Swimming pool control system

• US 5,730,861 A
• Filed: 05/06/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian D. Kinports, Cosgrove, Patrick J., Jeff Godsted, Peter M. Sterghos, Sodeika, John A.
• Original Assignee: Brian D. Kinports, Cosgrove, Patrick J., Jeff Godsted, Peter M. Sterghos, Sodeika, John A.
• Inventors: Sodeika, John A., Cosgrove, Patrick J., Godsted, Jeff, Kinports, Brian D., Sterghos, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US08/642,876
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 210/86, 210/90, 210/104, 210/108, 210/121, 210/123, 210/126, 210/127, 210/128, 210/134, 210/141, 210/143, 210/169, 210/275, 210/278, 210/416.2, 210/425, 210/426, 210/427, 137/554, 137/625.29, 137/628.46, 4/490, 4/508
• US Class Current: 210/86
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/00 Separation of liquids, not provided for elsewhere, e.g. by thermal diffusion devices for separating or removing fatty or oily substances or similar floating material from water, waste water, or sewage C02F1/40; cleaning or keeping clear the surface of open water from oil or like materials E02B15/04; arrangements for separating lubricants from refrigerants F25B43/02
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0208 by sedimentation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0214 with removal of one of the phases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/10 with stationary filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/12 Auxiliary equipment particularly adapted for use with liquid-separating apparatus, e.g. control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0006 Settling tanks provided with means for cleaning and maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0012 Settling tanks making use of filters, e.g. by floating layers of particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0018 provided with a pump mounted in or on a settling tank
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0024 Inlets or outlets provided with regulating devices, e.g. valves, flaps B01D21/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/009 Heating or cooling mechanisms specially adapted for settling tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/2405 Feed mechanisms for settling tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/2433 Discharge mechanisms for floating particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/2444 Discharge mechanisms for the classified liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/302 Active control mechanisms with external energy, e.g. with solenoid valve
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/34 Controlling the feed distribution; Controlling the liquid level ; Control of process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/12 Devices or arrangements for circulating water , i.e. devices for removal of polluted water, cleaning baths or for water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/74 for sensing changes in level only at discrete points
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86863 Rotary valve unit

Abstract

A swimming pool control system automatically controls the daily maintenance functions of a swimming pool. The control system actively monitors system conditions, makes adjustments for abnormal conditions, and provides remote feedback of system problems during its daily cycle. In addition, the control system provides operator assisted manual override operation and control of additional auxiliary equipment. The system includes a novel filter valve, a novel water level system and a novel suction valve that can be run and monitored non-manually by a digital controller.

Claims

1. An automated pool maintenance system for use with a water supply line, a water waste line, a pool fill line, and a pool drain line, comprising:

a pump for fluid communication with said pool drain line;

a filter having a filter input port and a filter output port;

a multi-port valve body having,

a first port for fluid communication with the filter input port,

a second port for fluid communication with the filter output port,

a third port for fluid communication with the water waste line, and

a fourth port for fluid communication with the pool fill line,

an actuator connected to the multi-port valve body to control fluid connection between said valve body ports, the actuator including;

a rotor arranged adjacent to the valve body, and having a high pressure input for fluid communication with the pump and also having a low pressure output, and rotating relative to the valve body to select a fluid flow condition originating at at least a first selected port of the valve body and continuing through at least a second selected port of the valve body by aligning the high pressure input to the first selected port and the low pressure output to the second selected port;

a biasing mechanism applying a force on said rotor tending to disengage the rotor away from the valve body;

a solenoid which, when energized, applies a counter force on said rotor in a direction counter to said force of the biasing mechanism, whereby the rotor moves into an engaged position with said valve body when the solenoid is energized and into an disengaged position with said valve body when the solenoid is de-energized;

a motor to rotate the rotor when the rotor is in the disengaged position;

a water level sensor for fluid communication with the pool drain line to sense the pool water level,

a pressure sensor for fluid communication with the pump and high pressure input of the rotor to sense the pressure of fluid output by the pump;

an electronically controlled valve regulating fluid flow from the water supply line to the pool fill line; and

an electronic controller for electrical connection to the pump, the solenoid, the electronically controlled valve, the motor, the water level sensor, and the pressure sensor, whereby the electronic controller automatically;

filters pool water by activating the actuator to align the high pressure input of the rotor to the first port of the valve body and to align the low pressure output of the rotor to the second and fourth ports of the valve body, and then activating the pump;

recognizes a high pressure condition from the pressure sensor, and backflushes the filter by activating the actuator to align the high pressure input of the rotor to the second port of the valve body and to align the low pressure output of the rotor to the first and third ports of the valve body, and then activating the pump;

recognizes an overfull condition from the water level sensor, and wastes pool water by activating the actuator to align the high pressure input of the rotor to the third port of the valve body, and then activating the pump; and

recognizes an underfull condition from the water level sensor, and fills the pool with water from the water supply line by activating the electronically controlled valve.

2. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 1, whereby the multiport valve body includes:

a fifth port also for fluid communication with the filter input port, and

the electronic controller also automatically;

rinses the multiport valve body, after the controller backflushes the filter, by activating the actuator to align the high pressure input of the rotor to the fifth port of the valve body and to align the low pressure output of the rotor to the second and third ports of the valve body.

3. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 2, whereby, the multiport valve body includes:

a sixth port closed to fluid flow, and

the electronic controller also automatically;

closes the valve body ports by activating the actuator to align the high pressure input of the rotor to the sixth port of the valve body.

4. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 1, whereby the electronic controller also automatically recirculates by activating the actuator to align the high pressure input of the rotor to the fourth port of the valve body.

5. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 1, whereby the water level sensor includes a chamber defining a fluid space, located remotely from the pool and at a vertical level at which a preferred pool water level is equi-positioned within the fluid space in the chamber,

the chamber having an upper chamber region and a lower chamber region in fluid communication with each other, the lower chamber region having:

a chamber port in fluid communication with the pool drain line and

a floating plug that restricts fluid flow from the lower chamber region to the drain line when the water substantially empties from the lower chamber region.

6. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 5, wherein the upper chamber region has a minimum water level sensor and a maximum water level sensor to respectively determine when the fluid within the upper chamber region exceeds a maximum water level and falls below a minimum water level.

7. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 6, wherein:

the lower chamber region includes an inverted frusto-conical chamber connected to the chamber port, and

the plug is a floating ball having a diameter greater than the chamber port.

8. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 6, wherein the lower chamber region further includes a ball retainer plate separating the lower chamber region from the upper chamber region and having perforations large enough to pass pool water between the lower chamber region and the upper chamber region but small enough to prevent the plug from passing from the lower chamber region into the upper chamber region.

9. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 1, further including a suction valve for connection between said pump and said pool drain line, the suction valve including:

a housing,

a pool line for connecting the pool drain line,

a suction line for connecting the pump,

a bellows inside the housing for connecting the suction line to the pool line, and

a tube and solenoid valve for fluidly connecting the housing to the suction line, the solenoid valve also for fluidly connecting an external fluid source.

10. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 9, wherein the external fluid source is an air source.

11. A multiport valve controlled by an electronic controller, and for use with a water waste line, a pool fill line, a pool drain line, a filter output line, and a filter input line, comprising:

a valve body having a plurality of ports for fluid communication with corresponding ones of the filter input and output lines, water waste line, pool fill line, and pool drain line;

a rotor arranged adjacent to the valve body, having an input rotor port and an output rotor port rotatable relative to the valve body to select a fluid flow condition between a first selected port and a second selected port by aligning the input rotor port to the first selected port and the output rotor port to the second selected port;

a biasing mechanism connected to the rotor and applying a force to the rotor;

a solenoid, in electronic communication with the controller, to counter-force the rotor against the force of the biasing mechanism;

a drive mechanism, in electronic communication with the controller, engaged with the rotor to rotate the rotor;

a location disk rotating with the rotor and having at least one position indicator in a predetermined position of relationship with the rotor input and output ports; and

a location sensor in electronic communication with the controller to sense the position indicator of the location disk and further comprising at least one of a water level sensor and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the port corresponding to the pool drain line.

12. A multiport valve according to claim 11, further including a shaft engaged with the location disk and the drive mechanism, and engaged with the rotor when the solenoid forces the rotor against the force of the biasing mechanism.

13. A multiport valve according to claim 12, further including a coupler between the shaft and the location disk that permits the shaft to move axially but not rotationally relative to the location disk.

14. A multiport valve according to claim 11, wherein the indicator is in the location disk and the location sensor is an optical sensor.

15. A multiport valve according to claim 11, further including multiple indicators formed as slots arranged around the location disk, one of said multiple indicators formed as two closely spaced slots, and wherein the location sensor is a pair of similarly closely spaced optical sensors.

16. A multiport valve according to claim 11, in which the fluid flow condition between the first selected port and the second selected port occurs from said first selected port through the filter and thereafter into said second selected port.

17. An automated pool maintenance system comprising:

a multi-port valve body having,

a first port,

a second port,

a third port, and

a fourth port,

an actuator connected to the multi-port valve body to control fluid connection between said valve body ports, the actuator including;

a rotor arranged adjacent to the valve body, and having a high pressure input and also having a low pressure output, and rotating relative to the valve body to select a fluid flow condition originating at at least a first selected port of the valve body and continuing through at least a second selected port of the valve body by aligning the high pressure input to the first selected port and the low pressure output to the second selected port;

a biasing mechanism applying a force on said rotor tending to disengage the rotor away from the valve body;

a solenoid which, when energized, applies a counter force on said rotor in a direction counter to said force of the biasing mechanism, whereby the rotor moves into an engaged position with said valve body when the solenoid is energized and into a disengaged position with said valve body when the solenoid is de-energized; and

further comprising at least one of a water level sensor and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with one of said ports

a motor to rotate the rotor when the rotor is in the disengaged position;

an electronic controller electrically connected to the solenoid, the motor, and the at least one sensor, to automatically rotate the rotor relative to the valve body to select the fluid flow condition originating at at least the first selected port of the valve body and continuing through at least the second selected port of the valve body.

18. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 17, whereby the multiport valve body includes:

fifth and sixth ports.

19. An automated pool maintenance system according to claim 18, whereby

the sixth port is closed to fluid flow, and

the electronic controller automatically closes the valve body ports by activating the actuator to align the high pressure input of the rotor to the sixth port of the valve body.