US3804253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for automatically maintaining chlorine concentration and ph of swimming pool water at predetermined levels
Assignee: WATERGUARD SYST Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-29
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Granted: 1974-04-16
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Expires: 1993-01-29
Abstract
Abstract First and second time clocks are utilized to set electronic circuitry, respectively, to a scheduled rate of chlorine injection cycles and to alternate selection of chlorine injection or injection of a pH correction material into a mixing chamber disposed in series with swimming pool pumping and filtering apparatus. The electronic circuitry includes an adjustable timer circuit which determines the duration between injection cycles, a monostable multivibrator which determines the duration of the injection phase, and fault detector circuits to indicate such conditions as: insufficient water in the mixing chamber, insufficient chlorine gas pressure, or an injection phase which is too lengthy. Faulty indication is removed upon correction of either of the first two faults, and direct disabling action is taken in case of the latter fault to protect the water system components against corrosion resulting from an unduly high concentration of the additive chemicals.
Inventors
- 👤 D Young
- 👤 R Wellman
- 👤 S Harrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:33
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/72; C02F1/76; C02F1/763; C02F2103/00; C02F2103/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
324 words
A system for maintaining the chlorine concentration and pH balance of a swimming pool including a recirculating pump and filter, said system comprising: A. a first time clock, said first time clock including first periodically actuated switch means; B. a second time clock, said second time clock including second periodically actuated switch means; C. a source of chlorine; D. a source of pH control material; E. a mixing chamber in circuit with said recirculating pump; F. first conduit means coupling said source of chlorine to said mixing chamber; G. a first solenoid-operated valve in said first conduit means for permitting transfer of chlorine from said source of chlorine to said mixing chamber when said first solenoid is energized; H. second conduit means coupling said source of pH control material to said mixing chamber; I. a second solenoid operated valve in said second conduit means for permitting transfer of pH control material from said source of pH control material to said mixing chamber when said second solenoid is energized; J. a timing circuit for periodically issuing injection pulses at predetermined intervals; K. rate means included in said timing circuit for varying the predetermined intervals at which predetermined pulses are issued in response to the state of said first periodically actuated switch means; L. solenoid driving means coupled to said timing circuit and responsive to the issuance of an injection pulse thereby to issue an energizing pulse of predetermined duration to one of said solenoid-operated valves from an energy source; and M. selection means selectively coupling said solenoid driving means to said first solenoid-operated valve and to said second solenoid-operated valve in response to the state of said second periodically actuated switch means; whereby either chlorine or pH control materiAl is injected into said mixing chamber at intervals for mixing with the swimming pool water according to the actuation of said first and second switch means under control, respectively, of said first and second time clocks.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
324 words
A system for maintaining the chlorine concentration and pH balance of a swimming pool including a recirculating pump and filter, said system comprising: A. a first time clock, said first time clock including first periodically actuated switch means; B. a second time clock, said second time clock including second periodically actuated switch means; C. a source of chlorine; D. a source of pH control material; E. a mixing chamber in circuit with said recirculating pump; F. first conduit means coupling said source of chlorine to said mixing chamber; G. a first solenoid-operated valve in said first conduit means for permitting transfer of chlorine from said source of chlorine to said mixing chamber when said first solenoid is energized; H. second conduit means coupling said source of pH control material to said mixing chamber; I. a second solenoid operated valve in said second conduit means for permitting transfer of pH control material from said source of pH control material to said mixing chamber when said second solenoid is energized; J. a timing circuit for periodically issuing injection pulses at predetermined intervals; K. rate means included in said timing circuit for varying the predetermined intervals at which predetermined pulses are issued in response to the state of said first periodically actuated switch means; L. solenoid driving means coupled to said timing circuit and responsive to the issuance of an injection pulse thereby to issue an energizing pulse of predetermined duration to one of said solenoid-operated valves from an energy source; and M. selection means selectively coupling said solenoid driving means to said first solenoid-operated valve and to said second solenoid-operated valve in response to the state of said second periodically actuated switch means; whereby either chlorine or pH control materiAl is injected into said mixing chamber at intervals for mixing with the swimming pool water according to the actuation of said first and second switch means under control, respectively, of said first and second time clocks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 in which said solenoid driving means include a monostable multivibrator having a predetermined time constant corresponding to the duration of said energizing pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 2 which further includes safety shutdown means responsive to the issuance of an energizing pulse by said solenoid driving means which exceeds, by a predetermined amount, the predetermined duration of said energizing pulse by decoupling said energy source from said solenoid-operated valves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 3 which further includes means responsive to the activation of said safety shutdown means for energizing a visual fault indicator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system of claim 4 which further includes: A. pressure switch means coupled to said source of chlorine and adapted to change state when the pressure in said source of chlorine drops below a predetermined minimum; B. temporary disabling means included in said solenoid driving means for selectively inhibiting application of said energizing pulses to said solenoid-operated valves; and C. means coupling said pressure switch means to said temporary disabling means whereby said temporary disabling means is activated when the pressure in said source of chlorine drops below said predetermined minimum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 5 which further includes means responsive to activation of said temporary disabling means for energizing said visual fault indicator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 4 which further includes: A. a pair of spaced apart conductive probe means extending into said mixing chamber; B. temporary disabling means included in said solenoid driving means for selectively inhibiting application of said energizing pulses to said solenoid-operated valve; and C. means coupling said probe means to said temporary disabling means is activated when no liquid conducting path is present between said probes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 7 which further includes means responsive to the activation of said temporary disabling means for energizing said fault indicator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 8 which further includes: A. pressure switch means coupled to said source of chlorine and adapted to change state when the pressure in said source of chlorine drops below a predetermined minimum; and B. means coupling said pressure switch to said temporary disabling means whereby said temporary disabling means is activated when the pressure in said source of chlorine drops below said predetermined minimum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-15 | 1977-10-15 | 1978-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-15 | 1981-10-15 | 1982-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-15 | 1985-10-15 | 1986-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |