# US 12,180,094 B2 · Pool filtration system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,094 B2 - Document ID: US12180094B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/650,598 - Filed: 2022-02-10 - Published: 2022-08-11 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-10 - Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc. - Applicants: Pentair Water Pool & Spa, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas Johnson Ray Safon; Eric Pinnell; Sean McEwan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180094B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/444: {by ultrafiltration or microfiltration} - C02F 1/001: {Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00)} - C02F 2103/42: from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools - C02F 2201/005: Valves - C02F 2209/006: comprising a software program or a logic diagram - C02F 2209/03: Pressure - C02F 2301/043: Treatment of partial or bypass streams - E04H 4/1209: {Treatment of water for swimming pools (filters B01D)} - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract Some embodiments provide a pool filtration system for filtering pool water including a pump, a primary filter in fluid communication with the pump, and an auxiliary filter in fluid communication with the pump and the primary filter. The auxiliary filter can include a membrane filtration module, and a flow distribution manifold. The flow distribution manifold can include an influent port in fluid communication with an influent flow opening and an effluent port in fluid communication with an effluent flow opening. The influent flow opening and the effluent flow opening can be fluidly coupled across the membrane filtration module. The flow distribution manifold can further include a bypass mechanism. The bypass mechanism can include at least one valve that selectively fluidly couples the influent port to the effluent port to bypass the membrane filtration module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pool filtration system for filtering pool water, comprising: a pump; a primary filter in fluid communication with the pump; and an auxiliary filter in fluid communication with the pump and the primary filter, the auxiliary filter comprising: a membrane filtration module, and a flow distribution manifold provided in the form of a manifold base and a manifold cover and further including an influent port in fluid communication with an influent flow opening and an effluent port in fluid communication with an effluent flow opening, the influent flow opening and the effluent flow opening fluidly coupled across the membrane filtration module, the flow distribution manifold further including a bypass mechanism coupled between the manifold base and the manifold cover, the bypass mechanism including at least one valve that selectively fluidly couples the influent port to the effluent port to bypass the membrane filtration module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pool filtration system of claim 1, including a first pressure port extending into the flow distribution manifold on a first side of the effluent flow opening and a second pressure port extending into the flow distribution manifold on a second side of the effluent flow opening, and a differential pressure gauge coupled to the first pressure port and the second pressure port to measure a differential pressure value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pool filtration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve includes a first stem valve with a first spring, the first stem valve selectively allowing one-way flow from the influent port to the effluent port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pool filtration system of claim 1, wherein the at least one valve includes a first stem valve with a first spring and a second stem valve with a second spring, the first stem valve selectively allowing one-way flow from the influent port to the effluent port and the second stem valve selectively allowing one-way flow from the effluent port to the influent port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pool filtration system of claim 4, wherein the first spring has a first stiffness value and the second spring has a second stiffness value different from the first stiffness value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pool filtration system of claim 1, wherein the influent flow opening has a first diameter and the effluent flow opening has a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pool filtration system of claim 6, wherein the second diameter is less than ¼ the size of the first diameter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pool filtration system of claim 1, wherein the membrane filtration module is sized and shaped as an elongate cylinder and includes a plurality of latitudinal filtrate openings arranged into one or more equidistant longitudinal arrays. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pool filtration system of claim 1, wherein the membrane filtration module houses a plurality of membrane fibers, the membrane fibers consisting of asymmetric hollow fibers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pool filtration system of claim 1, wherein the primary filter is one of a diatomaceous earth filter, pressure-fed sand filter, gravity sand filter, or a cartridge filter. ### Claim 11 A pool filtration system for filtering pool water, comprising: a pump; a primary filter in fluid communication with the pump; and an auxiliary filter in fluid communication with the pump and the primary filter, the auxiliary filter comprising: a membrane filtration module, and a flow distribution manifold provided in the form of a manifold base and a manifold cover and further including an influent port in fluid communication with an influent flow opening and an effluent port in fluid communication with an effluent flow opening, the membrane filtration module fluidly coupling the influent flow opening and the effluent flow opening along a first flow path, the flow distribution manifold further including a bypass mechanism coupled between the manifold base and the manifold cover, the bypass mechanism including a first valve and a second valve that selectively fluidly couple the influent port and the effluent port along a second flow path to bypass the membrane filtration module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pool filtration system of claim 11, wherein the first valve is a first stem valve having a first spring, the second valve is a second stem valve having a second spring, and the bypass mechanism includes a bypass base plate to which the first stem valve and the second stem valve are coupled. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pool filtration system of claim 12, wherein the first stem valve extends from a first side of the bypass base plate adjacent the influent port and the second stem valve extends from a second side of the bypass base plate adjacent the effluent port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The pool filtration system of claim 12, wherein the bypass base plate includes a first side with a first groove corresponding to the first spring and a second side with a second groove corresponding to the second spring. ### Claim 15 A pool filtration system for filtering pool water, comprising: a pump; a primary filter in fluid communication with the pump; and an auxiliary filter in fluid communication with the pump and the primary filter, the auxiliary filter including a membrane filtration module, a flow distribution manifold, and a vertical valve manifold, the flow distribution manifold including: a manifold base and a manifold cover, an influent port fluidly coupled to a first end of the membrane filtration module, an effluent port fluidly coupled to a second end of the membrane filtration module, and a bypass mechanism coupled between the manifold base and the manifold cover including at least one valve that selectively fluidly couples the influent port and the effluent port to bypass the membrane filtration module, the vertical valve manifold including an influent opening, an effluent opening, a drain pipe, a first branch port fluidly coupled to the effluent port of the flow distribution manifold, and a second branch port fluidly coupled to the influent port of the flow distribution manifold, wherein the vertical valve manifold includes a shaft with plurality of disks, the shaft being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the influent port is in fluid communication with the influent opening, the effluent port is in fluid communication with the effluent opening, and the influent opening and the effluent opening are fluidly coupled across the membrane filtration module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The pool filtration system of claim 15, wherein when the shaft is in the first position, pool water is directed through the membrane filtration module in a first direction, and when the shaft is in the second position, pool water is directed through the membrane filtration module in a second direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The pool filtration system of claim 15, wherein when the shaft is in the first position, the influent opening and the effluent opening are in fluid communication and in the second position, the influent opening and the drain pipe are in fluid communication. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The pool filtration system of claim 15, wherein the at least one valve includes a first valve and a second valve, wherein the first valve is actuatable when the shaft is in the first position, and the second valve is actuatable when the shaft is in the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The pool filtration system of claim 15, wherein the influent port, the effluent port, and the membrane filtration module are fluidly coupled along a first fluid flow path, and the influent port, the effluent port, and the bypass mechanism are selectively fluidly coupled along a second fluid flow path, and when the shaft is in the first position, pool water is directed along the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path in a first direction, and when the shaft is in the second position, pool water is directed along the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The pool filtration system of claim 19, wherein the at least one valve includes a first valve and a second valve, and wherein pool water is directed along the second fluid flow path in the first direction through the first valve and pool water is directed along the second fluid flow path in the second direction through the second valve.