INLINE CHLORINATOR WITH INTEGRAL CONTROL PACKAGE, HEAT DISSIPATION AND WARRANTY INFORMATION ACCUMULATOR

• US 20100250449A1
• Filed: 03/09/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Shulte, Keith, Johnson, Bruce, Doyle, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/720,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250449A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/302
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4674 with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46125 Electrical variables
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4613 Inversing polarity
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/46145 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/008 comprising telecommunication features, e.g. modems or antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services

Abstract

An inline chlorinator with a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end in communication with the swimming pool bringing water from the pool through the inlet end and back to the pool from the outlet end and an upper compartment having an electronics section is provided. It includes a power source coupling and an at least one sensor sensing changes in the power source coupling. A controller unit contained within the electronics section, the controller unit being electrically coupled to a power source and an at least one electrolytic plate. An at least one hours of operation counter is provided. A heat sink member is also provided and is in thermal communication with the controller, where the flow of the water in the swimming pool water purification system cools the heat sink member, controller unit, and the electronics in the electronics section. Where the heat sink is separated from the water coming in the inlet end by a separation section, the separation section being a concurrent wall of the electronics compartment and the separation section in direct contact with the water coming from the pool at the inlet end, the separation section being in direct contact with the heat sink and both the heat sink and the separation section being continually cooled by the water flowing in through the inlet end of the housing.

Claims

1. A chlorinator mounted inline in a swimming pool water purification system, comprising;

a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end in communication with the swimming pool bringing water from the pool through the inlet end and back to the pool from the outlet end and an upper compartment having an electronics section;

an at least one hours of operation counter;

a power source coupling and an at least one sensor sensing changes in the power source coupling;

a controller unit contained within the electronics section, the controller unit being electrically coupled to a power source and an at least one electrolytic plate; and

a heat sink member in thermal communication with the controller, wherein the flow of the water in the swimming pool water purification system cools the heat sink member, controller unit, and the electronics in the electronics section, wherein the heat sink is separated from the water coming in the inlet end by a separation section, the separation section being a concurrent wall of the electronics compartment and the separation section in direct contact with the water coming from the pool at the inlet end, the separation section being in direct contact with the heat sink and both the heat sink and the separation section being continually cooled by the water flowing in through the inlet end of the housing.

2. The chlorinator of claim 1, wherein the at least one hours of operation counter is in communication with the at least one sensor sensing changes in the power source coupling, the changes in the power source coupling indicating the power on or power off of the chlorinator and activating the at least one hours of operation counter to count and track the hours of operation.

3. The chlorinator of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor sensing changes in the power source coupling further senses when power flowing, while the power to the chlorinator is on, increases above a set level indicating that the operational capacity of the electrolytic plates has decreased.

4. The chlorinator of claim 3, further comprising an at least one LED indicator, such that when the at least one sensor sensing changes in the power source coupling senses that the operational capacity of the electrolytic plates has decreased the at least one LED indicator is activated.

5. The chlorinator of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor sensing changes in the power source coupling comprises a VI sensor.

6. The chlorinator of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor sensing changes in the power source coupling comprises a sensor in the power source coupling.

7. The chlorinator of claim 6, wherein the sensor in the power source coupling comprises an inductive coil sensing changes in inductance or resistance or impedance in the at least one power source coupling.

8. The chlorinator of claim 1, further comprising a power conditioning module coupled to the power source coupling, the power conditioning module being located within the electronics section and conditioning incoming electric power from the at least one power source coupling.

9. The chlorinator of claim 8, wherein the power conditioning module further comprises at least one transformer.

10. The chlorinator of claim 8, wherein the power conditioning module further comprises an at least one sensor sensing the flow of power into the power conditioning module from the power source coupling.

11. The chlorinator of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor sensing the flow of power into the power conditioning module can further discriminate changes in the flow of power and thereby detect when the operational capacity of the electrolytic plates has decreased.

12. The chlorinator of claim 11, wherein when the at least one sensor sensing the flow of power into the power conditioning module discriminates changes in the flow of power, an at least one LED display is activated in a user interface display.

13. The chlorinator of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor sensing the flow of power into the power conditioning module from the power source coupling is coupled to an at least one hours of operation counter, the hours of operation counter counting the time the chlorinator is operational based on a signal from the at least one sensor sensing the flow of power into the power conditioning module.

14. The chlorinator of claim 13, wherein the at least one hours operation counter displays the hours of operation in a user interface display.

15. A chlorinator mounted inline in a swimming pool water purification system, comprising:

a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end in communication with the swimming pool bringing water from the pool through the inlet end and back to the pool from the outlet end and an upper compartment having an electronics section;

a power source coupling and an at least one sensor sensing changes in the power source coupling;

an accumulator accumulating the warranty information for the chlorinator mounted inline in a swimming pool water purification system; and

a controller unit contained within the electronics section, the controller unit being electrically coupled to a power source and an at least one electrolytic plate.

16. The chlorinator of claim 15, wherein the accumulator further comprises an at least one electronic or mechanical or electronic and mechanical counter and the accumulator is tamper resistant to provide accurate warranty status information.

17. The chlorinator of claim 16, wherein the accumulator with the at least one electronic or mechanical or electronic and mechanical counter accumulates the number of hours or fractions thereof of operation of the chlorinator.

18. The chlorinator of claim 16, wherein the accumulator with the at least one electronic or mechanical or electronic and mechanical counter is located in the housing.

19. The chlorinator of claim 16, wherein the accumulator with the at least one electronic or mechanical or electronic and mechanical counter is located along the power source coupling or at the juncture of the chlorinator with the power source coupling.

20. A method of maintaining and verifying warranty information on a chlorinator mounted inline in a swimming pool water purification system, comprising:

providing an inline chlorinator mounted inline in a swimming pool water purification system with a housing having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an electronics section, a power source coupling, an at least one sensor an accumulator and a controller unit;

providing power to the inline chlorinator through the power coupling;

activating the accumulator to track and store warranty information;

maintaining the stored warranty information on the chlorinator mounted inline in a swimming pool water purification system; and

verifying that the stored warranty information on the chlorinator mounted inline in a swimming pool water purification system prior to or while providing service on the chlorinator.