Patent Application
20070094784
A bathing system such as a spa typically includes a vessel for holding water, pumps, a blower, water jets, a light, a heater and a control for managing these features. A bathing system may include an air system which permits air to be entrained within a water stream to be jetted into the vessel. The control may include a control panel and a series of switches which connect to the various components with electrical wire.
Features and advantages of the disclosure will be readily appreciated by persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description and in the several figures of the drawing, like elements are identified with like reference numerals.
In an exemplary embodiment, service voltage power is supplied to the spa control system by electrical service wiring 15, which can be 120V or 240V single phase 60 cycle, 220V single phase 50 cycle, or any other generally accepted power service suitable for commercial or residential service. An earth ground 16 is connected to the control system and there through to all electrical components which carry service voltage power and all metal parts. Electrically connected to the control system through respective cables 9 and 11 are the control panels 8 and 10. All components powered by the control system are connected by cables 14 suitable for carrying appropriate levels of voltage and current to properly operate the spa. Water is drawn to the plumbing system generally through the skimmer 12 or suction fittings 17, and discharged back into the vessel through jets 18.
In an exemplary embodiment, the jets 18 have air injection ports or fittings 21, connected to air hoses 22 which, in turn, are connected to an air manifold 23. The air injection ports 21 may be in communication with the water side of the jets 18. The operation of the jets 18 draw air into the water stream 33 (
In an exemplary embodiment, the air manifold 23 may be a common source of air for more than one therapy jet. In other embodiments, more than one air manifold 23, each with its own air inlet valve 24 or valves, may provide separate sources of air to different sets of jets 18. The air manifold 23 may be mounted above the water level 28 (
In an exemplary embodiment, an air inlet valve 24 may be opened or closed to lift a valve plate 25 from an air system air inlet port 26. When the air inlet valve 24 is open, air may be drawn into the manifold. When the air inlet valve 24 is closed, air may be prevented from being drawn into the manifold.
In an exemplary embodiment, the air inlet valve 24 may be an electronically controlled valve, including for example a solenoid valve actuator. In an exemplary embodiment, the current or power provided to operate the air inlet valve is controlled by or through the control system 2. Operation of the air inlet valve may also be controlled by a user at the control panels 8 and/or 10. Various operational sequences may be pre-programmed into the electronic control system, and a user may select among the various pre-programmed operational sequences at the control panel 8, 10, as described below with respect to
In an exemplary embodiment, the air injection system 30 comprises an air manifold 23. The air manifold 23 may be a cylindrical tube and may be constructed from PVC piping. The air injection system 30 may have at least one air inlet valve 24 and at least one air outlet port 27. In an exemplary embodiment, an air manifold 23 may have a plurality of air outlet ports 27 which provide air to a plurality of jets 18. In an exemplary embodiment, a spa may have a plurality of air manifolds, each providing air to different groups of jets.
In an exemplary embodiment, the air inlet valve 24 may be a solenoid operated valve. The air inlet valve 24 may be spring-biased to be normally closed and may open upon receipt of an electrical signal. The air inlet valve may have a valve plate 25 which may cover an air system air inlet port 26 when in the closed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the air inlet valve 24 may be opened when an electrical current is applied to it. The electrical signal may cause the valve to retract and lift the valve plate 25 from the air inlet port 26.
In an exemplary embodiment, the spa air injection system 30 may comprise at least one water jet 18. The fluid dynamics, for example the venturi effect of the water stream 33 flowing through the jet 18, create a region of low pressure, or vacuum, within the jet 18. At this region of low pressure or vacuum, the water jet 18 may have an air injection port 21 which is connected to the manifold 23, for example through tubes 22. Since the air outside of the air system air inlet port 26 may be at ambient air pressure, for example atmospheric air pressure, if the air inlet valve 24 is open while the water stream 33 is flowing through the jet 18, a pressure gradient will develop between the ambient air pressure outside the manifold and the vacuum generated at the jet 18. The air pressure gradient may tend to draw air 32 into the air inlet port 26, through the manifold 23, the tubes 22 and into the jet, where it creates air bubbles 34 which are jetted into the vessel along with the water stream 33.
In an exemplary embodiment, the jet 18 may have a check-valve 29, for example a ball check valve, which may be spring-biased to be closed when no vacuum (or insufficient vacuum) is present to cause the valve to open against the spring force. A lack of vacuum or low vacuum may occur, for example, when no or insufficient water flow is present. No water flow may be present, for example, when a water pump shuts off, when the water line is plugged, or when the water/air jet inlet into the spa is stopped up, for example when a user leans against the jet during use. In an exemplary embodiment, the check valve 29 may prevent water from backing up into the air system.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spa controller may be programmed to open or shut the air inlet valve 24 in response to certain other conditions. For example,
In an exemplary embodiment, the controller 2 (
In an exemplary embodiment, programming the controller to prevent the air inlet valve from remaining open indefinitely may improve the efficiency of the spa system. For example, when the air valve is open, the water/air mix injected into the spa through the water jet includes both the water—which may be warmed to a temperature above ambient air temperature—and air, which may be drawn from ambient air which may be at an ambient air temperature which is lower than the spa water. If the valve were to remain open indefinitely, the heater on the spa may use more energy to maintain the temperature of the water at the desired temperature due to the continuing injection of lower-temperature air. If the spa is unoccupied while the valve is left open, the benefits to the user of having the air bubbles injected into the spa may not offset the increased operating costs of heating the air-cooled water. By shutting the air inlet valve after a pre-determined amount of time, the spa system prevents the valve from remaining open indefinitely after use. This may save energy where it reduces the load on the system heater.
In an exemplary embodiment, the controller may be pre-programmed with various, different air inlet valve operational sequences 120, for example massage sequences, as shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the various operational sequences may comprise, for example, massage sequences. The operational sequence may cause the air system to provide sequences of air bubbles which provide a specific sequence of massing bubbles available to a user. The combined effect of the water stream 33 and the entrained air bubbles 34 (
The controller 2 may receive input data or signals from a variety of sources. For example, the controller 2 may receive a start signal, which prompts the controller 2 to start operation of the air inlet valve 24 according to an operational sequence 120. The start signal may be received from a user operated manual start switch 43 located at a control panel 8 or auxiliary control panel 10. The controller may also receive a manual stop signal, initiated by a manual stop switch 44 on a control panel 8, 10. A user may be able to select from among the various operational sequences 120 by inputting a selection at an operational sequence select switch 45, which may be located at a control panel 8, 10. The controller may also receive input from a flow sensor 46. The controller may shut the air inlet valve 24 or stop an operational sequence 120 upon receipt of a signal indicative of a no flow or low flow condition.
It is understood that the above-described embodiments merely illustrate the possible specific embodiments which may represent principles of the present invention. Other arrangements may readily be devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/715,323 filed Sep. 7, 2005, hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60715323 | Sep 2005 | US |
