Pumps – Motor driven – Including means utilizing pump fluid for augmenting cooling,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-15
2001-03-13
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Motor driven
Including means utilizing pump fluid for augmenting cooling,...
C417S370000, C417S313000, C165S047000, C004S541100, C004S493000, C004S509000, C285S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200108
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The field of this invention relates generally to heat exchangers and more particularly to a heat exchanger in conjunction with a pump which is mounted within a recirculating water system where the heat of the motor is utilized to raise the temperature of the recirculating water.
2) Description of the Prior Art
The structure of the present invention is designed primarily to be used in conjunction with a bathtub which includes a plurality of water jet nozzles used to create a turbulent action of the water within the bathtub for reasons of therapy and/or relaxation to a human. However, it is possible that this invention could be used with a spa, hot tub or therapy tub all of which utilize jet nozzles to force jets of water within the tub with the tub being occupied generally by a single human. It is normal for a plurality of humans to be located within a spa, hot tub or therapy tub. However, within a bathtub there is generally only a single individual. It is possible that the pump of the present invention could be used for liquids other than water.
The bathtubs which have water jet nozzles have a recirculating water system which utilizes a pump which has a motor causing rotation of a centrifugal impeller which functions to cause the water to move through the recirculating water system. It is desirable to heat the water within these bathtubs with generally this water being heated between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A heater is sometimes included in conjunction with the bathtub with the heater functioning to raise the temperature of the recirculating water to the desired temperature level. During the time that the bathtub is being used, the heat from the water is quickly lost to the ambient atmosphere. Therefore, this heat needs to be replaced. In the past, it has been common to add additional hot water from the tap or activate a heater, if available, that is mounted in conjunction with the bathtub to reheat the water. However, it has been discovered that the electric motor of the pump of the recirculating water quickly becomes quite hot. It is desirable to have the motor temperature as low as possible to maintain an efficient operation of the motor. Therefore, it is beneficial to remove as much heat from the motor as possible.
It has been known to take some of the water that is being recirculated through the system and pass that bypass water through the motor with the idea that the bypass water is used to extract the heat produced by the motor with this heat being added back to the recirculating water. The advantage of such a heat exchange arrangement is that it increases the efficiency and longevity of operation of the motor of the pump and the heat that is normally wasted is now utilized therefore either eliminating or decreasing the requirement for an additional heater for heat to be added to the recirculating water.
In the past, it has been known to wrap a tubular coil about a pump motor and then conduct bypass water through that tubular coil to extract the heat that is produced from the motor. This prior art water bypass arrangement has been known to extract the water from the outlet side of the pump, move the water through the bypass tube and then reinject it back into the inlet side of the pump. The disadvantage of this type of an arrangement is that there is very little heat transfer between the motor and the tubular coil. The surface of contact between the tubular coil and the motor surface is almost nil. The heat transfer relies on convection rather than conduction which is the most efficient way of exchanging heat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One of the primary advantages of the present invention is to construct a cost efficient and energy efficient heat exchange system for a recirculating water system for a bathtub.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide for cooler operation of a motor used within a bathtub with water jet nozzles which thereby increases longevity, efficiency and diminishes maintenance during the operating life of the motor.
Another objective of the present invention is to construct a water bypass system that is mounted about a motor that is completely closed so that no water ever comes into contact with any portion of the motor providing for safe operation of the pump of the present invention.
Another objective of the present invention is to maximize the heat exchange efficiency by utilizing the entire surface area of the heat exchanging system through a heat exchanging medium.
The pump of the present invention utilizes a conventional electric motor which is formed of a stator and a rotor. The rotor is to be rotationally driven by the application of electrical energy to the stator. The rotor is connected to an output shaft which in turn is mounted in conjunction with an impeller. The impeller is located in an impeller chamber of a pump housing with the impeller chamber being connected to a main water inlet and a main water outlet of the recirculating water. The impeller is to function to supply water to the bathtub which is forcibly ejected through a plurality of jet nozzles mounted in conjunction with the wall of the bathtub. The electric motor is submerged within an oil which is contained within a completely closed motor chamber formed within a motor housing. A water conducting tube surrounds the electric motor with the inlet to this water conducting tube connecting with the impeller chamber which receives water under pressure into this tube. Only a small portion of the water that is conducted through the impeller chamber is bypassed through this tube. The tube is formed into a plurality of U-shaped sections which are continuous with the U-shaped sections being submerged within the oil located about the electric motor of the pump. The U-shaped sections may be rolled in coils to form a coiled section. The outlet to the tube connects to the volute insert which forms an isolated chamber with the volute's wall connected to the pump's main water inlet. As a result, a substantial pressure differential is created which moves the water rapidly through the bypass tube from the impeller chamber into the main water inlet.
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Caudill Dirk A.
Orocio Reuel S.
Aqua-Flo, Incorporated
Freay Charles G.
Munro Jack C.
Tyler Cheryl J.
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