Liquid purification or separation – With alarm – indicator – register – recorder – signal or...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-16
2004-01-13
Cecil, Terry K. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
With alarm, indicator, register, recorder, signal or...
C210S090000, C210S134000, C210S138000, C210S143000, C210S149000, C210S167150, C210S416200, C004S504000, C700S019000, C700S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06676831
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX
Data Sheet for the Jacuzzi MasterMind Remote Control Automated System.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of swimming pool and spa controllers and more specifically to the Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller (MIMPSC) which may be considered as a stand alone system, or integrated with a prior art pool and spa controller.
A pool or spa controller is generally an electronic apparatus that has control of energizing or de-energizing the pool pump that is the source of all suction and pressure in the pool circulation hydraulics.
In addition, most pool controllers provide several other convenience and maintenance features but rarely do they deal with several safety issues.
For many years swimming pool safety issues have been recognized but until recently not much technology has been applied to products that can be commercially successful. In this situation pool safety controllers which could protect swimmers from entrapment or evisceration are simply not provided by most pool builders.
The other safety benefits that could have been provided to protect pool equipment from damage has also lagged because a Modular Pool Safety Controller was not available, and those controllers that are available are aimed at convenience features; and generally do not address safety issues, and are relatively costly even in basic form.
Recently, several state legislatures have taken notice of the serious pool and spa accidents that have affected families in horrendous ways, since the victims are usually children. The Federal Government has also, through the Consumer Product Safety Commission, helped to establish a safety awareness and sensible approach to providing protection from suction entrapment by defining a multilayer design strategy.
This idea includes three layers of protection: multiple, separated main drains; passive standpipe vents; and an active control device or system. Each of these layers is useful but not a complete answer to all situations. Thus, these approaches are complementary and together are a powerful solution to the problem.
The present invention is aimed at the third layer solution and includes an active control system which can offer safety and other benefits as well. This invention can readily be applied to existing or new pools, spas and/or whirlpools.
It can be appreciated that few pool and spa safety controllers have been available or in use. There are several highly capable, multifunction, pool controllers on the market, not patented, but they do not generally address the safety concerns herein described. A recent patent, Swimming Pool Control System, U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,861, March 1998, Sterghos et al, deals primarily with maintenance and convenience features, and actually describes a mode of operation that would become a major potential for single drain suction entrapment if followed. Another is: Swimming Pool Control System Having CPU and Remote Communication, U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,239, April 1997, Wendell et al, emphasizes water level control, protecting equipment from damage, and remote alarm communication.
Recently, a few single purpose suction safety devices have been brought to market. A few single purpose pump suction sensor and shut-down devices and systems have also been brought to market such as: Stingl Switch, U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,536, Stingl, May 9, 2000; and Influent Blockage Detection System, U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,841, January 2002, Stingl; and Fluid Vacuum Safety Device for Fluid Transfer Systems in Swimming Pools, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,700, September 1999, McKain et al; and Spa Pressure Sensing System Capable of Entrapment Detection, U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,808, May 2001, McDonough.
Several other patents describe very specific capability for a single purpose using novel sensors. For example: Pump Shutoff System, U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,543, March 2000, Littleton; describes a flow switch and control circuit to shut-down a pump when there is insufficient fluid flow and pump damage may result. Also, Pool Pump Controller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,359, March 1998, Dongo et al; does address swimmer safety regarding suction entrapment in a pool drain, by means of a novel diaphragm switch that removes power from the pool pump when a certain change in fluid pressure (unspecified) occurs.
Deficiency in Prior Technology
The main deficiency with conventional pool and spa controllers are that these patents generally consider only a portion of the objectives established for this invention, the Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller (MIMPSC). As far as has been determined to date, there are no existing products in the US marketplace that achieve most or all of the objects of the Modular Integrated Pool Safety Controller (MIPSC).
The present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a Modular Integrated Multifunction Pool Safety Controller. Modular design and construction offers the ability to start with an affordable Core of Safety features, that can then or later be expanded, in the same housing, to accommodate several other optional maintenance and convenience features. The preferred embodiment as described in this application clearly depicts how this modularity can be provided.
Some other prior art deficiencies may be summarized by the following:
A Pool Safety Controller that can be Integrated with prior art Controllers, or as a stand alone system.
A safer pool environment for swimmers, and pool operators by providing means for an emergency pump shut-down with a remote control. This means that familiarity with the sometimes complex equipment pad is no longer required to take action in an emergency. The remote control safety function has generally not been part of prior art in this field, and the emergency shut-down via remote control is a feature of this invention.
A few specialized pump suction sensor switches e.g. Stingl Switch, U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,536, Stingl, May 9, 2000, and Influent Blockage Detection System, U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,841, January 2002, Stingl. These are expensive single purpose devices marketed primarily to municipal and large club pools. The MIPSC moreover, is intended primarily for residential pools and spas where cost is a significant factor. If certain cost targets and multi functionality cannot be provided, most residential pools will continue to be unprotected, with concomitant risks to users and equipment.
Suction safety requires fast, sure removal of the entrapment force, severely limiting both the magnitude and duration of that force. Hair entanglement hazards are possibly quite sensitive to the duration of the suction force as well. Stingl U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,841 asserts “there is no need to “relieve” residual vacuum in the line because water is not compressible”. The present invention asserts, however, that there is a very significant increase in the total impulse (force×time) causing entrapment of a person. Recent data from an actual pool installation with the present invention showed a small increase in peak force of 12.3%, but accompanied by a large increase in the action time. The total time of significant entrapment force, as measured from the beginning of a measured rise in suction to when the shut-down returned suction to its beginning level was:
With suction dump valve: 0.417 seconds
Without suction dump: 1.503 seconds
This is a ratio of 3.6 to 1. Multiplying the force and time ratios we find that the overall entrapment impulse is four times greater if we do not “relieve” the suction with a vent to atmospheric pressure. The explanation for this situation may be related to the fact that the suction water column and pump impeller momentum does not instantly disappear when power is shutoff, but dissipates over a time period of 1.5 seconds. In the above discussion, just as in the cited patent, the measured suction was at or nea
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