Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BYPASS SYSTEM TO CONTROL LIQUID VOLUME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates a novel bypass system to control liquid
volume.
More particularly, the invention relates to a system for use in the control
and
regulation of pumps, pumping installations and/or systems, and the control of
fluid
flow in general. This system will find particular, though not exclusive,
application with
bathing vessels such as pools, whirlpools, bathtubs, hot tubs and spas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Bathing vessels such as spas and hot tubs are very popular and
commercially
successful. These vessels are water holding enclosures (or reservoirs) that
are
typically constructed from a molded shell. The molded enclosures include one
or
more bathing spaces for use by one or more persons, and each bathing space
includes at least one jet (or nozzle) from which water can be discharged to
produce a
relaxing or therapeutic effect. The molded shell may be constructed from
fiberglass,
plastic or a polymer, or a composite of such materials, in keeping with
current
technology in the field.
[0003] One or more pumps are usually placed under the molded shell to draw
water
from the enclosure and discharge it, sometimes with air, into the enclosure
through a
plurality of jets of various types. The jets are frequently mounted through
the shell in
either or both of the floor or sidewall. Usually, jets mounted through the
sidewall are
located below the water line of the bathing vessel and are designed to provide
a
comforting or therapeutic effect to a person occupying a bathing space. Piping
is
provided between the various jets, pumps and water inlet ports, and is often
comprised of PVC pipes and flexible tubing. Various filters, heaters, cleaning
units
and diverter valves may also be provided, once again in keeping with known
technology.
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[0004] A person occupying a bathing space within a bathing vessel can orient
himself
in a selected position relative to the one or more jets to receive a vigorous
or
therapeutic massage action. However, in many cases, the bathing vessol has
only
one setting through which water flow through the jets can be regulated. This
is a
disadvantage for a bather who may wish to adjust the velocity or flow of water
that is
discharged through the jets of the bathing vessel.
[0005] Over the years a number of solutions have been proposed to provide
means
by which water flow or volume may be adjusted or regulated. For example, the
flow
rate of water may be controlled through the use of a regulating valve, as
described in
United States Patent No. 6,305,036 (Bergman), United States Patent No.
5,408,708
(Mathis) and United States Patent No. 4,679,258 (Henkin et al). Use of a valve
to
choke the outlet of the pump is an approach that has also been found to work
in
some instances. However, the success of this approach is largely dependent on
the
type of pump that is selected for the bathing vessel. For a pump that is
cooled by
liquid, since there is less water coming in, the pump's internal temperature
rises and
a temperature switch stops the motor. If a pressure switch is used when there
is not
enough liquid pressure in the system, the switch can be tripped and the motor
stopped in this way. In addition, while choking the outlet does result in a
reduction of
the volume of water running through the bathing vessel, it also increases the
noise
level of the whole system. This is an undesirable side effect.
[0006] Other means for controlling water flow include modifying the rotational
speed
of the pump, as described in United States Patent No. 5,151,017 (Sears et al),
United
States Patent Publication No. 2008/0168599 (Caudill et an, United States
Patent
Publication No. 2007/0114162 (Stiles et al) and United States Patent
Publication No.
2006/0045750 (Stiles), or providing bypass means on the pump, as described in
United States Patent No. 6,200,108 (Caudill et an, United States Patent No.
5,930,852 (Gravatt et an and United States Patent No. 5,172,754 (Graber et
al). Yet
another method involves injecting air in the water intake of the pump to
reduce the
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volume of water, as described in United States Patent No. 5,153,959
(Karlsson).
These approaches can be difficult to implement, and they can be expensive. For
these reasons, alternatives to pump-based methods to control water flow
continue to
be sought.
[0007] Inconveniently, some of the means suggested above do not allow
regulation of
the water flow or pressure by the bather. In addition, some of them result in
the
creation of an audible noise, which can lessen the enjoyment of the bathing
experience.
[0008] There is thus a need for an improved system for continuously regulating
the
flow of liquid from the pump which is simple, inexpensive, space-saving, and
which
do not increase the noise generated by the pump when it is in operation.
Ideally,
such a system would allow the bather to have some control over the flow rate
and
would not be labor-intensive to install in a bathing vessel.
[0009] The present invention seeks to meet this and related needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates to a bypass system to control water flow
in a
water holding enclosure, including bathing vessels such as pools, whirlpools,
baths,
spas and hot tubs. The system relies on the use of at least one bypass
plumbing
loop as well as a valve to control water flow through the water holding
enclosure.
[0011] The bypass system includes a pump water inlet, at least one pump water
outlet operably connected to said bypass water inlet and capable of releasing
water
under pressure passing from said inlet to said pump water inlet and a pump for
pumping said water received from said water inlet to said water outlet. The
pump
can be an axial flow pump or any pumping device suitable for the purposes
sought.
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[0012] The size, configuration and location of the bypass loop can be tailored
to meet
the needs of the particular design of the bathing vessel, or its intended
application.
As may be appreciated from the drawings, the bypass loop generally has a
lesser
overall length than the main reservoir loop. The invention may further include
a
plumbing connection (or "bridge" element) that extends from the bypass loop to
the
reservoir or bathing vessel.
[0013] The controlled-flow valve allows varying volumes of water or fluid to
be
directed through the main reservoir loop and the bypass loop. This in turn
affects the
pressure of the fluid as it is released or discharged through the jets of a
bathing
vessel, resulting in an effect that can be adjusted in accordance with the
bather's
needs or desires.
[0014] As will also be appreciated from the drawings, in certain embodiments a
control valve has been positioned at the junction of the main and bypass loops
or
piping systems for further control of the volume flow.
[0015] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will
become
apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of
embodiments
thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a bypass system that is based on the
teachings of the prior art;
[0017] Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of a bypass
system in
accordance with the present invention;
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[0018] Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of a bypass
system
in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a more intricate bypass system based
on
that shown in Figure 1;
[0020] Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a third embodiment of a bypass
system in
accordance with the present invention;
[0021] Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a fourth embodiment of a bypass
system in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0022] Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a fifth embodiment of a bypass
system in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] As used herein, the term "jet" or "fluid jet" refers to an orifice or
nozzle through
which a fluid such as water may be pumped, discharged or dispensed into a
fluid
enclosure such as a bathing vessel.
[0024] As used herein, the term "bathing vessel" refers to a water or liquid
enclosure
such as a pool, whirlpool, bath, spa, hot tub and the like. Bathing vessels
are
adapted to contain a fluid such as water and include one or more bathing
spaces to
be occupied by at least one person. Each bathing space includes one or more
jets
through which water is expelled while the bathing vessel is in use. The jets
may be
provided in various shapes and sizes to produce a variety of beneficial (i.e.,
therapeutic, relaxing, massaging, etc.) effects.
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[0025] For purposes of the present description, the terms "parallel" and
"bypass" are
used interchangeably.
[0026] Figure 1 shows a bypass system that is in keeping with the teachings of
the
known prior art: See, for example, European Patent Publication No. 0 268 941
Al
(Jacuzzi Europe Spa) and German Patent Publication No. DE 42 30 723 Al. The
bypass system, generally represented by the numeral 10, is configured within a
bathtub or reservoir 100. The bypass system 10 includes a main loop 20 that
circulates water through the bathtub or reservoir 100 and a bypass loop 30,
both of
which are connected to a pump 2. At least one water inlet 4 is operably
connected to
the pump 2 through at least one water outlet 6 and in this way is capable of
releasing
water under pressure passing from said inlet 4 to said water outlet 6 via said
pump 2.
The pump can be an axial flow pump or any pumping device suitable for the
purposes sought. Examples of pumps that are suitable for the present invention
include pumps having brush or brushiess motors that run either direct or
alternate
current (DC or AC). In addition, the motors may be of either the single or
multiphase
type An example of a pump that is suitable for the present invention is a
water-
cooled type, such as a Syllent pump (Mondial Inc.). This type of motor is
significantly
quieter than traditional motors, an important consideration for the purposes
of the
present invention.
[0027] The system shown in Figure 1 further includes a valve 8 which serves to
control the flow of water or fluid circulating through the bypass loop 30. By
varying
the quantity of water that is made to flow through the bypass loop 30, the
volume and
hence the pressure of the water that flows through the main loop 20 and
ultimately to
the bathtub or reservoir 100 via jets or nozzles (not shown) can be regulated.
The
valve that is selected may be manually adjusted by the bather, or
alternatively, it may
be electronically controlled either directly or indirectly, as known in the
art. The flow
can even be set to a chosen rhythm or musical score using, for example, a
valve
having a combination valve box and valve gate, as described in United States
Patent
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No. 6,305,036 (Bergmann) or an inverter-controlled circulating pump of the
type
described in United States Patent No. 5,457,826 (Haraga et al) in combination
with
the valve. The valves may be selected from gate, globe, ball or butterfly
valves, and
they may be operated either manually or electrically. Moreover, these valves
can be
of different types: Two-way (two-port), three-way (three-port, also called
"tri-way") or
multi-way. As may be seen in Figure 1, the valve 8 is positioned opposite to
the
pump 2 in the bypass loop 30.
[0028] As may be seen in Figure 2, which represents a first embodiment of the
present invention, the valve 9 is close to the outlet 6 of the pump 2 at a
junction
between the main loop 20 and the bypass loop 30. This valve 9 is a three-way
valve
which can divert, in different percentages, the liquid to the main loop 20 or
the
bypass loop 30.
[0029] Turning now to Figure 3, which shows a second embodiment of the present
invention, the valve 9 is close to the inlet 4 of the pump 2 at a junction
between the
main loop 20 and the bypass loop 30. This valve 9 is also three-way valve
which can
divert, in different percentage, the liquid to the main loop 20 or the bypass
30. The
advantage of the configuration of this system is that even if the valve is in
the intake
side of the pump, the pump remains filled with liquid at all times, with the
result that
the efficiency or the cooling of the liquid-cooled motor remains unaffected by
variations in water flow.
[0030] Figure 4 shows a slightly more intricate arrangement of the bypass
system
illustrated in Figure 1. Once again, the bypass system is shown generally by
the
numeral 10. The main and bypass loops are represented by the numerals 20 and
30, respectively. The pump 2 is preceded by an inlet 4 and followed by an
outlet 6,
and the valve and reservoir identified by the numerals 8 and 100,
respectively. This
arrangement is in effect similar to Figure 1, but it includes multiple
reservoir inlets.
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[0031] A third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5. The bypass
system
is represented generally by the numeral 10. This embodiment very closely
resembles the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 by having a tri-wa{y valve 9
positioned close to the outlet 6 of the pump 2. The inlet 4, main loop 20,
bypass loop
30 and reservoir 100 are approximately in the same positions as in Figure 2.
An
additional element of flow control has been introduced by including a second
valve 8
in a new plumbing connection (or "bridge" element) 40 that has been
established
between the reservoir 100 and the bypass loop 30. This in effect allows an
unlimited
number of possibilities for varying the quantity of liquid entering the
reservoir 100.
The liquid inlet 40 in the reservoir 100 can supply a different function in
the reservoir
and have different pressure while still being supplied by only one pump. A
variation
of this embodiment would involve repositioning and replacement of the second
valve
8, which is a two-way valve, by a valve 9, which is a three-way valve, at the
junction
between the additional plumbing connection and the bypass (or parallel piping)
system, as shown in Figure 7.
[0032] In yet another embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6, the
bypass
system is represented generally by the numeral 10. In this embodiment the tri-
way
valve 9 is positioned opposite to the pump 2 in the bypass loop 30. This tri-
way valve
9 also has a plumbing connection (or "bridge" element) 40 toward the reservoir
100.
A different element of flow control has been introduced by including this tri-
way valve
9. This permits more possibilities for varying the pressure and volume of
liquid
entering the reservoir 100 than the embodiment shown in Figure 2. The liquid
inlet
50 extending from the plumbing connection 40 to the reservoir 100 can be used
for a
different function or purpose in the reservoir. This is useful when there are
accessories other than jets in the bathing vessel, for example, that need to
be
activated. This liquid inlet 50 can be regulated so that it has a different
pressure than
the other liquid inlet(s) in the bathing vessel. Advantageously, the bathing
system as
a whole still derives its power through the use of only a single pump.
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[0033] The embodiments of the invention have the advantage of simplicity.
Installing
a bypass system as described above can be conveniently done in an existing
bathing
vessel or in a new one. Features of the invention, such as the limited umber
of
components and their ability to be removed from each other in a rela ively
easy
manner, allow for ease of maintenance and replacement. In addition, t e
relative
positioning of the valve 8 and pump 2 results in an arrangement that
significantly
reduces noise levels while the bathing vessel is in use.
[0034] A further advantage of the bypass system of the present invention
resides in
the fact that the pump can function with optimal design characteristics (i.e.,
without
the disadvantage or inconvenience of having either an insufficient quantity of
water at
its inlet or having to build pressure because of reduced size of pipes at the
outlet).
As a result, the pump's useful lifetime can be extended, which is a desirable
feature
for those who purchase pools, whirlpools, baths, spas, hot tubs and other
similar
bathing vessels.
[0035] Moreover, the selection of embodiments allows for flexibility.
Depending on
the style and function of the bathing vessel, a bypass system can be selected
to
achieve the variations in water flow that are desired by the bather, while
minimizing
ambient noise.
[0036] The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be
examples only. Variations, alterations and modifications can be made to the
particular embodiments described herein by those of skill in the art without
departing
from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
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