Shutoff system for pool or spa

• US 7,626,789 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Balboa Water Group LLC (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Balboa Instruments Incorporated (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cline, David J., Corrington, Richard A., Daystrom, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US12/184,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20090067102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/00 Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H35/00 takes precedence; sprays acting on a body or body part not immersed in water A61H9/00; means for washing bed-ridden persons A61G7/0005; for sub aquatic intestinal cleaning A61M9/00; isolation chambers A61M21/0094; electric or magnetic baths, applying ionised fluids A61N1/44 ; heater for bath tubs F24H1/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/33 using summation current transformers H02H3/347 takes precedence

Abstract

A control system for a bathing installation which has one or more electrically powered devices. A line voltage service is connected through a GFCI to power the electrically powered devices, the GFCI adapted to interrupt the service upon detection of a ground fault. A trip circuit may induce a ground fault and trip the GFCI in response to a trip signal, thereby disabling application of electrical power to the electrically powered devices. An electronic circuit is responsive to a fault condition for generating the trip signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling operation of a bathing installation, which includes one or more electrically powered devices, an electronic controller system operatively connected to the one or more electrically powered devices, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), a line voltage service connected through the GFCI to power the one or more electrically powered devices, the GFCI adapted to interrupt the service upon detection of a ground fault, the method comprising:

in response to declaration of a non-ground fault or safety condition, taking a first corrective action or set of actions to address said non-ground fault or safety condition;

monitoring the bathing installation to determine whether the first corrective action or set of actions has resulted in clearing the non-ground fault or safety condition;

if the non-ground fault or safety condition has not been cleared as a result of said first corrective action or set of actions, tripping the GFCI, thereby disabling application of electrical power to the one or more electrically powered devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said non-ground fault or safety condition is a blockage in a water flow path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said first corrective action or set of corrective actions includes waiting at least a predetermined time interval.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said non-ground fault or safety condition includes a high water temperature condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first corrective action or set of corrective actions includes commanding a water pump to be turned off.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said non-ground fault or safety condition includes a stuck relay or switch controlling said one or more electrically powered devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first corrective action or set of corrective actions includes commanding a water pump to be turned off.

8. A method for monitoring and controlling operation of a bathing installation including an electronic controller, a ground fault interrupt circuit (GFCI), and a pump for recirculating water through a recirculating water flow path, comprising:

sensing a stoppage or restricted flow condition in the water flow path;

in response to a sensing of the stoppage or restricted flow, taking an first corrective action or set of actions to address said stoppage or restricted flow;

monitoring the bathing installation to determine whether the first corrective action or set of actions has resulted in addressing said condition;

tripping the GFCI in the event said first corrective action or set of actions fails to address said condition in a response to said sensing of a stoppage or restricted flow to interrupt power to the bathing installation including the pump.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said sensing a stoppage or restricted flow in the water flow path comprises:

monitoring an electrical output signal from a pressure sensor mounted to sense a water pressure in the water flow path.

10. A spa control system for monitoring and controlling operation of a spa installation including a spa vessel for holding water, a line voltage electrical supply, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), and a pump for recirculating water through a recirculating water flow path, comprising:

an electronic controller system operatively connected to the pump through a switch device for controlling the operation of the pump, said switch device independent from the GFCI;

a line voltage service connected through the GFCI to power said spa installation including said electronic control system and said pump, the GFCI adapted to detect ground faults and interrupt the service upon detection of a ground fault;

a sensor for sensing a blockage or restricted flow in said water flow path;

the electronic controller system responsive to the sensor for tripping the GFCI and disabling application of electrical power to the spa installation including said pump.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said electronic controller system induces a ground fault to trip the GFCI.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the spa installation further includes a water heater mounted to heat water passing through the recirculating water flow path, said heater powered by said line voltage service, and the electronic controller is adapted to control operation of the water heater, and said GFCI is operative to disable application of electrical power to the water heater when said GFCI is tripped.

13. A spa control system for monitoring and controlling operation of a spa installation including a spa vessel for holding water, and a pump for recirculating water through a recirculating water flow path, comprising:

an electronic controller system operatively connected to the pump through a switch device for controlling the operation of the pump;

a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI);

a line voltage service connected through the GFCI to the spa installation to power said spa installation including said electronic controller system and the pump, the GFCI adapted to detect ground faults and interrupt the service upon detection of a ground fault;

a sensor for sensing a blockage or restricted flow condition in said water flow path and providing an electronic sensor signal indicative of said condition;

the electronic controller system responsive to the sensor signal for taking an intermediate measure to address said condition, and for tripping the GFCI after sensing said blockage or restricted flow only if said intermediate measure fails to address said condition, and disabling application of electrical power to the spa installation including said electronic controller system and the pump.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said electronic controller system induces a ground fault to trip the GFCI.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the spa installation further includes a water heater mounted to heat water passing through the recirculating water flow path, said heater powered by said line voltage service, and the electronic controller system is adapted to control operation of the water heater, and said GFCI is operative to disable application of electrical power to the water heater when said GFCI is tripped.

16. A method for detecting a malfunctioning pump switch in a bathing installation having a water holding structure, a recirculating water flow path and an electrically powered pump actuated by the pump switch for recirculating water through the water flow path, comprising:

monitoring a water temperature of water in the water holding structure or water flow path over time;

processing a rise in the water temperature over time and monitored temperature values in an algorithm performed by a microprocessor to characterize the rise in temperature and to decide whether the rise is more likely to have been caused by a malfunction in the pump switch, resulting in continuous pump operation, than by another cause of a rise in temperature; and

determining that the pump switch has malfunctioned when the algorithm decides that the rise in temperature is more likely to have been caused by a malfunction in the pump switch.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

tripping a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) connected to a line voltage service powering the pump to interrupt the line voltage service if a pump switch malfunction is determined.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said tripping the GFCI comprises establishing a ground fault.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said pump switch is a relay.