Abstract:
A compact UV water treatment device for spas. The device includes a reactor chamber through which the water circulates which includes a housing that receives the UV source. The housing can be a quartz tube and is protected from physical shocks by resilient members. The housing is secured within the reactor chamber via a nut assembly that does not exert force against the side walls of the housing but exerts force in the direction of the axis of the housing against a resilient and compressible seal member. The nut also has an opening that allows the UV source to be removed for replacement and a removable cap that secures the UV source within the housing.

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/735,949 filed Dec. 11, 2012 entitled COMPACT UV WATER TREATMENT DEVICE FOR SPAS. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to treatment devices for water in spas and, in particular, concerns a compact ultra-violet (UV) treatment device for spas. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Spas are well known systems that have a tub that contains hot water that people can sit in and enjoy. As the water is heated and is in contact with human beings, the water may become contaminated with various types of germs and bacteria. To address this issue, chemicals can be added to the spa water to kill the germs and bacteria. However, these chemicals are often not effective and can make the water harsh and irritating to the spa users. 
         [0006]    To address this issue, there has been some attempt to provide water treatment via UV radiation. UV radiation provides UV rays that preferably kill germs and bacteria. UV treatment can be an alternative to chemical treatment or can be a supplement to chemical treatment. 
         [0007]    UV has been used to treat water in a variety of different environments but generally the treatment systems used for spas are large and prone to breakage. Consequently, there is a need for a treatment mechanism for spas that is compact and permits easy changing of the UV tube. The system should also be robust enough so that the UV tubes are protected from breakage during installation and replacement or during ordinary maintenance of the spas. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The aforementioned needs are satisfied by the compact UV treatment device for spas of the present invention. In one aspect, the device includes a reactor chamber that has an inlet and an outlet. A UV source is positioned inside of the reactor chamber so that water that runs through the reactor chamber is treated by the UV source. To protect the UV source, one end of the UV source is positioned so as to be supported by a shock reducing spring and can further include a cushion. 
         [0009]    In one exemplary implementation, the shock reducing spring is positioned within a cylindrical cavity that is sized to receive a housing that contains the cylindrical UV source. The spring then supports the UV source via the housing and cushions the UV source and additional cushions can be interposed between the housing and the UV source. The housing can be made of an insulating material, such as quartz, which is also transmissive to UV light radiation. 
         [0010]    In one exemplary implementation, the reactor chamber has a surface with a hole formed therein through which the UV source is positioned. In one implementation, the hole is aligned with the cylindrical cavity and a portion of the UV source extends outward of the reactor chamber so as to be electrically connected to the power source. 
         [0011]    In one exemplary implementation, a quartz tube extends out of the reactor chamber and receives the UV source. In one exemplary implementation, the UV source is secured in the reactor chamber via a quartz seal compression nut that has an inner surface that is perpendicular to the axis of the UV source. A compression washer and seal ring is then interposed between the quartz tube and threading on the reaction chamber that receives the quartz seal compression nut. In this implementation, the quartz seal compression nut exerts a force along the axis of the UV source and the quartz tube as opposed to normal to this axis, thus the tendency of the UV source and quartz tube to break is reduced. The UV source may also have a cushion that is positioned proximate the interface between the UV source and the quartz tube to retain the UV source within the tube and to provide further cushioning and protection against breakage of the source. 
         [0012]    The treatment device may also include a power source, such as electronic ballast, that is positioned away from the tube and the reactor chamber. Further, a mounting bracket may be fixed to an end of the reactor chamber and an electrical enclosure can then be formed over the bracket. The bracket and enclosure may have holes so that the lamp extends into the enclosure so that electricity can be provided to the lamp via the enclosure. 
         [0013]    The electricity may be provided via a cord and boot assembly that fits over the end of the UV source and can retain the UV source within the quartz tube. To remove the source for replacement, the enclosure is opened, and the boot assembly is removed from the UV source. The quartz compression nut is then removed and the UV source can then be extracted. 
         [0014]    The arrangement of the UV source within the reactor chamber results in greater protection for the UV source. The other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an assembled version of the UV treatment device for spas; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the reactor chamber of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a partially cut-a-away view of the device of  FIG. 1  illustrating the mounting of a UV light source in the reactor chamber; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary interaction between the lamp and the socket that is part of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary UV treatment device  100  is shown. The UV treatment device  100  includes a reactor chamber  102  that comprises a tubular structure having an inlet  104   a  and an outlet  104   b  that allows the water to be treated to flow through the reactor chamber  102  and receive UV radiation from a UV source positioned within the reactor chamber  102 . The interior of the reactor chamber  102  includes a UV source that will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0022]    As is also shown in  FIG. 1 , the treatment device  100  also includes a power assembly  106  that is coupled to a first end  110   a  of the reactor chamber  102 . The power assembly  106  includes an electrical power cord  112  that provides electrical power to the UV source positioned within the reactor chamber  102  so that UV radiation can be provided to the water that is flowing through the reactor chamber  102  from the inlet  104   a  to the outlet  104   b.    
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the components of the reactor chamber  102  are shown in greater detail. As shown, the reactor chamber  102  comprises a tube member  114  that, in one exemplary implementation, is 3″ in diameter by 6.5″ long and is formed of 316L Stainless Steel tubing. It will, however, be appreciated that the dimensions of the reactor chamber  102  can vary without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The first and second ends,  108   a,    108   b  are capped by end caps  116   a,    116   b  so as to define an enclosed space for the water to flow between the inlet  104   a  and the outlet  104   b.    
         [0024]    The first end cap  116   a  includes a threaded nipple  120  that defines an opening  121 . The first end cap  116   a  also includes two mounting studs  122   a,    122   b  that are adapted to be coupled to the power assembly  106  as will be described in greater detail below. The second end cap  116   b  includes a quartz end holder  126  that defines an interior space  130  that receives an end of a UV source. The quartz end holder  126  is positioned so as to be located within the interior of the reactor chamber  102  and the quartz end holder  126  further electrically insulates the reactor chamber  102  from the UV power source. The interior space  130  of the quartz end holder includes a spring  132  that provides physical shock protection for the UV source and insulating housing in the manner that will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0025]    The exterior of the reactor chamber  102  also includes a stud  134  that is adapted to receive a grounding lug  136  (See,  FIG. 1 ). The grounding lug  136  allows the reactor chamber  102  to be grounded to the system ground in the event of a short circuit between the UV source and the reactor chamber  102 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , a mounting assembly  140  for the UV source  142  will now be described. The mounting assembly  140  includes an insulating housing that permits the transmission of UV radiation, such as a quartz tube  144 , that extends through the threaded opening  121  of the nipple  120  in the first end  110   a  of the reactor chamber  102 . A quartz tube  144  is positioned so that an end of the quartz tube  144  is positioned within the interior  130  of the quartz tube end holder  126  so as to rest upon the spring  132 . 
         [0027]    A quartz tube cushion  146  is placed around the end of the quartz tube  144  so that the quartz tube cushion  146  in conjunction with the spring  132  provides additional protection to the quartz tube  144  from breakage due to physical shock. The quartz tube cushion  146  in one exemplary embodiment comprises a cap made of a resilient and compressible material such as silicone or rubber or flexible polyolefin. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the UV source  142  is positioned within the quartz tube  144 . As will be described below, the quartz tube  144  is preferably sealed so that the UV source  142  is electrically insulated from the water that is flowing through the reactor chamber  102 . In one implementation, the sealing is achieved by positioning the UV source  142  within the quartz tube  144  via an opening  150  ( FIG. 3 ) in the quartz tube  144  that has an end positioned outside of the reactor chamber  102  adjacent the first end  110   a  of the reactor  102 . The quartz tube  144  preferably extends through the opening  121  in the threaded nipple  120 . The insulating housing is selected, in this embodiment, to be a quartz tube, however any other tube that provides the same transmission ability of UV radiation and water and electrical insulation properties can also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0029]    The UV source  142  can, in one implementation, comprise a UV bulb such as a 120 Volt, 6W UV bulb manufactured by Light Sources of Orange, Conn. The UV source  142  includes a connection end  152  with male terminals  154  that preferably mate with receptacles on the power supply in the manner that will be described in greater detail below. As shown in  FIG. 3 , opposite end  156  of the UV source  142  is preferably covered by a UV source cushion  160  that is preferably interposed between the end  156  of the UV source  142  and the inner side of the end of the quartz tube  144  that is positioned in quartz tube end holder  126 . The source cushion  160  is also preferably a cap made of a resilient and compressible material such as silicone or rubber that can absorb physical forces between the light source  142  and the quartz tube  144 . One or more additional cylindrical source cushions  162  may also be placed about the outer circumference of the UV source  142  so as to cushion any contact between the sides of the UV source  142  and the sides of the quartz tube  144 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 3 through 5  illustrate the manner in which the quartz tube  144  and the UV source  142  is secured within the chamber  102 . The UV source  142  is inserted into the quartz tube  144  via an opening  150 . A square seal ring  164  is preferably positioned about the exposed outer end of the quartz tube  144 . The square seal ring  164  is preferably made of an insulating material that is also compressible to facilitate shock absorbing and can be made of rubber, silicone or the like. The square seal ring  164  rests upon a shoulder  166  that is formed in the inner surface of the threaded opening  121 . 
         [0031]    A compression washer  170  formed of metal, such as stainless steel, is then also placed about the outer surface of the quartz tube  144 . A compression nut  172  is then threaded onto the threaded nipple  120  and the compression nut  172  has a shoulder  174  that engages with the compression washer  170  to urge the square seal ring  164  against the shoulder  166  formed in the inner surface of the threaded opening  120 . In this way, the quartz tube  144  is secured within the reactor chamber  102  in a water-tight fashion. 
         [0032]    As is also shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a washer  176  made of a compressible material such as Teflon can be interposed between an inner surface  180  of the compression nut  172  and the outer lip  182  of the quartz tube  144 . This provides further protection of the quartz tube  144  from being broken when the compression nut  172  is installed. Moreover, as a result of the threaded opening  120  having the shoulder  166  and the inner surface of the compression nut  172  having the shoulder  174  (See,  FIG. 5 ), the amount of tightening of the compression nut  172  is limited due to the interaction of these shoulders on the compression washer  170  and the seal  164 . As such, the compression nut  172  is inhibited from being over tightened to where the quartz tube  144  can be damaged. 
         [0033]    As is also shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is a boot member  202  that is positioned over the top of the compression nut  172  and provides electrical interconnection with the power assembly  106  in the manner that will be described in greater detail below. The boot member  202  is formed of a resilient flexible material and the boot member  202  is positioned over an opening  184  in the compression nut  172  and thereby secures the UV source  142  within the quartz tube  144 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  further illustrates the power assembly  106 . The power assembly includes a lamp socket  186  that is designed to mate with the plug end  190  of the UV source  142 . The lamp socket  186  is electrically connected to a plug in an electronic ballast  192  via a cord assembly  194 . As shown, the socket  186  extends into an electrical enclosure  196  though a mounting bracket  200  that engages with the mounting studs  122   a,    122   b.  The electrical cord  194  is attached to the socket  186  via the lamp boot  202  that fits over the socket  186  and has contacts that engage with or plug into openings  203  ( FIG. 6 ) with contacts in the socket  186 . The mounting bracket  200  includes an opening that is sized to receive the compression nut  172  inside of the enclosure  196  and the mounting bracket  200  is secured to the enclosure using well known fasteners  204 . Access to the interior of the enclosure  196  for replacement of the UV light source  142  is provided by an enclosure lid  206  that secured to the enclosure  196  via fasteners  210  and a gasket  212 . 
         [0035]    The cord assembly  194  may further include various strain relief devices  214 ,  216  that are used in a known manner. The cord assembly  194  preferably is attached to a standard electrical outlet, e.g., 120V/230V, 50 Hz/60 Hz and the ballast  192  provides the appropriate voltage and current to run the UV light source  142 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a typical interconnection between the plug end  190  (See,  FIG. 6 ) of the UV light source  142  and the socket  186 . As shown, the plug end  190  of the UV light source  142  includes a lamp base  214  that has a first outer surface  216  that is comprised of two semi-hemispheric surfaces  216   a,    216   b.  A recess  220  is formed between the two hemispheric surfaces  216   a,    216   b  that has a bottom surface  222  and side walls  224   a,    224   b . As shown, one pin each  230   a,    230   b  is formed on the two raised semi-hemispheric surfaces  216   a,    216   b  and two pins  230   c,    230   d  are formed on the bottom surface of the recess  220 . Locking slots  234  are formed on the side walls  224   a,    224   b  at locations that are positioned across from each other and offset from the center of the plug end  190 . 
         [0037]    The socket  186  has two recessed hemispheric surfaces  236   a,    236   b  and a protrusion  240  that match the contour of the hemispheric raised surfaces  216   a,    216   b  and the recess  220 . Openings that receive the pins  230   a,    230   b,    230   c,  and  230   d  are formed in the recessed hemispheric surfaces  236   a,    236   b  and the protrusion  240 . Further, locking tabs  242  are also formed so that the socket  186  will only be used with a UV light source  142  having the matching configuration. 
         [0038]    Advantageously, the UV source  142  can be easily replaced with less potential of breakage of the light source or the quartz tube  144 . The user simply removes the enclosure lid  206  from the enclosure  196 , removes the lamp boot  202  from the socket  186  and then pulls the UV light source  142  out. A new UV source  142  can then be positioned in the quartz tube  144 . The spring  132  is both providing cushioning and physical shock protection but is also maintaining the quartz tube  144  and the UV source  142  at the desired height to be attached to the socket  186  in the manner described above. Further, the quartz end holder  126  also functions to center one end of the quartz tube  144  and the UV source  142  in the reactor chamber  102  and the threaded nipple  120  centers the plug end  190  of the UV light source  142 . 
         [0039]    A further advantage of the present design is that the compression nut  172  exerts force along the longitudinal direction UV light source  142  and the quartz tube  144  to secure the quartz tube  144  within the reactor chamber  102 . The seal ring  164  is frictionally engaged with the outer surface of the quartz tube  144  and the seal ring  164  is secured in place by the shoulder  166  in the opening  121  of the threaded nipple  120  and the shoulder  174  (See,  FIG. 5 ) of the compression nut  172  which limits forces exerted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the quartz tube  144  and thereby limits potential breakage of the quartz tube  144 . 
         [0040]    Although the foregoing discussion has shown, illustrated and described various embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that various changes in the form, structure and use of the described embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Hence, the present invention should not be limited to the foregoing discussion, but should be defined by the appended claims.