Patent Publication Number: US-2022220015-A1

Title: Multi-valve water treatment device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is an International Patent Application claiming priority to Chinese Application No. CN 201920515659.9 filed Apr. 16, 2019 and entitled MULTI-WAY VALVE STRUCTURE FOR POOL WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The invention relates to water treatment devices, in particular to a multi-path valve assembly for use in a pool water treatment device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Pool water conditions, if left unchecked, can render the pool water unsuitable for swimmers. For example, untreated pool water can become a habitat for bacteria and algae which can endanger the health of swimmers. Bacteria and algae accumulation can also have aesthetic consequences, such as discoloration of water and in some cases, odors. pH levels in pool water are also important. Chemical additives that help prevent bacteria and algae accumulation can alter the pH of pool water. If the water becomes too basic or acidic, it can also render the water unsuitable for swimmers. Chemicals commonly used in pools include disinfectants, coagulants, pH adjusters, algaecides, etc. 
     These chemicals may be used in conjunction with each other and may require diligent care and attention while dealing with them. While sanitizing a pool with unclean water, or performing preventative maintenance, each of the chemicals used will require a different amount, need monitoring in a different way, and will need to be applied more or less than the others. For example, a common disinfectant for pool water is chlorine. Chlorine can be applied in a diluted liquid form, in a solid form as a dissolvable tablet, or in a gaseous form. Each form of application presents its own challenges because chlorine is not suitable for humans and pets in high concentrations. 
     Additionally, if these chemicals are mixed before application to the pool water, they could react and damage equipment or the pool itself. Each chemical needs its own dosing system to assure safety, and accuracy when performing routine maintenance of pools. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a multi-valve water treatment system which facilitates precise delivery of water treatment substances to a pool or other bathing enclosure. The water treatment system uses an arrangement of valves operated by a cam shaft and motor, such that actuation of the motor selectively opens respective valves to allow selected water treatment substances to flow. A diaphragm is used to isolate the cam shaft and valve structures from the fluid flow paths. 
     In one form thereof, the present disclosure provides a multi-valve water treatment system including: a motor having an output shaft; a driven shaft fixed to the output shaft such that the driven shaft is driven by the motor when the motor is activated, the driven shaft having a cam disposed at an axial position along the driven shaft; and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes: a valve actuator urged into engagement with the driven shaft at the axial position, such that the valve actuator is moved axially upon engagement with the cam; a fluid flow housing having a fluid outlet and at least one fluid inlet selectively sealingly engaged by the valve actuator to define a valve configured to selectively allow a flow of fluid from the fluid inlet toward the fluid outlet depending on the relative positions of the driven shaft and the valve actuator; and a diaphragm sealingly isolating the fluid inlet of the fluid flow housing from the valve actuator. 
     In another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a multi-valve water treatment system including: a motor; a driven shaft drivingly coupled to the motor; a fluid housing having a plurality of fluid inlets positioned to discharge to a common fluid flow chamber, and a fluid outlet positioned to receive a single flow from the fluid flow chamber, each of the plurality of fluid inlets coupled to a source of a water treatment substance; a multi-valve assembly including a plurality of valves respectively fluidly connected to the plurality of fluid inlets, the driven shaft configured to activate and deactivate each of the plurality of valves; and a controller operably connected to the motor and programmed to activate and deactivate the plurality of valves by rotation of the driven shaft. 
     In yet another form thereof, the present disclosure provides a multi-valve water treatment system including: a housing; a motor; a driven shaft disposed within the housing and configured to be driven by the motor; and a multi-valve assembly. The multi-valve assembly includes: a plurality of valve actuators disposed within the housing and around the driven shaft; a plurality of valve rods extending below the housing, each coupled to one of the plurality of valve actuators and having a spring biasing the plurality of valve rods away from the valve actuators against the housing; a plurality of chemical inlets at an end of the plurality of valve rods; and a diaphragm disposed between the plurality of valve rods and the plurality of chemical inlets and positioned to individually seal each of the plurality of chemical inlets, the diaphragm coupled to each of the plurality of valve rods such that movement of one of the plurality of valve rods causes resilient deformation of the diaphragm. The driven shaft defines a plurality of rotational positions including a first position in which a first one of the plurality of valve actuators is urged away from an adjacent first one of the plurality of chemical inlets by the driven shaft and against a bias of the spring, such that the diaphragm resiliently deforms to open a corresponding first one of the plurality of chemical inlets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a multi-valve water treatment device made in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the multi-valve water treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the multi-valve water treatment device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation, cross-sectional view of the multi-valve water treatment device, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 , shown with all valves closed; 
         FIG. 5  is another elevation, cross-sectional view of the multi-valve water treatment device, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 , shown with a first valve open; 
         FIG. 6  is another elevation, cross-sectional view of the multi-valve water treatment device, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 , shown with a second valve open; and 
         FIG. 7  is yet another elevation, cross-sectional view of the multi-valve water treatment device, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 , shown with a third valve open. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a water treatment device  100  having multiple valve systems. As shown in  FIG. 1  and described in detail below, water treatment device  100  includes a fluid flow housing or base  4 , a diaphragm  5 , a multi-valve assembly  6 , and a control assembly  200  which cooperate to actuate valved flow paths to selectively allow or prohibit chemical flows through device  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , base  4  includes inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C which all discharge to a common fluid flow chamber  41 , and an outlet  411  which receives a single flow from the fluid flow chamber  41 . This single flow may be a mixture of different fluids discharged by one or more of the inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C. Base  4  rests on a horizontal plane and has a side wall  415  that extends around the perimeter of base  4  to define fluid flow chamber  41 . Outlet  411  is defined by an aperture in side wall  415  of base  4 . In an exemplary embodiment, outlet  411  is configured to fluidly couple to a hose connector, or may discharge directly into the pool. For example, Inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C may each include a barbed connector  413 A,  413 B,  413 C ( FIG. 3 ) on the outside of base  4 , that leads into fluid flow chamber  41 . Inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C lead into fluid flow chamber  41  along a horizontal flow path, then make a 90-degree turn to a vertical flow path to terminate at openings  414 A,  414 B,  414 C. Openings  414 A,  414 B,  414 C extend vertically up to a height substantially the same as side wall  415  and lead out into fluid flow chamber  41 . Inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C are higher than outlet  411  such that inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C are positioned to sealingly engage with diaphragm  5 . As further described below, this arrangement ensure that fluid will drain out of fluid flow chamber  41  and not drain back through inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C when the valves are closed ( FIG. 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, and 4-7 , diaphragm  5  is sealingly attached to the top of side wall  415  of base  4 . Diaphragm  5  is made of a flexible material such a rubber or a soft plastic which can provide a fluid-tight seal between chamber  41  and the ambient area around device  100 , and also selectively seal openings  414 A,  414 B,  414 C. In an exemplary embodiment, diaphragm is made from a chemically-resistant material that can resist corrosion or corruption due to exposure to chemicals commonly used to clean pool water. Optionally, diaphragm  5  may be made of two different materials, such as a hard plastic for the non-moving parts, and a flexible material for the moving (i.e., deformable) parts. Diaphragm  5  also includes valve portions  51 A,  51 B,  51 C. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , valve portions  51 A,  51 B,  51 C correspond and align with openings  414 A,  414 B,  414 C of inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C, which act as valve seats. Valve portions  51 A,  51 B,  51 C are configured to be moved up or down to disengage and reengage with openings  414 A,  414 B,  414 C. At rest, and as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , valve potions  51 A,  51 B,  51 C are in sealing engagement with openings  414 A,  414 B,  414 C.  FIGS. 5-7  each show a different one of valve portions  51 A,  51 B,  51 C in an activated, or disengaged, configuration with respect to its corresponding opening  414 A,  414 B,  414 C. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , multi-valve assembly  6  of water treatment device  100  includes valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C, springs  63 A,  63 B,  63 C, housing  1 , and actuators  61 A,  61 B,  61 C. Valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C extend vertically up from diaphragm  5 , with the lower ends of valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C respectively coupled to valve portions  51 A,  51 B,  51 C. In the illustrated embodiment, each valve portion  51 A,  51 B,  51 C includes a molded cavity which captures a correspondingly shaped lower end of each valve rod  62 A,  62 B,  62 C such that vertical movement of valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C causes valve portions  51 A,  51 B,  51 C to also move vertically and disengage from openings  414 A,  414 B,  414 C of inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C. Directly above this captured coupling between valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C and valves  51 A,  51 B,  51 C, are flanges  621 A,  621 B,  621 C. Each flange  621 A,  621 B,  621 C is a radial extension from the otherwise cylindrical valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C that provide a lower shoulder upon which springs  63 A,  63 B,  63 C bear. Above flanges  621 A,  621 B,  621 C, a relatively smaller cross-sectional area (e.g., a round area creating the illustrated cylindrical surface) is sized to allow each valve rod  62 A,  62 B,  62 C to extend through housing apertures  112 A,  112 B,  112 C and to be vertically moveable therethrough for a range of motion. Springs  63 A,  63 B,  63 C are disposed around this smaller cross-sectional portion of valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C and are captured between flanges  621 A,  621 B,  621 C and the lower inner surface of housing  1  to provide a downward biasing force onto valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , within housing  1 , valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C include locking members  64 A,  64 B,  64 C. Locking members  64 A,  64 B,  64 C each include a wide base  65  and a wide top  66  with a circular slot  67  therebetween. Locking members  64 A,  64 B,  64 C are fixed to the upper end of valve rods  62 A,  62 B,  62 C (e.g., by a threaded connection), and are vertically fixed to actuators  61 A,  61 B,  61 C via slots  67 . In the illustrated embodiment, each wide top  66  can be resiliently deformed inwardly to pass through the adjacent catch  68 , and the allowed to “snap” back outwardly when slot  67  registers with catch  68 . At this point, the respective valve rod  62 A,  62 B,  62 C is vertically coupled to its actuator  61 A,  61 B,  61 C, such that upward movement of an actuator  61 A,  61 B,  61 C also moves valve rod  62 A,  62 B,  62 C upwardly, thereby lifting the respective valve portion  51 A,  51 B,  51 C to open the valve. In the illustrated embodiment, each wide top  66  is tapered to assist in the initial engagement of locking members  64 A,  64 B,  64 C with its adjacent catch  68 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , multi-valve assembly  6  also includes housing  1 . Housing  1  has a base and two vertical walls that define a chamber  11  ( FIG. 1 ). Each of the vertical walls includes actuator rails  111 A,  111 B,  111 C which protrude from the inside face of each vertical wall and define a convex profile. Actuator rails  111 A,  111 B,  111 C are configured to slidably receive actuators  61 A,  61 B,  61 C. In particular, actuators  61 A,  61 B,  61 C include grooves  612  at their outer surfaces that are concave and correspondingly shaped to rails  111 A,  111 B,  111 C, such that actuators  61 A,  61 B,  61 C slidably engage the respective actuator rails  111 A,  111 B,  111 C within chamber  11  of housing  1 . The shape and clearance fit between actuator rails  111 A,  111 B,  111 C and housing grooves  612  allow actuators  61 A,  61 B,  61 C to slide vertically within chamber  11 , and without substantially moving in a horizontal direction. Each actuator  61 A,  61 B,  61 C can move vertically relative to the others in this manner. 
     The inner portion of each actuator  61 A,  61 B,  61 C includes an aperture  611  sized to receive driven shaft  2 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , each aperture  611  is generally round in cross-section, but is interrupted by a notch at its lower end and a flat at its upper end. The notch of each aperture  611  can receive cams  21 A,  21 B,  21 C as further described below to facilitate assembly, while the flat at of each aperture  611  engages the respective cams  21 A,  21 B,  21 C during operation of water treatment device  100 , as also described below. Together, the apertures  611  extend throughout the multiple actuators  61 A,  61 B,  61 C and span the length of chamber  11 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 1 , control assembly  200  of water treatment device  100  includes driven shaft  2  which spans the length of apertures  611  and is rotatably supported by first end cap  7  and second end cap  8 . In an exemplary embodiment, end caps  7 , 8  are bearings which facilitate smooth rotation of shaft  2 . First end cap  7  is fixed to the lower wall or base at one end of housing  1 , while second end cap  8  is fixed to the lower wall or base at one end of housing  1 . 
     A plurality of cams  21 A,  21 B,  21 C extending radially from driven shaft  2 , but are spaced axially from one another and placed at different angular orientations relative to one another. Cams  21 A,  21 B,  21 C are configured to engage with the inner flat surface of the top of apertures  611 , such that the engagement drives actuators  61 A,  61 B,  61 C in a vertical direction as further described below with reference to  FIGS. 4-7 . The axial and angular spacing of cams  21 A,  21 B,  21 C ensures that only one actuator  61 A,  61 B,  61 C is activated at a time. In the illustrated embodiment, cam  21 A is a solid structure while cams  21 B and  21 C are formed from two insets ( FIG. 1 ). This may facilitate manufacture of driven shaft  2 , though other cam designs may of course be used as required or desired for a particular application. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1 , the driven end of driven shaft  2  (i.e., the end portion supported by end cap  8 ) extends outside of housing  1  and is configured to receive and couple to locator plate  92  via fastener  10 . Locator plate  92  includes a plurality of locators  921 A,  921 B,  921 C,  921 D which respectively correspond to the shaft positions which provide closed valves ( FIG. 4 ) and respectively opened valves ( FIGS. 5-7 ) as further described below. 
     Second end cap  8  includes aperture  93  and detector mount  94 . Aperture  93  supports the end of driven shaft  2 , as noted above. Detector mount  94  receives detector  91  and allows detector  91  to be fixed in position near shaft  2  and locator plate  92 . Detector  91  includes photosensor  911 . Photosensor  911  is configured to detect the presence or absence of locators  921 A,  921 B,  921 C,  921 D, and in some embodiments, may also distinguish between the various locators  921 A,  921 B,  921 C,  921 D. In this way, detector  91  is configured to sense the presence of a particular one of locators  921 A,  921 B,  921 C,  921 D, and thereby issue a signal that indicates whether and which of the valves  51 A,  51 B,  51 C are open. As described in detail below, this signal may also be used by a controller to calculate how much rotation of the driven shaft  2  is needed to reconfigure the valves  51 A,  51 B,  51 C into a desired open or closed state. 
     Motor  3  includes an output shaft drivingly coupled to driven shaft  2 . During operation, motor  3  is activated to driven shaft  2  and locator plate  92  to rotate synchronously. As each locator  921 A,  921 B,  921 C,  921 D passes through photosensor  911 , photosensor  911  issues a signal via the electrical cable of detector  91  to a user interface and/or controller. For example, a controller may be calibrated upon initial assembly or installation of water treatment device  100  to initiate its program in a known rotational orientation of shaft  2 , such as the “all-valves-closed” orientation shown in  FIG. 4  where locator  921 A is in registration with photosensor  911 . When motor  3  activates to rotate shaft  2  in a known direction, the signal from photosensor  911  indicating presence of locator  921 A is eliminated as locator  921 A passes out of registration. The controller may then be programmed to await the next signal indicating presence of a locator and, when the locator is sensed, then it may be inferred that the next locator—i.e., locator  921 B—is in registration with photosensor  911 . The same process may be repeated to serially infer the presence of locator  921 C, locator  921 D, and then locator  921 A again. Alternatively, photosensor  911  may be any other kind of sensor, including a sensor which can distinguish between the various locators  921 A,  921 B,  921 C,  921 D (e.g., by color, QR code, or any other suitable method). This may result in the signal from photosensor  911  providing a direct indication of which locator  921 A,  921 B,  921 C,  921 D is present. 
     In this way, the controller can select which valve  51 A,  51 B,  51 C needs to be opened or closed, such as in response to a user or program input signal. Upon such selection, motor  3  may be activated or deactivated until the signals received from photosensor  911  and/or the programming logic indicate that the desired configuration has been achieved. This may be used to control the operation of motor  3  to precisely open and close any individual valve  51 A,  51 B,  51 C of water treatment device  100 . 
     In addition, water treatment device  100  can cooperate with the controller to provide automated operation. For example, a timer may be used to calculate the elapsed time between water treatment operations, such that water treatment operations may automatically occur after a given time interval. Alternatively, water quality sensors may provide signals to the controller which are indicative of water quality, such as turbidity or composition. When the water quality reaches a threshold level, the controller may activate water treatment device  100  to automatically remediate the quality issue. Further, water treatment device  100  may take one action (e.g., opening a first valve) for one type of detected problem, and take another action (e.g., opening a second valve different from the first valve) for another, different type of detected problem. 
     As shown by a comparison of  FIGS. 4-7 , in one embodiment, water treatment device  100  includes three valves  51 A,  51 B,  51 C, any one of which (or none of which) may be opened independently. During operation, a water treatment chemical solution, or fluid container or supply may be hooked up to each of inlets  412 A,  412 B,  412 C such that each valve  51 A,  51 B,  51 C results in a different water treatment. 
       FIG. 4  shows water treatment device  100  in a closed configuration in which each of valves  51 A,  51 B,  51 C are closed. Locator  921 A is in registration with photosensor  911  such that a signal emitted by detector  91  indicates “all valves closed.” 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , water treatment device  100  is shown with a “first valve open” configuration in which valve  51 A is open and valves  51 B and  51 C are closed. To transition from the “all valves closed” configuration of  FIG. 4  to the first valve open” configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , motor  3  activates to rotate driven shaft  2 . Upon such rotation of driven shaft  2 , cam  21 A also rotates. When driven shaft  2  rotates by a certain angle, cam  21 A abuts against the inside surface of the receiving aperture  611  of actuator  61 A. Cam  21 A therefore pushes actuator  61 A to move vertically upwardly, which in turn lifts valve rod  62 A against the bias force of spring  63 A. As valve rod  62 A rises vertically, valve rod  62 A lifts valve  51 A, opening inlet  412 A so that a water treatment substance or fluid, such as a water treatment chemical solution, is allowed to flow from a source of the substance, through inlet  412 A into fluid flow chamber  41  where it may mix with other flow, and then through outlet  411  into a pool or body of water to be treated. When cam  21 A reaches its peak, and actuator  61 A is raised vertically as high as it will go, valve  51 A is completely open. In this configuration, locator  921 B corresponding is located within and registered with the detection zone of photosensor  911 . If valve  51 A is the desired valve from  51 A,  51 B,  51 C to be opened, this will signal detector  91  to stop rotation of motor  3 . 
     Conversely, and as shown in  FIG. 6 , if valve  51 B is desired to be open, further rotation of motor  3  will be signaled by the controller. As the locator  921 B that corresponds to the open configuration of valve  51 A moves out of the detection zone of photosensor  911 , detector  91  will issue a signal (which may be the elimination of a formerly present signal) that valve  51 A is closing. As shaft  2  continues to rotate, cam  21 A will disengage with the flat of the aperture  611  to allow actuator  61 A to lower under the force of spring  63 A to pull down valve rod  62 A and close valve  51 A. Upon further activation of motor  3  to rotate driven shaft  2 , cam  21 B engages with actuator  61 B and the process of opening valve  51 B will operate the same as the opening of valve  51 A. In the same way, locator  921 C will then move into the detection zone of photosensor  911  communicating to detector  91  that valve  51 B is opening. 
     The same process of continued rotation and monitoring for locator  921 D by detector  91  may also be used to open valve  51 C and close valves  51 A and  51 B, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, driven shaft  2  includes three sets of cams  21 A,  21 B,  21 C that are spaced circumferentially around driven shaft  2  about 90° from one another. If the desired configuration of the present water treatment device  100  is as shown in  FIG. 4 , and all valves  51 A,  51 B,  51 C are closed, then rotation of driven shaft  2  about 90° from this closed configuration will open the first valve  51 A. Another 90° of rotation will close the first valve  51 A and open the second valve  51 B. Yet another 90° of rotation will close the second valve  51 B and open the third valve  51 C. 
     In other embodiments, driven shaft  2  may include any number of cams, such as two sets of cams  21 A,  21 B which are spaced circumferentially around driven shaft  2  about 180°, which would be sufficient to drive two valves between respective open and closed states. Moreover, any number of sets of cams can be used, such as one set for one valve, four sets for four valves, or any other configuration. 
     A distinct advantage of the present system is that the chemicals distributed into the water supply through the present water treatment device  100  only flow within fluid flow chamber  41  and diaphragm  5 . The chemicals never come into contact with any other parts of the present water treatment device  100 . This is particularly advantageous for the delivery of chemicals that are not suitable for human contact in high concentrations, because such chemicals would only be found in high concentrations in one, sealed location which need not be accessed by a user except through a controller. 
     While this invention has been described as having exemplary designs, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.