Spa calcium removal methods and apparatus
AssigneeWatkins Manufacturing Corporation
InventorsMichael McCague, Jerry E. Rademan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Strong acid cation resins used alone or in combination with zeolite-based ion exchange resins are encapsulated in various water permeable polymer fabric bags of various geometries and thicknesses to reduce the calcium hardness levels during swimming pool and spa water fills. The resin bags are strategically placed in the pool or spa to allow water under pressure to flow through the ion exchange media to exchange calcium or magnesium ions with sodium or other harmless cations.
Claims16
An apparatus comprising:
- a flexible, water permeable bag;
- a quantity of chemical-removing ion exchange resin contained within the bag, the quantity of resin and the size of the bag being selected such that the resin-filled bag may be readily inserted by hand into a selected location within a water filled pool or spa to effectively remove one or more undesired chemicals from the water;
- and
- wherein said bag is filled with a quantity of resin selected to accommodate swelling and to provide floating of the resin within the bag so as to create a fluidized bed therein.
Apparatus comprising:
- a water filled spa;
- a filter bucket disposed in said spa;
- and
- a chemical removing ion exchange resin-filled bag disposed in said bucket.
An apparatus comprising:
- a cylindrical, flexible, water permeable felt bag having a 20-300 micron porosity, a height in the range of 3 to 7 inches and a diameter in the range of 6 to 10 inches;
- and
- a quantity of acid cation exchange resin filling said bag, whereby the resin-filled bag may be readily inserted by hand into a selected location within a pool or spa to effectively remove one or more undesired chemicals;
- and
- wherein said bag is filled with a quantity of resin selected to accommodate swelling and to provide floating of the resin within the bag so as to create a fluidized bed therein.
A method of removing calcium from spa water in a spa comprising:
- placing a water permeable, acid cation resin-filled bag in the spa water over a heater return of the spa;
- and
- allowing said bag to remain in said water until a water hardness level of 50 to 100 ppm is achieved.
A method of removing calcium from spa water in a spa comprising:
- placing a water permeable, acid cation exchange resin-filled bag in the spa over a spa jet fitting;
- and
- allowing said bag to remain in position over said fitting while a jet pump is activated in said water until a water hardness level of 50 to 100 ppm is achieved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.