Fluid-holding apparatus including a sensor

• US 20030031084A1
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Original Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
• Inventors: Bartos, Ronald P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,632,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/141
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5025 Activation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/601 Inlet to the bath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/601 Motor control

Abstract

A fluid holding apparatus including a vessel capable of holding a load including a fluid and a sensor coupled to the vessel. The sensor is operable to sense the load held by the vessel and to generate a signal having a relation to the load. The fluid holding apparatus further includes a controller electrically coupled to the sensor. The controller is operable to initiate a control signal in response to a variation in the load.

Claims

1. A fluid holding apparatus comprising:

a vessel capable of holding a load including a fluid;

a sensor coupled to the vessel, the sensor being operable to sense a weight of the load and to generate a load signal having a relation to the load; and

a controller electrically coupled to the sensor and being operable to initiate a control signal in response to a variation in the load.

2. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric sensor.

3. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor is a strain-gauge sensor.

4. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensor is a capacitive-load sensor.

5. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a fluid-movement system coupled to vessel, the fluid-movement system includes a fluid agitator and a motor connected to the fluid agitator, and wherein the control signal causes the fluid-movement system to move the fluid.

6. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the fluid agitator is a pump, and wherein the motor is a pump motor.

7. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the fluid agitator is an impeller and wherein the control signal causes the impeller to move to force jetted water into the vessel.

8. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the controller includes a microprocessor electrically coupled to the sensor, and wherein the microprocessor initiates the control signal in response to the variation in the load.

9. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the controller further includes a driver electrically coupled to the microprocessor and the motor, wherein the control signal is transmitted from the microprocessor to the driver, wherein the driver generates a drive signal in response to the control signal, and wherein the drive signal controls the motor.

10. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the controller includes an application-specific-integrated circuit (ASIC) electrically coupled to the sensor, and wherein the ASIC generates the control signal in response to the variation in the load.

11. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the apparatus further comprises an input device, wherein the input device is operable to receive an operator input, wherein the controller is operable to initiate a second control signal in response to the operator input, and wherein the second control signal causes the fluid-movement system to move the water.

12. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an output device electrically coupled to the controller, and wherein the output device is operable to receive the control signal and to generate an output in response to receiving the control signal.

13. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the output device includes an audible output device, and wherein the output is an audible output.

14. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the output device includes a visual output device, and wherein the output is a visual output.

15. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the output device includes a valve controller, and wherein the output is an opening of the valve.

16. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the output device includes a motor, and wherein the output includes a mechanical power.

17. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an input device, wherein the input device is operable to receive an operator input and wherein the controller is operable to initiate a second control signal in response to the operator input.

18. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the signal varies in relation to the load, and wherein the controller initiates the control signal in response to the signal varying by a predetermined amount in a predetermined time period.

19. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid holding apparatus is a swimming pool.

20. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid holding apparatus is a hot tub.

21. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid holding apparatus is a spa.

22. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid holding apparatus is a whirlpool.

23. A fluid holding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the fluid holding apparatus is a clothes washing machine.

24. A control system for controlling the agitation of fluid in a vessel, the control system comprising:

a sensor operable to sense a pressure applied to the sensor and to generate a load signal having a relation to the applied pressure;

a controller electrically connected to the sensor, the controller being operable to receive the load signal and to initiate a control signal in response to variations of the load signal;

a motor electrically coupled to the controller, the motor being operable to receive the control signal and to generate mechanical power in response to receiving the control signal; and

an agitator mechanically coupled to the motor and being operable to move the fluid in response to the mechanical power generated by the motor.

25. A control system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric sensor.

26. A control system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the sensor is a strain-gauge sensor.

27. A control system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the sensor is a capacitive load sensor.

28. A control system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the agitator is a pump, and wherein the motor is a pump motor.

29. A control system set forth in claim 24 wherein the agitator includes at least one impeller and wherein the impeller forces jetted water into the vessel.

30. A control system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the controller includes a microprocessor electrically coupled to the sensor, and wherein the microprocessor initiates the control signal in response to the varying load signal.

31. A control system as set forth in claim 30 wherein the controller further includes a driver electrically coupled to the microprocessor and the motor, wherein the control signal is transmitted from the microprocessor to the driver, wherein the driver generates a drive signal in response to the control signal, and wherein the drive signal controls the motor.

32. A control system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the controller includes an application-specific-integrated circuit (ASIC) electrically coupled to the sensor, and wherein the ASIC initiates the control signal in response to varying load signal.

33. A control system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the sensor signal varies in relation to the held load, and wherein the controller initiates the control signal in response to the sensor signal varying by a predetermined amount in a predetermined time period.

34. A method of providing a control signal to an output device connectable to a fluid holding apparatus, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a fluid holding apparatus having a vessel capable of holding a load including a fluid;

providing a load sensor coupled to the vessel;

sensing the weight of the load held by the vessel;

initiating a control signal in response to a variation in the weight;

providing the control signal to the output device; and

generating an output with the output device in response to the provided control signal.

35. A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein the act of sensing the weight of the load includes sensing a pressure applied to the load sensor and generating a load signal having a relation to the applied pressure.

36. A method as set forth in claim 35 wherein the act of initiating a control signal in response to a variation in the weight includes the acts of acquiring a first magnitude of the load signal, acquiring a second magnitude of the sensor signal, calculating a difference between the second magnitude and the first magnitude, and initiating the control signal when the difference is greater than a specified limit.

37. A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein the output device is a fluid agitator, and wherein the act of generating an output includes the act of generating a mechanical output resulting in movement of the fluid.

38. A method as set forth in claim 37 wherein the act of generating a control signal includes the acts of determining a first magnitude of the load signal, determining a second magnitude of the load signal, calculating a rate of change of the load signal based at least in part on the first and second magnitudes, determining if the rate of change is increasing, determining if the rate of change is greater than a specified rate of change when the rate of change is increasing, and initiating the control signal when the rate of change is greater than a specified rate of change.

39. A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein the output device is a display device, and wherein the act of generating an output includes the act of generating a visual output with the display device.

40. A method as set forth in claim 39 wherein the act of generating a control signal includes the acts of determining a first magnitude of the load signal, determining a second magnitude of the load signal, calculating a rate of change of the load signal based at least in part on the first and second magnitudes, determining if the rate of change is increasing, determining if the rate of change is greater than a specified rate of change when the rate of change is increasing, calculating a difference between the second and first magnitudes, and initiating the control signal when the difference is less than a specified difference.

41. A method as set forth in claim 34 wherein the output device is an audio device, and wherein the act of generating an output includes the act of generating an audible output.

42. A method as set forth in claim 41 wherein the act of initiating a control signal includes the acts of determining a first magnitude of the load signal, determining a second magnitude of the load signal, calculating a rate of change of the load signal based at least in part on the first and second magnitudes, determining if the rate of change is increasing, determining if the rate of change is greater than a specified rate of change when the rate of change is increasing, calculating a difference between the second and first magnitudes, and initiating the control signal when the difference is less than a specified difference.

43. A method comprising the acts of:

providing a fluid holding apparatus having a vessel capable of holding a load including a fluid;

sensing a weight of the load held by the vessel;

initiating a control signal in response to a variation in the weight; and

moving the fluid in response to the initiating of the control signal.

44. A method as set forth in claim 43 wherein the act of sensing the weight of the load includes providing a sensor, sensing a pressure applied to the sensor, the pressure having a relation to the weight, and generating a load signal having a relation to the applied pressure.

45. A method as set forth in claim 44 wherein the act of generating a control signal in response to a variation in the weight includes the acts of acquiring a first magnitude of the load signal, acquiring a second magnitude of the load signal, calculating a difference between the second magnitude and the first magnitude, and initiating the control signal when the difference is greater than a specified limit.

46. A method as set forth in claim 43 and further comprising:

after the act of moving the fluid in response to the initiating of a first control signal, initiating a second control signal in response to a decrease in the weight;

and ceasing movement of the fluid in response to the initiating of the second control signal.

47. A method as set forth in claim 46 wherein the act of sensing the weight of the load includes sensing a pressure applied to a sensor, the pressure having a relation to the weight, and generating a load signal having a relation to the applied pressure.

48. A method as set forth in claim 46 wherein the act of initiating a second control signal in response to a decrease in the weight includes the acts of acquiring a first magnitude of the load signal, acquiring a second magnitude of the load signal, calculating a difference between the first magnitude and the second magnitude, and initiating the control signal when the absolute difference is greater than a specified limit.

49. A software program stored in a computer readable medium that controls a motor of a fluid holding apparatus, the fluid holding apparatus having a vessel capable of holding a load including a fluid and having a fluid movement system including a pump and a pump motor, the software program comprising program code for:

acquiring a load signal having a relation to a weight of the load;

determining a first magnitude of the load signal;

determining a second magnitude of the load signal;

calculating a rate of change of the load based at least in part on the first and second magnitudes;

determining if the rate of change is increasing;

determining if the rate of change is greater than a specified rate of change when the rate of change is increasing; and

initiating a control signal resulting in a movement of fluid held by the fluid-holding apparatus when the rate of change is greater than a specified rate of change.

50. A software program as set forth in claim 49 and further comprising program code for:

determining a third magnitude of the signal;

calculating a second rate of change of the load based at least in part on the second and third magnitudes;

determining if the second rate of change is decreasing;

determining if the absolute value of the second rate of change is greater that a second specified rate of change when the second rate of change is decreasing; and

initiating a second control signal resulting in no movement of the fluid when the second rate of change is greater than the second specified rate of change.

51. A software program as set forth in claim 50 wherein the fluid holding apparatus further includes an input device and wherein the software packages further comprises program code for:

acquiring an operator input signal from the input device;

initiating a second control signal resulting in a movement of fluid held by the fluid holding apparatus when the operator input signal signifies fluid movement.

52. A software program stored in a computer readable medium that controls an output device of a fluid-holding apparatus that holds a load including a fluid, the software program comprising program code for:

acquiring a load signal having a relation to a weight of the held load;

determining a first magnitude of the load signal;

determining a second magnitude of the load signal;

calculating a difference between the second and first magnitudes; and

initiating a control signal resulting in an output from the output device when the difference is less than a specified difference.

53. A software program as in claim 52 wherein the software program further comprises program code for:

calculating a rate of change of the load based at least in part on the first and second magnitudes;

determining if the rate of change is increasing; and

determining if the rate of change is greater than a specified rate of change when the rate of change is increasing.

54. A software program as in claim 53 wherein the output device is an audio output device and wherein the act of initiating a control signal includes the act of initiating a control signal resulting in an audio output in the audio output device when the difference is less than a specified difference.

55. A software program as in claim 53 wherein the output device is a visual output device and wherein the act of initiating a control signal includes the act of initiating a control signal resulting in a visual output in the visual output device when the difference is less than a specified difference.