Method and means for controlling electrical distribution

• US 6,875,961 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Softub, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thornbury Investments, Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): FUQUA, SHAWNTINA T
• Application Number:
  US10/379,695
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 219/494, 219/497, 219/485, 219/506, 219/519, 361/2, 361/15, 454/12, 454/11, 454/5
• US Class Current: 219/494
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0283 For heating of fluids, e.g. water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling heating of a liquid or liquid stream including electrical equipment operated in conjunction with such heating; a device or devices for monitoring the voltage level of electrical power supplied to such equipment; and a control or controls for controlling such electrical power supplied to that equipment, to decrease power delivery in response to a predetermined decrease in voltage level of power supply to the equipment.

Claims

1. The method of controlling heating of a pool or spa body of liquid, that includes

a) operating a pump and a pump motor, for circulating a stream of water to and from the body of water, the motor being an electric motor,

b) transferring heat from the motor or from a separate heater, to the stream as it is circulated,

c) monitoring the voltage level of electric power to be delivered or being delivered to the motor or heater,

d) monitoring the temperature of water in said body of water in the spa or in the stream of water being circulated,

e) providing a monitor or monitors operating to effect said monitoring,

f) and controlling electrical power delivery to the motor or heater in response to said c) monitoring and/or said d) monitoring, while maintaining electrical power delivery to said monitor or monitors in the event of decrease of power delivery to the motor or heater below a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling of electrical power delivery operates to decrease electrical power delivery to the motor or heater when said voltage level monitoring detects a lowering of voltage level below a predetermined voltage level first threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said controlling of electrical power delivery operates to increase electrical power delivery to the motor when said water temperature monitoring detects a lowering of water temperature below a predetermined temperature level threshold.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said controlling of electrical power delivery operates to increase electrical power delivery to the motor when said water temperature monitoring detects a lowering of water temperature below a predetermined temperature level threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 including providing control circuitry to perform said sub-paragraph e) controlling.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said voltage level monitoring is effected by providing and operating a voltage level monitor at the voltage input side of said motor.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said water temperature monitoring is effected by providing and operating a water temperature level monitor.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said voltage level monitor comprises a voltage detector.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said water temperature level monitor is a temperature detector operated at one of the following locations:

i) in the water body in the spa

ii) in said water flow stream.

10. Apparatus for controlling heating of a pool or spa body of liquid or a stream of liquid flowing to or from the pool or spa, that includes, in combination:

a) a pump and a pump motor operating to circulate said stream of water to and from the body of water, the motor being an electric motor,

b) transferring heat from the motor or from a separate heater to the stream as it is circulated, or to said body of water,

c) first means for monitoring the voltage level of electric power to be delivered or being delivered to the motor, or heater,

d) second means for monitoring the temperature of water in said body of water in the spa or in the stream of water be ing circulated,

e) and third means for controlling electrical power delivery to the motor or heater in response to said c) monitoring and/or said d) monitoring, while maintaining electrical power delivery to said monitor or monitors in the event of decrease of power delivery to the motor or heater below a predetermined threshold.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said third means for controlling said electrical power delivery operates to decrease electrical power delivery to the motor when said first means detects a lowering of voltage level below a predetermined voltage level first threshold.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said third means for controlling of electrical power delivery operates to increase electrical power delivery to the motor when said second means detects a lowering of water temperature below a predetermined temperature level threshold.

13. Apparatus as defined claim 11 wherein said third means for controlling of electrical power delivery operates to increase electrical power delivery to the motor or heater when said second means detects a lowering of water temperature below a predetermined temperature level threshold.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said third means includes control circuitry to provide said sub-paragraph e) controlling.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said first means includes a voltage level monitor at the voltage input side of said motor or heater.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said second means includes a water temperature level detector.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said first means comprises a voltage detector.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said second means level monitor is operated at one of the following locations:

i) in the water body in the spa

ii) in said water flow stream.

19. Apparatus for controlling heating of a liquid or liquid stream, that includes in combination:

a) electrical equipment operated in conjunction with said heating,

b) means for monitoring the voltage level of electrical power supplied to said equipment,

c) and control means including a monitor or monitors for controlling said electrical power supplied to said equipment, in response to operation of said monitor or monitors while maintaining electrical power delivery to said monitor or monitors in the event of decrease of power delivery to the electrical equipment below a predetermined threshold.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said control means includes a liquid temperature monitor, effective to control electrical power delivery to said equipment as a function of liquid temperature level.

21. The method of controlling heating of a pool or spa body of water that includes:

a) providing and operating first components associated with controlling circulating of a stream of water to and from said body of water, and with controllable heating of said water,

b) providing and operating second components associated with supply of electrical power to said first components,

c) said second components,

i) including a monitor or monitors operating to monitor the voltage level of electrical power supplied or to be supplied to said first components, and

ii) also operating to monitor the temperature of said water,

d) said second components operating to control said supply of power to the first components in response to said i) and ii) monitoring,

e) controlling electrical power delivery to the components in response to said c) monitoring and/or said d) monitoring, while maintaining electrical power delivery to said monitor or monitors in the event of decrease of power delivery to the components below a predetermined threshold.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said first components include one or more of the following:

i) an electrical motor,

ii) a water circulation pump and an electrical motor driving said pump,

iii) an electrical heater,

iv) an electrical heater for heating said water in the pool or spa, in series with said circulating water stream,

v) a blower.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said second components include electrical switches in series with electrical power delivery to said first components, and controlled to cut-off power delivery to said first components, but not to said second components, in the event of monitored voltage level decrease to a predetermined level.