Energy efficient circulation system for spas and hot tubs
AssigneeBalboa Instruments, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Cline, Loren R. Perry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for circulating water in a bathing installation with a water circulation flow path and a tub for holding bathing water is described. A pump is submerged in a chamber in the circulation flow path so that the pump when operated provides a positive pump pressure to pump water through the circulation flow path from an inlet opening to an outlet opening. Thermal contact is provided between a pump housing surface and water in the chamber to allow heat transfer between the pump housing surface and water in the chamber.
Claims23
A water recirculation assembly for a bathing installation with a water recirculation flow path and a tub for holding bathing water, comprising:
- a housing structure having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening adapted to be in fluid communication with bathing water in the tub, the housing structure defining a chamber;
- a filter assembly disposed within the chamber and adapted to filter particulate or impurities from the bathing water;
- a water pump including an electrically powered drive unit disposed within the chamber and adapted to pump bathing water which has passed into the housing structure through the inlet opening and passed through the filter assembly, said water pump having an external housing surface, the water pump and electrically powered drive unit generating waste heat during pump operation, and wherein said water pump and said housing structure are adapted such that the water pump is submerged within bathing water in the chamber of the housing structure during use to provide direct contact between the external housing surface of the pump and the bathing water in the chamber, thereby facilitating heat transfer from the water pump and the external housing surface to the bathing water.
A water recirculation assembly for a spa including a water recirculation flow path, a water heater and a tub for holding a reservoir of bathing water, the water recirculation assembly comprising:
- a housing structure having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the inlet opening adapted to be in fluid communication with bathing water in the tub, the outlet opening adapted to be in fluid communication with the bathing water in the tub, the housing structure defining a chamber;
- a water pump disposed within the chamber and adapted to pump bathing water which has passed into the housing structure through the inlet opening out the outlet opening and into the tub, said water pump having an electrically powered drive unit and an external housing surface, and wherein said water pump and said housing structure are adapted such that the water pump is submerged in bathing water in the chamber of the housing structure, thereby facilitating transfer of waste heat generated by operation of the water pump and the electrically powered drive unit from an external housing surface of the pump to the bathing water,
- wherein heat generated by the pump during operation is transferred to bathing water to reduce energy consumption in heating bathing water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.