Abstract:
A buoyant water conditioner has a housing with an upper surface and an apertured chamber for receiving a chlorination agent. Three separate measurement systems are carried by the housing: a water temperature system, a pH level system, and an oxidation reduction system. Each system has a sensor for measuring the respective water parameter, a display for displaying the measured value, range indicators for indicating whether or not the measured parameter lies within a predetermined range, and a processor for converting the sensor signals to display driving signals and range indicator activation signals. Each system is powered by a solar cell battery or a chemical battery.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT  
       [0001]    This invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed and claimed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,553 issued May 29, 2001 for “Buoyant Water Chlorinator With Temperature, pH measurement, and Chlorine Concentration Displays”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to water chlorination units of the type used in pools and spas. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved buoyant water chlorination unit with range indicators for temperature, pH measurement, and chlorine concentration.  
           [0003]    Water chlorination units are known which are used to supply chlorine to water in pools for water purification. Several such units are buoyant with an inner chamber providing a containment volume for the chlorination material, typically one or more solid pellets, with the containment volume having openings through the walls thereof so that the chlorination material can dissolve in the surrounding water.  
           [0004]    The buoyant water chlorinator disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,553 comprises a buoyant housing with a lower apertured chamber for holding chlorine material, such as solid tablets. A removable cover retains the chlorine material in place. A plurality of measurement systems, each microprocessor-based, is carried by the housing. Each system has an easily-readable display, preferably mounted on the periphery of an upper housing surface, each display preferably comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD). One measurement system comprises a temperature sensor, such as a thermistor, for measuring the temperature of the ambient water. Electrical temperature signals produced by this sensor are coupled to a microprocessor programmed to convert these signals to signals capable of driving the associated display. A second measurement system comprises a pH level sensor for measuring the pH level of the ambient water. Electrical signals produced by this sensor are coupled to a microprocessor programmed to convert these signals to signals capable of driving the associated display. The remaining measurement system comprises an oxidation reduction potential sensor in the form of a chlorine concentration sensor for measuring the chlorine concentration of the ambient water. Electrical signals produced by this sensor are coupled to a microprocessor programmed to convert these signals to signals capable of driving the associated display.  
           [0005]    Electrical power is supplied to each measurement system from a power source contained within the housing. One suitable power source is a solar cell battery mounted on the same surface as the displays. Another source is a battery installed in a battery compartment. Both types of power source may be included and either source may serve as the primary power source for all systems, with the remaining source reserved as a back-up source, or the two sources may both serve as primary sources for different systems.  
           [0006]    The invention is used by placing it in the body of water in a pool or spa and observing the display values at intervals chosen by the user. When the displays indicate that the pH or chlorine concentration values need to be adjusted and that chlorine material must be added to the chlorine chamber, the cover is removed, and the fresh material is dropped into the receptacle chamber.  
           [0007]    The National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI), a standards organization, has published recommended temperature, pH and oxidation reduction potential (which is related to chlorination concentration) ranges for spas and pools. These ranges are intended to guide users of spas and pools in maintaining the water quality for maximum enjoyment, and spa and pool owners are encouraged to maintain the above water parameters within the recommended ranges to ensure this result. While water chlorinator units fabricated in accordance with the teachings of the above-referenced U.S. patent do display the actual values of the water parameters, the user is required to interpolate these actual values in order to determine whether or not a given measured value lies within or outside the recommended range. A water chlorinator unit having range indicators would eliminate this disadvantage, and would thus facilitate the water maintenance of the associated spa or pool.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The invention comprises an improved water chlorinator which affords the advantages of real-time measurement of water temperature, pH, and oxidation reduction potential, and also provides temperature, pH and oxidation reduction potential range indications which are readily observable by a user.  
           [0009]    In a most general aspect, the invention comprises an improved buoyant water conditioner with a buoyant housing having an upper surface and an apertured chamber for receiving a chlorination agent; and a plurality of measurement systems carried by the housing. Each system includes a sensor for generating signals representative of a water parameter, a display for displaying the value of that parameter, at least one range indicator for indicating whether that parameter lies within a predetermined range, and a processor coupled to the sensor, the at least one range indicator, and the display for converting the sensor signals to display driving signals and range indicator activation signals. A source of electrical power provides power to the systems. The power source can comprise one or more solar cells mounted on a surface of the housing, a chemical battery carried by the housing, or both.  
           [0010]    In the preferred embodiment, the measured water parameters are water temperature, the pH value of the water, and the water oxidation reduction potential (ORP). The range indicators used for temperature and ORP comprise two light emitting diodes (LEDs), one colored green for indicating a measured value lying within a recommended value range, and one colored red for indicating a measured value lying outside the recommended value range. The range indicators used for pH comprise three LEDs-one green for indicating a measured pH value lying within a recommended safe range; one colored yellow for indicating a measured pH value lying within a cautionary range; and one colored red for indicating a measured pH value lying outside the cautionary range.  
           [0011]    The provision of the visible range indicators provides a visual indication to the user of the relative safety of each measured water parameter. Since the indicators are usually visible from a greater distance than the parameter displays, the invention affords a relatively convenient way of checking the relative safety of each of the monitored water parameters without any need to manipulate the chlorinator to the side of the pool or spa.  
           [0012]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the temperature measurement system with range indicators incorporated into the preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the pH measurement system with range indicators incorporated into the preferred embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the chlorine concentration measurement system with range indicators incorporated into the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention. As seen in this Fig., the preferred embodiment includes a housing  11 , typically made from plastic material. Housing  11  has an upper sealed hollow space  12  to ensure buoyancy in water, and a lower wall portion  13  providing a hollow interior for receiving one or more water-soluble chlorine tablets (not shown). A plurality of adjustable openings  15  are distributed about the circumference of lower wall portion  13  to allow water to enter the hollow interior volume and leach chlorine from the tablets. A cover  16  is removably mounted to the top of housing  11 . To add more chlorine tablets, cover  16  is removed to expose the hollow lower interior.  
         [0019]    Arranged about the upper peripheral surface  17  of housing  11  are three liquid crystal (LCD) displays  20 - 22 . Display  20  is a water temperature display and is electrically coupled to a microprocessor-based temperature processing unit  30  shown in FIG. 3, which receives water temperature measurement signals from a temperature sensor  31 . Display  21  is a pH level display and is electrically coupled to a microprocessor-based pH level processing unit  32  shown in FIG. 4, which receives pH level signals from a pH electrode  33 . Display  22  is an oxidation reduction (ORP) display and is electrically coupled to a microprocessor-based chlorine concentration processing unit  34 , which receives signals from an oxidation reduction potential sensor  35 .  
         [0020]    Mounted adjacent water temperature display  20  are a pair of visible range indicators  23 ,  24 . In the preferred embodiment, range indicator  23  is a green light emitting diode (LED), and range indicator is a red LED. Mounted adjacent pH level display  21  are three visible range indicators  25 - 27 . In the preferred embodiment, range indicator  25  is a green LED, range indicator  26  is a yellow LED, and range indicator  27  is a red LED. Mounted adjacent ORP display  22  are a pair of visible range indicators  28 ,  29 . In the preferred embodiment, range indicator  28  is a green LED, and range indicator  29  is a red LED. Each range indicator  23 - 29  is coupled to the associated microprocessor-based parameter processing unit and is activated in the manner described below to provide a visible indication to the user of the range state of the associated parameter.  
         [0021]    Electrical power is supplied to the displays  20 - 22 , LED indictors  23 - 29 , sensors  31 ,  33 , and  35 , and processing units  30 ,  32 , and  34  by one or more solar cells  37  mounted on the upper peripheral surface  17  of housing  11 . An alternate source consisting of a battery (not shown) mounted in an appropriate portion of housing  11  is also provided.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the water temperature measurement system described above. As seen in this FIG., remote temperature sensor  31 , which may comprise any one of a number of commercially available devices capable of generating signals representative of the temperature with which the unit  31  comes in contact (such as a thermistor), has an output electrically coupled to the microprocessor unit  30 . Microprocessor unit  30  may comprise any known microprocessor capable of receiving the signals from sensor  31  and converting these signals to signals capable of operating display  20 . The display output of microprocessor unit  30  is electrically coupled to the display input terminals of display  20 , which displays temperature value in the form of integers plus an indication of the scale employed (i.e., Fahrenheit, Celsius, or some other scale).  
         [0023]    Microprocessor  30  also incorporates a range decision routine which examines the current value of the water temperature parameter and compares this value to a predetermined maximum recommended water temperature value. In the preferred embodiment, this value is 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). If the measured water temperature value is no greater than the maximum recommended value, green LED  24  is activated by microprocessor  30 . If the measured water temperature value is greater than the maximum recommended value, red LED  25  is activated by microprocessor  30 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the pH measurement system described above. As seen in this FIG., remote pH electrode  33  has a signal output electrically coupled to the microprocessor unit  32 . Electrode  33  may comprise any one of a number of commercially available sensors capable of generating electrical signals representative of the pH level of water with which the electrode  33  comes in contact (such as the sensor component incorporated into the series H-58800 pH meters available from ATI-Orion Research, Inc.). Microprocessor unit  32  may comprise the same type of unit as microprocessor unit  30 , with different programming to convert the pH input signals to signals capable of operating display  21 . The display output of microprocessor  32  is electrically coupled to the display input terminals of display  21 , which displays pH values in the normal form of an integer, a decimal point and another integer.  
         [0025]    Microprocessor  32  also incorporates a range decision routine which examines the current value of the pH parameter and compares this value to a predetermined range of recommended pH values. In the preferred embodiment, this range is 7.4 to 7.6 for safe use; 7.2 to 7.39 and 7.61 to 7.8 for marginal or cautionary use; and not recommended use for pH values below 7.2 and above 7.8. If the measured pH value is within the safe use range, green LED  25  is activated by microprocessor  32 . If the measured pH value is within the marginal use range, yellow LED  26  is activated by microprocessor  32 . If the measured pH value is outside the marginal or cautionary use range (either lower or higher), red LED  27  is activated by microprocessor  32 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the ORP chlorine concentration system described above. As seen in this FIG., chlorine sensor  35  has a signal output electrically coupled to microprocessor  34 . Sensor  35  may comprise any one of a number of known sensors capable of generating signals representative of the ORP (usually in millivolts) of water with which sensor  35  comes in contact. The ORP is related to chlorine concentration in a known manner. Microprocessor unit  34  may comprise the same type of unit as microprocessor unit  30 , with different programming to convert the ORP signals supplied by sensor  35  to signals capable of operating display  22 . The display output of microprocessor unit  34  is coupled to the input terminals of display  22 , which displays ORP in the form of three integers and the legend “mv”.  
         [0027]    Microprocessor  34  also incorporates a range decision routine which examines the current value of the ORP parameter and compares this value to a predetermined minimum recommended ORP value. In the preferred embodiment, this value is 650 mv. If the measured ORP value is equal to or greater than the minimum recommended value, green LED  28  is activated by microprocessor  34 . If the measured ORP value is less than the minimum recommended value, red LED  29  is activated by microprocessor  34 .  
         [0028]    As illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 5 , each unit is electrically powered by either solar cells  37 , a battery  39 , or a combination of the two. More specifically, if one or two of the systems shown in FIGS.  3 - 5  draws substantially more power than the others, either the solar cells  37  or the battery  39  may be dedicated to the unit(s) with a higher power consumption, with the remaining power source shared among all three systems. In the alternative, one of the two power sources (e.g., solar cells  37 ) may serve as the principal power source for all three units, and the other source used as a back-up source.  
         [0029]    As will now be apparent, the invention provides all of the advantages of the invention disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. patent, and in addition provides an instantly recognizabe visual indication of the range state of each parameter. Moreover, the visible LED indicators  23 - 29  can usually be viewed from a distance greater than that required to read the individual parameter displays  20 - 22 , so that a user can visually check the relative safety of the water by means of a simple visual inspection from poolside. As a result, pool water maintenance is simplified and made more precise through use of the invention.  
         [0030]    Although the above provides a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications, alternate constructions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, although the invention has been described with reference to LED indicators  23 - 29 , other types of indicator lamps which are readily visible in the water environment (such as bright sunlight) may be employed. Moreover, although at least two indicators are used in the preferred embodiment for each measured water parameter, in some applications it may be desirable to use only a single indicator-such as one red indicator or one green indicator- to indicate whether or not the measured parameter is within the recommended or acceptable range. In addition, LED indicators  23 - 29  may be mounted on the housing in other locations than the upper peripheral surface shown. It is preferable to locate each set of LED indicators  23 - 29  adjacent the associated display  20 - 22  in order to facilitate association of LED indicators and displays. Further, although the invention has been described with reference to separate microprocessors for each measurement system, a single microprocessor with mutliplexed input ports may be employed, as desired. Also, the invention may be configured with less than all of the three systems, if deemed useful or desirable. Still further, additional parameter measurement systems, such as separate chlorine concentration and ORP measurement systems, may be incorporated into the invention. Therefore, the above should not be construed as limiting the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.