Spa control system

• US 6,965,815 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Balboa Water Group Incorporated, Clark Manufacturing LLC
• Original Assignee: Bilboa Instruments Incorporated
• Inventors: Green, Michael J., Tompkins, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Von Buhr, Maria N.
• Application Number:
  US10/043,799
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 700275-278, 700/281, 700/282, 700/299, 700/300, 236 121- 1215, 236 20 R- 21 B, 236/91.R, 236 91 C- 91 F, 236 93 R- 98 B, 236/101, 448/8, 449/2, 449/3, 453/8, 45411-595
• US Class Current: 700/300
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

An improved spa control system is disclosed. The invention describes a spa control system which calculates the time required to heat the water in the spa system to a desired temperature. From that information, the heating rate of the spa system can be determined, and the heating element of the spa system can be activated at the proper time to raise the temperature of the water to a selected temperature by a desired time. The spa system also monitors information which might show errors in the operation of the spa system such as a blockage in the flow of water over the heating element in the spa system.

Claims

1. A control system for a water spa adapted to remain substantially continuously filled with water between uses and capable of outside use, comprising:

an electrical power source for providing energy to the spa;

a system interconnection panel in electrical communication with the power source, the system interconnection panel including a microprocessor and a step-down power supply for providing energy to the microprocessor;

an electric resistive heating element for heating the water, the heating element in electrical communication with the interconnection panel;

a first electronic solid state temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water in the spa; and

a second electronic solid state temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water proximate the heating element.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are in electrical communication with the interconnection panel.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to generate a signal capable of turning the heating element on or off.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the water flows past the heating element, the first temperature sensor detects the water upstream of the heating element, and the second senor detects the temperature of the water downstream of the heating element.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the microcomputer is adapted to receive a signal from the first temperature sensor that is indicative of the temperature of the water at the location of the first temperature sensor and a signal from the second temperature sensor that is indicative of the temperature of the water at the location of the second temperature sensor, and to calculate the difference between the temperature at the first sensor and the temperature at the second sensor.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to generate a signal capable of turning the heating element off when the difference between the temperature at the first sensor and the temperature at the second sensor exceeds a predetermined amount.

7. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a control panel capable of displaying alphanumeric characters.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the control panel is in electrical communication with the interconnection panel.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to generate a signal to control the alphanumeric characters displayed on the control panel.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the step-down power supply is adapted to convert energy supplied by the power source into a lower power and a lower voltage as required by one or more electronic components connected thereto.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein a ground fault circuit interrupter is electrically interposed between the electrical power source and the system interconnection panel.

12. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a pump, wherein the pump is in electrical communication with the interconnection panel.

13. The control system of claim 1, further comprising converter circuitry associated with the microprocessor capable of converting analog input to digital information.

14. The control system of claim 13, further comprising means for converting the digital information to engineering units.

15. The control system of claim 14, further comprising a control panel capable of displaying alphanumeric characters, and a display interface capable of causing the engineering units to be displayed on the control panel.

16. The control system of claim 14, wherein the means for converting includes a curve fitting algorithm.

17. The control system of claim 1, further comprising an additional sensor.

18. The control system of claim 17, wherein the additional sensor is adapted to produce a signal indicative of the presence or the absence of water flow.

19. The control system of claim 17, wherein the additional sensor is adapted to produce a signal indicative of the presence or the absence of water.

20. A water spa for bathing, comprising:

an open container adapted to remain substantially continuously filled with water between uses, wherein the container is also adapted for outside use;

an electrical power source for providing energy;

a system interconnection panel in electrical communication with the power source, the system interconnection panel including a microprocessor and a step-down power supply for providing energy to the microprocessor;

an electric resistive heating element for heating the water, the heating element in electrical communication with the interconnection panel;

a first electronic solid state temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water in the container; and

a second electronic solid state temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water proximate the heating element.

21. The spa of claim 20, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are in electrical communication with the interconnection panel.

22. The spa of claim 21, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to generate a signal capable of turning the heating element on or off.

23. The spa of claim 22, wherein the water flows past the heating element, the first temperature sensors detects the water upstream of the heating element, and the second sensor detects the temperature of the water downstream of the heating element.

24. The spa of claim 23, wherein the microcomputer is adapted to receive a signal from the first temperature sensor that is indicative of the temperature of the water at the location of the first temperature sensor and a signal from the second temperature sensor that is indicative of the temperature of the water at the location of the second temperature sensor, and to calculate the difference between the temperature at the first sensor and the temperature at the second sensor.

25. The spa of claim 24, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to generate a signal capable of turning the heating element off when the difference between the temperature at the first sensor and the temperature at the second sensor exceeds a predetermined amount.

26. The spa of claim 20, further comprising a control panel capable of displaying alphanumeric characters.

27. The spa of claim 26, wherein the control panel is in electrical communication with the interconnection panel.

28. The spa of claim 27, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to generate a signal to control the alphanumeric characters displayed on the control panel.

29. The spa of claim 20, wherein the step-down power supply is adapted to convert energy supplied by the power source into a lower power and a lower voltage as required by one or more electronic components connected thereto.

30. The spa of claim 20, wherein a ground fault circuit interrupter is electrically interposed between the electrical power source and the system interconnection panel.

31. The spa of claim 20, further comprising a pump, wherein the pump is in electrical communication with the interconnection panel.

32. The spa of claim 20, further comprising converter circuitry associated with the microprocessor capable of converting analog input to digital information.

33. The spa of claim 32, further comprising means for converting the digital information to engineering units.

34. The spa of claim 33, further comprising a control panel capable of displaying alphanumeric characters, and a display interface capable of causing the engineering units to be displayed on the control panel.

35. The spa of claim 33, wherein the means for converting include a curve fitting algorithm.

36. The spa of claim 20, further comprising an additional sensor.

37. The spa of claim 36, wherein the additional sensor is adapted to produce a signal indicative of the presence or the absence of water flow.

38. The spa of claim 36, wherein the additional sensor is adapted to produce a signal indicative of the presence or the absence of water.