Skimmer and filter

• US 7,052,612 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JCCL Brands, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Savio Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelty, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prince, Fred G.
• Application Number:
  US10/748,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20040182766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 210/97, 210/169, 210/170, 210/416.1, 210/416.2, 210/448, 210/452, 210/748, 210/744, 210/776
• US Class Current: 210/744
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/007 Contaminated open waterways, rivers, lakes or ponds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1272 Skimmers integrated in the pool wall

Abstract

A skimmer and filter unit for use with a body of water. A tank portion of the unit defines an interior skimmer chamber, one or more ultraviolet light chambers, filter chamber, and pump chamber. Water is received through a pivoting weir door of a skimmer faceplate assembly affixed to the tank portion. Water is directed downward from the weir opening to a skimmer basket, then through unidirectional ports defined in a lower portion of a partitioning wall to one or more ultraviolet light chambers where it is subjected to ultraviolet light. After being subjected to ultraviolet light, the water is passed through a filter chamber then to a pump chamber where it is pumped away from the skimmer and filter unit. An interlocking lid is secured to the tank portion to seal the interior of the tank portion and protect the tank from deformation caused by the surrounding environment.

Claims

1. A skimmer and filter unit for use with a body of water, comprising:

a tank portion comprising an upright approximately cylindrical tank, said tank portion for receiving water from a body of water;

a neck extending from said tank, said neck comprising a weir faceplate assembly;

a skimmer chamber within said tank portion; and

an ultraviolet light chamber within said tank portion.

2. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 1 further comprising a pump chamber within said tank portion.

3. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 2 further comprising a bypass valve positioned between said pump chamber and said skimmer chamber.

4. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 1 further comprising a filter chamber within said tank portion.

5. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 4 wherein said ultraviolet light chamber is in fluid communication with said filter chamber.

6. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 4 further comprising a pump chamber, said pump chamber in fluid communication with said filter chamber.

7. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 1 wherein said weir faceplate assembly comprises:

an interchangeable weir faceplate defining a weir opening;

a pivoting weir door;

a weir divider slidable into mating slots of said neck to form a fluid conduit that coincides with the dimensions of said weir opening.

8. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 1 wherein said weir faceplate assembly comprises a locking tab for securing a weir door in a closed position.

9. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 1 further comprising an interlocking lid mating to said tank portion for reducing deformation of said tank portion by an environment.

10. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 9 wherein said lid comprises a coarse exterior surface for increased frictional contact with external surroundings.

11. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet light chamber comprises an interior and an exterior defined by said tank portion, said interior for containing an ultraviolet light, said exterior for receiving a mount, said mount comprising mating slots for receiving a locking ring affixed to said ultraviolet light.

12. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet light chamber is in fluid communication with said skimmer chamber.

13. A method of treating water from a body of water, the method of comprising the steps of:

receiving water through a weir opening in a tank;

skimming water received through the weir opening;

subjecting the received water to ultraviolet light within the same tank;

sensing the water level in a pump chamber; and

operating a bypass valve between the pump chamber and a skimmer chamber based upon a sensed water level.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of directing the water through a filter chamber.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of directing the water from a skimming chamber downward and toward an ultraviolet light chamber.

16. A method of treating water from a body of water, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving water through a weir opening located at an upper portion of an upright tank;

skimming water with a skimmer basket located downstream and approximately beneath the weir opening;

directing skimmed water through a unidirectional port defined in a lower portion of a partitioning wall of the upright tank to an ultraviolet light chamber within the same tank.

17. A skimmer and filter unit for use with a body of water, comprising:

a tank portion receiving water from a body of water;

a skimmer chamber within said tank portion; and

an ultraviolet light chamber within said same tank portion; and

wherein said ultraviolet light chamber comprises an interior and exterior defined by said tank portion, said interior for containing an ultraviolet light, said exterior for receiving a mount, said mount comprising mating slots for receiving a locking ring affixed to said ultraviolet light.

18. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 17 further comprising a pump chamber within said tank.

19. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 18 further comprising a bypass valve positioned between said pump chamber and said skimmer chamber.

20. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 17 further comprising a filter chamber within said tank portion.

21. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 20 wherein said ultraviolet light chamber is in fluid communication with said filter chamber.

22. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 20 further comprising a pump chamber, said pump chamber in fluid communication with said filter chamber.

23. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 17 wherein said tank portion comprises:

an upright approximately cylindrical tank; and

a neck extending from said tank, said neck comprising a weir faceplate assembly.

24. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 23 wherein said weir faceplate assembly comprises:

an interchangeable weir faceplate defining a weir opening;

a pivoting weir door

a weir divider slidable into mating slots of said neck to form a fluid conduit that coincides with the dimensions of said weir opening.

25. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 23 wherein said weir faceplate assembly comprises a locking tab for securing a weir door in a closed position.

26. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 17 further comprising an interlocking lid mating to said tank portion for reducing deformation of said tank portion by an environment.

27. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 26 wherein said lid comprises a coarse exterior surface for increased frictional contact with external surroundings.

28. The skimmer and filter unit of claim 17 wherein said ultraviolet light chamber is in fluid communication with said skimmer chamber.