Salt dispensing system

Abstract

An automated salt dispensing system operating in conjunction with an at least one salt chlorine generator with a controller, an at least one water supply pipe with an at least one inflow and an at least one outflow, an at least one water diversion pipe, an at least one actuator in communication with the controller and controlling a control valve, said control valve being coupled to said at least one water supply and said at least one diversion pipe and diverting water into said water diversion pipe. The invention further includes an at least one brine solution holding tank; and an at least one pressure differential device, wherein the at least one brine solution holding tank is coupled to said at least one pressure differential device and the controller signals the actuator and the control valve diverts water from the water supply pipe into the water diversion pipe and the at least pressure differential device draws brine solution from an at least one brine solution holding tank into the water supply line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail by way of the drawings, where the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar features.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system perspective of an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention in a fill mode.

FIG. 2 shows a further system perspective of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 of the instant invention in a drain mode.

FIG. 3 shows a system perspective of an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention in the draining mode using two actuators.

FIG. 4 shows a system perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a dual water line version of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 shows a system perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a dual water line version of the instant invention with an acid compensator.

FIG. 6A is a flow chart of a exemplary method of operation for an exemplary embodiment of the salt dispensing system.

FIG. 6B is a flow chart of an exemplary method of operation for still another an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a further method of operation for yet another exemplary embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment of a user interface for the instant invention.

Claims

1. An automated salt dispensing system operating in conjunction with an at least one salt chlorine generator, comprising: a controller;an at least one water supply pipe with an at least one inflow end and an at least one outflow end;an at least one water diversion pipe;an at least one actuator in communication with the controller and controlling a control valve, said control valve being coupled to said at least one water supply and said at least one diversion pipe and diverting water into said water diversion pipe;an at least one brine solution holding tank having water and salt contained therein forming a brine solution; andan at least one pressure differential device, wherein the at least one brine solution holding tank is coupled to said at least one pressure differential device and the controller signals the actuator and the control valve diverts water from the water supply pipe into the water diversion pipe and the at least one pressure differential device draws brine solution from an at least one brine solution holding tank into the water supply line.

2. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising an at least one sensor for detecting an at least one condition of the automated salt dispensing system.

3. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the at least one condition is at least one of a condition of the chlorinator, a condition of the water supply at the outflow end, a condition of the water supply at the inflow-end, a condition of the brine solution and a condition of the brine solution tank.

3. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor for detecting a condition of the automated salt dispensing system detects at least one of a salinity, a volume, a temperature, a chlorine level, and a ph level within the system.

4. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the sensed conditions include measuring pH anywhere in the system and transmitting this information to the controller to adjust the diversion of water, the drawing of brine solution or a combination of the diversion of water and drawing of brine solution within the system.

5. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor provides data on the volume and status of the water within the system, including at least one of the salinity, volume of water passing the sensor, water temperature, chlorine levels, and pH levels.

6. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 3, further comprising a brine solution water supply line for supplying water to said brine solution tank wherein the at least one sensor includes an at least one sensor measuring the conditions of the brine solution and the brine tank including at least one of the temperature of the incoming water supplied by the brine solution water supply line, the time the water supplied by the brine solution water supply line is in the brine tank, the form of salt in the brine solution tank, the type of salt in the brine solution tank, and the flow characteristics within the brine tank.

7. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the at least one pressure differential device is a venturi device.

8. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 7, further comprising a brine solution water supply line for supplying water to said brine solution tank.

9. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 8, wherein a low flow rate within the diversion line results in a positive pressure at the venturi device and fills the brine tank with water through the diversion line acting as the brine solution water supply line.

10. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 8, wherein a high flow rate within the diversion line results in a negative pressure at the venture device and draws brine solution from the brine tank.

11. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the at least one salt-chlorine generator is a single salt chlorine generator.

12. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the at least one salt-chlorine generator is a plurality of chlorine generators.

13. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the at least one actuator is a single actuator.

14. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the single actuator is a 3-way actuated valve.

15. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the at least one actuator is a first actuator and a second actuator.

16. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the first and second actuators are 3-way actuated valves.

17. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the first actuator is placed so as to control a flow of water into the diversion line and second actuator is placed so as to control the flow of water into and out of the brine solution tank.

18. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, further comprising a level sensor sensing the level of brine solution in the brine tank.

19. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the brine tank level sensor is a float with a float position sensor.

20. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, further comprising an at least one acid compensator.

21. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the inflow end and outflow end are in communication with a body of water.

22. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the body of water is a pool or spa.

23. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 2, wherein the controller stores data from the at least one sensor.

24. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 23, wherein the controller provides for historic data storage and retrieval of data from the sensors with the aid of an at least one computer-readable media.

25. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 23, further comprising an at least one computer-readable media and a transmitting device for transmitting the data via wired or wireless communication to at least one of outside controllers, computers, storage media, or handheld devices.

26. The automated salt dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the pressure differential device further comprises at least one of a gravity pump, a powered pump, and a systolic pump.

27. An automated salt dispensing system operating in conjunction with an at least one salt chlorine generator, comprising: a controller;a first water supply pipe of an at least two water supply pipes with an at least one inflow end and an at least one outflow end;a second water supply pipe of an at least two water supply pipes with an at least one inflow end and an at least one outflow end;an at least one brine solution holding tank having at least one of salt, water, and brine contained therein to form a brine solution and coupled to said a second water supply pipe of an at least two water supply pipes;an at least one actuator in communication with the controller and controlling a control valve, said control valve being coupled to said second water supply pipe of an at least two water supply pipes and said at least one brine solution holding tank, the control valve controlling the flow of water into the brine solution holding tank from the second water supply pipe; andan at least one pressure differential device, wherein the at least one brine solution holding tank is coupled to said at least one pressure differential device and the controller signals the at least one pressure differential device to withdraw brine solution and allow the brine solution to enter the first water supply line.

28. The automated salt dispensing system operating in conjunction with an at least one salt chlorine generator of claim 27, wherein the at least one actuator and the control valve diverts water from the first water supply pipe of an at least two water supply pipes into a water diversion pipe and the at least pressure differential device draws brine solution from an at least one brine solution holding tank into the water diversion pipe.

29. A method of operating a salt dispensing system with an at least one salt chlorine generator to treat water, comprising the method steps of: monitoring an at least one sensor for and detecting an indication of an add_salt condition;determining if dispensing is required and if dispensing is required, detecting salt solution levels in a brine tank and preparing the salt solution, but if sufficient salt solution is detected in the tank, skipping the fill step and going to the adding step;adding a measured amount of the salt solution to said water;interrogating the at least one sensor to detect if the add_salt condition exists; andrepeating the adding step if an add_salt condition is detected and if an add_salt condition is not detected shutting the salt dispensing system off or returning the salt dispensing system to the monitoring step.

30. The method of operating a salt dispensing system with an at least one salt chlorine generator to treat water of claim 29, wherein the determining step further comprises an analysis and determination if pausing for a period of time is needed for the required salt to saturate into the salt solution and pausing for such a period if it is so determined.

31. A computer system with software for operating a salt dispensing system operating in conjunction with an at least one salt chlorine generator, comprising: a monitoring code segment monitoring an at least one sensor for an indication of an add_salt condition in a flow of water within the salt dispensing system;a determining code segment, determining if dispensing is required and upon detection of an add_salt condition, wherein if dispensing is required the determining code segment detects salt solution levels in a brine solution tank and preparers the salt solution through the control of water within the salt dispensing system in conjunction with salt within the brine solution tank, but if sufficient salt solution is detected in the tank the determining code segment skips the preparation step and engages the adding segment;an adding code segment instructing the salt dispensing system to discharge a measured amount of the salt solution into said water;an interrogating code segment interrogating the at least one sensor to detect if the add_salt condition exists; anda return segment detecting whether an add_salt condition continues to exist and looping back to the adding code segment if an add_salt condition is detected and if an add_salt condition is not detected shutting the salt dispensing system off or returning the salt dispensing system to the monitoring code segment.