Power supplies for pool and spa equipment

• US 9,502,907 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Potucek, Kevin L., Willis, Dennis, Sumonthee, Jeffrey, Renaud, Benoit J., Philhower, Douglas H., Forsythe, Patrick J., Normyle, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOMONE, CHRISTOPHER P
• Application Number:
  US13/316,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20120222997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1672 Connections to the pool water circulation system
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Power supplies for pool and spa equipment are disclosed. In one embodiment, the power supply includes a buoyant housing, a peripheral float, at least one solar cell positioned on the buoyant housing for collecting sunlight and converting same to electrical energy, and a power cable for interconnecting the power supply and pool/spa equipment. In other embodiments, first and second inductive power couplings are provided for powering pool and spa equipment. The power couplings can also be installed using existing plumbing features of the pool or spa.

Claims

1. A power supply for powering pool or spa equipment, comprising:

a power supply unit external to a pool or a spa;

a first inductive power coupling including an inductor circuit, said first inductive power coupling in electrical communication with the power supply unit and at least partially embedded in a wall of the pool or spa;

a second inductive power coupling including an inductor circuit, said second inductive power coupling received by said first inductive power coupling in the pool or spa, wherein the inductor circuit of the first power coupling inductively transmits power from the power supply to the inductor circuit of the second inductive power coupling for powering a cleaner in a pool or spa connected to the second inductive power coupling;

a cable interconnecting said second inductive power coupling with the, cleaner, the cable delivering electrical power to the cleaner and permitting movement of the cleaner relative to said first inductive power coupling while said second inductive power coupling is received by said first inductive power coupling; and

wherein the cleaner includes;

a rechargeable battery that is rechargeable by the power supply; and

a controller including control logic for determining when the rechargeable battery is low on battery power and, in response to detected low battery power, automatically navigating the cleaner to the first inductive power coupling so as to receive power from the first inductive power coupling to charge the rechargeable battery.

2. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the first inductive power coupling includes a housing defining a cavity for receiving the second inductive power coupling.

3. The power supply of claim 2, wherein the second inductive power coupling is configured to be inserted into the housing of the first inductive power coupling.

4. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the first and second inductive power couplings are flat plates, each including means for releasably securing the inductive power couplings to each other.

5. The power supply of claim 4, wherein the means for releasably securing the inductive power couplings to each other are magnetic.

6. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the second inductive power coupling is attached to and in electrical communication with the cleaner.

7. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises one or more of an A/C power supply, a battery, or a solar array.

8. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the first and second inductive power couplings operate as a transformer for changing one voltage level to a different voltage level.

9. The power supply of claim 1, wherein the first inductive power coupling is located in a docking area in a floor of a pool or a spa and the second inductive power coupling is located on-board the device, the first inductive power coupling inductively transmitting power to the second inductive power coupling when the device is positioned over the docking area.

10. The power supply of claim 9, wherein the docking area is a recess provided in a wall of a pool or a spa.

11. A power supply for powering pool or spa equipment, comprising:

a power supply unit external to a pool or a spa;

an inductive element embedded in a wall of the pool or spa and in electrical communication with the power supply unit;

an inductive circuit positioned within a pool cleaner, the inductive circuit inductively coupled with the inductive element and receiving electrical power therefrom for powering the device,

wherein the pool cleaner includes;

a rechargeable battery that is rechargeable by the power supply; and

a controller including control logic for determining when the rechargeable battery is low on battery power and, in response to detected low battery power, automatically navigating the pool cleaner to the inductive element so as to receive power from the inductive element to charge the rechargeable battery.

12. The power supply of claim 11, wherein the inductive element is integral with a bottom wall of a pool.

13. The power supply of claim 11, wherein the power supply unit comprises one or more of an A/C power supply, a battery, or a solar array.

14. A power supply for powering pool or spa equipment, comprising:

a power supply unit external to a pool or spa;

a first inductive power coupling including an inductor circuit, said first inductive power coupling in electrical communication with the power supply unit and positioned in an existing plumbing fixture of a pool or a spa;

a second inductive power coupling including an inductor circuit, said second inductive power coupling positionable proximate to said first inductive power coupling, wherein the inductor circuit of the first power coupling inductively transmits power from the power supply to the inductor circuit of the second inductive power coupling for powering a cleaner in a pool or spa connected to the second inductive power coupling; and

wherein the cleaner includes;

a rechargeable battery that is rechargeable by the power supply; and

a controller including control logic for determining when the rechargeable battery is low on battery power and, in response to detected low battery power, automatically navigating the cleaner to the first inductive power coupling so as to receive power from the first inductive power coupling to charge the rechargeable battery.

15. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the first inductive power coupling is positioned within a suction port of the pool or the spa.

16. The power supply of claim 15, wherein the second inductive power coupling is sized and shaped to be inserted into the suction port.

17. The power supply of claim 14, wherein the second inductive power coupling is attached to and in electrical communication with a pool cleaning device.