Water monitoring system using an optimized circular fluid flow path
AssigneeAmano Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDerek Shields, Dennis Olsen, Jason Brinton, Jacob Greenwood, Jaxon Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for automated testing, treatment, and maintenance of fluid, such as water disposed in swimming pools, spas, and other bodies of water, wherein the water testing system includes control over the amount of reagent used in testing, and the frequency of testing of any measurable aspect of the test water, wherein the system reduces power consumption and eliminates components found in prior art systems for testing and flushing of test water mixed with reagents from a testing reservoir using a fluid flow path system.
Claims18
A fluid monitoring device configured for testing a fluid and having an optimized circular fluid flow path to minimize power consumption, said fluid monitoring device comprised of:
- a reagent cartridge having a plurality of reagent compartments;
- a plurality of reagent pumps, one for each of the plurality of reagent compartments;
- a circular fluid flow path coupled to each of the plurality of reagent pumps;
- a test chamber disposed in the circular fluid flow path;
- and
- a peristaltic mixing pump disposed in the circular fluid flow path;
- wherein the circular fluid flow path receives at least one reagent from at least one of the plurality of reagent pumps into the fluid in the circular fluid flow path, closing the circular fluid flow path, activating the peristaltic mixing pump, mixing the at least one reagent with the fluid in the circular fluid flow path by pumping the at least one reagent with the fluid through the closed circuit fluid flow path, deactivating the peristaltic mixing pump, and measuring at least one characteristic of the fluid and the at least one reagent in the test chamber.
A method for minimizing power consumption of a fluid monitoring device, said method comprising:
- providing a reagent cartridge having a plurality of reagent compartments, a plurality of reagent pumps, one for each of the plurality of reagent compartments, a circular fluid flow path coupled to each of the plurality of reagent pumps, a test chamber disposed in the circular fluid flow path, and a peristaltic mixing pump disposed in the circular fluid flow path;
- delivering a desired amount of at least one reagent from the plurality of reagent compartments to the circular fluid flow path using at least one of the plurality of reagent pumps;
- closing the circular fluid flow path;
- activating the peristaltic mixing pump to mix the at least one reagent with the fluid in the circular fluid flow path by pumping the at least one reagent with the fluid through the closed circular fluid flow path for a period of time;
- deactivating the peristaltic mixing pump;
- and
- measuring the at least one characteristic of the fluid and the at least one reagent in the test chamber.
A fluid monitoring device for testing a fluid and having an optimized circular fluid flow path to minimize power consumption, said fluid monitoring device comprised of:
- a reagent cartridge having a plurality of reagent pouches;
- a plurality of reagent pumps, one for each of the plurality of reagent pouches;
- a manifold coupled to the plurality of reagent pumps configured for receiving at least one reagent therefrom;
- a test chamber configured for receiving a mixture of a fluid and the at least one reagent, and for measuring at least one characteristic of the mixture of the fluid and the at least one reagent;
- and
- a circular fluid flow path that includes in series a solenoid, the manifold, the test chamber, a one-way valve, and a peristaltic mixing pump that leads back to the solenoid, wherein the circular fluid flow path receives the at least one reagent from the manifold, the circular fluid flow path is closed, the peristaltic mixing pump is activated for a period of time, mixing the at least one reagent with the fluid in the circular fluid flow path by pumping the at least one reagent with the fluid through the closed circuit fluid flow path, deactivating the peristaltic mixing pump, and measuring at least one characteristic of the fluid and the at least one reagent, and then flushing the fluid and the at least one reagent from the circular fluid flow path to prepare for a new measurement.
A method for minimizing power consumption of a fluid monitoring device by optimizing a system for mixing, testing and flushing fluid and reagent from the fluid monitoring device, said method comprising:
- providing a circular fluid flow path that includes in series a solenoid, a manifold, a test chamber, a one-way valve, and a peristaltic mixing pump that leads back to the solenoid;
- delivering a desired amount of at least one reagent to the manifold;
- inserting the at least one reagent into a fluid in the circular fluid flow path from the manifold;
- closing the solenoid to thereby close the circular fluid flow path;
- activating the peristaltic mixing pump to pump toward the solenoid until the at least one reagent and the fluid are mixed together within the circular fluid flow path for a period of time;
- deactivating the peristaltic mixing pump;
- and
- measuring the at least one characteristic of the mixture of the fluid and the at least one reagent in the test chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.