Self regulating pool heater unit

• US 6,109,050 A
• Filed: 09/22/1998
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems Incorporated (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: John M. Zakryk
• Inventors: Zakryk, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIANG, CHEN WEN
• Application Number:
  US09/159,074
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 62/238.6, 62/238.7, 4/493, 165/38
• US Class Current: 62/238.6
• 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

To be used with a pool assembly of the type including a swimming pool, and a pool pump, a self regulating pool heater unit having a refrigeration unit structured and disposed to emit heat in order to heat a quantity of water cycled therethrough by the pool pump. Further, a power source is included and connected to the refrigeration unit, and to the pool pump through a timer. The timer has an on mode which sets a predetermined time period during which the power supplied by the power source flows therethrough to the pool pump so that it will function, and an off mode wherein no power flows through the timer to the pool pump. Additionally, an automatic timer bypass is included and connected in line between the power source and the pool pump. The automatic timer bypass is switchable between a bypass position and a normal position, the bypass position being defined by power flowing through the automatic timer bypass so as to bypass the timer, if it is not in the on mode, thereby ensuring that power flows to the pool pump regardless of the mode of the timer. Conversely, the normal position of the automatic timer bypass allows power to flow to the pump only through the timer. Further, the unit is structured to indicate when any of a number of defined hazardous operating conditions are present and prevent operation if the refrigeration unit.

Claims

1. To be used with a pool assembly of the type including at least one pool pump, and at least a swimming pool, a self regulating pool heater unit comprising:

a power source,

a refrigeration unit, said refrigeration unit structured and disposed to heat a quantity of fluid,

a timer operatively associated with at least said pool pump, said timer including an on mode wherein said pool pump cycles the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit, and an off mode wherein said pool pump does not cycle the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit,

an automatic timer bypass operatively associated with said timer and at least said pool pump,

said automatic timer bypass including a bypass switching control, said bypass switching control being positionable between a bypass position and a normal position,

said bypass position of said bypass switching control of said automatic timer bypass being defined by operation of said pool pump to cycle the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit for heating thereof regardless of the mode of said timer,

said normal position of said bypass switching control of said automatic timer bypass being defined by said pool pump cycling the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit for heating thereof only when said timer is in said on mode, and

power supplied by said power source to said pool pump structured to flow through said timer, said timer being structured to prevent the power from reaching the pool pump and causing operation thereof when said timer is in said off mode and said bypass switching control is in said normal position.

2. A self regulating pool heater unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said refrigeration unit further includes:

a fluid temperature sensor structured and disposed to periodically sample said quantity of fluid cycled to said refrigeration unit so as to identify a fluid temperature thereof,

said water temperature sensor being adjustably set to identify a desired fluid temperature,

a first controller operatively associated with said water temperature sensor and including an engaged mode and a disengaged mode, said engaged mode of said first controller being defined by the fluid temperature of said fluid remaining below said desired fluid temperature, and said disengaged mode being defined by said fluid temperature of said fluid being at least equal said desired fluid temperature, and

said disengaged mode of said first controller preventing operation of said refrigeration unit.

3. A self regulating pool heater unit as recited in claim 2 wherein said refrigeration unit further includes:

a fluid flow detector structured and disposed to determine a rate of fluid flow to said refrigeration unit,

a second controller connected with said fluid flow detector and including an engaged mode and a disengaged mode, said second controller being in said engaged mode while the rate of fluid flow detected by said fluid flow detector is at least a predetermined minimum flow rate, and being in said disengaged mode while said rate of fluid flow detected by said fluid flow detector is below said predetermined minimum flow rate, and

said disengaged mode of said second controller preventing operation of said refrigeration unit.

4. A self regulating pool heater unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said refrigeration unit further includes:

an ambient temperature thermostat structured and disposed to measure a temperature of air being drawn into said refrigeration unit,

a third controller connected with said ambient temperature thermostat and including an engaged mode and a disengaged mode, said third controller being normally in said engaged mode while the air temperature detected by said ambient temperature thermostat is at least a predetermined minimum ambient air temperature, and being in said disengaged mode while said air temperature detected by said ambient temperature thermostat is below said predetermined minimum ambient air temperature, and

said disengaged mode of said third controller preventing operation of said refrigeration unit.

5. A self regulating pool heater unit as recited in claim 4 wherein said refrigeration unit further includes:

a refrigerant pressure sensor structured and disposed to measure a pressure of a refrigerant contained for use by said refrigeration unit,

a fourth controller connected with said refrigerant pressure sensor and including an engaged mode and a disengaged mode, said fourth controller being normally in said engaged mode while the refrigerant pressure detected by said refrigerant pressure sensor is at least a predetermined minimum refrigerant pressure, and being in said disengaged mode while said refrigerant pressure detected by said refrigerant pressure sensor is below said predetermined minimum refrigerant pressure,

said disengaged mode of said fourth controller preventing operation of said refrigeration unit,

a fifth controller connected with said refrigerant pressure sensor and including an engaged mode and a disengaged mode, said fifth controller being normally in said engaged mode while the refrigerant pressure detected by said refrigerant pressure sensor is at or below a predetermined maximum refrigerant pressure, and being in said disengaged mode when said refrigerant pressure detected by said refrigerant pressure sensor is above said predetermined maximum refrigerant pressure, and

said disengaged mode of said fifth controller preventing operation of said refrigeration unit.

6. To be used with a pool assembly of the type including at least one pool pump, and at least a swimming pool and a spa, a self-regulating pool heater unit comprising:

a power source,

a refrigeration unit, said refrigeration unit structured and disposed to heat a quantity of fluid,

a timer operatively associated with at least said pool pump, said timer including an on mode wherein said pool pump cycles the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit, and an off mode wherein said pool pump does not cycle the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit,

a mode switching assembly structured to switch the self-regulating pool heater unit between a pool mode and a spa mode,

an autovalve positioning assembly structured and disposed to cycle the quantity of fluid only through the spa of the pool assembly when said mode switching assembly is in said spa mode, and to at least partially cycle the quantity of fluid into the swimming pool of the pool assembly when said mode switching assembly is in said pool mode, and

an automatic timer bypass operatively associated with at least said pool pump.

7. A self-regulating pool heater unit as recited in claim 6 wherein said automatic timer bypass includes bypass switching control positionable between a bypass position and a normal position.

8. A self-regulating pool heater unit as recited in claim 7 wherein said bypass position of said bypass switching control of said automatic timer bypass is defined by operation of said pool pump to cycle the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit for heating thereof regardless of the mode of said timer, and

said normal position of said bypass switching control of said automatic timer bypass is defined by said pool pump cycling the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit for heating thereof only when said timer is in said on mode.

9. A self regulating pool heater unit as recited in claim 8 wherein said spa mode of said mode switching assembly includes activation of at least said pool pump regardless of said mode of said timer and said position of said bypass switching assembly of said automatic timer bypass, and said pool mode includes activation of at least said pool pump only when said timer is in said on mode or when said bypass switching assembly of said automatic timer bypass is in said bypass position.

10. To be used with a pool assembly of the type including at least one pool pump, and at least a swimming pool, a self regulating pool heater unit comprising:

a power source,

a refrigeration unit, said refrigeration unit structured and disposed to heat a quantity of fluid,

a timer operatively associated with at least said pool pump, said timer including an on mode wherein said pool pump cycles the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit, and an off mode wherein said pool pump does not cycle the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit,

an automatic timer bypass operatively associated with said timer and at least said pool pump,

said automatic timer bypass including a bypass switching control, said bypass switching control being positionable between a bypass position and a normal position,

said bypass position of said bypass switching control of said automatic timer bypass being defined by operation of said pool pump to cycle the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit for heating thereof regardless of the mode of said timer,

said normal position of said bypass switching control of said automatic timer bypass being defined by said pool pump cycling the quantity of fluid to said refrigeration unit for heating thereof only when said timer is in said on mode; and

said refrigeration unit further including;

an ambient temperature thermostat structured and disposed to measure a temperature of air being drawn into said refrigeration unit,

a controller connected with said ambient temperature thermostat and including an engaged mode and a disengaged mode, said controller being normally in said engaged mode while the air temperature detected by said ambient temperature thermostat is at least a predetermined minimum ambient air temperature, and being in said disengaged mode while said air temperature detected by said ambient temperature thermostat is below said predetermined minimum ambient air temperature, and

said disengaged mode of said controller preventing operation of said refrigeration unit.