
means; and c. a booster pump (i) having an outlet connected, via
the connection means, only to the automatic swimming pool cleaner
so as to supply pressurized water to the inlet of the automatic
swimming pool cleaner and (ii) comprising a variable-speed Motor
configured in use for adjustment of a flow rate of pressurized
water supplied to the inlet of the automatic swimming pool
cleaner.
7. A system according to claim 6 in which the connection means
comprises a hose.
8-9. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/894,008, filed Oct. 22,
2013, and having the same title as appears above, the entire
contents of which application are incorporated herein by this
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to systems principally--although not
necessarily exclusively--for cleaning recirculating water of
recreational vessels such as swimming pools and spas (sometimes
collectively referred to herein as "pools" or "swimming pools") and
more particularly, although again not exclusively, to systems
utilizing variable-speed, dedicated booster pumps in connection
with "pressure-side" automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventionally, APCs are categorized as either hydraulic or
electric, depending mainly on the source of energy used to move the
devices within pools. Hydraulic A PCs frequently are
sub-categorized as "suction-side" or "pressure-side" cleaners, with
suction-side cleaners typically being connected, via hoses and
debris filters, to inlets of water-recirculation pumps. Because
this latter type of cleaner is connected to the suction side of the
pump, it is evacuated by the pump and thus sucks debris-laden water
from the pool to clean it.
[0004] Pressure-side cleaners, by contrast, communicate with
outlets of the pumps. Pressurized water thus is passed through the
bodies of these cleaners; employing the Venturi principle, the
pressurized water draws with it debris-laden water from the pool.
The debris-laden water then passes through a filter before being
returned to the pool.
[0005] Standard water-recirculation pumps often are inadequate to
power pressure-side APCs satisfactorily. Historically, therefore,
separate booster pumps have been required to do so. U.S. Pat. No.
8,297,920 to Ortiz, et al whose contents are incorporated herein in
their entirety, discloses examples of such booster pumps. These
booster pumps undeniably use additional electricity, a
disadvantageous result especially as energy costs increase,
[0006] Additionally, conventional booster pumps operate at a single
speed. They thus may supply to pressure-side APCs water at greater
pressure and/or volume than optimal or otherwise desirable. To
resolve this problem, water by-pass paths may be created or
restrictor plates may be placed in supply hoses, for example. Both
approaches simply waste some of the pressure provided by the
booster pumps, however, and therefore waste some of the energy used
to pressurize the water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention avoids the inefficiencies present in
existing solutions involving single-speed booster pumps. Systems of
the invention control speed and suction power of pressure-side APCs
by varying the water flow supplied by the secondary booster pump
rather than wasting extra flow by by-passing or restricting it.
Preferred embodiments of the invention do so by employing a
variable-speed booster pump and adjusting its motor speed
(revolutions per minute, or RPMs) to supply a pressure-side APC
with water at satisfactory, if not optimal, pressure and/or volume.
No by-pass or restriction is thus necessary, materially reducing
the amount of wasted energy.
[0008] The present invention hence relates to systems including
both pressure-side APCs and variable-speed pumps, especially
booster pumps. It also relates to methods of cleaning pools using
pressure-side APCs connected to outlets of variable-speed booster
pumps. It further relates to pressure-side APCs configured for use
with variable-speed booster pumps. Other objects, features, and
advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0009] The FIGURE is a block diagram of an exemplary
water-circulation and cleaning system for a swimming pool or
spa.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Illustrated in the FIGURE is an example of system 10
consistent with the present invention. Included in system 10 are
filtration pump 20, water distribution equipment 40, and booster
pump 50. Optionally forming part of system 10 may be first and
second water conditioning equipment 30 and 70, respectively, and
APC 60. Although APC 60 is an optional part of system 10, its
presence is preferable, as inclusion of certain hydraulic APCs
generates need for booster pump 50 (as discussed above).
[0011] Filtration pump 20 constitutes the main water-circulation
means for system 10. Filtration pump 20 evacuates water from a
swimming pool or spa (optionally through a skimmer or other
filtration device) and passes the now-pressurized water at least to
distribution equipment 40 downstream thereof. Optionally positioned
upstream of distribution equipment 40 may be first water
conditioning equipment 30, which if present and operational may
treat or sense characteristics of water exiting filtration pump 20
before it reaches distribution equipment 40. Non-limiting examples
of first water conditioning equipment 30 equipment may be filters,
heaters, chlorinators or other sanitizers, sensors, or other
devices. Optionally positioned downstream of distribution equipment
40 may be second water conditioning equipment 70; it too may be or
include such devices as filters, heaters, chlorinators or other
sanitizers, or sensors, for example.
[0012] As noted in the Ortiz patent, distribution equipment 40 may
comprise a plumbing system or manifold configured to divide water
flow 80 into at least two flows 80A and 80B. Flow 80B travels to
second water conditioning equipment 70, if present, then returning
to the pool or spa from which it originated. By contrast, flow 80A
passes to booster pump 50 for subsequent downstream travel to APC
60. In system 10, booster pump 50 is distinct from filtration pump
20 and dedicated to further pressurizing water for operation of APC
60.
[0013] Conventionally, filtration pump 20 has a motor operational
at either a single speed (i.e. a single-speed motor) or varying
speeds (i.e. a variable-speed motor). Examples of such pumps 20
include the Jandy FloPro pumps, available from Zodiac Pool Systems,
Inc. with single- and variable-speed motors. Other
commercially-available pool pumps may be used as filtration pump
20.
[0014] Well known in the pool and spa industry is that inclusion of
booster pumps in pool and spa water-circulation systems undesirably
adds to the energy usage of the systems. Yet, as noted earlier,
conventional booster pumps operate at a single speed. This is true
today, as even the booster pump of the recently-issued Ortiz patent
is designed for single-speed operation. Long-needed, therefore, is
a booster pump that allows operation of an APC (especially a
pressure-side APC) but reduces, to the extent feasible, the
additional energy needed to function.
[0015] Booster pump 60 of system 10 fulfills this long-felt need in
the industry by configuring its motor to operate at varying speeds.
It thus may be constructed using at least some of the
variable-speed technology of the corresponding .landy FloPro pumps,
for example, although other variable-speed motors and technology
may be used instead. Generally, booster pump 60 will be both
physically smaller and less powerful than filtration pump 20,
although these differences are not necessarily required.
[0016] Hence, even if filtration pump 20 has a single-speed motor,
system 10 allows variation in water flow and pressure to APC 60 by
adjusting motor speed of booster pump 60. In this way, system 10
may supply water to APC 60 at optimal (or near optimal) pressures
and/or volumes without need for energy-wasting by-pass paths or
restrictor plates. Moreover, for systems 10 in which both
filtration pump 20 and booster pump 50 utilize variable-speed
motors, speeds of both motors may be adjusted independent of one
another to improve overall efficiency of operation of the systems
10.
[0017] The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating,
explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention.
Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent
to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from
the scope or spirit of the invention. For example, persons skilled
in the art will recognize that booster pump 50 is not necessarily
limited to use with pressure-side APCs 60 and that system 10 may be
configured and plumbed differently so as to allow use of booster
pump 50 with another type of hydraulic APC 60 or otherwise as
desired. Hoses, conduits, pipes, and other conventional equipment
may be used to pass water between components of system 10.
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