U.S. patent number 3,595,395 [Application Number 04/768,729] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-27 for automatic chlorinators for swimming pools.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Anzen Products. Invention is credited to Walter C. Lorenzen.
United States Patent |
3,595,395 |
Lorenzen |
July 27, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
AUTOMATIC CHLORINATORS FOR SWIMMING POOLS
Abstract
A pellet magazine in which solid water-soluble chlorine pellets
are stacked is connected by a secondary line to the return line of
a conventional pool water recirculation system downstream of the
recirculation pump. The water flows upwardly into the pellet
magazine to wet some of the pellets. A venturi unit farther
downstream of the return line creates suction to draw chlorine
solution from the wetted pellets through one leg of a U-shaped
suction tube having another leg suspended in the pellet magazine.
The tube leg is vertically movable within the magazine. Its inlet
end can thus be at any desired level to control the amount of water
in contact with the pellets. Treated liquid flow is from the
downstream portion of the return line into the pellet magazine and
thence through the suction tube and the venturi back into the
return line to be mixed for presentation to the pool.
Inventors: |
Lorenzen; Walter C. (Hacienda
Heights, CA) |
Assignee: |
Anzen Products (Arcadia,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
25083331 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/768,729 |
Filed: |
October 18, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/167.11;
210/205; 422/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F
1/0033 (20130101); B01F 5/0496 (20130101); C02F
1/688 (20130101); B01F 2001/0061 (20130101); C02F
2103/42 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C02F
1/68 (20060101); B01F 5/04 (20060101); B01d
033/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;210/97,101,62,94,169,198,205 ;23/267,272.7,272.8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Adee; John
Claims
I claim:
1. A chlorinator utilizing soluble solid chlorine for a swimming
pool with a water recirculation system that includes a pump and a
water return line from the pump to the pool and comprising a
chlorine magazine open to atmosphere and adapted to hold
water-soluble solid chlorine in vertically incremental orientation,
a secondary waterline connecting between the return line and the
magazine from a point of the return line downstream from the pump,
a venturi unit having an inlet and an outlet each connecting to the
return line at points further downstream from the pump than the
secondary waterline, an inverted U-tube having one leg depending
into the chlorine magazine and a second leg, means connecting the
second leg to the venturi unit, said means connecting the second
leg affording vertical adjustment of the U-tube while maintaining
volumetric connection between magazine and venturi unit.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the magazine
comprises a primary vertical cylinder adapted to contain vertically
stacked water soluble solid chlorine, and a secondary vertical
cylinder adapted to receive one leg of the U-tube, said secondary
cylinder being open to the primary cylinder along their common
vertical extent.
3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means
for metering water flow between the return line and the
magazine.
4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further comprising means
for metering flow between the second leg and the venturi unit.
5. A chlorinator utilizing water-soluble solid chlorine for a
swimming pool with a water recirculation system that includes a
pump and a water return line from the pump to the pool and
comprising a chlorine magazine open to atmosphere, a stack of
chlorine pellets in the magazine, a secondary waterline connecting
between the return line and the magazine, flow control means in
said line, conduit means connecting between the magazine and the
return line at a point on the return line further downstream than
the connection of the secondary waterline, and adjustable means in
the magazine variable to adjust the water level in the magazine in
accordance with the amount of contained solid chlorine desired to
be exposed to the dissolving action of the water in the magazine,
said adjustable means including a tube with an inlet port with said
tube being vertically adjustable in the magazine to change the
height of the inlet relative to the pellets.
6. A swimming pool chlorinator unit comprising a chlorine magazine
adapted to receive water-soluble chlorine pellets in stacked
relationship, inlet means for introducing water into the magazine,
outlet means for connecting the magazine to the pool, and
adjustable means connecting to the outlet means adjustable in the
magazine to vary the water level in the magazine to control the
number of chlorine pellets exposed to the solvent effect of the
water in the magazine.
Description
Chlorine and other chemicals are used in swimming pools to control
growth of algae and other organisms in the swimming pool water. The
chlorine concentration level must be kept between the level that is
effective to eliminate the algae and below the concentration level
harmful to pool users. Therefore, the amount of chlorine introduced
into the pool should have a definite relationship to the amount of
water circulating in the pool.
Previous attempts to alleviate manual chlorination of pools have
been ineffective because of chlorinating apparatus having to be
located in the recirculation system such that concentrated chlorine
is passed through the pump, filter and heater with deleterious
effects thereto. My invention enables the concentrated chlorine
solution to be introduced into the return line downstream of the
vulnerable mechanical apparatus of the pool recirculating
system.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
The invention contemplates a chlorinator for a swimming pool which
has a water recirculation system that includes a pump with a water
return line from the pump to the pool. The invention comprises a
chlorine magazine adapted to hold water-soluble solid chlorine
pellets. A secondary waterline from the return line enters the
bottom of the magazine. A venturi unit in the return line further
downstream of the pump connects to an inverted U-tube which has one
leg depending into the magazine. The U-tube is adjustable
vertically such that the leg in the magazine maintains a
predetermined water level within the magazine. The water level is
such that the desired amount of solid chlorine is subjected to the
liquid relative to the flow of water returning to the pool. Valves
or other metering devices may be used in the waterline to the
magazine and in the return line between the magazine inlet and the
venturi to properly meter the flow rate in the return line and
maximum water flow through the magazine and the U-tube.
Since the rate of solubility of the pellets is known, the strength
of the solution passing through the U-tube and the venturi into the
return line can be determined. Since the amount of chlorinated
liquid drawn from the magazine by the venturi is proportional to
return line flow, the amount of chlorine introduced into the pool
can be metered through adjustment of the U-tube to determine the
amount of solid chlorine wetted.
These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from the
following detailed description and drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the preferred
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the recirculation system of a
conventional swimming pool combined with the chlorinating apparatus
of the invention;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatus
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of an
alternate embodiment of t invention similar in some respects to the
apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;
and
FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of a further alternate embodiment of
the apparatus of the invention.
In the Figures like parts are given like reference characters.
In FIGS. 1 and 3 chlorinator apparatus 10 is attached to a return
line 11. The return line has a secondary inlet pipe 12 extending
from it. The inlet pipe extends to a chlorine magazine pods 13 with
an air-permeable 14. The magazine has three magazine pods 15, 16,
17 defined by a continuous vertical wall 18. As can be seen in FIG.
1, the wall has a cloverleaf configuration in plan, open to each
other at the center of the magazine. Inlet pipe 12 can be seen
through the broken away portion of a water permeable floor screen
19 which supports three stacks 20, 21, 22 of solid chlorine pellets
23. Screen 19 is raised above a floor 24 of the magazine, which is
common to all three stacks.
Further downstream from secondary inlet pipe 12 is a venturi 25
schematically depicted. A vertical conduit 27 extends from the
venturi to a slip nut 28. An inverted U-tube 29 having one leg 31
extending through the slip nut into conduit 27 and the other leg 32
extending downwardly into the central portion of the magazine
between the pellet stacks is adjustable vertically within the slip
nut. The lower end 34 of the leg 32 is a distance H above screen 19
upon which pellets 23 rest. Thus the dimension H represents the
amount of solid chlorine exposed to dissolution. When H reaches
zero, as when the pump shuts off, the pellets are left in a dry
state.
Valves 36 and 37 may be interposed in conduit 27 and inlet pipe 12,
respectively, to adjust the flow through these components of the
chlorinator apparatus. Preferably a check valve 39 resides in
return line 11 between the pump and inlet pipe 12.
FIG. 2 shows the relative position of the chlorinator apparatus in
the water recirculation system of a conventional pool. A pool 41
has a bottom drain 42 which may be one of the sources of water
recirculated from the pool. A line 43 extends from the drain to a
pump 44 which is connected conventionally to a filter 45 and a
heater 46. Check valve 39 intervenes between the heater and the
chlorinator apparatus 10 of the invention. Return line 11 extends
from venturi 25 back to the pool to a discharge nozzle 47.
Normally there is a constant flow from drain 42 through the
recirculation system and back into the pool at nozzle 47. Only a
part of the flow in the return line passes through inlet pipe 12
and the chlorinating apparatus. However, since the pressure created
by the venturi is commensurate with the flow in the system, the
amount of liquid induced into return line 11 to be mixed is
commensurate with the flow therethrough. Therefore, by determining
the rate of solubility of the pellets within the magazine the
quantum of chlorine entering the pool through the return line can
be metered.
Nonadjusting metering devices may be used in the line in place of
valves 36 and 37. Check valve 39 precludes upstream migration of
concentrated chlorine solution should pressure conditions change
within the recirculation system. This protects the pump and filter
and heater against the effect of concentrated chlorine. Because of
the unique arrangement of the components of the invention it is
possible to place the chlorinator downstream of the pump and other
recirculation apparatus in a manner not heretofore practiced.
Returning now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that U-tube 29 can be
raised or lowered through slip nut 28 such that dimension H may be
changed to adjust the number of chlorine pellets to be dissolved.
The greater the dimension the more concentrated the solution drawn
off through the U-tube and the venturi becomes.
In FIGS. 4 and 5 chlorinator apparatus 50 has a magazine 51 with a
single stack of pellets 23. A U-tube 29 has one leg 53 extending
through a slip nut 28 into an upstanding conduit 27. The conduit
connects to a venturi (not shown) in a return system similar to
that shown with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3.
A second leg 54 of the U-tube extends downwardly into the interior
of cylindrical magazine 51 through a cover 55. The tube resides in
a semicylindrical wall groove 56 parallel to the vertical extent of
the magazine. Leg 54 terminates within the magazine at a level
above a pellet support screen 57 indicated by dimension H. That
level is nominally at the top of a solid chlorine pellet 23A,
which, like screen 57 is shown in dotted lines.
Magazine 51 is fed liquid from the return line (not shown) by a
water inlet pipe 58 which has a metering section 59 which
determines the maximum flow through the pipe into the magazine. The
metering section fulfills the same function as the valve 37 of the
embodiment of FIG. 3.
The embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 4 are adaptable to use with a
recirculation system established at the time the swimming pool is
built. The embodiment of FIG. 6 is representative of apparatus
adapted to connection with an existing recirculation system. In
FIG. 6 is a return line section 11A may be spliced into the
existing line. A secondary water inlet pipe 12 extends upwardly
from a Tee 61 in the return line segment 11A. A valve 37 may be
used as an adjustable metering device in the water inlet pipe. A
pellet magazine 65 volumetrically connected to pipe 12. A raised
screen 66 supports a stack of water soluble chlorine pellets 23.
Preferably magazine 65 is of a transparent material, as is a
standing tube 67 which is coupled in conventional fashion to a
U-joint or trap 69 which connects to the interior of magazine 65
just above screen 66.
A U-tube 29 has a first leg 71 which extends into standing tube 67.
An inlet end 72 of the leg is visible through tube 67. A second leg
73 passes through a packing gland or slip nut 28 into an upstanding
conduit 27. Conduit 27 may be of PVC or other like plastic material
suited to the purpose. A venturi Y 75 receives the end of conduit
27 through conventional metal-to-plastic joints 76.
The venturi has two legs. Leg 77 is connected to return line
segment 11A. Leg 78 is connected to a return line segment 11B at a
point further downstream of the segment, more proximate the
pool.
A valve 81 intervenes in line 11A between the attachment points for
the two legs of the venturi.
A metering section 82 between coupling 76 and venturi Y 75 can
establish the correct flow through the bypass through the
chlorinating system.
In operation the apparatus of FIG. 6 induces chlorine into return
line segment 11B commensurate with the flow in that line as the
U-tube educes liquid from the magazine which contains dissolved
chlorine from pellets 23. The concentration of the solution educed
through the U-tube by the venturi action is determined by the
height H of the water level which, in turn, is dependent upon the
elevation of suction end 72 of the U-tube.
The resultant chlorine level of the water in the pool may be
measured and the necessary adjustments made to maintain the desired
level. The adjustments can entail adjustment to valve 37, adjusting
the elevation of the U-tube end 72, and adjustment of valve 81.
While other physical arrangements of the component of the
chlorinating apparatus are possible within the scope of the
invention, those shown are deemed to be illustrative of the
invention. The apparatus shown is capable of automatically
supplying to the swimming pool an amount of chlorine commensurate
with the flow of water within the recirculation system. The
positioning OF the apparatus possible because of the unique
characteristics of the invention protects the pump and other
components of the recirculation system from the effects of
concentrated chlorine.
* * * * *