Chlorinators and other fluid receiving devices

Devices for receiving fluid such as water are described. Principally (although not necessarily exclusively) designed for use as chlorinators, the devices may divert water flowing in conduits into the devices for treatment and subsequent return to the flow stream. A device may connect to a pipe without tools and require only one hole to be formed in a pipe wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fluid receiving devices and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to chlorinators or other treatment devices for circulating water used in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or other water-containing vessels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,680,026 to Denkewicz, et al., discloses water-purification equipment useful especially in connection with swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs, where water recirculates. The equipment may provide “plug-in” forms of fluid-flow diverters “designed to penetrate, or fill, openings intermediate remote ends of conduits.” See Denkewitz, col. 2, ll. 3-4. As indicated in the Denkewicz patent:Embodiments of the invention contemplate diverting flowing fluid to purification equipment formed about or otherwise connected to such diverters, permitting diverted water to be purified before rejoining the flow. The . . . circulating nature of the water permits more of its volume ultimately to be diverted into the equipment for purification.
See id., ll. 13-15.

Positioned within the equipment of the Denkewicz patent is water purification media such as “mineral-based pellets or other objects of silver-, zinc-, or copper-containing material.” However, other media alternatively may be used therein. According to the Denkewicz patent, “[c]hlorine or other chemicals which may be dissolved or contacted by the water being diverted are among suitable alternatives.” See id., ll. 57-59.

International (Patent) Publication No. WO 2006/110799 of Kennnedy, et al. [sic Kennedy, et al.] details additional equipment used to divert flowing fluid for purification. Diverted fluid may be treated by, for example, a salt water chlorinator (SWC) having an electrolytic cell. Treated water is then returned to the main flow stream via a series of fins, with the overall configuration of the equipment being designed to, among other things, cause the bulk of fluid experiencing pressure spikes to remain in the conduit. See, e.g., Kennedy, p. 12, ll. 4-10. Accordingly, housings detailed in the Kennedy publication may be “fabricated from less pressure-resistant materials, and need not be engineered in the same way as other pressure vessels.” See id., ll. 13-14. The contents of the Denkewicz patent and the Kennedy publication are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides additional equipment in the style of the diverters of the Denkewicz patent and the Kennedy publication. Devices of the invention may divert water flowing in conduits into the devices for treatment and subsequent return to the flow stream. Inlet and return tubes may be utilized within the conduits, with the openings of the tubes preferably (but not necessarily) angled relative to central longitudinal axes of the conduits. The openings additionally may (but again need not necessarily) open in the same plane.

An optional third tube, beneficially in the form of a feeder port or gas extraction tube, also may be present in devices of the invention. If desired, the opening of the third tube too may be in the same plane as the openings of the inlet and return tubes. Moreover, the inlet tube may include a deflector and be formed generally as a “scoop.” Combined, the configurations of (at least) the inlet and return tubes tend to create vortex action evacuating fluid from the return tube back into the conduit. Additional tubes may be employed as part of devices of the invention.

Unlike certain other devices, in which the inlet and return tubes are intentionally spaced longitudinally within a conduit, devices of the present seek to omit that spacing. Accordingly, inlet and return tubes (and any optional third tube) may share walls or other boundaries. As a consequence, only one opening need be drilled or otherwise created in a wall of a conduit to accommodate entry of all of the tubes.

A device of the present invention further may be retained in position about a conduit using a single knob, nut, or similar fastener. This single fastener may engage a lower portion of a housing of the device and move a plate upward, with the upward movement of the plate inducing the conduit to bear against a rubber or similar seal associated with an upper portion of the housing. This structure as well permits the device to accommodate conduit of differing sizes or diameters. One or more straps or other fasteners (including use of multiple fasteners) could be employed instead.

A presently-preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates a salt-water chlorinator (SWC) within the upper portion of the housing. Fluid, most typically water, flowing within a conduit is diverted from the conduit into the device via the inlet tube. Thereafter the diverted water passes through the SWC for treatment and then is returned to the conduit via the return tube. Because electrodes of an SWC are consumed in use, the consumable portions of the SWC within the upper portion of the housing may be removable therefrom for disposal and replacement. Hence, devices of the present invention may include removable caps on the housings to allow access to the to-be-removed portions of the SWCs.

Versions of the invention may utilize features as described above yet need not necessarily chlorinate or otherwise treat fluid. Some versions, for example, may include sensors adapted to sense various characteristics of fluid flowing diverted from a conduit into the housing. These versions may, if appropriate, include a baffle or otherwise be configured to create one or more low-flow regions within the housings. Different versions may divert fluid from the conduit to a separate device.

Other embodiments of the invention may include controllers connected directly to housings. Such direct connection may be both mechanical and electrical, moreover. Particularly when electrically-powered equipment (such as SWCs) are included in the devices, directly connecting a controller to a housing may, for example, avoid electrical cabling that otherwise would be required.

It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide innovative fluid receiving devices.

It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide “plug-in” types of equipment particularly useful for treating or otherwise receiving circulating water.

It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide fluid receiving devices in which inlet and return tubes create vortex action to evacuate fluid from the devices and into conduits.

It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide fluid receiving devices in which a single fastener may be employed to clamp devices about conduits of varying sizes.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide fluid receiving devices to which sensors, controllers, or other equipment may be connected directly or indirectly.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant fields with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrated inFIGS. 1-3is exemplary device10of the present invention. Device10advantageously may include housing14and knob or nut18. Housing14may comprise at least upper portion22and lower portion26, which are preferably connected about pipe or conduit P when device10is in use. As shown in, e.g.,FIG. 4B, lower portion26may include one or more prongs30configured to snap-fit into, or otherwise engage, corresponding recesses34of upper portion22.

Also comprising device10may be any or all of cap38, collar42, electrode housing46, seal50, and push plate54. Cap38is configured to connect to either or both of collar42or upper portion22. Cap38also preferably is removable from at least upper portion22so as to allow access therein. Beneficially, cap38is positioned over opening58of upper portion22and locked into place using threaded collar42, whose threads62engage corresponding threads66of the upper portion22.

Interconnecting with either or both of cap38and collar42may be electrode housing46. Electrode housing46, which may be part of an SWC, preferably is positionable within—but removable from—upper portion22. Removability of electrode housing46is especially important when its electrodes are consumed in use, as replacement of the electrodes eventually will be required in such circumstances in order for device10to remain functional. Similarly, if device10includes consumable chemical media (e.g. solid chlorine, solid bromine, erodable metals, etc.) within upper portion22, replacement of the media may need to occur.

Seal50, push plate54, and nut18facilitate clamping of conduit P between upper portion22and lower portion26of housing14. As illustrated particularly inFIGS. 2-3, when device10is upright, seal50may be positioned between upper portion22and an upper part of the wall of conduit P. By contrast, push plate54may be positioned within lower portion26adjacent a lower part of the wall of the conduit P. Prongs30then may be fitted into recesses34to connect upper and lower portions22and26.

Nut18, which may be threaded, also includes central protrusion70. As nut18is inserted into corresponding threads74of lower portion26and then rotated, central protrusion70moves upward, forcing push plate54to bear against conduit P. This bearing in turn causes conduit P to bear against seal50. The result is the clamping of conduit P firmly within device10—with such clamping requiring only one fastener (e.g. nut18) and not requiring any tools. Moreover, because electrode housing46may be accessed from above by removing cap38, electrode housing46may be removed and replaced as desired without any need to unclamp device10from conduit P.

Upper portion22may include a generally saddle-shaped floor78. Protruding downward therefrom may be tube structure82. When device10is in use, structure82is fitted into conduit P. In the version of device10depicted inFIGS. 1-3, because tube structure82is unitary, only one hole need be created in a wall of conduit P to allow insertion of the structure82into the interior volume V1of the conduit P. By creating only one hole in conduit P, the risk of fluid leakage from the conduit P is reduced.

Incorporated into tube structure82are at least inlet tube86and return tube90. As shown especially inFIGS. 2-3, these separate tubes86and90nevertheless may share a boundary (e.g. wall93). Such boundary sharing reduces the diameter of structure82, allowing the hole necessarily created in conduit P to be smaller. Sharing of boundaries is not mandatory, however, as tubes86and90may be configured in any appropriate manner.

Also illustrated inFIGS. 1-3is optional third tube94, beneficially in the form of a feeder port or gas extraction tube. Although referred to herein as “tubes,” none of structure82, inlet tube86, return tube90, or third tube94need be “tubular” in any strict sense. Stated differently, “tubes” as used in this application need not refer solely to cylindrical objects or items with curved walls. Rather, they may encompass any bounded region allowing fluid flow consistent with the objectives of the invention.

In at least one version of device10, inlet tube86includes deflector98at its entrance102. Deflector98facilitates inlet tube86acting as a “scoop” to divert fluid from conduit P into interior volume V2of upper housing22. Likewise, in at least one version of device10including third tube94, the third tube94and return tube90, while separate, nonetheless share a boundary. When device10is in use, (some) fluid flowing in direction D encounters inlet tube86and is diverted (in the direction of arrow A) into volume V2. Within volume V2, the fluid contacts electrodes or plates106of electrode housing46; thereafter, it flows in the direction of arrow B to return to conduit P via return tube90. In this version of device10, third tube94may be used to extract gas that otherwise might accumulate within volume V2. Any such gas may flow in the direction of arrow C from volume V2into conduit P.

Shown particularly inFIGS. 2-3is that deflector98and entrance110of return tube90(as well as entrance114of optional third tube94) may be planar, with the plane being angled relative to a longitudinal axis X of conduit P. Applicants believe this configuration of tube structure82creates vortex action within conduit P and facilitates operation of the Venturi principle to enhance fluid capture via inlet tube86and fluid evacuation via return tube90. Identified inFIG. 2is an angle θ depicting the angling relative to axis X. Presently preferred is that angle θ range within 10-80°, most preferably between 30-60°. Notwithstanding these present preferences, however, angle θ may, in some embodiments, range from 0-90°. Moreover, depending on the design of tube structure82, angle θ conceivably could be greater than 90° or less than 0°.

FIGS. 4A-Cdepict alternate device10′ of the present invention. Device10′ may include any or all of housing14(including upper portion22and lower portion26), nut18, collar42, seal50, and push plate54. Device10′ additionally may include cap38′, similar in some respects but not identical to cap38. Rather than (or in addition to) including electrode housing46, however, device10′ may include one or more sensors within volume V2as well as, for example, optional internal baffle116. Moreover, in the version of device10′ shown inFIGS. 4A-C, third tube94may connect to an acid supply via internal tube117and function as a feeder port to dispense acid into fluid flowing in conduit P. Alternatively, device10′ may be configured to perform any of the treating, sensing, or other tasks discussed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0032355 of Andrews, et al. or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/797,701 of Hin, et al., and the contents of these two applications are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.

FIGS. 5A-Band6A-D, finally, illustrate device10″ of the invention. Device10″ may be generally similar to device10and, for example, contain electrode housing46within volume V2. Alternatively, device10″ may contain alternative or additional electrical or electronic devices.

Depicted atop or adjacent device10″ inFIGS. 5A-Band6A-D are various exemplary controllers118. In each drawing, a controller118is shown as connected to device10″ without using any exterior or stand-alone cabling. Instead, modular or other jacks and plug arrangements may be employed to connect a controller118to electrode housing46(or other electrical or electronic device). In at least one embodiment of device10″, cap38″ may be modified so that electrodes of an SWC contained within volume V2may be accessed without removing the cap38″. When controller118is mechanically attached to device10″—which may occur in any suitable manner—the controller118also connects electrically. Preferably, controller118is removable from (or with) cap38″ so as to allow access within volume V2when needed.

Controller118may itself contain a computer or, instead, be as simple as a power supply. It may receive power in any suitable way. As shown inFIGS. 5A-5B, power to controller118may be provided by electrical mains M. Alternatively, other power sources (including, but not limited to, solar power) may be used.

Directional terms (including but not limited to “upper,” “lower,” “above,” etc.) are used as though devices10,10′, and10″ are upright. The devices may be installed other than in an upright manner, however. Consequently, none of the directional terms is necessarily used herein in any absolute sense. Indeed, the foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.