Patent Publication Number: US-9837733-B2

Title: Water bonding fixture

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/566,110, filed Dec. 10, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/915,611, filed Dec. 13, 2013, the entire contents of both applications of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention is related to the bonding of a fluid to equalize electrical potentials. 
     Water in swimming pools, hot tubs and spas can develop differences in electrical potential in various locations which can result in an electrical shock to bathers. To prevent the development of different electrical potentials the metal parts of the electrical equipment connected with the water circulation system must be brought to the same electrical potential as the water by means of electrical conductors. This is accomplished by “water bonding”. 
     In accordance with current regulations, the water in the swimming pool must be in contact with a corrosion resistant conductor of at least 9 square inches of surface area. What is needed is a conductive fitting which satisfies the legal requirements for water bonding and can be incorporated into water pumping systems and/or retrofitted to existing swimming pool systems such as skimmers and the like. 
     SUMMARY 
     A water bonding fixture is provided herein which can include a shaft; and a plurality of electrically conductive plates disposed at one end of the shaft and spaced apart from each other so as to provide a gap between adjacent plates. The water bonding fixture is preferably used in conjunction with swimming pool equipment such as pool pumps, skimmers and filters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the water bonding fixture of the invention; 
         FIG. 1A  is an alternative embodiment of the water bonding fixture of the invention; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a swimming pooll pump assembly including the water bonding fixture according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates the water bonding fixture of the invention in connection with the reservoir of a pump; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the water bonding fixture; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure. 
     Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. 
     The water bonding fixture of the invention is preferably used in conjunction with pool equipment such as pumps, filters and skimmers and serves to electrically ground the water to prevent unequal electrical potentials between the water and any metallic objects in the pool environment. As used herein, the term “pool” encompasses swimming pools, hot tubs, spas and other bathing facilities. Although described herein with respect to pools, the water bonding fixture can be used in connection with other water environments that require water bonding, for example, fish tanks, water gardens, and fountains. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment the bonding fixture  100  includes a shaft  120  and a plurality of electrically conductive plates  111 / 112 / 113  in a head portion  110  attached to one end of said shaft  120 . Head portion  110  includes at least two, and preferably three or more plates. 
     In the embodiment illustrated herein, head portion  110  includes three arcuate plates  111 / 112 / 113  having a substantially quadrangular periphery. Plates  111 / 112 / 113  are substantially parallel to each other, or layered, arranged and spaced apart from each other to provide a gap between adjacent plates. The gap between the adjacent plates is wide enough to permit the flow of water therethrough and preferably ranges from about 0.015 inches to about 0.25 inches, although distances outside of this range may also be employed whenever appropriate for the purposes described herein. 
     Plates  111 / 112 / 113  can be fabricated from an electrically conductive material such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper and the like, which is sufficiently corrosion resistant to maintain water bonding effectiveness over the life of the fixture. Spacer elements  118  ( FIG. 2 ) can be disposed between plates  111 / 112 / 113  to maintain the gap spacing. 
     According to some existing building codes, a plate surface area in contact with the water is required to be a minimum of nine square inches. A single plate with a surface area of nine square inches can be difficult to deploy in small, confined and/or shaped locations. For example, a reservoir or pump may have limited interior space in which a large plate could obstruct water flow therein. With multiple plates the overall dimensions can be reduced. For example, with three plates each plate can be reduced in size to possess a surface area of three square inches, thereby permitting use of the bonding fixture of the present application in more confined locations. 
     Shaft  120  of bonding fixture  100  is generally cylindrical and can include a smooth portion  121  in the vicinity of head portion  110 , a threaded portion  122 , and an end portion  123 . A nut  130  (e.g., a hex nut) may be mounted on threaded portion  122  and a washer  131  can be mounted on the shaft  120  between the nut  130  and head portion  110 . Seals  115  and  116  can be mounted on the shaft smooth portion  121  between head portion  110  and washer  131 . Seals  115  and  116  are preferably fabricated from a resilient polymeric material. 
     End portion  123  of the shaft preferably has an axial bore  124  and a screw fastener  140  rotatably mounted to the side of the shaft and which penetrates the shaft. Axial bore  124  is adapted to receive a conductive grounding wire which is inserted therein to a distance aligned with screw  140 . Screw  140  can be tightened to press down on the wire in bore  124 , thereby fixedly securing the wire and preventing its unintended detachment from bonding fixture  100 . Other means for connecting a grounding wire to water bonding fixture  100  are contemplated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , an alternative embodiment  100 A of the water bonding fixture  100 A having multiple arcuate quadrangular plates is illustrated. Water bonding fixture  100 A includes a head portion  150  having multiple conductive plates  151 / 152 / 153  mounted to a threaded shaft  160 . Shaft  160  includes a transverse aperture  161  and an axial aperture  162 . Water bonding fixture  100 A further includes a nut  165  rotatably mounted on threaded shaft  160 , a washer  166  and a resilient seal  167 . A grounding cable  180  having a conductive wire  181  and insulative sheath  182  is shown connected to shaft  160  such that the wire  181  is disposed through the transverse aperture  161 . A screw member  170  is engaged in axial aperture  162  and may be tightened onto the wire  181  to fixedly secure wire  181  to prevent inadvertent disconnection. 
     Although several configurations have been described herein to connect a grounding wire to the water bonding fixture (e.g.,  124 / 140  or  161 / 170 ), other configurations are contemplated. For example, the grounding wire can be soldered or welded directly to the shaft without any apertures or screws. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the bonding fixture  100  is shown in conjunction with a reservoir  300  of a swimming pool pump assembly  350 . Swimming pool pump assembly  350  includes a strainer assembly  300 , a centrifugal pump assembly  320  and a motor  330 . Strainer assembly  300  includes a strainer housing or chamber  310 . Chamber  310  is enclosed by wall  311  and during use contains water which is in fluid connection with the swimming pool water. Bonding fixture  100  is disposed through an aperture in the wall  311  such that head portion  110  containing plates  111 / 112 / 113  is positioned in chamber  310  and in contact with the water. Seal  115  abuts the inner opening of the aperture to prevent water leakage therethrough. Seal  116  closes the outer opening of the aperture in wall  311 . Seals  115  and  116  have conical portions to seat securely in the respective openings of the aperture in the wall  311 ; other seal configurations are contemplated. 
     In use, the nut  130  is rotated along threaded portion  122  to force the washer  116  into tight engagement with the aperture, thereby sealing the aperture to prevent leakage of water therethrough. The grounding wire is inserted into bore  124  in the exposed end of shaft  120  and screw  140  is then tightened to secure the grounding wire. Bonding fixture  100 A may be employed in a pool pump in a manner similar to that of fixture  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in another embodiment bonding fixture  200  includes a shaft  220  with a smooth portion  221  and a threaded portion  222 . At the end of smooth portion  221 , bonding fixture  200  includes a head portion  210 . Head portion  210  includes a plurality of convex electrically conductive plates  211 / 212 / 213  each having a circular periphery. Plates  211 / 212 / 213  are arranged concentrically in spaced configuration so as to provide gaps between the adjacent plates. The gaps are of sufficient dimensions so as to permit the flow of water therethrough. A disk shaped flange  214  is disposed on smooth portion  221  in the concavity formed by the plate  213 . As with the previously described embodiment discussed above, the total surface area of the plates  211 / 212 / 213  must be at least nine square inches to comply with building code requirements (although variations are contemplated). A single plate would require a diameter of about 3.4 inches. However, the overall diameter of the largest plate  211  can be reduced since multiple plates are employed, each of which contributes to the conductive surface area for water bonding. 
     Bonding fixture  200  can be integrally fabricated as a single piece of metal and can be used in conjunction with washer(s), seal(s) and nut(s) as described above to be mounted to a pool pump, skimmer, filter or other pool equipment. Any of known means (not shown) for attaching a grounding wire to bonding fixture  200  can be used in connection with bonding fixture  200 . 
     Bonding fixtures  100 ,  100 A and  200  can be used in original equipment or can be after market items for retrofitting into existing equipment. 
     While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto. For example, although the water bonding fixtures described herein are shown in conjunction with a pool pump, they can be used in any pool equipment wherein the bonding fixture is in contact with water in fluid connection with water in a bathing facility.