# US 8,465,650 B2 · Spa calcium removal methods and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,650 B2 - Document ID: US8465650B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/762,496 - Filed: 2010-04-19 - Published: 2010-11-25 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-20 - Assignees: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation - Applicants: Michael McCague; Jerry E. Rademan - Inventors: Michael McCague; Jerry E. Rademan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465650B2 ## CPC - C02F 1/42: by ion-exchange (ion-exchange in general B01J) - B01J 20/2805: {Sorbents inside a permeable or porous casing, e.g. inside a container, bag or membrane} - B01J 47/022: characterised by the construction of the column or container - C02F 5/00: Softening water; Preventing scale; Adding scale preventatives or scale removers to water, e.g. adding sequestering agents (softening using ion-exchange C02F1/42) - C02F 2001/425: {using cation exchangers} - C02F 2103/42: from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the quantity of chemical-removing ion exchange resin and the size of the bag are selected such that the resin-filled bag may be readily inserted by hand into said filter bucket within a pool or spa to effectively remove one or more undesired chemicals from the spa water. ### Claim 4 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a portable spa wherein the resin-filled bag is placed over a heater return of the portable spa. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a portable spa and wherein the resin-filled bag is placed over a spa jet suction fitting of the portable spa. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein said resin-filled bag comprises: a cylindrical, flexible, water permeable felt bag having a 20 to 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. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein said bag comprises: a cylindrical, flexible, water permeable felt bag having a 20 to 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 resin filling said bag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said height is 5 inches and said diameter is 7 inches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said height is 9 inches and said diameter is 7 inches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said height is 11 inches and said diameter is 7 inches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the bag porosity is 200 microns. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bag porosity is 200 microns. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the bag porosity is 200 microns.