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.

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.

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.