Pool Chlorinator

Abstract

A chlorinator for feeding a liquid chlorine solution to a swimming pool from a supply tank. The chlorinator includes a flow scale, a check valve to prevent back flow, a flow control, automatic cut-off means to prevent air entering the pump system of the pool, a primer to reactivate the chlorination system, and means for enabling operation of the chlorinator either continuously or cyclically in conjunction with the pool pump system.

Description

The invention herein is generally concerned with the measured introduction of a liquid into a circulating system, and more particularly relates to a chlorinator for the regulated introduction of a chlorine solution into a swimming pool or the like through the pump system associated therewith.

While chlorinators of various types are known and used, such known devices are either expensive to construct, install and maintain, or incorporate undesirable features such as a tendency to air-lock in conjunction with difficulty in recommencing operation, a lack of means to determine and control the amount or rate of chlorine introduction, and the lack of means whereby the period of operation of the chlorinator can be regulated.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a chlorinator which includes volume, flow and time control means, as well as air-lock preventive means utilizing a unique although relatively simple construction.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to provide a chlorinator which can easily be installed in the circulating pump system of a swimming pool for operation in response to an activation of the pump system or, depending upon a simple adjustment, operation independently of the operation of the pump system.

The objects of the instant invention are achieved through the utilization of a compact chlorinator engaged with the lines of a swimming pool circulation system to the inlet and outlet sides of the circulating pump. The chlorinator is supplied through a supply line from a chlorine supply tank with the chlorine moving through a flow scale chamber incorporating a one-way check valve. The flow is regulated by an appropriate flow control valve and, in line therewith, enters into an enlarged float chamber which acts so as to prevent air-lock or the introduction of air into the pump system. A valve downstream of the float chamber controls the flow into the pool and, on automatic operation, is opened in response to pump generated pressure in the circulating system of the pool. If so desired, the valve can be locked open whereby flow continues regardless of whether or not pressure is present in the circulating system, as long as a minimum siphon-type flow, normally experienced in such systems, is occurring.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the chlorination introduction system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chlorinator;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3--3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 5--5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 6--6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 7--7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail illustrating the pressure line in connection with the pool circulating system;

FIg. 9 is a detail of the suction line in connection with the pool circulating system; and

FIG. 10 is a detail of the control dial.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 20 is used to generally designate the chlorinator, the body of which is preferably constructed of a clear plastic with the flow passages and fluid chambers being defined internally therein.

The chlorinating cycle originates with a chlorine supply tank 22 which is communicated with the chlorinator 20 by means of a supply line 24. An appropriate hose connector 25 is used to engage the discharge end of the supply line with the chlorinator 20, or more particularly the lower end of a vertical flow passage 26 adjacent one end of the chlorinator.

The flow passage 26 extends into an enlarged vertical chamber 28 within which a check valve ball 30 is located. The lower end of the chamber 28, about the upper end of the passage 26, defines a seat for the ball 30 whereby a one-way valve is created so as to prevent back flow such as might tend to occur in the back-wash filter cleaning cycle in the circulation system of the pool itself. The chamber 28 is also provided with graduations along the height thereof, forming a flow scale so as to indicate the amount of chlorine flow into the pool, such being determined by the height of the suspended ball 30 during the operation of the system. An appropriate stop pin 32 spans the upper end of the chamber 28 so as to prevent a complete closing thereof should the chlorine flow pressure be sufficient so as to completely elevate the ball 30.

A second flow passage 34 extends from the upper end of the chamber 28 first vertically and then longitudinally along the chlorinator into communication with an enlarged vertically orientated cylindrical float chamber 36. A flow control needle-type valve 38 intersects the passage 34 along the length thereof and is adjusted from an enlarged head or knob 40 provided on the exposed outer end thereof. An appropriate packing nut 42 seals the valve at the outer end thereof with the valve 38 being threaded within the body of the chlorinator for the desired longitudinal adjustment thereof through a manipulation of the associated knob 40.

The float chamber 36 is specifically provided so as to automatically seal the chlorinator and prevent the movement of air into the pool lines should the supply of chlorine be exhausted, thereby avoiding air-lock and protecting the pool pump. The float itself, designated by reference numeral 44, is spherical and centrally guided for vertical movement within the cylindrical chamber 36 by full height inwardly projecting guides or ribs 46 provided about the chamber 36. A float seat 48 is provided at the bottom of the chamber 36 about the inlet end of a flow line 50. When there is liquid, or more particularly a chlorine solution, in the chamber 36, the float 44 rides on the top thereof allowing the chlorine to flow through the chamber 36 and into the flow line or passage 50. However, should air be drawn into the chamber 36, the float 44 will drop, sealing off the flow and reducing to a minimum the air entering into the pool lines.

Assuming liquid chlorine in the chamber 36, the chlorine moves through the flow passage 50 into an enlarged exit chamber 52 at the rear of the chlorinator 20 toward the second end thereof. This exit chamber 52 communicates with a discharge flow passage 54 which discharges to an appropriately connected inlet end of the suction line 56 which extends to the pool circulating system as shall be described presently.

The flow of the chlorine from the chamber 52 into the discharge flow passage 54 is controlled by a valve 58 which normally seats in the inlet end of the passage 54 and effectively seals the passage and precludes the flow of chlorine. The valve 58 constitutes the leading end of an elongated rod 60 extending transversely across the chlorinator and beyond the front face thereof. This rod extends through an enlarged diaphragm chamber 62 within which a diaphragm 64, dividing the chamber 62, is fixed to the rod 60. An enlarged coiled compression spring 66 surrounds the rod 60 and is engaged between the front wall of the chamber 62 and the chamber dividing diaphragm 64 so as to, through pressure exerted on the diaphragm, bias the rod 60, and hence the valve 58, so as to seat the valve 58 and seal the discharge passage 54. Communicated with the chamber 62 rearward of the diaphragm 64, or to the side thereof opposed from the spring 66, is the discharge end of a pressure line 68, the inlet end of which is communicated with the pressure or outlet side of the circulating pump system of the swimming pool with which the chlorinator is associated. When the pool pump is in operation, the pressurized fluid to the outlet side thereof will move into the diaphragm chamber 62 through the pressure line 68 and cause an expansion of the diaphragm 64 and a corresponding withdrawal of the valve 58. This in turn results in a flow through the discharge flow passage 54 and the suction line 56.

The valve 58 can also be manually set so as to remain open, thereby providing for a flow both during the activation of the pool pump and during those periods of deactivation. The continued flow of course assumes the existence of a siphoning action in the circulating system of the pool when the pump is deactivated. In order to effect this setting of the valve 58, the extreme forward end thereof projects beyond the chlorinator and mounts an enlarged control dial 70. The inner face of the dial 70 is provided with a pair of arcuate recesses 72 which in turn receive and seat a pair of arcuate or ball-like projections 74 projecting outwardly from the face of the chlorinator. When the projections 74 are seated within the recesses 72, the valve 58 is seated within the inlet end of the passage 54 and effectively closes this passage. However, upon a rotation of the control dial 70, the sockets or recesses 72 move out of alignment with the projections 74, these projections 74 in a sense riding out of the recesses 72 and causing an outward offsetting of the control dial and hence a retraction of the rod 60 a valve 58, thereby opening the flow passage 54 to the flow of chlorine. In this position, the flow will continue regardless of the presence or absence of pressure within the diaphragm chamber 62. It is contemplated that a limit pin 76 be provided. This pin 76 projects outwardly from the front of the chlorinator and engages within an arcuate slot 78 within the inner face of the dial 70 so as to limit rotation of the dial between the valve seating and the valve unseating positions. Should it be deemed desirable, a counterbalancing coiled compression spring 80 can be provided between the inner face of the dial 70 and the outer face of the chlorinator within an appropriate socket or spring chamber 82 defined therein.

Returning now to the float chamber 36, and the action thereof in precluding the introduction of air into the pump system of the pool, as previously indicated, should the supply of chlorine be exhausted, the float 44 will move downwardly onto the seat 48 and cut-off the flow. Upon a replenishing of the chlorine supply, the chlorinator is reactivated through a bypass system or primer which includes a flow passage 84 extending from the flow passage 34, upstream of the needle valve 38, to the upper end of the cylindrical chamber 36, and a second flow passage 86 extending from the upper end of the chamber 36 to communication with the flow passage 50. The passages 84 and 86, where they communicate with the upper end of the chamber 36, are sealed by an enlarged valve head 88 mounted on the lower end of a stem 90 which projects vertically through the top of the chlorinator. The upper end of the stem 90 is provided with an enlarged push head 92 thereon with an expanded coiled compression spring 94 surrounding the stem 90 and acting upwardly against the head 92 so as to resiliently bias the valve 88 to sealed relation relative to the two passages 84 and 86. As will be appreciated, the valve 88 is opened by merely pushing downwardly on the enlarged head 92. When this is done, the chlorine flow will move freely through the lines 84 and 86 and into the passage 50, allowing for a bleeding of the small amount of air out of the chamber 36 and a refloating of the float 44 for an operation of the chlorinator in the originally described manner.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 9, it will be noted that the suction line 56, that line through which the chlorine discharges from the chlorinator 20 into the circulating system of the pool, engages into the pool piping 96 upstream or to the suction side of the pool pump 98. This engagement with the piping 96 requires only the formation of a hole in the piping and the mounting of a right angular discharge tube 100 by means of a f self-threading pipe nut 102. The outer end of the tube 100 receives the discharge end of the suction line 56 thereover. The inner end of the tube is conically configured and directed downstream toward the pump with the water flow thereby tending to create a vacuum at the enlarged discharge end of the tube 100 so as to effectively draw the chlorine through the chlorinator and into the circulation system of the pool.

The pressure line 68, which communicates with the diaphragm chamber 62, is engaged with the pool piping 96 downstream or to the pressure side of the pool pump 98 with this engagement differing from the engagement of the suction line 56 only in that the mounted tube 104, which in this instance is a pickup tube, has the conical inner end thereof facing upstream. In this manner, a portion of the pressurized flow is gathered and amplified as it is introduced into the diaphragm chamber 62. This introduced pressure in the diaphragm chamber 62, as previously described, causes a retraction of the valve 58 and enables a discharge of the chlorine. Incidently, in order to facilitate the movement of the diaphragm, an appropriate air vent 104 is provided in the spring-accommodating portion of the chamber 62.

In operation, assuming the chlorinator 20 is to function in conjunction with the presence of a pump induced pressurized flow in the circulation system of the pool, the pressure in the pool system opens the diaphragm valve and allows a flow of the chlorine solution into the suction side of the pool piping. This chlorine solution, in moving through the chlorinator 20, passes by the ball check valve 30, through the scale chamber 28, into the enlarged float chamber 36 and subsequently through passages 50 and 54 into the suction line 56. Should the supply of chlorine become exhausted, the float 44 will seal off the flow passage means through the chlorinator so as to prevent any substantial amount of air entering into the pool circulation system. Once the chlorine supply is replenished, the primer means is activated so as to bleed the air from the float chamber and refloat the float 44.

Incidently, in the operation of the chlorinator, there might be a tendency for a slow buildup of small amounts of air or chlorine gas in the upper end of the float chamber 36 which could cause a premature shut-off of the chlorinator. Accordingly, it is contemplated that a relief valve 106, operative in response to movement of the float 44 thereagainst and away therefrom, be provided at the top of the chamber 36. This relief valve 106 is simply constructed and consists basically of a rocking arm 108 pivotally supported between a pair of pivot blocks 110, either secured to the valve head 88 or the top of the chamber 36 immediately adjacent thereto. The arm 108 includes an upwardly directed sealing seat 112 on one end thereof and a downwardly angled second end portion 114 generally centrally located within the chamber 36 over the float 44. This portion 114 overbalances the arm 108 so as to bias the seat 112 upward into sealing engagement with the lower end of a short tube 116 which communicates the chamber 36 with the flow passage 86. Thus, when the float 44 is at the top of the chamber 36, the arm section 114 will be engaged and the valve 106 opened so as to enable a bleeding of the small amounts of air and chlorine gas as they tend to collect in the upper portion of the chamber 36. This relief valve 106 is only capable of accommodating a small flow, and as such, does not affect the previously described automatic cut-off system which would operate upon the introduction of a large amount of air into the chamber 36, such as for example upon an exhausting of the chlorine supply. In such cases, the relief valve 106 will be unable to handle the large amounts of introduced air and the float 44 will drop, effecting a turning off of the chlorinator as previously described.

It is also contemplated that a water circulation line 118 be provided between the diaphragm chamber 62 to that side of the diaphragm 64 which receives the flow through line 68 and the chlorine flow line 34 downstream of needle valve 38. In this manner, a small water flow is provided through the chlorinator which tends to enhance its operation and at the same time provides for an initial mixing of water and chlorine within the chlorinator. The utilization of such as water circulation line in no way hampers the operation of the chlorinator, and in fact tends to provide for greater efficiency in operation.

As previously indicated, in those instances wherein a continuous flow of chlorine is desired regardless of whether or not the pool pump is operating, the diaphragm valve 58 can be locked open through a rotation of the control dial 70. Thus, inasmuch as most pool systems maintain a minimum circulation through a continuous gravity flow type siphoning action in the circulation system, a continuing siphoning of the chlorine through the chlorinator will result. This occurs notwithstanding the lack of sufficient pressure in the piping of the pool circulating system so as to operate the diaphragm valve. In either case, that is whether the diaphragm valve is locked open or automatically responsive to pressure in the diaphragm chamber, the flow of chlorine through the chlorinator is regulated by the needle valve 38 with the scale chamber 28 indicating the rate of flow. It will of course be appreciated that in order to provide for an effective siphoning of the chlorine, the chlorinator, along with the supply tank, must be mounted above the water level of the pool.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that a highly unique chlorination system has been defined. This system requires no special electrical or plumbing work and presents no installation or maintenance difficulties, thereby particularly adapting it for use in small installations. The system is of course constructed of materials which are chemically inert to the chlorine solution or other similar solutions which might be used in conjunction therewith, the body of the chlorinator itself preferably being made of clear plastic which provides clear visibility for the flow passage means therethrough and the valve components therein.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only on the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a pool chlorination system including a chlorine supply, a chlorinator, said chlorinator including chlorine flow accommodating internal flow passage means, said flow passage means including a chlorine inlet communicated with the chlorine supply, a remote chlorine discharge, flow terminating means responsive to an exhausting of the chlorine supply and the presence of air in the flow passage means to automatically close said flow passage means to flow therethrough, and primer means for bypassing said flow terminating means upon the replacement of the chlorine supply for a reopening of the flow passage means and a resetting of the flow terminating means, said flow terminating means including a vertical float chamber, a first fluid line communicated with the chlorine inlet and the float chamber above the lower end thereof, a second fluid line communicated with the chlorine discharge and the bottom of said float chamber, a valve seat about the second fluid line within the float chamber, and a float within said chamber selectively engageable, upon the exhaustion of fluid from said chamber, with the second fluid line seat for a sealing of the second fluid line, said primer means including one fluid passage communicating the first fluid line with the upper portion of the float chamber, another fluid passage communicating the second fluid line with the upper portion of the float chamber, and primer valve means simultaneously closing and opening these fluid passages for selectively enabling a flow through the float chamber above the seated float.

2. The system of claim 1 including a pressure relief valve at the upper end of the float chamber and in communication with the fluid passage communicating the second fluid line with the upper portion of the float chamber, said relief valve being openable in response to engagement to the float thereagainst upon a positioning of the float in the upper portion of the float chamber wherein a bleeding of minor amounts of gas from the float chamber can be effected.

3. The system of claim 2 including an adjustable control valve in said flow passage means for selectively varying the flow therethough.

4. The system of claim 3 including a scale chamber in said flow passage means upstream from said float chamber, said scale chamber including means for providing a visual indication of the flow rate.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said scale chamber is vertically orientated and includes a fluid inlet at the bottom thereof and a fluid outlet at the top thereof, a valve seat defined at the fluid inlet of the scale chamber and a ball valve within the chamber selectively engageable with the scale chamber seat for precluding back flow, said ball valve constituting a portion of the flow indicating means.

6. The system of claim 5 including discharge valve means within the flow passage means adjacent the chlorine discharge, said discharge valve means including a diaphragm, said diaphragm being received within an internal chamber within the chlorinator, a pressure line communicating with the diaphragm chamber for a selective introduction of pressurized fluid into said diaphragm chamber and a resultant flexing of the diaphragm and an opening of the discharge valve means, said discharge valve means controlling the chlorine discharge from the chlorinator.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said discharge valve means includes override means for manually flexing said diaphragm and retaining the discharge valve means open regardless of the presence or absence of pressure within the diaphragm chamber.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the pressure line is adapted to communicate with the piping of a pool circulation system downstream of a fluid circulating pump, and a suction line extending from the chlorine discharge of the chlorinator and adapted to engage the piping upstream of the pump for an introduction of the chlorine thereto, said pressure line including, on the piping engageable end thereof, a conical intake directed upstream, said suction line including a conical discharge at the piping engageable end thereof directed downstream.

9. Liquid introducing apparatus for the introduction of liquids into a liquid circulating system; said apparatus including a supply, a discharge line, and flow accommodating passage means extending from flow receiving communication with said supply through the apparatus to flow discharging communication with the discharge line; said flow passage means including flow rate indicating means therein, backflow preventing check valve means therein, flow terminating means automatically responsive to close the fluid passage means in response to an exhausting of the liquid supply, primer means for reopening the fluid passage means upon a replenishing of the liquid supply, a discharge control valve downstream of the flow terminating means for selectively allowing and precluding liquid flow to the discharge line, control means operatively connected with the discharge control valve and responsive to the presence and absence of pressure within the circulating system to receive the liquid for selectively opening and closing the discharge valve, and means for fixing the discharge valve open so as to allow for liquid flow regardless of the presence or absence of pressure in the circulating system.