Auto switching swimming pool/spa heater system

• US 5,415,221 A
• Filed: 12/09/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jandy Pool Products, Inc. (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: John M. Zakryk
• Inventors: Zakryk, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US08/164,469
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 165/38, 165/47, 165/108, 4/489, 4/493, 4/509
• US Class Current: 165/283
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/129 Systems for heating the water content of swimming pools solar collectors using pools F24S10/17, F24S10/10; by solar radiation F24S20/02

Abstract

An auto switching swimming pool/spa heater system, to be utilized with a pool and a spa, including a pool pump, a spa pump, and a single heater unit, the heater unit adapted to receive water flow from the pool pump and spa pump into an internal pool/spa flow control apparatus which directs water received from both the pool pump and the spa pump through a coiled heat exchange conduit of the heater unit, for subsequent heating thereof. The flow control apparatus including a bypass conduit with a spring loaded flow regulator valve therein adapted to enable water to bypass the heat exchange conduit upon an increase pressure build up of water directed towards the heat exchange conduit, water exiting the bypass conduit and water exiting the heat exchange conduit being directed through a single water outlet of the heater unit into the spa where heated water overflow passes from the spa into the pool, accordingly heating the pool. Further, the heater system includes a flow switch adapted to be triggered by water exiting the spa pump, the flow switch automatically shutting off the pool pump while spa water is being pumped therethrough.

Claims

1. To be used with a pool and a spa combination, the pool and the spa each including a drain therein and being disposed with relation to one another such that excess water in the spa overflows into the pool;

an auto switching swimming pool/spa heater system comprising;

a heater unit, said heater unit including a spa water intake, a pool water intake, a water outlet, and a coiled heat exchange conduit,

said heat exchange conduit being structured and disposed to enable the passage of water through said heater unit for heating thereof by said heater unit,

a pool pump structured and disposed to draw water from the pool,

a pool drainage conduit connected between said pool pump and the pool drain such that water drawn from the pool by said pool pump passes therethrough into said pool pump,

a pool/heater junction,

a pool pump outlet conduit disposed between said pool pump and said pool/heater junction such that water exiting said pool pump passes therethrough into said pool/heater junction,

said pool/heater junction including a pump inlet, a pool outlet, a heater outlet, and a flow control valve,

said flow control valve being structured and disposed to regulate a proportion of water exiting said pool/heater junction through said pool outlet and said heater outlet,

a pool inlet conduit disposed between said pool outlet of said pool/heater junction and the pool so as to direct water exiting said pool/heater junction therethrough into the pool,

a heater inlet conduit disposed between said heater outlet of said pool/heater junction and said pool water intake of said heater unit so as to direct water exiting said pool/heater junction therethrough into said pool water intake of said heater unit,

a spa pump structured and disposed to draw water from the spa,

a spa drainage conduit connected between said spa pump and the spa drain such that water drawn from the spa by said spa pump passes therethrough into said spa pump,

a spa pump outlet conduit disposed between said spa pump and said spa water intake of said heater unit such that water exiting said spa pump passes therethrough into said spa water intake of said heater unit,

said spa pump outlet conduit including a flow switch therein, said flow switch being structured and disposed detect water flow through said spa pump outlet conduit and turn off said pool pump upon detection of the water flow,

said spa water intake and said pool water intake of said heater unit each including a one-way valve therein such that water can only flow into said heater unit therethrough,

said heater unit further including an internal pool/spa flow control apparatus therein,

said flow control apparatus including a heater flow junction and a bypass conduit,

said heater flow junction including a water inlet structured and disposed to receive water from said spa water intake and said pool water intake,

said heater flow junction further including a bypass outlet and a heat exchange outlet, said bypass outlet being structured and disposed to direct water into said bypass conduit and said heat exchange outlet being structured and disposed to direct water into said heat exchange conduit,

said bypass conduit including a spring loaded flow regulator valve therein, said flow regulator valve being structured and disposed to prevent the passage of water through said bypass conduit until a water flow pressure build up within said heater flow junction forces said flow regulator valve open,

said bypass conduit and said heat exchange conduit being connected in fluid flow communication with said water outlet of said heater unit, and

a spa water return conduit disposed between said water outlet of said heater unit and the spa so as to direct water exiting said heater unit into the spa.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 including a flow switch bypass structured and disposed deactivate said flow switch such that both said spa pump and said pool pump may be on simultaneously.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 including a pool filter connected to said pool pump outlet conduit so as to filter water passing through said pool pump outlet conduit.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 including a spa filter connected to said spa pump outlet conduit so as to filter water passing through said spa pump outlet conduit.

5. A system as recited in claim 2 including a pool pump timer structured and disposed to turn said pool pump on during predetermined time periods.

6. A system as recited in claim 5 wherein said pool pump timer engages said flow switch bypass during said predetermined time period when said pool pump is on.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said spa pump includes an air switch structured and disposed to enable said spa pump to be turned on and off from a remote location.

8. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said spa pump includes a wireless remote structured and disposed to enable said spa pump to be turned on and off from a remote location.

9. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein said spa pump includes a wire remote structured and disposed to enable said spa pump to be turned on and off from a remote location.