Load sensor safety vacuum release system

• US 8,281,425 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph D. Cohen
• Inventors: Cohen, Joseph D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US11/163,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20060090255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,534 Days
• Field of Search: 450/4, 450/9, 454/12, 417/44.1, 417/44.2, 361/79
• US Class Current: 4/504
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• 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

A motor with associated load sensor is connected to a circulation pump of a swimming pool circulation system. The load sensor performs the function of a safety vacuum release system by detecting underload of the motor. Underload is now discovered to be reliably indicative of blockage on the intake side of a circulation pump. A switch controlled by the load sensor shuts off the motor in response to a suitable underload. Vacuum on the intake side of the circulation pump neutralizes, thereby freeing a person or object blocking the suction line.

Claims

1. A method for the release of a bather trapped below a water level in an aquatic vessel having a water circulation system, the trapped bather being suction entrapped at a submerged suction outlet fitting and in danger of drowning below the water level of the aquatic vessel by a dangerously high level of vacuum at the submerged suction outlet fitting, the method comprising:

delivering water from the aquatic vessel to a centrifugal pump via an intake pipe of the water circulation system;

charging the centrifugal pump with the water from the aquatic vessel;

returning water from the centrifugal pump to the aquatic vessel through a return pipe;

circulating water in the water circulation system with the centrifugal pump powered by an electric motor;

remotely and indirectly sensing a potential for a dangerously high vacuum level within the intake pipe without using a sensor to sense either water flow or water pressure characteristics within the intake pipe, centrifugal pump or return pipe; and

reacting to a loss of flow of water independent of any direct fluid communication with the loss of flow of water by powering down the electric motor causing the dangerously high vacuum level within the intake pipe to neutralize the dangerously high vacuum level and to release the trapped bather from the submerged suction outlet fitting, the centrifugal pump remaining continuously charged with water and with no air being introduced into the water circulation system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the remotely and indirectly sensing operation includes determining the rotations per minute (RPM) of the electric motor.

3. A safety vacuum release system for an aquatic vessel used for bathing, the safety vacuum release system being structured and arranged to detect a loss of water flow caused by a blockage of a submerged suction outlet fitting creating a potential for the occurrence of a dangerous vacuum level at the submerged suction outlet fitting capable of entrapping a bather, thereby causing injury or death, the safety vacuum release system comprising:

a water circulation system including a centrifugal pump for circulating water to and from the aquatic vessel;

an electric motor operably connected to the centrifugal pump to drive the centrifugal pump;

a water intake pipe having a receiving end connected to the submerged suction outlet fitting which a bather could come in physical contact with, and a discharge end connected to an intake side of the centrifugal pump to provide a flow of water from the aquatic vessel into the centrifugal pump;

a water return pipe connected to a discharge side of the centrifugal pump on a receiving end, and to the aquatic vessel on a discharge end to provide a flow of water from the centrifugal pump back to the aquatic vessel; and

a motor load-sensor operably and directly attached to the electric motor, disposed away from any direct fluid communication with water flow to sense a level of load of motor output, and configured to interrupt electrical power to the electric motor if a decrease in motor load predetermined to indicate a loss of water flow occurring by the bather being suction entrapped against the suction outlet fitting and causing a blockage of water flow, the interruption shutting off the centrifugal pump to avoid the occurrence of the dangerous vacuum by quickly neutralizing the vacuum level, thereby releasing the bather.

4. The safety vacuum release system of claim 3 wherein the water circulation system stays fully charged with water throughout operation of the safety vacuum release system by not introducing air as part of the release mechanism.

5. The safety vacuum release system of claim 3 wherein the motor load-sensor is configured to determine the rotations per minute (RPM) of the electric motor.

6. A safety vacuum release system for an aquatic vessel used for bathing, the safety vacuum release system being structured and arranged to detect a potential for a dangerously high level of vacuum at a submerged suction outlet fitting which a bather can come into physical contact with, the high level of vacuum being capable of entrapping the bather and causing injury or death, the system comprising:

a centrifugal pump for circulation of water to and from the aquatic vessel, the centrifugal pump having an intake pipe connection and a discharge pipe connection;

an electric motor operably connected to the centrifugal pump to drive the centrifugal pump, the electric motor being configured to operate at an underload state when the centrifugal pump is operating charged with water and a loss of flow of water occurs at the intake pipe connection;

an intake pipe connected to the intake pipe connection of the centrifugal pump at one end and connected to the submerged suction outlet fitting at the other end, the intake pipe having a path for water flow between the ends, the intake pipe being configured and arranged to have a loss of water flow when the submerged suction outlet fitting is blocked, thereby giving rise to the potential for the dangerously high vacuum level capable of trapping a bather;

a return pipe configured to direct water to the aquatic vessel from the centrifugal pump, and connected to the discharge pipe connection of the centrifugal pump, the centrifugal pump, the intake pipe and the return pipe being free of any sensors sensing water flow and/or water pressure characteristics which are part of the safety vacuum release system;

a motor load-sensor operably connected to the electric motor and disposed away from direct fluid communication with water flow and detached from any direct connection with relative fluid pressure within the water circulation system, the motor load-sensor being configured to sense the underload state which accompanies the loss of flow of water indicative of the potential for the dangerously high vacuum level; and

a switch operably connected to the electric motor and the motor load-sensor, the motor load-sensor being configured to control the switch to shut off the electric motor in response to the loss of water flow indicative of the potential for the dangerously high level of vacuum at the submerged suction outlet fitting, independent of any direct fluid communication with the path for water flow for the purpose of neutralizing the high level of vacuum to free an entrapped bather.

7. The safety vacuum release system of claim 6 wherein the centrifugal pump stays fully charged with water throughout operation of the safety vacuum release system by not introducing air as part of the release mechanism.

8. The safety vacuum release system of claim 6 wherein the motor load-sensor is configured to determine the rotations per minute (RPM) of the electric motor.

9. A method for the release of a bather trapped below a water level in an aquatic vessel, the trapped bather being suction entrapped and in danger of drowning below the water level of the aquatic vessel by a dangerously high level of vacuum, the method comprising:

receiving water from the aquatic vessel at a centrifugal pump via an intake pipe connection of the centrifugal pump;

charging the centrifugal pump with water from the aquatic vessel;

outputting water from the centrifugal pump to the aquatic vessel through a return pipe connection;

circulating water in a water circulation system with the centrifugal pump powered by an electric motor;

remotely and indirectly sensing a potential for a dangerously high vacuum level at the intake pipe connection without using a sensor to sense either water flow or water pressure characteristics within the intake pipe connection, centrifugal pump or return pipe connection; and

reacting to a loss of flow of water independent of any direct fluid communication with the loss of flow of water by powering down the electric motor causing the dangerously high vacuum level at the intake pipe connection to neutralize the dangerously high vacuum level and to release the trapped bather, the centrifugal pump remaining continuously charged with water and with no air being introduced into the water circulation system.

10. A safety vacuum release system for an aquatic vessel used for bathing, the safety vacuum release system being structured and arranged to detect a loss of water flow caused by a blockage of a submerged suction outlet fitting creating a potential for the occurrence of a dangerous vacuum level at the submerged suction outlet fitting capable of entrapping a bather, thereby causing injury or death, the safety vacuum release system comprising:

a water circulation system including a centrifugal pump for circulating water;

an electric motor operably connected to the centrifugal pump to drive the centrifugal pump;

a water intake pipe connection on intake side of the centrifugal pump configured to receive an intake pipe having a receiving end connected to the submerged suction outlet fitting at which a bather could come in physical contact and a discharge end to provide a flow of water into the centrifugal pump;

a water return pipe connection on a discharge side of the centrifugal pump configured to receive a return pipe having a receiving end and a discharge end to provide a flow of water from the centrifugal pump; and

a motor load-sensor operably attached to the electric motor, the motor load-sensor being disposed away from any direct fluid communication with water flow to sense a level of load of motor output and configured to interrupt electrical power to the electric motor if there is a decrease in motor load predetermined to indicate a loss of water flow occurring by the bather being suction entrapped against the suction outlet fitting and causing a blockage of water flow, the interruption shutting off the centrifugal pump to avoid the occurrence of the dangerous vacuum by quickly neutralizing the vacuum level, thereby releasing the bather.