Automatically controlled system for maintaining a swimming pool

• US 6,625,824 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apmi Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Apmi Holdings Limited
• Inventors: La Cock, Maynard Leslie, Lutz, Peter Gustav, Boshoff, Stephanus Hendrik Petrus, De Lange, Barend Jacobus
• Primary Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US09/889,469
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 450/7, 450/9, 210/86, 210/90, 210/106, 210/108, 210/134, 210/169, 137/625.2, 137/628, 137/625.21, 137/625.31
• US Class Current: 4/507
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/12 Devices or arrangements for circulating water , i.e. devices for removal of polluted water, cleaning baths or for water treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/074 with flat sealing faces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86638 Rotary valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86718 Dividing into parallel flow paths with recombining

Abstract

The electronically controlled system of the present invention includes a regulator for regulating the flow of water through selected conduits of a filtration system associated with the swimming pool. The regulator includes a rotatable selector (32) arranged in association with a valve housing (11) having a number of inlet and outlet ports; biasing member (37) for biasing the rotatable selector (32) into a seated position in the valve housing (11); and motor (39) operatively associated with the rotatable selector (32) and adapted to rotate the rotatable selector while it is in the seated position in the valve housing (11). The system further includes a control member (50) for automatically controlling the regulator in a predetermined manner wherein the control member includes a microprocessor. In addition, the system includes at least one sensor for sending at least one adjustable variable of the swimming pool water, the sensor being connected to the control member (50), and an adjustment member for adjusting such variable in response to a signal relayed from the sensor to the control member (50).

Claims

1. A multivalve unit for a water flow and filtration system of a swimming pool, the multivalve unit comprising

a valve housing having a number of inlet and outlet ports;

regulating means suitable for regulating the flow of water through selected conduits of the filtration system, the regulating means comprising

at least one sensor means located in the regulating means adapted for sensing at least one adjustable variable of the swimming pool water;

rotatable selector means arranged in association with the valve housing for independently opening and closing the inlet and outlet ports;

biasing means for biasing the rotatable selector means into a sealed position in the valve housing; and

motorized means operatively associated with the selector means and adapted to rotate the selector means;

wherein the arrangement being such that the selector means is rotated while it is in a seated position in the valve housing.

2. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the multivalve unit comprises control means for automatically controlling the regulating means in a predetermined manner wherein the control means comprises a microprocessor.

3. The multivalve unit according to claim 2 wherein the multivalve unit comprises a descaler for softening or decalcifying of the pool water, the descaler being located within a main housing of the regulating means and operable in conjunction with a pool pump, the arrangement being such that water flow through the multivalve unit, as indicated by water pressure, indicates a corresponding signal to be transmitted to the microprocessor, which in turn activates a pool ioniser and/or a pool descaler.

4. The multivalve unit according to claim 2 wherein the sensor means is connected to a control means, the control means automatically controlling the regulating means in a predetermined manner;

and adjustment means for adjusting such variable in response to a signal relayed from the sensor means to the control means.

5. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the sensor means is connected to a control means, the control means automatically controlling the regulating means in a predetermined manner;

and adjustment means for adjusting such variable in response to a signal relayed from the sensor means to the control means.

6. The multivalve unit according to claim 5 wherein the sensor means comprises first sensor means located in the regulating means and including

a rotatable positioning disc operatively associated with at least one positioning sensor and including a slotted peripheral skirt; and

a number of slotted photo-optical positioning sensors arranged in accordance with the inlet and outlet ports of the valve housing,

the arrangement being such that the slotted peripheral skirt of the positioning disc is rotatable through the slots of the photo-optical positioning sensors so as to indicate the position of a particular inlet or outlet port of the valve housing when a slot in the peripheral skirt of the positioning disc passes through a slot in one of the photo-optical positioning sensors.

7. The multivalve unit according to claim 6 wherein one end of the rotatable shaft protrudes above the first sensor means and comprises a lever arm extending from that end of the shaft, the lever arm enabling a user to override the electronic functioning of the motorized means so as to adjust the rotatable disc seal manually between various positions.

8. The multivalve unit according to claim 5 wherein the sensor means comprises pressure sensor means for sensing sand-filter pressure in the swimming pool, the pressure sensor means comprising a pressure nipple located within a main housing of the regulating means and arranged in communication with a pressure transducer, the pressure transducer being capable of transmitting a signal to a microprocessor of the control means in respect of the sand-filter pressure sensed.

9. The multivalve unit according to claim 8 wherein the pressure sensor means comprises an amplifier for amplifying a signal received from the pressure transducer before transmitting the same to the microprocessor, the microprocessor being programmed with a predetermined algorithm adapted to utilize the signal transmitted from the pressure transducer to control operation of the regulating means, the arrangement being such that a high-pressure value is indicative of a dirty sand-filter and consequently the need for executing a backwash function and a rinse function;

a low-pressure value is indicative of a clean sand-filter; and

a pressure of below 40 kPa is indicative of a blocked pool pump inlet, which generally results in a decrease in the overall water pressure in the system.

10. The multivalve unit according to claim 5 wherein the sensor means comprises a temperature sensor for sensing pool water temperature, the temperature sensor being locatable within a main housing of the regulating means and being at least partially submerged in the pool water.

11. The multivalve unit according to claim 5 wherein the microprocessor is preprogrammed with preferred values for one or more variables relating to maintenance of the swimming pool water, so that upon receiving a signal from the sensor means, the microprocessor analyzes and compares a received value with the preprogrammed value for the particular variable in question, in response to which the microprocessor activates a component of the multivalve unit.

12. The multivalve unit according to claim 11 wherein the microprocessor comprises

a timer wherein the timer serves as reference means for governing operation of the microprocessor;

display means for displaying information in respect of one or more of the variables, the display means including an alarm and indicating lights for indicating what function is being performed at a particular moment, and being embodied in a main cover of the main housing and

a keypad embodied in the main cover whereby a user may alter one or more of the preprogrammed values.

13. The multivalve unit according to claim 12 wherein the microprocessor is operable by means of a remote control unit whereby a user may override the automated function of the microprocessor so as manually to control operation of the regulating means of the multivalve unit, the remote control unit including display means and a keypad by means of which a user may manipulate the pool functions from a remote location.

14. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the selector means is a rotatable disc seal locatable in the valve housing, the rotatable disc seal being rotatable relative to the valve housing by means of a rotatable shaft extending vertically from the disc seal and attached to the motorized means.

15. The multivalve unit according to claim 14 wherein the rotatable disc seal comprises an elongate chamber and an aperture located radially opposite the elongate chamber.

16. The multivalve unit according to claim 14 wherein the regulating means further comprises a locking unit attached to an upper end of the shaft which extends vertically from the disc seal, the locking unit being adapted to facilitate installation of the rotatable disc seal by pretensioning the biasing means.

17. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the motorized means is connected to a control means, the control means automatically controlling the regulating means in a predetermined manner, and the motorized means is electronically operated to rotate a disc seal located in the valve housing to select various positions to regulate the flow of water through selected conduits of the filtration system.

18. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the regulating means further comprises a main housing releasably mountable to the valve housing in a substantially pressure-tight and watertight engagement, the main housing including

a main cover dimensioned for covering the motor and gearbox assembly and a sensor means located in the regulating means;

and

a secondary cover releasably mountable within the main cover in a splash-proof and dust-proof engagement and dimensioned to house electronic components of the multivalve unit so as to prevent unauthorized tampering therewith, as well as to protect the same from water and dust.

19. The multivalve unit according to claim 18 wherein the regulating means comprises an electronic interface arrangement located within the secondary cover and adapted to serve as an interface between at least one sensor means and its corresponding measuring points, the electronic interface arrangement comprising a number of vertically spaced electronic boards for locating a positioning sensor;

an analogue board for locating one or more amplifiers for amplifying a signal received from the various sensor means; and

a supply board for locating a voltage regulating means.

20. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises at least one pH-sensor suitable for sensing the pH-level of the swimming pool water and for returning a signal to a microprocessor of the control unit in respect of the pH-level of the swimming pool water so sensed, the pH-sensor being removably located in a probe housing within a main housing releasably mountable to the valve housing of the multivalve unit such that at least a lower part of the pH-sensor is continuously submerged in the pool water.

21. The multivalve unit according to claim 20 wherein the probe housing includes

retaining means for retaining the pH-sensor in the probe housing;

sealing means for effecting watertight engagement between the probe housing and the main housing; and

an apertured chamber for in use retaining swimming pool water therein, the arrangement being such that the lower part of the pH-sensor is continuously submerged in the pool water retained in the apertured chamber.

22. The multivalve unit according to claim 20 wherein the signal received from the pH-sensor is amplified before being transmitted to the microprocessor, which then compares the sensed pH-value with a preprogrammed value so as to determine the condition of the pool water, the arrangement being such that if the pH-level drops below the preprogrammed value, the micro-processor activates a valve or chemical pump to permit one or more required chemicals to enter the swimming pool from external chemical containers so as to adjust the pH-level of the pool water to the programmed value.

23. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the multivalve unit comprises a pool ioniser located in a main housing of the regulating means and comprising probes consisting of copper, zinc and silver respectively used for restraining growth of algae, bacteria, and viruses in the swimming pool water.

24. The multivalve unit according to claim 23 wherein the pool ioniser is adapted to maintain constant flow by maintaining constant power supply to its electrodes and is further adapted to alter the polarity of the electrodes.

25. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein a sensor means located in the regulating means comprises water level sensor means located within a main housing of the regulating means for sensing water level in the swimming pool and for transmitting a signal in respect of the water level to the microprocessor;

the arrangement being such that when the water level drops below a preprogrammed value, the microprocessor activates a water level regulating valve so as to permit water supply to the swimming pool, the water level regulating valve being arranged in communication with a primary water supply line and being located on a return conduit intermediate the pool filter and the swimming pool.

26. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the multivalve unit is operatively associated with a power supply unit connected to the regulating means, the power supply unit including a transformer, isolation means, circuit breakers, auxiliary relays, and battery backup means.

27. The multivalve unit according to claim 26 wherein the power supply unit is enclosed in a substantially watertight enclosure.

28. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the motorized means includes a motor capable of driving a speed reduction gearbox at a drive speed of between 0.8 and 2.0 rpm, with a torque of between 10 Nm and 20 Nm.

29. The multivalve unit according to claim 1 wherein the motorized means includes a motor capable of driving a speed reduction gearbox with a torque of 16 Nm.