Automatic Liquid Handling and Temperature Control for a Spa

A spa comprising:

• a housing forming a vessel;
• an opening formed in the vessel;
• a valve fluidly coupled to the opening;
• a liquid level sensor positioned proximate to the opening and configured to generate a first signal in response to a level of liquid in the vessel being below a first predetermined level and a second signal in response to a level of liquid in the vessel being above a second predetermined level, the second predetermined level being greater than the first predetermined level;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the valve and the liquid level sensor, the controller being configured to:
• operate the valve to place the opening in fluid communication with a drain enable liquid within the vessel to drain from the vessel;
• operate the valve to place the opening in fluid communication with a water source to enable liquid to enter the vessel through the opening in response to the first signal from the liquid level sensor;
• and
• operate the valve to remove the opening from fluid communication with the drain and the water source in response to the second signal from the liquid level sensor.

A liquid management device for a spa comprising:

• a housing;
• an inlet fluid coupling formed in the housing and configured to be fluidly coupled to a liquid source;
• an outlet fluid coupling formed in the housing and configured to be fluidly coupled to a drain;
• a bidirectional fluid coupling formed in the housing and configured to be fluidly coupled to a tub in a spa;
• a valve located in the housing and fluidly connected to the inlet fluid coupling, the outlet fluid coupling, and the bidirectional fluid coupling;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the valve and configured to:
• operate the valve to place the inlet fluid coupling in fluid communication with the bidirectional fluid coupling to enable liquid from the liquid source to flow into the tub;
• operate the valve to place the outlet fluid coupling in fluid communication with the bidirectional fluid coupling to enable liquid from the tub to flow to the drain;
• and
• operate the valve to remove both the inlet fluid coupling and outlet fluid coupling from fluid communication with the bidirectional fluid coupling to prevent liquid from flowing through the valve.

A spa comprising:

• a housing forming a vessel;
• a first opening formed in the vessel;
• a second opening formed in the vessel and fluidly coupled to the first opening through a fluid conduit;
• a pump fluidly coupled to the fluid conduit;
• a valve fluidly coupled to the first opening and the second opening through the fluid conduit;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the valve and the pump, the controller being configured to:
• operate the valve to place the first opening in fluid communication with a drain and to operate the pump to pump liquid from the vessel through the first opening to the drain;
• operate the valve to place the second opening in fluid communication with a water source to enable liquid to enter the vessel through the second opening;
• and
• operate the valve to remove the first opening from fluid communication with the drain and the second opening from fluid communication with the water source and to operate the pump to pump liquid from the vessel through the first opening through the conduit and into the vessel through the second opening.