pH balancing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9416034-B2
Application number	US-32052609-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2009
Priority date	Jan 28, 2009
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for dispensing a pH balancing solution are provided. The apparatus includes a system having a chlorine generator with a power supply coupled to the chlorine generator, the chlorine generator servicing a body of water and chlorinating it. A pH monitoring and balancing unit is provided. The pH monitoring and balancing unit monitors and measures when power is supplied from the power supply to the chlorine generator to produce chlorine and thereby calculates an operational time for the chlorine generator. A pH monitoring and balancing unit controller is also provided, the pH monitoring and balancing unit controller computing an estimated pH level based on the production of the chlorine generator from the operational time measured and then determining if the estimated pH is outside of a desired range, and, if it is outside of the desired range, metering a discrete amount of pH balancing solution based on this estimated pH level to return the pH of the body of water to within the desired range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pH balancing solution dispensing system, comprising:
a salt chlorine generator system serving a body of water, the salt chlorine generator system having an on or operational state and a non-operational state, wherein when in the operational state the salt chlorine generator system produces chlorine through an electrolytic process at a salt chlorine generator cell in communication with a flow of water from the body of water;
a pH monitoring and balancing unit coupled to the salt chlorine generator system and having
a pH monitoring and balancing unit controller configured to at least measure the time the salt chlorine generator system is in the operational state, calculate an estimated pH of body of water based on the measured time the salt chlorine generator is in the operational state, and determine if the estimated pH of the body of water is within a desired range; and
a pH balancing solution dispenser that is in communication with the controller, the pH balancing solution dispenser configured to dispense a specifically metered dose of pH solution when the estimated pH is outside of the desired range and report the dispensed amount back to the pH measuring and balancing controller to update the estimate of the pH of the body of water; and

a power monitoring element that detects a flow of energy into the salt chlorine generator system and reports it to the pH monitoring and balancing unit, wherein the power monitoring element is an inductor coil coupled to a power cord that connects a power supply to the salt chlorine generator system.

2. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a salt chlorine generator system controller monitoring the functions of the salt chlorine generator cell and its functions in producing chlorine through an electrolytic process.

3. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 2 , wherein the salt chlorine generator system controller and the pH monitoring and balancing controller are contained within a master controller within either the salt chlorine generator system or the pH balancing solution dispenser or separately housed outside of both.

4. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising an at least one dispensing mechanism, the dispensing mechanism dispensing the pH balancing solution into the body of water.

5. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 4 , wherein the dispensing mechanism is located in the salt chlorine generator system.

6. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 4 , wherein the dispensing mechanism is located externally from the salt chlorine generator system.

7. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 4 , wherein the dispensing mechanism is at least one of a dispensing pump, a peristaltic pump, a venturi feed system, a diaphragm pump, and a gravity feed tube.

8. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the salt chlorine generator system and the pH monitoring and balancing unit are coupled via a communications link.

9. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the salt chlorine generator system and the pH monitoring and balancing unit are coupled via a communications link to a master controller.

10. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment device to adjust the rate at which the pH balancing solution is dispensed depending on the specific variables of the body of water.

11. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a programmable interface screen.

12. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 11 , wherein software on the pH balancing and monitoring unit controller can be programmed through the programmable interface screen to adjust the dispensing rate for at least one of the type of smart salt chlorine generator, the volume of the body of water, and the amount of use the body of water receives.

13. A pH balancing solution dispensing system, comprising:
a salt chlorine generator;
a power supply coupled to the salt chlorine generator, the salt chlorine generator servicing a body of water and chlorinating it;
a pH monitoring and balancing unit, wherein the pH monitoring and balancing unit is coupled to and is at least configured to monitor and measure when power is supplied from the power supply to the salt chlorine generator to produce chlorine and calculate an operational time for the salt chlorine generator;
a pH monitoring and balancing unit controller configured to compute an estimated pH level of the body of water based on the production of chlorine by the salt chlorine generator calculated from the operational time of the salt chlorine generator and to determine if the estimated pH is outside of a desired range, and, if it is outside of the desired range, dispense a discrete amount of pH balancing solution based on this estimated pH level to return the pH of the body of water to within the desired range; and
a power monitoring element that detects a flow of energy into the salt chlorine generator and reports it to the pH monitoring and balancing unit, wherein the power monitoring element is an inductor coil coupled to a power cord that connects the power supply to the salt chlorine generator.

14. The pH balancing solution dispensing system of claim 13 , wherein the power supply that is coupled to the salt chlorine generator is also coupled to the a pH monitoring and balancing unit.

Assignees

• Johnson Bruce
• Doyle Kevin
• Schulte Keith
• Pentair Water Pool & Spa Inc

Inventors

• Johnson Bruce
• Doyle Kevin
• Schulte Keith

Classifications

• C02F1/66 Primary

  by neutralisation; pH adjustment (for degassing C02F1/20; using ion-exchange C02F1/42; for flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities C02F1/52; for removing dissolved compounds C02F1/58) · CPC title

• C02F1/008

  Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F · CPC title

• C02F2209/06

  pH · CPC title

• C02F2103/42

  from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools · CPC title

• C02F1/4674

  with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine · CPC title