Modular integrated multifunction pool safety controller (MIMPSC)

• US 6,676,831 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Lawrence Wolfe
• Original Assignee: Michael Lawrence Wolfe
• Inventors: Wolfe, Michael Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Cecil, Terry K.
• Application Number:
  US10/222,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/90, 210/134, 210/138, 210/143, 210/149, 210/169, 210/416.2, 450/4, 700/19, 700/65
• US Class Current: 210/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6073 Intake mouths for recirculation of fluid in whirlpool baths
• 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

Abstract

Modular Pool Safety Controller used with swimming pool or spa. The controller stands alone, or integrated with a prior art controller. Emphasis is on safety of swimmers and pool equipment, providing low entry cost. Other modular features can be added. Safety features; Swimmer Protection: Excess Suction triggers latched pump shut-down and suction dump valve that admits air into the pump inlet, instantly releasing suction entrapment. When reduced daylight combines with swimmer activity, Pool Lights are turned on. Remote Control provides Emergency shut-down. Equipment Protection: Low pump Pressure triggers latched pump shut-down. Remote Control initiates draining high water levels. Portable Intelligent Remote Alarms (PIRA) offer specific voice messages when pump shut-down occurs; guidance concerning cause and actions required, plus chimes and red lights. After Startup PIRA delivers a green OK light and specific voice message confirming the communications link. End to end test of protection is simple; frequent tests are encouraged.

Claims

1. A stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller (MIMPSC) for use with a swimming pool and/or spa or whirlpool hydraulic system, wherein said hydraulic system includes at least one pool pump having inlet and outlet lines, a pool drain line, a pool skimmer including a weir, at least one pool filter, and a pool light, said MIMPSC comprising:

combinatorial logic configured such that any one of several devices or means may be used to start the pool pump, but that any one of several other devices or means is able to automatically shut-down the pool pump, in the event of a system safety problem, regardless of which means was used to start the pool pump;

a Startup Module comprising a timer, one or more relays, a freeze sensor, terminals, and a logical System Ready signal generating means, electrically connected to a power relay which feeds power to said pool pump;

a Shutdown Module comprising at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of a suction sensor, a pressure sensor, and a pipe temperature sensor, and comprising a multiplicity of latching relays, terminals, a suction dump valve, and at least one local alarm, the Shutdown Module sensors and the suction dump valve being connected to suitable ports in the hydraulic system;

a Pool Lights ON Module communicating with said pool light and comprising an ambient light sensor, a movement sensor, a sound sensor, terminals, and a Pool Lights control interface, the Pool Lights ON Module sensors being located adjacent said pool and/or spa or whirlpool and elevated above a water level thereof;

an Alarm Interface Module comprising local alarms, terminals, and a suitable communications transmitter for triggering at least one Portable Intelligent Remote Alarms (PIRA);

said Portable Intelligent Remote Alarm (PIRA) comprising a communications receiver, a multiplicity of unique voice and sound status and action messages, and related visual status indicators, said PIRA including at least one alarm in close proximity to said pool and/or spa or whirlpool or remotely thereof and having the ability to be activated via a modem/dialer;

a pool Drain Module comprising an electrically controlled drain valve, a timer, terminals, and a means of causing the pump to startup when necessary, the drain valve being connected to a suitable port in the pool drain line;

at least one Weir Stop comprising a physical barrier adapted to prevent the weir from becoming stuck in a blocking position, said weir stop being connected to interior side walls of said pool skimmer; and

wherein the Modules are housed in a cabinet or junction box in close proximity to said pool pump.

2. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 wherein a communication interface with the Portable Intelligent Remote Alarm uses an ×

10 automation protocol.

3. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a configuration for testing all solenoid valves of said system at start-up of said pump to assure coil continuity, wherein if normal continuity does not exist, the pump will shut down and a warning signal will be provided.

4. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the suction dump valve being direct acting, including inlet and outlet fine screens to avoid particle contamination of a valve seat of said suction dump valve, being timer controlled, being in connection to a pump suction port of said pool pump, and being configured to break a vacuum by admitting air when triggered.

5. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one of a group consisting of a pool filter cleaning alert, a pool chemistry management means, a pump maintenance warning indicator, heater controls and a temperature warning indicator.

6. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising test pipe segments, to block the skimmer outlet to the pump, for an excess suction test, and a pipe to admit air and block water from a skimmer outlet to the pump, for a loss of prime test.

7. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising, said Safety Controller being configured such that in the event of the pump being shut-down because of a suction or pressure problem, a main pool power switch must be recycled in order to resume pump operation and to stop any alarms.

8. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising, said Safety Controller being configured such that in the event of a power failure, automatic restart of the pump occurs when power is restored.

9. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising, said system including a pool water drain hose communicating with said pool drain line and comprising a flat flexible plastic hose being about 2 inches wide at rest and further comprising a small plastic reel wide enough to coil up the flat hose and adapted to unreel the hose automatically in response to water pressure projecting the reel forward an end of the hose being attached to the reel with a thermal or chemical bonding agent on a top side of the hose so that the flow is unobstructed, said reel further including a spring adapted to automatically recoil the hose when the pool Drain Module timer closes the drain valve and the water pressure ceases.

10. The stand alone Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 1 further comprising wherein relay logic functions of said MIMPSC can be performed by one or more of a group consisting of transistors, Integrated Circuits, gates, gate arrays, PROMs, and microcontrollers/microprocessors, wherein all said Modules include one or more interconnections selected from a group consisting of sockets, printed circuits, point-to-point wiring, and ribbon cables, wherein said Portable Intelligent Remote Alarm uses an ×

10 automation protocol radio link, IR link, or other electromagnetic and sonic technique, wherein all said sensors are selected from a group consisting of suction switches, pressure switches, temperature switches, flow switches, semiconductors, strain gauges, bourdon tubes, mercury manometers, and ultrasonic based.

11. In a swimming pool and/or spa hydraulic system including, at least one pool pump having inlet and outlet lines, a pool drain line a pool skimmer including a weir, at least one pool filter, a pool light, and a prior art Pool Controller, the improvement comprising a Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller (MIMPSC) integrated with said prior art Pool Controller, said MIMPSC comprising:

combinatorial logic configured such that any one of several devices or means may be used to start the pool pump, but that any one of several other devices or means is able to automatically shut-down the pool pump, in the event of a system safety problem, regardless of which means was used to start the pool pump;

a Startup Module comprising a timer, one or more relays, a freeze sensor, terminals, and a logical System Ready signal generating means, electrically connected to a power relay which feeds power to said pool pump;

a Shutdown Module comprising at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of a suction sensor, a pressure sensor, and a pipe temperature sensor, and comprising a multiplicity of latching relays, terminals, a suction dump valve, and at least one local alarm, the Shutdown Module sensors and the suction dump valve being connected to suitable ports in the hydraulic system;

a Pool Lights ON Module communicating with said pool light and comprising an ambient light sensor, a movement sensor, a sound sensor, terminals, and a Pool Lights control interface, the Pool Lights ON Module sensors being located adjacent said pool and/or spa or whirlpool and elevated above a water level thereof;

an Alarm Interface Module comprising local alarms, terminals, and a suitable communications transmitter for triggering at least one Portable Intelligent Remote Alarm (PIRA);

said Portable Intelligent Remote Alarm (PIRA) comprising a communications receiver, a multiplicity of unique voice and sound status and action messages, and related visual status indicators, said PIRA including at least one alarm in close proximity to said pool and/or spa or whirlpool or remotely thereof and having the ability to be activated via a modem/dialer;

a pool Drain Module comprising an electrically controlled drain valve, a timer, terminals, and a means of causing the pump to startup when necessary, the drain valve being connected to a suitable port in the pool drain line;

at least one Weir Stop comprising a physical barrier adapted to prevent the weir from becoming stuck in a blocking position, said weir stop being connected to interior side walls of said pool skimmer; and

wherein the Modules are housed with said prior art pool controller in a cabinet or junction box in close proximity to said pool pump.

12. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 wherein a communication interface with the Portable Intelligent Remote Alarm uses an ×

10 automation protocol.

13. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a configuration for testing all solenoid valves of said system at start-up of said pump to assure coil continuity, wherein if normal continuity does not exist, the pump will shut down and a warning signal will be provided.

14. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 further comprising the suction dump valve being direct acting, including inlet and outlet fine screens to avoid particle contamination of a valve seat of said suction dump valve, being timer controlled, being in connection to a pump suction port of said pool pump, and being configured to break a vacuum by admitting air when triggered.

15. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 further comprising at least one of a group consisting of a pool filter cleaning alert, a pool chemistry management means, a pump maintenance warning indicator, heater controls and a temperature warning indicator.

16. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 further comprising test pipe segments, to block the skimmer outlet to the pump, for an excess suction test, and a pipe to admit air and block water from a skimmer outlet to the pump, for a loss of prime test.

17. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 further comprising, said Safety Controller being configured such that in the event of the pump being shut-down because of a suction or pressure problem, a main pool power switch must be recycled in order to resume pump operation and to stop any alarms.

18. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 further comprising, said Safety Controller being configured such that in the event of a power failure, automatic restart of the pump occurs when power is restored.

19. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 further comprising, said system including a pool water drain hose communicating with said pool drain line and comprising a flat flexible plastic hose being about 2 inches wide at rest and further comprising a small plastic reel wide enough to coil up the flat hose and adapted to unreel the hose automatically in response to water pressure projecting the reel forward an end of the hose being attached to the reel with a thermal or chemical bonding agent on a top side of the hose so that the flow is unobstructed, said reel further including a spring adapted to automatically recoil the hose when the pool Drain Module timer closes the drain valve and the water pressure ceases.

20. The integrated Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller as claimed in claim 11 further comprising wherein relay logic functions of said MIMPSC can be performed by one or more of a group consisting of transistors, Integrated Circuits, gates, gate arrays, PROMs, and microcontrollers/microprocessors, wherein all said Modules include one or more interconnections selected from a group consisting of sockets, printed circuits, point-to-point wiring, and ribbon cables, with wherein said Portable Intelligent Remote Alarm uses an ×

10 automation protocol radio link, IR link, or other electromagnetic and sonic technique, wherein all said sensors are selected from a group consisting of suction switches, pressure switches, temperature switches, flow switches, semiconductors, strain gauges, bourdon tubes, mercury manometers, and ultrasonic based.