Control circuit for delivering water and air to outlet jets in a water-filled pool

• US 5,898,958 A
• Filed: 10/27/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quad Cities Automatic Pools, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quad Cities Automatic Pools, Inc.
• Inventors: Hall, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/958,168
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 4/541.1, 4/541.2, 4/541.3, 4/541.4, 4/541.5, 4/538, 4/546, 4/557
• US Class Current: 4/541.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/10 Wave-producers or the like , e.g. with devices for admitting gas, e.g. air, in the bath-water baths with gas-containing liquids A61H33/02; for swimming-pools E04H4/0006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/601 Inlet to the bath

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control circuit for a whirlpool bath or pool. The control circuit is used to deliver water and/or air to outlet jets in a water-filled pool such as is typically used for hydrotherapy massage. The control circuit includes a pool with a water compartment, a plurality of air jets and water jets in the pool and in communication with the compartment. A water pump connects to the water jets. A rotary valve is interposed between the water pump and the water jets. The rotary valve can be rotationally operated to sequentially provide water to the water jets. Thus, a pattern or a wave can be established from the water jets. An air pump is also provided and connected to the air jets by a manifold and a three-way valve. The manifold is connected to the water jets by a plurality of conduits. Check valves are provided to prevent water from getting into the air system. The three-way valve allows air to be supplied and drawn into the water jets by venturi action.

Claims

1. A control circuit for selectively delivering water and air to outlet jets in a water-filled pool, comprising:

a pool having a water compartment;

a plurality of air jets and water jets in the pool and in communication with the compartment;

a water pump selectively connected to the water jets through a first pipe and a rotary valve having a plurality of radially spaced outlets corresponding to and being connected respectively to the water jets;

an air pump selectively connectable to the air jets and the water jets through a manifold including one portion connected to the air jets and another portion connected to the water jets; and

a selector valve being operatively interposed between the air pump and the portion of the manifold connected to the air jets and the another portion connected to the water jets;

the selector valve selectively providing connection of the air pump to only the air jets, to only the water jets, and to both the air jets and water jets simultaneously.

2. The control circuit of claim 1 further comprising an electronic controller connected to the water pump, the air pump, the rotary valve, and first and second switches operably associated with the rotary valve and the air pump respectively, whereby the pumps and the rotary valve can be independently operated and the rotary valve can be actuated by the first switch and thereby rotationally operated to sequentially provide water to the respective water jets through the corresponding outlets as the rotary valve rotates, and the second switch can be opened or closed to selectively supply air to the manifold.

3. The control circuit of claim 2 further comprising a control panel for operator input which is located adjacent the water compartment and operatively connected to the electronic controller, the first switch, and the second switch.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein a check valve is located in the manifold upstream of the air jets in order to prevent flow of fluid in a direction towards said air pump.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein a check valve is located between the water jets and the air pump in order to prevent flow of fluid in a direction towards said air pump.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein a plurality of conduits respectively connect the air pump to the water jets, each of the conduits including a check valve therein.

7. The control circuit of claim 1 wherein the selector valve is a three-way hand turnable valve.

8. A control circuit for delivering water and air to outlet jets in a water filled pool, comprising:

a pool having a water compartment;

a plurality of air jets and water jets in said pool and in communication with said compartment;

a water pump selectively connected to the water jets through a first pipe and a rotary valve having a plurality of radially spaced outlets corresponding to and being connected respectively to the water jets;

an air pump selectively connectable to the air jets and the water jets through a manifold including one end connected to the air jets and another end connected to the water jets;

a selector valve being operatively disposed between the air pump and the ends of the manifold for selectively connecting the air pump to only the air jets, to only the water jets, and to both the air jets and water jets simultaneously; and

control means for driving the air and water pumps and for depriving said pumps from electric power at preselected intervals of time to affect water turbulence in the water compartment adjacent the air and water jets.

9. The control circuit of claim 8 wherein the control means comprises a water-resistant air button located adjacent the water compartment and operably connected to a switch for selectively disconnecting the air pump from a source of electrical power.

10. The control circuit of claim 8 wherein the control means comprises an air button located adjacent the water compartment and connected to the air pump.

11. The control circuit of claim 8 wherein the control means comprises a switch connected to the rotary valve for selectively disconnecting the water pump from the water jets.

12. The control circuit of claim 8 wherein the control means comprises an air button located adjacent the water compartment and operably connected to a switch for selectively disconnecting the water pump from a source of electrical power.

13. The control circuit of claim 8 wherein the control means comprises an electronic microcontroller connected to a pool-side operator control panel located adjacent the water compartment and having a plurality of air buttons thereon, the air buttons being operably connected to first and second switches associated with the water pump and the air pump respectively and to the microcontroller, the microcontroller being connected the rotary valve, the water pump, the air pump.

14. The control circuit of claim 8 wherein each of the water jets has an outlet into the water compartment and the outlet is connectable to the air pump through the manifold and a conduit, the conduit being connected to the manifold and to the water jet adjacent to and upstream of the outlet so as to draw air in the conduit into the water jet by venturi action.