Automatic pool and spa water leveler on a non-static line

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10031530-B2
Application number	US-201615362369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Nov 8, 2013
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A water level detection system in a pool, spa, fountain or water feature, the water level detection system being provided with a tap line coupled to a plumbing line on a suction or supply side of a filtration system and admitting water from the pool, spa, fountain or water feature such that the change in level of the water in the tap line corresponds to a change in level of the water in the pool, spa, fountain or water feature. A sensing module has at least one sensor for detecting the height of a column of water or the pressure of a column of air in the water tap line. A controller is coupled to the sensing module and adapted to collect the data from the sensors that detect changes in the level of the water level of the pool, spa, fountain or water feature, communicate the detection of such a change, and report such a change to initiate addition or removal of water from the pool, spa, fountain or water feature body of water to adjust the water level in the body of water to a set point.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water level detection system in a body of water, said body of water being at a specified water level, the water level detection system comprising:
a tap line admitting water from the pool such that the change in level of the water in the tap line corresponds to a change in level of the water;
a sensing module, the sensing module mounted to the tap line and having at least one sensor detecting the height of a column of water in the tap line; and
a controller adapted to collect data from the at least one sensor that detects changes in the level of the height of the column of water, communicate the detection of a change, and report a change to initiate addition or removal of water from the body of water to adjust the water level in the body of water to a set point water level.

2. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the controller prior to initiating adding or removing water from the body of water confirms non-operation of a pump in the filtration system.

3. The water level detection system of claim 2 , wherein the controller further locks out operation of the pump in the filtration system during the adding or removing of water from the body of water.

4. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the controller of the water level detection system is further coupled to and communicates with a pump controller.

5. The water level detection system of claim 4 , wherein the pump controller senses the water level detection system status and communicates when the pump in the filtration system is active.

6. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing module is contained in a housing connected to the tap line.

7. The water level detection system of claim 6 , wherein the tap line is a pressurized tap pipe.

8. The water level detection system of claim 6 , wherein the pressurized tap line is a selectively-pressurized tap pipe.

9. The water level detection system of claim 8 , further comprising an automated pressure valve coupled to the controller and operating to allow air in an interior of the housing to selectively pressurize or depressurize to ambient air.

10. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module includes at least one of an at least one temperature sensor, an at least one pressure sensor and an at least one water column height sensor.

11. The water level detection system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one column height sensor is at least one of an at least one ultrasonic sensor, capacitive sensors, radar sensors, and time of flight sensors.

12. The water level detection system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor is at least one of an at least one an absolute pressure sensor, a gauge pressure sensor, a vacuum pressure sensor, a differential pressure sensor, a piezoresistive strain gauges, a capacitive sensor, an electromagnetic sensor a piezoelectric sensor, an optical sensor, and potentiometric sensor.

13. The water level detection system of claim 1 , further comprises a controlled valve controlling a water supply line coupled to the plumbing line and the water level controller or a drain line coupled to the plumbing line and the water level controller.

14. The water level detection system of claim 13 , wherein the controller communicates with the controlled valve to control admission of water from the water supply line in a fill operation to a target point or fill point.

15. The water level detection system of claim 14 , wherein the controller utilizes a pressure differential sensed in the tap line to determine whether the fill operation has reached an absolute level.

16. The water level detection system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further adapted to provide a pressure offset of a target pressure during the fill operation to account for instantaneous pressure spikes that appear during the fill operation.

17. The water level detection system of claim 14 , wherein the controller utilizes direct measurement of the height of a column of water in the tap line to determine whether the fill operation has reached an absolute level.

18. The water level detection system of claim 14 , wherein the controller further monitors the instantaneous change in the pressure to measure and compensate for instantaneous pressure changes due to changing demands on the water supply line during the fill operation.

19. The water level detection system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to monitor real time fill rates.

20. The water level detection system of claim 19 , wherein when the sensed increase in height of the water level in the pool is not detected to be proportional to the monitored real time fill rate at a particular point the controller stops the filling operation.

Assignees

• Pentair Water Pool & Spa Inc

Inventors

• Reddy Rakesh
• Johnson Bruce
• Doyle Kevin

Classifications

• Y10T137/7303

  Control of both inflow and outflow of tank · CPC title

• G01F23/00

  Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm · CPC title

• E04H4/14

  Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B05B17/08

  Fountains (drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16) · CPC title

• G05D9/12 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title