NZ716236B2 - A swimming pool pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention resides in a swimming pool pump (110) which is able to operate at a low speed and a high speed, the pump (110) automatically switched between the low speed and the high speed each time power is supplied to the pump.

Description

TITLE “A SWIMMING POOL PUMP" FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a swimming pool pump. In particular . the invention, s to a swimming pool pump which can be used to reduce electricity charges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Domestic swimming pools are enjoyed by millions of people throughoutthe world. So that people are able'to enjoy their swimming pools, it is necessary to filter the swimming pool water to make it clean as well as nate the swimming pool water to inhibit microbial growth. To filter ng pool water a pump is used to pump swimming pool waterthrough a filter. To chlorinate the swimming pool water, it is necessary to the pump the ng pool water through an electrolytic cell which creates ne from salt located within the ng pool water. Swimming pool water is typically pumped throughthe filter and then through the electrolytic cell. This allows a single pump to be used. The operation of the pump and the ical cell are normally controller simultaneous using a controller.

Swimming pool filtration systems are expensive to operate.

This is largely due. to electricity costs associated with running the pump. The electrolytic cell and the associated controller utilize l amount of electricity in ison with operation of the pump. Accordingly many pool owners program their controller to e the pump and electrolytic cell for a comparatively low numbers of hours. This can create'a swimming pool water which is either not clean and/or contain dangerous microbes.

In order to reduce electricity costs, it is possible to operate a pump during off—peak times when tariffs are at there .‘ However, in order to generate sufficient chlorine the electrolytic cell must generally between in operation for between 6 and 12 hours depending onthe size of the pool and weather conditions. Swimming pool pumps are generally noisy and running pumps through the night, when electricity tariffs are at their lowest, is often nbt possible. Further, due to the duration that the electrolytic cell must run, it is generally not possible to operate the pump entirely during off-peak'times. .

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome or ate one or more of the above disadvantages or to e the consumers with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ln'one form the invention resides in a swimming pool pump - 'which is able to e at a low speed and a high speed, the. pump _ automaticallyswitched between the low speed and the high speed each time power is supplied to the pump.

In another form, although not necessarily the only or broadest - form, the invention resides in a swimming pool pump ineludin'g: a motor; an impeller driven by the motor; ‘ an inlet that is able to draw water from a swimming pool when the impeller is being driven; an outlet able to pump water. back into a swimming pool when the impeller is being driven; and ' a switch to automatically switch the motor between a high speed and a low speed; wherein the switch is automatically sWitched cyclically between the low speed and the high speed in te periods of operation. _ Preferably the switch is automatically switched cyclically between the low speed and the high speed in successive s of operation.

Normally the periods of operation are defined when the power to the motor is ed on and off.

Preferably the pump has a basket void for location of a filter . basket. Suitably the- swimming pool filter includes a filter basket.

In another form the invention resides in a method of operating a swimming pool pump the method ing thesteps of: operating the pump at a high speed for a period of time; automatically switching the pump to a low speed; and ing the pump at a low speed for a period of time. ably, the pump is automatically switched between the high speed to the low speed when the power supply to the pump is changed In another form the invention resides in a swimming pool filtration system including. an olytic cell; a pump operable at a high volume and a low volume; a controller to control the periods of operation of both the electrolytic cell and pump; wherein the pump automatically alternates between a low volume'and a high volume after each period of operation. ' In another form, the invention resides in a method'of ing a swimming pool filtration system ing the steps of: ' connecting a controller to a pump so that the controller determines the period of operation of the pump; tically alternating the volumetricoutput of the pump between a high volume and a low volume when the period of operation changes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION An embodiment Will be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figure in which: Figure 1 is a tic 'view of a pool filtration systemwhich includes a swimming pool pump ing to an embodiment ' of the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic view of a swimming pool pump according to an embodiment of the invention. .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 shows a typical pool filtration system 100 which is 3O used to both chlorin'ate and filter water from a swimming pool 10. The swimming pool filtration system 100 includes a swimming pool pump 110, an electrolytic Cell 120, a filter 130 and a controller 140. The controller 140'is used to control the operation of the swimming pool pump 110 and the electrolytic cell 120. In normal,>use the controller 140 is programmed so that the pump 110 and the electrolytic cell 120 are operated twice a, day.

However, it should be appreciated that the controller 140, the electrolytic cell 120 and pump 110 may be operated more than twice per day.

The electrolytic cell 120, pump 110, filter 130 and ller 140 are all standard pieces of swimming pool eduipment which are readily purchased from swimming pool accessories suppliers. A person d in the art would readily be able to select an appropriate controller 140, filter 130 and olytic cell 120 based on the size of the pool, thevolume of water and associated e.

The swimming pool pump 110, shown in Figure 2, includes a 2- speed motor 111, an impeller 112, an inlet 1 13, an outlet 114, a filter , void 115 and a filter basket 116. The 2-speed motor 111 is attached to the impeller by ashaft 117. The impeller 112 is located adjacent to the filter basket Void 115 to pump water into the inlet 113, through the filter basket 116 and out of the outlet 114.

The swimming pool pump 110 also includes a switch 1 18 which is connected to the d motor 111. The switCh 118 can be used to operate the motor 111 in a number of, different modes namely, high, low, standby, auto and boosta. The modes are shown Figure 2. The different modes can be, activated by selectingbuttons 119 located on the switch 118.

That is, the switch 118 can operate the motor 111 solely at a high speed.

The switch 118 can also operate the motor 111 solely a low speed. The switch 118 can be used to stop the motor 1 1 1 thereby placing the motor 118 in a standby mode. The switch 118 can be used in. auto mode in which the motor 111 automatically alternates between a low speed and a high speed, and from a high speed to a low speed,_in a continuous fashion, when power ‘ is switched on. It should be iated that the switch may switch the motor 111 from a low speed to a high speed and visa versa when the power is turned off in an alternate embodiment. The sWitch 118 can also be used in a boosta mode which runs the motor 111 at high speed for a predetermined length of time (for example 30 minutes).

It should be appreciated that when the low speed mode is selected on the switch 118 or the auto speed' mode. is selected and is alternated to the low speed, the motor 111 can be run on high for a short period of time (eg 30 sec to 2min) to ensure the pump is primed and/or to pass any accumulated debris into the basket that may be located in the pool - filtration system 100; . .

It should be appreciated that the swimming pool pump 1 10 may be operated using and associated remote control '1 50 that isWirelessly linked 410 to the swimming pool switch using conventional technology. The remote control 150 again has a number of ent modes namely, high, low, stop, sync-auto and becsta. The different modes can be activated by selecting buttons 151 d on the remote control 1150. The high, low and boosta modes have been discussed above. The stop mode is self explanatory and ' stops the motor 111. The sync-auto changes the sequence of from high speed to low speed pr visa versa when the auto mode on the switch 1.18 has , been selected.

‘In use, the controller 140 is typically used to l the supply of power the pump 110 and to the electrolytic cell 120 to operate both the pump 1'10 and the electrolytic cell 120 simultaneously. That is, when the pump 110 is operating, the electrolytic cell 120 is also operating. The controller 140 must be set to operate the electrolytic cell 120 for a sufficient period of timeso thatthe electrolytic cell 120 produces sufficient chlorine.

FUrther, the centroller 140 must be setvto operate the pump 110 so that a sufficient volume of water passes through the filter ’1 30 to clean the water. it - is desirable to achieve the above atthe lowest cost.

'Accordingly, the controller 140 is the set to e the pump 110 at a low speed (and low volume) whenelectricity tariffs are high. ore, the amount of electricity consumed by ing of the pump 110 is reduced when compared to a single speed pump. The electrolytic cell 130 still Operates at this time and still produces chlorine. When electricity charges are low then the pump 110 is run at a high speed (and high volume) in order to achieve the required volume of water to be passed through the filter‘130. I Again, the electrolytic cell is being run when the pump is being run.

The advantage of having a two speed/volume pump is existing pumps can be replaced keeping all of the older, equipment. This replacement can easily be achieved as the change in'power switches the speed of the motor 110 of the pump from a low speed to a high speed and visa versa. ore, an existing controller can be mmed to supply power to the pump according to electricity tariffs times taking into account the .10 volume of water that must be passed through the filter and the amount of time the electrolytic cell must operate for to produce the required amount of chlorine.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modification may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit pe of the invention.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS :

1. A swimming pool pump which is able to operate at a low speed and a high speed, the pump automatically switched between the low speed and the high speed each time power is supplied to the pump. 5

2. The swimming pool pump of claim 1 wherein the ng pool pump includes: a motor; an impeller driven by the motor; an inlet that is able to draw water from a swimming pool when the 10 er is being driven; an outlet able to pump water back into a ng pool when the impeller is being driven; and a switch to automatically switch the motor between a high speed and a low speed when power is supplied to the pump. 15

3. The swimming pool pump of claim 2 wherein the switch is automatically switched cyclically between the low speed and the high speed in separate periods of operation.

4. The swimming pool pump of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein switch is automatically switched cyclically between the low speed and the high speed 20 in successive periods of operation.

5. The swimming pool pump of any one of the preceding claims further ing a basket void for location of a filter basket.

6. The swimming pool pump of claim 5 wherein the basket void includes a filter . 25

7. A method of operating a swimming pool pump the method including the steps of: operating the pump at a high speed for a period of time; automatically switching the pump to a low speed when the power supply to the pump is changed; and 30 operating the pump at a low speed for a period of time.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of: automatically switching the pump to a low speed when the power supply to the pump is changed; and operating the pump at a high speed for a period of time. 5

9. A swimming pool filtration system including: an electrolytic cell; a pump operable at a high volume and a low volume; a controller to control the periods of operation of both the electrolytic cell and pump; 10 n the pump automatically alternates between a low volume and a high volume when the period of operation changes.

10. The swimming pool filtration system of claim 9 wherein the ng pool pump includes: a motor; 15 an impeller driven by the motor; an inlet that is able to draw water from a swimming pool when the er is being driven; an outlet able to pump water back into a swimming pool when the impeller is being driven; and 20 a switch to automatically switch the motor between a high speed and a low speed the when power is ed to the pump wherein the change in period of operation causes power to be supplied to the pump.

11. The swimming pool filtration system of claim 10 wherein the switch is 25 automatically switched cyclically between the low speed and the high speed in separate periods of operation.

12. The swimming pool filtration system of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein switch is automatically switched cyclically between the low speed and the high speed in successive s of operation. 30

13. The ng pool filtration system of any one of claims 9 to 12 including a basket void for location of a filter basket.

14. The swimming pool tion system of claim 13 wherein the basket void includes a filter basket.