Pool chemical dispenser

• US 4,867,196 A
• Filed: 08/31/1988
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1988
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: OLIN Corporation
• Original Assignee: OLIN Corporation
• Inventors: Zetena, Christopher M., Alexander, Roy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Application Number:
  US07/238,446
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 137/268, 137/205.5, 422/264, 422/274, 422/275, 422/276, 422/281, 422/282, 239/310
• US Class Current: 137/268
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/221 comprising constructions for blocking or redispersing undissolved solids
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/688 Devices in which the water progressively dissolves a solid compound
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4891 With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be dissolved or entrained

Abstract

An improved chemical feeder employing periodic partial immersion in a forced circulation system is provided having a soluble chemical chamber, a dissolving chamber into which the soluble chemical chamber extends and a discharge chamber in fluid flow communication with the dissolving chamber to selectively receive chemically treated water from the dissolving chamber and discharge it into a flow loop connected to the forced circulation system.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dissolving and dispensing soluble material for the sanitizing of a body of water in flow communication with the body of water via a flow loop having an inlet and an outlet to the apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a soluble material chamber for retaining the soluble material at a first level;

(b) a dissolving chamber positioned below the soluble material chamber connected via the inlet to the flow loop of water to receive water thereinto, the soluble material chamber extending down inside the dissolving chamber contactable with the water in the dissolving chamber to periodically immerse at least a portion of the soluble material in water in the dissolving chambers;

(c) a discharge chamber below the dissolving chamber and connected thereto for the periodic flow of water thereinto from the dissolving chamber to empty the water from the dissolving chamber to a level below the first level for the soluble material in the soluble material chamber, the discharge chamber being connected to the flow loop of water to permit the water with the dissolved soluble material to selectively flow back into the outlet via an outlet port; and

(d) control means for controlling the level of water that flows into the dissolving chamber and connected in flow communication with the dissolving chamber and the discharge chamber to periodically permit the flow of water from the dissolving chamber to the discharge chamber.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the discharge chamber further includes discharge means for controlling the flow of water back into the flow loop through the outlet port.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the dissolving chamber supports the soluble material chamber and the discharge chamber supports the dissolving chamber.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the soluble material chamber further comprises a perforated bottom through which water in the dissolving container can pass to contact the soluble material.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the perforated bottom supports the soluble material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the control means is further vertically adjustable to a plurality of heights to control the level of water in the dissolving chamber such that raising the control means increases the level of water and lowering the control means decreases the level of water in the dissolving chamber.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the control means further comprises a siphon tube to permit water to flow from the dissolving chamber to the discharge chamber when the selected water level in the dissolving chamber corresponds to the height of the control means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the siphon tube is further concavely curved.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the control means is further connected to vertically extendable flow means of a size wider in diameter than the siphon tube.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the vertically extendable flow means is bellows connected on a first upper end to the siphon tube and on a second lower end to the dissolving chamber via an inlet connection connected to the flow loop.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the bellows are removable.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the soluble material chamber is tapered having a top and the perforated bottom, the top being narrower to prevent bridging of soluble material above the perforated bottom.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow loop connecting to the inlet connection on the dissolving chamber has a flow indicator connected thereto.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow loop connecting to the inlet connection has a prefilter attached thereto.

15. Apparatus for dissolving and dispensing soluble material for the sanitizing of a body of water in flow communication with the body of water via a flow loop comprising in combination:

(a) a soluble material chamber for retaining the soluble material at a first level;

(b) a dissolving chamber positioned below and supporting the soluble material chamber connected to the flow loop of water to receive water thereinto, the soluble material chamber being contactable with the water in the dissolving chamber to periodically immerse at least a portion of the soluble material in water in the dissolving chamber;

(c) a discharge chamber below and supporting the dissolving chamber and connected thereto for the periodic flow of water thereinto from the dissolving chamber to empty water from the dissolving chamber to a level below the first level for the soluble material in the soluble material chamber, the discharge chamber being connected to the flow loop of water to permit the water to selectively flow back thereinto via an outlet port with the dissolved soluble material;

(d) control means for controlling the level of water that flows into the dissolving chamber and connected in flow communication with the dissolving chamber and the discharge chamber to periodically permit the flow of water from the dissolving chamber to the discharge chamber; and

(e) discharge means for controlling the flow of water back into the flow loop through the outlet port including a float valve effective upon discharge of a predetermined quantity of water into the discharge chamber to permit water to flow into the outlet port and into the flow loop.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the discharge chamber has overflow means to stop the flow of water into the dissolving chamber from the flow loop when the water inn the discharge chamber reaches a predetermined level.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the overflow means further comprises a float valve connected to the flow loop and effective to stop the flow of water into the dissolving chamber when the water in the discharge chamber reaches the predetermined level.

18. Apparatus for dissolving and dispensing soluble material for the sanitizing of a body of water in flow communication with the body of water via a flow loop having an inlet and an outlet to the apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) a soluble material chamber having a perforated bottom for retaining and supporting the soluble material and permitting water to pass through to contact the soluble material;

(b) a dissolving chamber positioned below and supporting the soluble material chamber connected via the inlet to the flow loop of water to receive water thereinto, the soluble material chamber extending down inside the dissolving chamber contactable with the water in the dissolving chamber; and

(c) control means for controlling the level of water that flows into the dissolving chamber and connected in flow communication to the dissolving chamber and the discharge chamber, the control means further being vertically adjustable to a plurality of heights to control the level of water in the dissolving chamber by raising or lowering to increase or decrease, respectively, the level of water in the dissolving chamber, the control means further comprising a siphon tube through which water flows from the dissolving chamber when the water level in the dissolving chamber corresponds to the height of control means.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the siphon tube is further concavely curved.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the control means is further connected to vertically extendable flow means of a size wider in diameter than the siphon tube.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the vertically extendable flow means comprises bellows connected on a first upper end to the siphon tube and on a second lower and to the dissolving chamber via an inlet connection connected to the flow loop.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the bellows are removable.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the soluble material chamber is tapered having a top and the perforated bottom, the top being narrower to prevent bridging of soluble material above the perforated bottom.

24. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the flow loop connecting to the inlet connection on the dissolving chamber has a flow indicator connected thereto.

25. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the flow loop connecting to the inlet connection has a prefilter attached thereto.

26. The apparatus according to claim 18 further including a discharge chamber below and supporting the dissolving chamber and connected thereto for the selective flow of water thereinto, the discharge chamber being connected to the flow loop of water to permit the water with the dissolved soluble material to selectively flow back into the outlet via an outlet port.