Spa control system
AssigneeSiege Industries, Inc.
InventorsMichael E. Tompkins, Michael J. Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spa control system which calculates the time required to heat the water in the spa system to a desired temperature. From that information, the heating rate of the spa system can be determined, and the heating element of the spa system can be activated at the proper time to raise the temperature of the water to a selected temperature by a desired time. The spa system also monitors information which might show errors in the operation of the spa system such as a blockage in the flow of water over the heating element in the spa system.
Claims51
A spa control system having a heater for monitoring and control of the temperature of water in a spa, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water;
- a first sensor for detecting the temperature of the water at the spa;
- a second sensor for detecting the temperature of the water at said heating element;
- and
- a microcomputer for processing signals generated by said sensors, wherein said microcomputer selectively activates and deactivates said heating element.
A spa control system for determining the time necessary to heat the water in the system from an initial temperature to a selected temperature, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water;
- a sensor for detecting the temperature of the water in the spa;
- and
- a microcomputer for processing signals generated by said sensor and for selectively activating and deactivating said heating element, wherein said microcomputer assesses the initial temperature of the water in the spa, activates said heating element to increase the temperature of the water in the spa, deactivates said heating element after the water in the spa has been heated to a selected temperature, and assesses the time necessary to raise the temperature of the water in the spa from the initial temperature to the desired temperature.
A spa control system for determining the time necessary to heat the water in the system from an initial temperature to a selected temperature, comprising:
- a heating element for heating water;
- a sensor for detecting the temperature of the water;
- and
- a microcomputer for processing signals generated by said sensor and for selectively activating and deactivating said heating element, wherein said microcomputer assesses the initial temperature of the water, activates said heating element to increase the temperature of the water, deactivates said heating element after the water has been heated to a selected temperature, and assesses the time necessary to raise the temperature of the water from the initial temperature to the desired temperature;
- wherein said microcomputer calculates the rate of heating of the water and a cumulative average rate of heating by averaging the rate of heating, determined each time that the spa water is heated, with the rate of heating previously calculated for the spa system.
A spa control system for heating the water in the system from an initial temperature to a selected temperature at a desired time, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water in the spa;
- a sensor for detecting the temperature of the water in the spa;
- and
- a microcomputer connected with said heating element and said sensor which assesses the initial temperature of the water in the spa, the average rate of heating, and determines the start time necessary for activating said heating element so that said water in the spa is heating to the selected temperature at the desired time.
A spa control system which contains water in the system and which is powered by a power source, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water;
- a low speed pump for circulating the water in the spa control system;
- and
- a microcomputer for determining the voltage of the power source, wherein said microcomputer sets a flag in the memory of said microcomputer to indicate the voltage of the power source.
A spa control system for monitoring the temperature of water in the system, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water;
- a first sensor adjacent to said heating element for detecting the temperature of the water at said heating element;
- a second sensor for detecting the temperature of the water at a selected location;
- a pump which is capable of being activated to circulate the water in the system;
- and
- a microcomputer for processing signals generated by said sensors, wherein said microcomputer calculates the difference between the temperatures detected by said first sensor and said second sensor at a selected time after said pump is activated.
A spa control system for monitoring the temperature of water in the system, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water;
- a pump for circulating the water in the system;
- a sensor for detecting the temperature of the water at a selected location;
- and
- a microcomputer for processing signals generated by said sensor, wherein said microcomputer deactivates said heating element and said pump when said sensor detects a water temperature equal to or less than thirty-four degrees Fahrenheit.
A spa control system for monitoring the temperature of water in the system, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water;
- a pump for circulating the water in the system;
- a sensor for detecting the temperature of the water at a selected location;
- and
- a microcomputer for processing signals generated by said sensor, wherein said microcomputer activates said pump for a selected time when said sensor detects a water temperature equal to or less than thirty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.
A spa control system for monitoring the temperature of water in the system, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water;
- a pump for circulating the water in the system;
- a sensor for detecting the temperature of the water at a selected location;
- and
- a microcomputer-based control for processing signals generated by said sensor, wherein said control system includes a proportional feedback controller for activating said pump and said heater element when said sensor detects that the water temperature has fallen below a predetermined threshold value.
A spa control system for monitoring the temperature of water in the system, comprising:
- a heating element for heating the water;
- a pump for circulating the water in the system;
- a sensor for detecting the temperature of the water at a selected location;
- and
- a microcomputer-based control for processing signals generated by said sensor, wherein said control system activates said pump and said heater element when said sensor detects that the water temperature has fallen below a predetermined threshold value to prevent the water from freezing.
A spa control system for controlling the operation of a spa comprising:
- a pump for circulating water in the spa;
- a heater element for heating the water;
- a high voltage power source for providing power to operate said pump and said heater element;
- a spa control panel positioned adjacent said spa for controlling the temperature of the water, said spa control panel including control circuitry for regulating operation of said heater element and said pumps, said control circuitry operating at low voltage levels;
- and
- isolation circuitry connected between said control circuitry and said pump and heater element for isolating the high voltage power source from said control circuitry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.