Pool monitor and controller

• US 6,003,164 A
• Filed: 07/31/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Homer G. Leaders
• Original Assignee: Homer G. Leaders
• Inventors: Leaders, Homer G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/127,878
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 4/507, 4/508, 4/509, 4/488, 4/493, 4/496, 210/169, 210/85, 210/142, 210/139
• US Class Current: 4/507
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1209 Treatment of water for swimming pools filters B01D

Abstract

A pool monitoring and control system is provided including a pool having a plurality of inputs and a plurality outputs. Also included is a pump for suctioning fluid from the outputs of the pool only during the activation thereof. A control assembly is connected between the pump and the pool. The control assembly includes at least one sensor adapted to generate an activation signal upon a parameter of the pool falling out of a predetermined range. Further, at least one dispenser is included for dispensing a parameter correction fluid upon the actuation thereof. In use, the control assembly, when the pump is activated, is adapted to actuate the dispenser if the activation signal is received.

Claims

1. A pool monitoring and control system comprising, in combination:

a pool having a plurality of peripheral inputs for receiving fluid to be dispensed within the pool and a plurality outputs including a peripheral output and a lower output for extracting fluid from the pool;

a strainer connected to the outputs of the pool for straining large debris from the fluid being extracted from the pool;

a first three-way valve connected between the outputs of the pool and the strainer for selectively allowing the flow of fluid to the strainer, the first three-way valve having a first orientation for allowing the flow of fluid to the strainer only from the peripheral output and a second orientation for allowing the flow of fluid to the strainer only from the lower output;

a pump connected to tile strainer for suctioning fluid from the outputs of the pool only during the activation thereof;

a filter connected to the pump for filtering small debris from the fluid being extracted from the pool;

a heater connected to an output of the filter for heating the fluid received therefrom only during the actuation thereof, the heater further having an output with a one-way check valve for only allowing the flow of fluid out of the heater;

a second three-way valve connected between the output of the filter and the one-way check valve, the second three-way valve having a first orientation for directing fluid from the filter only into the heater and a second orientation for bypassing the fluid from the filter around the heater;

a water level sensor mounted on the pool for generating a level activation signal upon a level of fluid within the pool dropping below a predetermined amount;

a control assembly including a tube with a U-shaped configuration having a first end connected between the second three-way valve and the one-way check valve of the heater, a second end connected to the inputs of the pool, a bypass valve mounted at the first end of the tube and further connected between the first end and second end with a first orientation for allowing the flow fluid between the first end and second end only through the tube and a second orientation for allowing the flow of fluid between the first end and second end only through a bypass conduit connected therebetween, a check valve situated at the second end of the tube, and a drain valve mounted on each end of the tube for selectively draining the tube, the tube further including a linear input extent and a linear output extent, wherein the tube further includes;

a chlorine assembly including a chlorine sensor mounted on the input extent of the tube for generating a chloroine activation signal upon the chlorine dropping below a predetermined amount and an associated chlorine dispenser mounted on the output extent of the tube for dispensing chlorine within the output extent of the tube during the actuation thereof,

an pH assembly including a pH sensor mounted on the input extent of the tube for generating a pH activation signal upon the pH dropping below a predetermined amount and an associated pH dispenser mounted on the output extent of the tube for dispensing pH correction fluid within tile output extent of the tube during the actuation thereof,

an alkalinity assembly including an alkalinity sensor mounted on the input extent of the tube for generating a alkalinity activation signal upon the alkalinity dropping below a predetermined amount and an associated alkalinity dispenser mounted on the output extent of the tube for dispensing alkalinity correction Fluid within the output extent of the tube during the actuation thereof,

a temperature sensor mounted on the input extent of the tube for generating a temperature activation signal upon the temperature dropping below a predetermined amount,

a water dispenser mounted on the bypass conduit of the tube for dispensing water within the inputs of the pool upon the actuation thereof, and

a control box constructed from a plastic material and mounted between the input extent and output extent of the tube, the control box including a controller connected to the pump, water lever sensor, temperature sensor, the sensors of each of the chlorine, alkalinity and pH assemblies and further connected to the water dispenser, heater and the dispensers of each of the chlorine, alkalinity and pH assemblies, the controller adapted to activate the pump for a predetermined amount of time each hour and, during activation of the pump, actuate the water dispenser for the predetermined amount of time upon the receipt of the activation signal from the water level sensor, actuate the heater for the predetermined amount of time upon the receipt of the activation signal from the temperature sensor, and actuate the dispensers of the chlorine, alkalinity and pH assemblies for the predetermined amount of time upon the receipt of the activation signals from the sensors of the chlorine, alkalinity and pH assemblies, respectively;

wherein upon the transmission of at least one of the activation signals from the chlorine, alkalinity and pH assemblies, the pump remains activated for a remainder of the hour;

wherein the controller is further connected to a modem and playback mechanism for dialing a predetermined number and playing back a message upon the receipt of the same activation signal in two subsequent hours.

2. A pool monitoring and control system comprising, in combination:

a pool having at least one input and at least one output;

a pump for suctioning fluid from the output of the pool only during the activation thereof; and

a control assembly connected between the pump and the pool and including at least one sensor adapted to generate an activation signal upon a parameter of the pool falling out of a predetermined range and at least one dispenser for dispensing a parameter correction fluid upon the actuation thereof, wherein the control assembly, when the pump is activated, actuates the dispenser if the activation signal is received, each sensor and dispenser is mounted on a U-shaped tube with the control assembly mounted therebetween.

3. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the parameter is chlorine.

4. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the parameter is alkalinity.

5. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the parameter is pH.

6. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pump is activated for an extended duration if the activation signal is received.

7. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each sensor and dispenser is mounted on a U-shaped tube which has a bypass conduit with a valve for selectively bypassing the fluid from the pump directly to the pool.

8. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the control assembly is further connected to a modem and playback mechanism for dialing a predetermined number and playing back a message upon the detection of a deviance in the parameter.

9. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the control assembly further controls a temperature of water in the pool.

10. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the control assembly further controls a water level of the pool.

11. A pool monitoring and control system comprising, in combination:

a pool having at least one input and at least one output;

a pump for suctioning fluid from the output of the pool only during the activation thereof; and

a control assembly connected between the pump and the pool and including at least one sensor adapted to generate an activation signal upon a parameter of the pool falling out of a predetermined range and at least one dispenser for dispensing a parameter correction fluid upon the actuation thereof, wherein the control assembly, when the pump is activated, actuates the dispenser if the activation signal is received, wherein the control assembly is further connected to a modem and playback mechanism for dialing a predetermined number and playing back a message upon the detection of a deviance in the parameter.

12. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the parameter is chlorine.

13. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the parameter is alkalinity.

14. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the parameter is pH.

15. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the pump is activated for an extended duration if the activation signal is received.

16. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein each sensor and dispenser is mounted on a U-shaped tube with the control assembly mounted therebetween.

17. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein each sensor and dispenser is mounted on a U-shaped tube which has a bypass conduit with a valve for selectively bypassing the fluid from the pump directly to the pool.

18. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the control assembly further controls a temperature of water in the pool.

19. The pool monitoring and control system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the control assembly further controls a water level of the pool.