Spa halogen generator and method of operating
First Claim
1. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water of a water feature, said generator comprising a cathode and an anode which are spaced apart from each other within a housing, said cathode and anode having planar shapes, and a least one vane positioned between said cathode and anode, said vane and said cathode being supported to rotate relative to each other with said vane being sufficiently closely spaced to said cathode to inhibit scale formation on said cathode but not contacting said cathode, said vane adapted for rotation about an axis which is normal to the plane of said cathode.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A halogen generator produces a halogen sanitizing agent to sanitize water in a spa or other water feature. A coaxial wall fitting desirably couples the halogen generator to the water feature. The halogen generator desirably includes a bipolar electrolytic cell in which a center electrode plate rotates between stationary anode and cathode plates. The bipolar electrode includes a plurality of vanes which motivate water flow between the anode and the cathode. The vanes on the rotating electrode also produce a flow of water through the generator. In this manner, the bipolar electrode functions as a impeller to pump water through the halogen generator. The vanes are positioned between the electrode and cathode, and are sufficiently spaced from the cathode to inhibit scale formation on the cathode. The vanes, however, generally do not contact the cathode when rotating. The rotational direction of the electrode relative to the cathode may be reversed periodically and/or the gap spacing between electrode and the cathode may be decreased periodically to enhance removal of scale.
180 Citations
69 Claims
- 1. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water of a water feature, said generator comprising a cathode and an anode which are spaced apart from each other within a housing, said cathode and anode having planar shapes, and a least one vane positioned between said cathode and anode, said vane and said cathode being supported to rotate relative to each other with said vane being sufficiently closely spaced to said cathode to inhibit scale formation on said cathode but not contacting said cathode, said vane adapted for rotation about an axis which is normal to the plane of said cathode.
- 16. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water of a water feature, said generator comprising a cathode and an anode which are spaced apart from each other within a housing, and an impeller positioned between said anode and said cathode and mounted to rotate relative to said anode and said cathode, said impeller adapted to rotate in a first rotational direction relative to said cathode and in an opposite second rotational direction relative to said cathode, said impeller carrying at least one vane being supported to rotate relative to said cathode while being sufficiently closely spaced to said cathode to inhibit scale formation on said cathode but generally not contacting said cathode.
- 18. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water of a water feature, said generator comprising a cathode and an anode which are spaced apart from each other within a housing, and an impeller positioned between said anode and said cathode and mounted to rotate relative to said anode and said cathode, said impeller comprising a first electrode surface facing said cathode and a second electrode surface facing said anode, said first and second electrode surfaces electrically communicating with each other, said impeller carrying at least one vane being supported on said first side of said electrode plate to rotate relative to said cathode while being sufficiently closely spaced to said cathode to inhibit scale formation on said cathode but generally not contacting said cathode.
- 23. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water of a water feature, said generator comprising a cathode and an anode which are spaced apart from each other within a housing, and an impeller positioned between said anode and said cathode and mounted to rotate relative to said anode and said cathode, said impeller carrying at least one vane being supported to rotate relative to said cathode while being sufficiently closely spaced to said cathode to inhibit scale formation on said cathode but generally not contacting said cathode, said cathode being movable with respect to said impeller between a first position, in which said cathode is spaced from said impeller by a first distance, and a second position, in which said cathode is spaced from said impeller by a second distance, said first distance being greater than said second distance.
- 29. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water of a water feature, said generator comprising a cathode and an anode which are spaced apart from each other within a housing, and a least one vane positioned between said cathode and anode, said vane and said cathode being supported to rotate relative to each other with said vane being sufficiently closely spaced to said cathode to inhibit scale formation on said cathode but generally not contacting said cathode, said vane being attached to said anode.
- 31. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water feature, said halogen generator comprising a bipolar cell including at least one electrode positioned between an outer anode and outer cathode, said electrode being mounted to rotate relative to said anode and said cathode and being spaced from said cathode by a distance generally not greater than 0.15 inch so as to inhibit scale formation on said cathode without contacting said cathode, and a source of electricity connected to said anode and said cathode without connection to said rotary electrode.
- 46. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water of a water feature, said halogen generator comprising a bipolar cell including at least one electrode positioned between an outer anode and outer cathode, said electrode being mounted to rotate relative to said anode and said cathode, and a source of electricity connected to said anode and said cathode without connection to said rotary electrode, wherein said electrode includes a plurality of vanes which face said cathode, said vanes being configured to circulate water between said electrode and said anode and cathode.
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55. A method of operating a halogen generator having an electrolytic cell mounted in a water circulation line of a water feature, said method involving the steps of:
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producing a flow of water within the water circulation line and across a sensor; sensing the ionic potential of the water within the water circulation line; determining whether said sensed ionic potential is below a desired preset ionic potential level; generating an activation signal if said sensed ionic potential is less than said preset ionic potential level; energizing said electrolytic cell in response to said activation signal; and producing a water flow through said electrolytic cell while said electrolytic cell is energized. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59)
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- 60. A halogen generator for producing a halogen sanitizing agent in a body of water of a water feature, said generator comprising a first electrode and an impeller which have generally parallel, opposing surfaces, said impeller being rotatable to motivate water flow between said electrode and said impeller, and being sufficiently closely spaced to said electrode to inhibit scale formation on said electrode without contacting said electrode, said surface of said impeller lying generally parallel to said surface of said electrode as said impeller rotates relative to said electrode.
Specification