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US 8,944,786 B1Granted
Low energy magnetic spa circulation system
OwnerEugene McDougallinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pedicure spa or hydrotherapy system for circulating fluid which includes a motor coupled magnetically with an impeller assembly on the wall of the pedicure spa or hydrotherapy system is disclosed. The system is designed to have low energy consumption and an ultra low profile while at the same time providing a pipeless water circulation that is easy to operate and clean. In addition, the invention minimizes the growth of bacteria within the pumping system as the impeller assembly is easily removed from the wall for cleaning without any mechanical aids. In certain embodiments, the magnetic propulsion and coupling device includes a multi-directional combination of strategically placed and alternating-pole magnets on magnet plates and additional magnets in the housing.
Claims19
A powered pipeless circulation system for a container configured to hold a fluid, the circulation system comprising:
- a motor mounting abutting a wall of the container;
- a motor assembly within the motor mounting and including a rotatable motor magnet plate;
- an impeller housing abutting the wall, wherein said impeller housing is aligned with said motor mounting to sandwich the wall between the mounting and the housing;
- at least a first mounting magnet associated with said motor mounting and at least a second mounting magnet associated with said impeller housing, wherein the first and second mounting magnets are arranged to hold the motor mounting and the impeller housing against the wall;
- an impeller assembly including an impeller magnet plate rotatably mounted within a rearward open area of the housing and nested between the housing and the wall, wherein the impeller magnet plate is aligned to magnetically engage with the motor magnet plate;
- wherein the housing defines a forward open area and defines a central passageway from the forward open area to the rearward open area;
- and,
- wherein the impeller assembly includes a base plate having a diameter larger than said central passageway, wherein the base plate is rotatably mounted within the forward open area of the housing, and wherein a stem extends from a rear side of the base plate through said central passageway to connect to the impeller magnet plate, and wherein the impeller assembly includes a plurality of impeller blades extending forward from said base plate;
- a first plurality of rotational magnets arranged on the motor magnet plate in a pattern in an alternating polarity order;
- a second plurality of rotational magnets arranged in a complementary pattern to the first plurality of rotational magnets, and located on the impeller magnet plate in an alternating polarity order such the polarities of the first plurality of rotational magnets are magnetically attracted to the polarities of the second plurality of rotational magnets, and wherein the rotational magnets are arranged to form magnetic couplings through the container wall such that rotation of the motor magnet plate causes rotation of the impeller magnet plate;
- and,
- wherein the placement, the size, and the orientation of the first and second mounting magnets assert an attractive force on alternating paired couplings of the rotational magnets as they rotate towards the mounting magnets during rotation of the motor magnet plate and the impeller magnet plate, and wherein the first and second mounting magnets assert a repulsive force on alternating paired couplings of the rotational magnets as they rotate past the mounting magnets, and
- wherein each of the rotational magnets is disposed within outer ends defining a thickness of the corresponding first and second mounting magnets, the thickness being parallel to a rotational axis of the impeller magnet plate, and the first and second mounting magnets are set with opposite polarity.
10 more elements
A powered pipeless circulation system for a container configured to hold a fluid, the circulation system comprising:
- a motor mounting abutting a wall of the container;
- a motor assembly within the motor mounting and including a rotatable motor magnet plate;
- a first plurality of rotational magnets arranged in a circular pattern on the motor magnet plate in an alternating polarity order;
- an impeller housing abutting the wall of the container and aligned with said motor mounting to sandwich the wall between the mounting and the housing;
- an impeller magnet plate rotatably mounted within said housing and nested in an open area defined between the housing and the wall;
- a second plurality of rotational magnets arranged in a circular pattern on the impeller magnet plate in an alternating polarity order;
- wherein the first plurality of rotational magnets are magnetically attracted to the second plurality of rotational magnets to form magnetically paired couplings through the wall such that rotation of the motor magnet plate causes rotation of the impeller magnet plate;
- at least a first mounting magnet embedded within said motor mounting and at least a second mounting magnet embedded within said impeller housing, wherein the first and second mounting magnets are arranged to hold the motor mounting and the impeller housing against the wall;
- and,
- wherein the placement, the size, and the orientation of the first and second mounting magnets assert an attractive force on alternating paired couplings of the rotational magnets as they rotate towards the mounting magnets during rotation of the motor magnet plate and the impeller magnet plate, and wherein the first and second mounting magnets assert a repulsive force on alternating paired couplings of the rotational magnets as they rotate past the mounting magnets, and
- wherein each of the rotational magnets is disposed within outer ends defining a thickness of the corresponding first and second mounting magnets, the thickness being parallel to a rotational axis of the impeller magnet plate, and the first and second mounting magnets are set with opposite polarity.
8 more elements
A powered pipe less circulation system for a container configured to hold a fluid, the circulation system comprising:
- a motor mounting abutting a wall of the container;
- a motor assembly within the motor mounting and including a rotatable motor magnet plate;
- a first plurality of rotational magnets arranged in a circular pattern on the motor magnet plate in an alternating polarity order;
- an impeller housing abutting the wall of the container and aligned with said motor mounting to sandwich the wall between the mounting and the housing;
- an impeller magnet plate rotatably mounted within said housing and nested in an open area defined between the housing and the wall;
- a second plurality of rotational magnets arranged in a circular pattern on the impeller magnet plate in an alternating polarity order;
- wherein the first plurality of rotational magnets are magnetically attracted to the second plurality of rotational magnets to form magnetically paired couplings through the wall such that rotation of the motor magnet plate causes rotation of the impeller magnet plate;
- wherein the housing defines a forward open area and a rearward open area and defines a central passageway from the forward open area to the rearward open area;
- and,
- wherein the impeller assembly includes a base plate having a diameter larger than said central passageway, wherein the base plate is nested within the forward open area of the housing, and wherein a stem extends from a rear side of the base plate through said central passageway to connect to the impeller magnet plate, and wherein the impeller assembly includes a plurality of impeller blades extending forward from said base plate, and
- at least a first mounting magnet embedded within said motor mounting and at least a second mounting magnet embedded within said impeller housing, wherein the first and second mounting magnets are arranged to hold the motor mounting and the impeller housing against the wall;
- wherein the placement, the size, and the orientation of the first and second mounting magnets assert an attractive force on alternating paired couplings of the rotational magnets as they rotate towards the mounting magnets during rotation of the motor magnet plate and the impeller magnet plate, and wherein the first and second mounting magnets assert a repulsive force on alternating paired couplings of the rotational magnets as they rotate past the mounting magnets, and
- wherein each of the rotational magnets is disposed within outer ends defining a thickness of the corresponding first and second mounting magnets, the thickness being parallel to a rotational axis of the impeller magnet plate, and the first and second mounting magnets are set with opposite polarity.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.