Timing of spa water treatment

• US 6,444,129 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Softub, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Softub, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoey, Betsey Morrison
• Application Number:
  US09/780,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20020108913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 210/739, 210/742, 210/764, 210/765, 210/138, 210/143, 210/167, 210/169, 210/194, 210/416.2
• US Class Current: 210/739
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/02 by heating methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4606 for producing oligodynamic substances to disinfect the water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/50 by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/505 by oligodynamic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/76 with halogens or compounds of halogens C02F1/4674 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/001 Upstream control, i.e. monitoring for predictive control
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/44 Time
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/046 Recirculation with an external loop

Abstract

A method of controlling the operation of a spa water treating system, where such treating is selected from the group:

iv) water filtration

v) water sanitizing

vi) water heating

and that includes the steps:

a) determining a desired water treating time interval as a function of timing of spa water prior treating interval, or usage,

b) and treating the spa water as a function of said determined time interval.

Claims

1. The method of controlling the operation of a spa water treating system, where such treating is selected from the group:

i) water filtration

ii) water sanitizing

iii) water heating

and that includes the steps;

a) determining a desired water treating time interval as a function of timing of spa water prior treating interval, or usage,

b) and treating the spa water as a function of said determined time interval, and including activating and deactivating said treating on a cyclic basis and controlling said activating and deactivating by comparing said interval with the elapsed operating time of related equipment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said treating comprises active water filtration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said treating comprises active water sanitizing.

4. In operation of a spa or hot tub, the steps that include

a) establishing filtering cycles,

b) heating the spa water during a heating interval,

c) using the heating interval to modify the duration of one or more of said filtering cycles,

d) said modifying being activated and deactivated on a cyclic basis and being controlled by comparing the heating interval with a prior heating interval.

5. The method of controlling the operation of a water body treating system, where such treating is selected from the group:

i) water filtration

ii) water sanitizing

iii) water heating

and that includes the steps;

a) determining a desired water treating time interval as a function of timing of body water prior treating interval, or usage,

b) and treating the body water as a function of said determined time interval,

c) said treating being activated and deactivated on a cyclic basis, and said activating and deactivating being controlled by comparing said treating time interval with said prior treating interval.

6. A method of controlling the operation of the filtration system of a spa or other body of fluid, said system including filtration components, said method including, activating and deactivating the filtration system components, on a cyclic basis and controlling the timing of said activating and deactivating by comparing such timing with the elapsed time of operation of related equipment which also incorporates filtration, whereby a required filtration requirement is met while eliminating or reducing need for a subsequent filtration cycle.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said related equipment includes a fluid heater.

8. A method of controlling the operation of the sanitation system of a spa or other body of fluid said system including sanitizing components, said method including, activating and deactivating of the sanitation system components on a cyclic basis, and controlling the timing of said activating and deactivating by comparing such timing with an elapsed time of operation of related equipment which also incorporates filtration, whereby the system meets required sanitation requirements while also eliminating or reducing need for a subsequent sanitation effecting step.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said related equipment includes a fluid heater.

10. The method of reducing pump water energy requirement, in a spa water circulation system, wherein the water pump is programmed to operate during timewise spaced cyclic intervals A₁ and A₂ to effect water filtration by a filter during such intervals, and wherein a water heater is operable for a time interval B to heat the water being circulated and filtered and in response to a drop in spa water temperature, the steps that include

a) determining said intervals A₁, A₂ and B, and

b) reducing or eliminating said cyclic interval A₂ as a function of duration of said time interval B.