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US 10,925,805 B2Granted
Heating system for spa
AssigneeBullfrog International, LC
InventorsJeffrey J. Guilfoyle, Eric Hales
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for heating a pool or spa. The system may include a circuit for interrupting the power supply to a heating element of the pool or spa. A thyristor may be used to vary the voltage supply to the heating element, such as by use of a variable resistor, capacitor, and a triac. The system may adjust the resistance on the variable resistor to control to voltage supply to the heating element, allowing a larger heating element to be used more efficiently.
Claims19
A method for regulating an output voltage to a spa heating element from an input voltage to the spa heating element, comprising:
- providing a capacitor in electrical communication with the input voltage;
- providing a variable resistor in electrical communication with the capacitor and the spa heating element;
- providing a thyristor in electrical communication with the capacitor and the spa heating element;
- providing a controller in communication with the variable resistor;
- providing a thermistor in communication with the controller and the heating element;
- receiving, by the controller, at least one data point from a third party, the at least one data point relating to an ambient temperature proximal to the spa;
- receiving, by the controller, a signal from the thermistor indicating a current temperature of the heating element;
- receiving, by the controller, at least one heating pattern data point from a heating schedule module;
- receiving, by the controller, at least one current electricity pricing data point and at least one future electricity pricing data point from a third party;
- optimizing, by the controller, one or more signals to be sent to the variable resistor in response to the signal from the thermistor, the at least one heating pattern data point, the at least one current electricity pricing data point and the at least one future electricity pricing data point from the third party, and the at least one data point relating to the ambient temperature proximal to the spa;
- and
- sending, by the controller, the one or more signals to the variable resistor.
9 more elements
A heating system for a spa comprising:
- a heating element;
- a thermistor, the thermistor in communication with the heating element and a controller;
- a capacitor in electrical communication with a voltage supply for the heating element;
- a variable resistor in electrical communication with the capacitor and the heating element, the variable resistor further in communication with the controller;
- a heating schedule module in communication with the controller, the heating schedule module comprising predictive heating pattern data;
- and
- the controller programmed to send a signal to the variable resistor in response to a heating element condition signal from the thermistor, a predictive heating pattern data signal from the heating schedule module, an ambient temperature proximal to the spa signal from a third party, and at least one current electricity pricing data point and at least one future electricity pricing data point from a third party.
4 more elements
A kit for a heating system to a spa having an existing heating element, the kit comprising:
- a controller;
- a thermistor connected to the controller and having a connector for connection to the existing heating element;
- a capacitor configured for electrical communication with a voltage supply for the existing heating element;
- a variable resistor in electrical communication with the capacitor, the variable resistor further in communication with the controller;
- at least one of a triac and a quadrac in electrical communication with the capacitor and the at least one of the triac and the quadrac configured for electrical communication to the existing heating element;
- and
- the controller programmed to send a signal to the variable resistor in response to a signal from the thermistor relating to a condition of the heating element, a signal from a heating schedule module relating to heating pattern data point, a signal from a third party comprising at least one data point relating to an ambient temperature proximal to the spa, and a signal from a third party relating to at least one current electricity pricing data point and at least one future electricity pricing data point.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.