Spa control system

• US 6,976,052 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2001
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clark Manufacturing LLC, Dymas Funding Company Llc
• Original Assignee: Balboa Instruments Incorporated (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Green, Michael J., Tompkins, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/761,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 210/169, 709/201, 392/465, 392/466, 392/485, 392/498, 219/497, 219/481, 219/489, 453/8, 453/9, 454/0, 454/11, 454/12, 454/13, 449/3
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0095 Arrangements for varying the temperature of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/20 with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature G05D23/13 takes precedence

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 intended to remain substantially continuously filled between uses, comprising:

an electrical power source for providing energy;

a system interconnection panel in communication with the power source, the system Interconnection panel including a step-down power supply and a microcomputer; and

a plurality of electronic and electrical components connected to the system interconnection panel, including an electronic control panel capable of displaying alphanumeric characters calculated by the microcomputer;

wherein the water spa is configured to remain substantially continuously filled between uses.

2. The spa control system of claim 1, wherein the step-down power supply included with the interconnection panel converts energy supplied by the power source into a lower power and a lower voltage as required by one or more of the electronic components connected thereto.

3. The spa control system of claim 1, wherein the water spa is intended for use as an outdoor spa vessel.

4. The spa control system of claim 3, wherein a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is connectively interposed between the electrical power source and the system interconnection panel.

5. The spa control system of claim 1, wherein one of the electrical components is a heating element, and another of the electrical components is a pump.

6. The spa control system of claim 5, wherein the heating element is an electrical resistive heating element and operates to heat water held by the spa.

7. The spa control system of claim 1, the spa control system further comprising an electronic circuitry associated with the microcomputer and being capable of convening analog signals to engineering units expressed as alphanumeric characters.

8. The spa control system of claim 1, the spa control system further including at least one electronic solid state temperature sensor to measure the temperature of water of the spa, and a second electronic sensor to measure another parameter of water of the spa.

9. The spa control system of claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor produces an electronic signal proportional to the temperature of water in the spa, and the second sensor produces an electronic signal indicative of presence or absence of water flow.

10. The spa control system of claim 9, wherein the microcomputer converts the electronic signals proportional to temperature to engineering units using a curve fitting algorithm.

11. The spa control system of claim 10, wherein the microcomputer is capable of displaying the temperature in alphanumeric engineering units on the control panel.

12. The spa control system of claim 9, wherein an error message is displayed on the control panel in alphanumeric characters when lack of water flow is detected by the second sensor.

13. A water spa for bathing, comprising:

a vessel for holding water and configured to remain substantially continuously filled between uses;

a control system for a water spa intended to remain substantially continuously filled between uses, comprising;

an electrical power source for providing energy;

a system interconnection panel in communication with the power source, the system interconnection panel including a step-down power supply and a microcomputer; and

a plurality of electronic and electrical components connected to the system Interconnection panel, including an electronic control panel capable of displaying alphanumeric characters calculated by the microcomputer.

14. The water spa for bathing of claim 13, wherein the step-down power supply included with the interconnection panel converts energy supplied by the power source into a lower power and a lower voltage as required by one or more of the electronic components connected thereto.

15. The water spa for bathing of claim 14, wherein the water spa is intended for outdoor use.

16. The water spa for bathing of claim 13, wherein a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is connectively interposed between the electrical power source and the interconnection panel.

17. The water spa for bathing of claim 13, wherein one of the electrical components is a heating element, and another of the electrical components is a pump.

18. The water spa for bathing of claim 17, wherein the heating element is an electrical resistive heating element and operates to heat water held by the spa.

19. The water spa for bathing of claim 13, wherein the spa control system microcomputer and associated electronic components are capable of converting analog signals to engineering units expressed as alphanumeric characters.

20. The water spa for bathing of claim 13, wherein the spa control system further including at least one electronic solid state temperature sensor to measure the temperature of water of the spa, and a second electronic sensor to measure another parameter of water of the spa.

21. The water spa for bathing of claim 20, wherein the temperature sensor produces an electronic signal proportional to the temperature of water in the spa, and the second sensor produces an electronic signal indicative of presence or absence of water flow.

22. The water spa for bathing of claim 20, wherein the microcomputer converts the electronic signals proportional to temperature to engineering units using a curve fitting algorithm.

23. The water spa for bathing of claim 22, wherein the microcomputer is capable of displaying the temperature in alphanumeric engineering units on the control panel.

24. The water spa for bathing of claim 20, wherein an error message is displayed on the control panel in alphanumeric characters when lack of water flow is detected by the second sensor.