Patent ID: 8795510
Filing Date: 2014-08-05
Classification: C02F,E04H

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling the release of a bactericidal amount of chlorine in the water of a swimming pool that contains a dissolved chlorine-containing chemical compound, the method including: a. placing into the swimming pool an automated, self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the submerged bottom wall and, optionally, the side wall surfaces of the pool to be cleaned, a pump for moving water through the housing, an outlet in the housing through which the water is discharged, an integral electrochemical chlorine generator secured to the housing, a source of electrical power operatively connected to the electrochemical generator and a processor/controller that is preprogrammed for operating the pool cleaner in a programmed cleaning mode to clean at least the bottom surface of the pool, and for initiating and terminating the drive means and the functioning of the integral electrochemical chlorine generator, the electrochemical chlorine generator comprising a plurality of negative and positive conductive plates arranged in a parallel spaced-apart array to form a plurality of passageways, the array being positioned in the flowpath of water moving through the housing while the pool cleaner is submerged; b. placing an electronic probe in the body of water of the swimming pool in which the pool cleaner is located for determining the concentration of chlorine by contact with the water contained in the pool, the electronic probe including a signal generator and transmitter in electronic communication with the processor/controller; c. activating the pool cleaner drive means to thereby move the pool cleaner across a submerged surface of a wall of the pool; d. initiating operation of the programmed cleaning mode and initiating the operation of the pump to move water through the housing and discharging the water through the outlet in the housing as a pressurized stream to thereby create a zone of turbulent mixing with the pool water in the vicinity of the outlet; e. initiating the operation of the chlorine generator to thereby produce chlorine from the chlorine-containing compound dissolved in the water; f. passing flowing water moving through the housing over the plates of the electrochemical chlorine generator; g. discharging chlorine ion-containing water from the generator inside the submerged moving pool cleaner through the housing outlet and into the mixing zone to thereby distribute a bactericidal amount of chlorine ions into the pool water; h. periodically measuring and transmitting from the electronic probe in the body of pool water, a signal corresponding to the chlorine concentration in the pool water and comparing the measured value to a predetermined desired concentration of chlorine; i. transmitting a signal to the processor/controller when the measured value reaches or exceeds the predetermined desired concentration; j. terminating the operation of the chlorine generator; and k. continuing the operation of the pool cleaner in to the programmed cleaning mode until cleaning is completed.