Power Supplies for Pool and Spa Equipment

• US 20120222997A1
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Potucek, Kevin L., Willis, Dennis, Sumonthee, Jeffrey, Renaud, Benoit J., Philhower, Douglas H., Forsythe, Patrick J., Normyle, William M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,502,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/167.18
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1672 Connections to the pool water circulation system
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.

Claims

1. A floating power supply for powering pool or spa equipment, comprising:

a buoyant housing having a base wall, a plurality of side walls and a top wall defining an inner chamber;

a peripheral float positioned about a periphery of the housing;

at least one solar cell positioned on the housing;

circuitry positioned within the inner chamber; and

a power cable extending from the inner chamber and connectable to a device in a pool or spa remote from the power supply;

wherein the at least one solar cell and the power cable are in electrical communication with circuitry to provide power to the remote device via the power cable.

2. The floating power supply of claim 1, further comprising an antenna positioned on the housing and in electrical communication with the remote device in the pool or spa to permit wireless communication with the device.

3. The floating power supply of claim 2, wherein the antenna is in electrical communication with the circuitry in the housing.

4. The floating power supply of claim 1, wherein the peripheral float is defined by a chamber filled with air.

5. The floating power supply of claim 1, wherein the peripheral float comprises a material that permits floatation in water.

6. The floating power supply of claim 1, wherein the at least one solar cell is positioned on the housing in a position to maximize exposure to sunlight.

7. The floating power supply of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery positioned in the housing and in electrical communication with the circuitry, the floating power supply charging the rechargeable battery.

8. The floating power supply of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a pool cleaner.

9. The floating power supply of claim 1, wherein the device includes a rechargeable battery rechargeable by the floating power supply.

10. The floating power supply of claim 1, further comprising a skimmer including a water inlet, a debris channel, and a receptacle, the skimmer skimming debris from pool or spa water.

11. The floating power supply of claim 10, wherein the skimmer further comprises a pump for creating suction and diverting debris into the receptacle.

12. The floating power supply of claim 10, wherein the receptacle comprises a removable bag attached to the power supply.

13. The floating power supply of claim 10, wherein the receptacle comprises a compartment formed in the floating power supply.

14. A power supply for powering pool or spa equipment, comprising:

a power supply unit external to a pool or a spa;

a first inductive power coupling including an inductor circuit, said first inductive power coupling in electrical communication with the power supply unit and at least partially embedded in a wall of the pool or spa; and

a second inductive power coupling including an inductor circuit, said second inductive power coupling received by said first inductive power coupling in the pool or spa, wherein the inductor circuit of the first power coupling inductively transmits power from the power supply to the inductor circuit of the second inductive power coupling for powering a device in a pool or spa connected to the second inductive power coupling.

15. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the first inductive power coupling includes a housing defining a cavity for receiving the second inductive power coupling.

16. The power supply of claim 15, wherein the second inductive power coupling is configured to be inserted into the housing of the first inductive power coupling.

17. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the first and second inductive power couplings are flat plates, each including means for releasably securing the inductive power couplings to each other.

18. The power supply of claim 17, wherein the means for releasably securing the inductive power couplings to each other are magnetic.

19. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the second inductive power coupling is attached to and in electrical communication with a pool cleaning device.

20. The power supply of claim 19, wherein the pool cleaning device includes a rechargeable battery rechargeable by the power supply.

21. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the power supply unit comprises one or more of an A/C power supply, a battery, or a solar array.

22. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the first and second inductive power couplings operate as a transformer for changing one voltage level to a different voltage level.

23. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the first inductive power coupling is located in a docking area in a floor of a pool or a spa and the second inductive power coupling is located on-board the device, the first inductive power coupling inductively transmitting power to the second inductive power coupling when the device is positioned over the docking area.

24. The power supply of claim 23, wherein the device includes control logic for determining when the battery power of an on-board battery is low and for navigating the device to the docking area so as to receive power from the first inductive power coupling to charge the battery.

25. The power supply of claim 23, wherein the docking area is a recess provided in a wall of a pool or a spa.

26. A power supply for powering pool or spa equipment, comprising:

a power supply unit external to a pool or a spa;

an inductive element embedded in a wall of the pool or spa and in electrical communication with the power supply unit; and

an inductive circuit positioned within a pool or spa device, the inductive circuit inductively coupled with the inductive element and receiving electrical power therefrom for powering the device.

27. The power supply of claim 26, wherein the inductive element is integral with a bottom wall of a pool.

28. The power supply of claim 26, wherein the device comprises a pool cleaner.

29. The power supply of claim 28, wherein the pool cleaner includes rechargeable battery rechargeable by the power supply.

30. The power supply of claim 28, wherein the pool cleaner includes control logic for determining when battery power is low and for navigating the cleaner to the inductive element so as to receive power from the inductive element to charge the battery.

31. The power supply of claim 28, wherein the power supply unit comprises one or more of an A/C power supply, a battery, or a solar array.

32. A power supply for powering pool or spa equipment, comprising:

a power supply unit external to a pool or spa;

a first inductive power coupling including an inductor circuit, said first inductive power coupling in electrical communication with the power supply unit and positioned in an existing plumbing fixture of a pool or a spa; and

a second inductive power coupling including an inductor circuit, said second inductive power coupling positionable proximate to said first inductive power coupling, wherein the inductor circuit of the first power coupling inductively transmits power from the power supply to the inductor circuit of the second inductive power coupling for powering a device in a pool or spa connected to the second inductive power coupling.

33. The power supply of claim 32, wherein the first inductive power coupling is positioned within a suction port of the pool or the spa.

34. The power supply of claim 33, wherein the second inductive power coupling is sized and shaped to be inserted into the suction port.

35. The power supply of claim 32, wherein the second inductive power coupling is attached to and in electrical communication with a pool cleaning device.