Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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86:HAC
1 UNIVERSAL CHLORINATOR MODULE
2~ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention. This invention pertains to a
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chlorinator useful with dry chlorine material for automati-
cally adding a selected amount of chlorine to water circulated
through a swimming pool.
2S Review of the Prior Art. U.S. Patent 3,899,425 shows,
in FIG. 3 thereof, a chlorinator which is useful with the
modular filter assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the patent.
This chlorinator has several desirable features, including
its usefulness with dry or pelletized chlorine material,
3 its structural and operational simplicity, and its relatively
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low cost, in addition to its compatibility with the modular
filter assembly. The filter assembly and the chlorinator
described in Patent 3,899,425 are commercially available
and, since first being introduced, have enjoyed considerable
commercial success.
Experience with the chlorinator described in Patent
3,899,425 has shown that it suffers from certain problems.
No problem is encountered when water flows continuously
through the chlorinator. However, in most instances, the
problem occurs when the flow of water through the chlorinator
i5 interrupted for a period of several hours every day. In
a home swimming pool installation in which a circulation
system is provided, the timer-controlled circulation pump
operates only part of the day. When no water flows through
the filter assembly with which the prior chlorinator is
used, water is often trapped in the lower portion of the
chlorinator chamber. This residual water within the chlorin-
ator is in direct contact with the soluble granular or
pelletized chlorine material which dissolves to form a
highly chlorinated water charge in the chlorinator. When
the circulation pump is next turned on, a charge of over-
chlorinated water is injected into the swimming pool. The
result is that, despite its many advantages and great com-
mercial success, the chlorinator described in Patent
3,899,425 often presents the problem of over-chlorination
of the pool and waste of dry chlorine material.
In the chlorinator shown in Patent 3,899,425, the
position of the valve which controls the rate of flow of
water through the chlorinator chamber is set with respect
to normal operating conditions which correspond to periods
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when the pool circulation pump is operating. Any chlorina-
tion effect occurring during periods when the circulating
pump is not operating is a chlorinating effect in excess
of that desired and is, as a practical matter, very diffi-
cult to control or to compensate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
-
This invention provides a chlorinator which may be used
with a modular filter assembly of the type shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 of Patent 3,899,425, as well as with more conventional
tank-type filter assemblies, in the circulation and purifi-
cation system for a swimming pool. The present chlorinator
is used with granular or pelletized-dry chlorine material.
The present chlorinator provides contact between the dry
chlorine material and the pool water only during periods in
which the pool circulation pump is operative. The flow of
water through the chlorinator is more precisely regulated
to provide improved control over the concentration of chlorine
in the pool water. The present chlorinator is simple,
effective, efficient and economic.
Generally speaking, this invention provides a chlorinator
for use in swimming pool systems which have a filter assembly
and a pump for circulating water from the pool through the
filter assembly and back to the pool. The chlorinator com-
prises a housing which defines therein a selectively openable,airtight chamber. The chamber is adapted for receiving
therein a quantity of water-soluble dry chlorine material.
A water inlet port communicates to the chamber essentially
at the bottom thereof. A separate water outlet port com-
municates from the chamber essentially at the bottom of the
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chamber. The inlet port is adapted for connection theretoof an adjustably valved duct by which water to be chlorinated
can be applied to the inlet port. A check valve is coupled
to the outlet port for preventing water flow through the
outlet port to the chamber. The chlorinator is connectible
in a pool system in parallel to the filter asse~bly, for
example.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features of this invention
are more fully set forth in the following description of a
presently preferred embodiment of the invention, which
description is presented with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chlorinator
installed in conjunction with a filter assembly according
to Patent 3,899,425;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, partially in cross-
section, illustrating the connection of the chlorinator
module to a filter module;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation view
of the check valve associated with the chlorinator outlet
port; and
FIG. 4 is an elevatio~ view showing the use of the
chlorinator with a tank-type filter in a swimming pool
circulation system.
.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIME:NT
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FIG. 1 shows a chlorinator 8 as used with a modular
filter assembly 9 of the type described in U.S. Patent
3,899,425. The assembly is composed of individual filter
modules 10. The details of filter assembly 9 are set
forth in Patent 3,899,425 to which reference is made.
Briefly, however, the several modules 10 are each located
on a support member 12 which is of channel-like form having
a base 14 and a pair of upwardly extending walls 16 and 18
The filter system has an intake manifold 20 having T con-
nections 22 and 24 to the individual rows of filter modules.
One end of inlet manifold 20 is closed with a cap 26, the
other end of the manifold being open to serve as the inlet
opening for water flow to the filter assembly. The output
from the assembly 9 is via an outlet manifold 28 which has
T connections 30 and 32 to the rows of filter modules and
a cap 34 at one end. The other end of the outlet manifold
is open to serve as the outlet opening from the filter
assembly.
Each filter module includes a base 36, an upright
cylindrical body 38 connected to the base, and a removable
cap 40. Preferably, the inlet and outlet manifolds and the
individual filter module bodies are all fabricated from
polyvinyl chloride moldings or tubing. The body of each
filter module conveniently is made from 3 inch diameter
polyvinyl chloride pipe.
As shown in FIG. 2, each filter module 10 inciudes
an annual elongate filter cartridge 11 which is disposed
within the module body circumferentially around a tube 13.
The tube has its upper end 15 located adjacent the upper
lO~
end of the filter element just below the module cap or,
in the case of the filter module to which chlorinator 8
is mounted, just below the base 17 of the chlorinator.
The lower end of tube 12 has its outer circumference
sealed to the bottom of the chamber in which the filter
element 11 is located. The inner end of the tube communi-
cates through the module base 36 to a duct 19 by which the
tube is connected to the outlet manifold 28 of the filter
assembly 9. The chamber inside which the filter element
11 is located is connected to the inlet manifold 20. As
shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the filter element 11
snugly abuts against the lower end of chlorinator base 17
or of cap 40, as the case may be; the lower end of each
filter element is sealed to the bottom of the element chamber.
During operation of the filter assembly, water is supplied
by a pump tnot shown, but compare FIG. 4) to the inlet
manifold 20 and into each of the filter modules.
The water flow path in each module 10 is upwardly
around the outer circumference of the filter element 11, and
radially through the filter element into the annulus within
the element around the circumference of the tube 13.
Water then flows upwardly along the exterior of tube 13
toward the upper end of the filter module where it enters
the interior of the tube to pass to the outlet manifold 28.
The only way water can flow from the inlet to each filter
chamber to the interior of a tube 13 is by this flow path.
Accordingly, a substantial pressure drop exists between the
inlet to each filter module and the interior of the tube 13
within the module. This pressure drop is relied upon to
assure proper operation of chlorinator 8 when a cap 40 from
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one of the filter modules 10 is removed and the chlorinator
is connected to that filter module in place of the cap,
as shown in FIG. 2
Chlorinator 8 includes a base 17, a cylindrical body
19, and a removable covering cap 21. Preferably the base,
the body and the cap are fabricated of polyvinyl chloride;
the doby conveniently can be a length of 3 inch diameter
PVC pipe. The base has an internally threaded circum-
ferential skirt 23 ky which the base is connected to one
of filter modules 10 in place of module cap 40. The base
also has an annular skirt 27 which extends coaxially of
skirt 23 from the opposite side of a web portion 29 which
forms the partition between the chlorination chamber 35
and the filtration chamber of the filter ~odule. One end
of body 19 is disposed within the solvent welded to skirt 27
to affix the base to the body. A molded, externally threaded
sleeve 31 is affixed to the opposite end of body 19 to
receive internally threaded cap 21. ~n O-ring 33 cooperates
as a gasket between the sleeve and cap 21 to provide an
airtight seal between the sleeve and the cap when the cap
is threaded onto the sleeve. Thus, the interior of the
chlorinator defines an airtight chamber 35 which is
selectively openable on removal of cap 21.
An inlet port 37 communicates to the interior of
chlorinator chamber 35, essentially at the bottom thereof,
through a side wall of the chamber. Preferably the inlet
port is defined by a tapped hole through the skirt 27 and
body 19 and into which a molded plastic elbow 39, having
an integral tubing connection, is screwed. An outlet port
41 communicates to chamber 35 through the bottom of the
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chlorinator, i.e., through the web 29 of base 19 coaxially
of the base. The coaxial positioning of outlet port 41
allows a check valve 42, coupled to the chlorinator at
the outlet port, to project into the upper end of tube
13 in the filter module to which the chlorinator is
connected; see FIG. 2~
Check valve 42 is shown in detail in FIG. 3. The
preferred valve is of the ball type arranged to prevent
flow of water into chamber 35 through the outlet ports.
The outlet port 41 from chamber 35 is tapped, and the
coupling of the check valve to the outlet port is via
external threads on the upper end of the check valve assembly.
Preferably, the length of the check valve assembly along
the axis of the chlorinator is less than the extent of
skirt 23 along the same axis so that the check valve is
located entirely within the recess bounded by skirt 23.
The lower exterior portion of the check valve can be tapered,
as at 43, to facilitate the connection of a length of tubing
to the chlorinator outlet port via the check valve.
To complete the installation of chlorinator 8 to filter
assembly 9, a duct is connected to elbow 39 and also to a
similar elbow 45 which provides communication to intake
manifold 20 through end cap 26. If chlorinator 8 is being
added to an existing filter assembly 9, then the connection
of elbow 45 to cap 26 will require that a hole be drilled
and tapped in the intake manifold end cap. A valve 46 is
provided in duct 44.
It has been found that certain synthetic resins are
; very satisfactory materials for equipment and accessories
for swimming pools, particularly in association with pool
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chlorination systems. It is therefore pre,erred, as noted
above, that chlorinator 8 including check valve 42,
elbows 39 and 45 and duct 44 be fabricated of synthetic
materials. A preferred duct is a heavy wall flexible vinyl
tubing, and a preferred control valve mechanism 46 (as
shown in FIG. 1) is of the pinch type through which the
tubing extends. The valve 46 should be operable through
a range from complete closure of the duct to an essentially
full-open condition.
To install chlorinator 8 on the filter assembly 9,
one merely removes one of caps 40 from one of the filter
modules 10 and screws the chlorinator module to that filter
module. As the chlorinator is screwed into place, the
chlorinator check valve 42 is automatically inserted into
the upper end of the exit tube 13 of the filter module.
Elbow 45 is connected to the intake manifold, and duct 44
and valve 46 are connected as described. This is done at
a time when no water is flowing through the filter assembly.
At first, valve 46 is placed in its closed position. The
chlorinator cap is removed, a charge of suitable "dry"
chlorine material 48 is loaded into chamber 35, and the
cap 21 is securely re-engaged with the chlorinator body
to reestablish the airtight integrity of chamber 35. Then,
the pump for the filter assembly is turned on and valve 46
is opened to either a full ON or partial ON position
The water pressure in intake manifold 20 is greater
than the water pressure in outlet tube 13 in any of the
filter modules. Thus, water flows through inlet port 37
into the chlorinator chamber 35 and via check valve 42
through outlet port 41. The water pressure at the inlet
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port 37, ev~n as partially throttled by valve 46, is
greater than atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, during
periods when water flows through the chlorinator chamber,
the level of water in the chlorinator is at some inter-
mediate location between the top and bottom of the
chlorinator chamber. The precise location of the air-water
interface is dependent upon the pressure differential which
exists between the chlorinator inlet and outlet ports.
This differential obviously is affected by secondary factors
such as the head loss associated with the ducting and valving
between the inlet manifold and the inlet port, and the
pressure losses associated with the check valve 42. Control
valve 46 is adjusted on a trial and error basis until the
proportion of water flowing through the chlorinator, rela-
tive to the volume of water passing through the filter
assembly overall, is so adjusted that an appropriate level
of chlorination is maintained in the swimming pool.
When the pool circulation pump is not operative, the
pressure of water presented to inlet port 37 drops so that
the compressed air bubble in the upper extent of the
chlorinator chamber can expand to its initial volume which
is that of chamber 35. Accordingly, when the circulation
pump is shut down, there is no water in the chlorination
chamber and no chlorinating action takes place.
As shown in FIG. 4, chlorinator 8 can be used to
advantage with a tank-type filter 50. The chlorinator
usually is coupled in parallel with the filter. Thus, in a
typical pool system, a circulation pump 51 has its inlet
connected to receive water from a swimming pool 52 and has
its outlet connected by a supply pipe 53 to filter 50. The
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filter has an outlet pipe 54 which is connected to the
inlet of a pool heater if a pool heater is provided;
otherwise, the filter outlet pipe 54 is connected directly
back to swimming pool 52. To install chlorinator 8 in the
swir~ming pool system illustrated in FIG. 4, the inlet port
of the chlorinator is connected to tubing 44 and control
valve 46 to the filter supply pipe 53. The outlet port of
the chlorinator is connected by a length of tubing 56 to
the filter outlet pipe 54. Preferably, tubing 56 has one
end connected to the check valve associated with the chlori-
nator outlet port, the other end of tubing 56 being connected
to the filter outlet pipe via an elbow 57. The connection
of tubing 44 and 56 to the filter supply and outlet pipes,
respectively, via elbows 45 and 57 may require that holes
be drilled and tapped into the respective pipes. The
chlorinator may be positioned in any desired location relative
to filter 50. A convenient placement of the chlorinator is
on the side of the filter where it is held by suitable
straps or cords 59 around both the chlorinator body and the
filter tank. The chlorinator mounting must permit chlorinator
cap 21 to be removed periodically so that the charge of dry
chlorine material within the chlorinator can be replenished
as needed.
Workers skilled in the art to which this invention
pertains will readily appreciate that modifications,
alterations, or variations in the structures desaribed
above may be practiced consistent with the teachings of
the foregoing description and without departing from the
scope of this invention. The invention has been described
above with reference to the presently most-preferred
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embodiment of the chlorinator, as required by statute.
It is therefore apparent that the preceding description
is not exhaustive of all forms which chlorinators according
to this invention may take. Accordingly, the foregoing
description should not be considered as limiting the
scope of this invention.
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