Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
004493000 | With heating means | 17 |
20080282459 | ENERGY EFFICIENT CIRCULATION SYSTEM FOR SPAS AND HOT TUBS - 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. | 11-20-2008 |
20090070925 | Heated seating system for pools - A heated seating system for integration within an in-ground pool is provided that selectively channels heated water from a source of heated water directly through one or more seating structures disposed within the pool. Heated water is selectively channeled to thus distribute the heated water through the seating about where individuals are designed to sit and/or recline. The seating areas receiving the heated water may be integrally formed with the pool or otherwise may be detachable therefrom. The seating may also be utilized with both fiberglass and concrete pools. | 03-19-2009 |
20100017952 | SPA HAVING HEAT PUMP SYSTEM - A spa or hot tub system includes a tub forming a cavity that holds a fluid such as water therein, and a water circulation system provides for circulation of water within the tub. The hot tub includes inner and outer surfaces, and defines an internal space. A heat pump system is operably connected to the water circulation system, and heats the water in the hot tub. The water side heat exchangers of the heat pump may include a polymer housing, and coiled inner elements for refrigerant. The coils may be made of a corrosion-resistant metal tubing or the like. The system may include a conventional electric heating element in addition to the heat pump to provide additional heating capacity. | 01-28-2010 |
20100154109 | Pool Heating System - The pool heating system includes a pool containing a large volume of pool water and an associated building. The building having an attic space over a living space. A heat-exchanger is positioned outside of the living space of the building. The heat exchanger exchanges heat from the attic into pool water that is circulated through the heat exchanger. Any pool water that leaks from the heat-exchanger does not leak into or onto the living space. | 06-24-2010 |
20110072573 | Spa control system with improved flow monitoring - A spa control system that measures the flow of water through the heater and accurately reports water temperature in the spa using only one solid-state sensor in the heater. The working condition of the sensor is first determined by activating the heater for a brief period of time, with the circulation pump de-energized, and watching for the expected heat rise at the sensor. A small rise is sufficient to proceed with the flow test. The rate of flow is now determined by energizing the pump, with the heater still de-energized, and observing the rate in which the moving water cools the inside of the heater. If there is no circulation of water through the heater, the temperature of the sensor will continue to rise from the energy applied when the heater was briefly energized. This rise will be quite significant and a clear indication of a flow problem. If the flow is found to be adequate, the heater will be energized for a normal period of time. The sensor is now carefully monitored for a sudden increase in temperature, which would indicate loss of a normal flow of water. It is known that the temperature of the water in the spa will be within one or two degrees of the observed temperature in the heater, even when the heater is energized. The water temperature can, therefore, be accurately reported to the user just from measuring the temperature of the water in the heater. The only problem with making all measurements at the heater is that the real water temperature is unknown when the pump is not running. This problem can result in short heating cycles, or create the need to run the pump several times per day just to check on the real water temperature. The present invention uses artificial intelligence to find the difference between the heater temperature and the real water temperature and then applies the learned difference to the heater temperature measurement as an offset for the next heater and pump activation, where a new offset will be calculated. | 03-31-2011 |
20110219530 | Spa control with improved heater management system - A spa control system that measures the flow of water through the heater of a spa and accurately reports water temperature in the spa using only one solid-state sensor in the heater. The working condition of the sensor is first determined by energizing the spa heater for a brief period of time, with the circulation pump de-energized, then quickly de-energizing the heater and watching for a heat rise at the sensor. A small rise is sufficient to proceed with the flow test. The flow rate is now determined by energizing the pump, with the heater still de-energized, and observing the rate at which the moving water cools the inside of the heater. If there is no circulation of water through the heater, the temperature of the sensor will continue to rise from the energy applied when the heater was briefly energized. This rise will be quite significant and a clear indication of a flow problem. Conversely, with normal flow, the inside of the heater will be cooled to approximately the same temperature as the spa water in just a few seconds. If the flow is found to be adequate, the heater may be energized for a normal period of time. Since, while cooling, a measured number of degrees is dropped in a measured number of seconds, a flow rate can be reported to the user as an estimate of gallons per minute. The sensor is now carefully monitored for a sudden increase in temperature, which would indicate loss of a normal flow of water. It is known that the temperature of the water in the spa will be within one or two degrees of the observed temperature at the sensor in the heater, even when the heater is energized. The water temperature can, therefore, be accurately reported to the user just from measuring the temperature of the water in the heater. The only problem with making all measurements at the heater is that the real water temperature is unknown when the pump is not running. This problem can result in short heating cycles, or create the need to run the pump several times per day just to check on the real water temperature. The present invention uses artificial intelligence to find the proper time to turn the pump back on at a time when the spa is just beginning to need heat. Any errors in finding this time are added back to subsequent calculations to make future cycles more accurate. | 09-15-2011 |
20120005818 | SOLAR POWERED HOT TUB - A hot tub includes a shell defining a water compartment, at least one electrical component, and a cover positionable over the shell. The cover includes a body and an integral solar panel mounted to the body. The solar panel provides electrical output power to one or more of the electrical components. | 01-12-2012 |
20120042444 | BACK-FLOW PREVENTION WITHIN A HEATER - Disclosed is a heater including a back-flow preventing device located at or adjacent an outlet of the heater. In some embodiments, the back-flow preventing device has an open position and a closed position. When the back-flow preventing device is in the open position, water is able to flow freely through the heater. When back-flow preventing device is in the closed position, water is prevented from flowing or migrating back into the heater. | 02-23-2012 |
20120042445 | FLOW CONTROL AND IMPROVED HEAT RISE CONTROL DEVICE FOR WATER HEATERS - Disclosed are systems and devices for controlling the amount of water passing through a heat exchanger and the amount of water that by-passes the heater without passing through the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, the system includes a by-pass valve assembly having means for sensing a time-varying characteristic of fluid adjacent the inlet, means for sensing a time-varying characteristic of fluid adjacent the outlet, and a valve that alters the amount of fluid by-passing the fluid heater in response to differences in the time-varying characteristic of fluid adjacent the inlet and fluid adjacent the outlet. | 02-23-2012 |
20120297530 | ELECTRICALLY INSULATED AIR-CONDUCTING WATER HEATER - Electric shock to a user has been a major concern for a conventional electric water heater installed in or near a bathroom. An electrically insulated air-conducting water heater utilizes electrically insulating hot air to indirectly heat water to avoid electric hazard to a user of an electric water heater. The present invention comprises an air pump unit, a heating and temperature control unit, and an air venting unit having a plurality of tiny air nozzles immersed in a water pool. Ambient air is collected by the air pump unit, heated in the heating and temperature control unit, and injected into a water pool through the air venting unit as a form of zillions of small hot bubbles to heat the water. Apart from serving as an electrically safe water heater, the present invention also functions as a hot-bubble sauna machine, bathroom body dryer, and air conditioner. | 11-29-2012 |
20130145538 | POOL COVER WITH HEATER - A pool cover for heating swimming pools using sun rays. The pool cover comprises a solar panel provided at an upper surface of the cover facing the sun, a battery connected to the solar panel for receiving and storing the electric current generated by the solar panel, and a heating element provided at the lower surface of the cover for heating the water using the current received from the battery. The pool cover also includes a floater provided at an edge of the cover, the floater being sized and positioned to keep the pool cover afloat when the pool cover is on the water. A layer of heat insulating material may also be provided within the pool cover for preventing heat losses with the ambient air. In another embodiment, the cover may be provided without a battery whereby the solar panel may be directly connected to the heating element. | 06-13-2013 |
20130191985 | Small-sized Pool and PTC Heater for Internal Liquid Heating - The present invention involves a type of small-sized pool and PTC heater for liquid heating. The PTC heating component of PTC heater is composed of several heating cores made of PTC ceramic material, completely eliminating fire risk. Meanwhile, PTC heating component external is equipped with at least one layer of insulation and sealing component, which further includes several insulation layers and at least one sealing layer outside the insulation layer, effectively eliminating electricity leakage risk. Two layers of above mentioned insulation and sealing component could meet the insulation requirements specified in IEC standard and UL standard, so it could be used for applications with large power. In addition, the PTC heater has good water route sealing ability, so it could be used for liquid heating in small size pool. The small-sized pool is equipped with PTC heater with several layers of insulation and sealing for liquid heating, safe and reliable. | 08-01-2013 |
20130269096 | NON-PRESSURIZED INDIRECT SWIMMING POOL WATER HEATING SYSTEM - In an improved swimming pool water heating system, water in the pool circulates through a first loop from the pool to a surge pit and through a filter before returning to the pool. The heating system includes a second loop with a heat exchanger and a remote water heater. The pool water is heated by the heat exchanger. The first and second circulation loops are separate from one another. The heater may include multiple heating units which can be staged for sequential actuation. The second circulation loop is closed, such that the pool water does not flow through the heater, but rather is indirectly heated via the heat exchanger. The heater is isolated from the pool water. The heating units are vented to atmosphere so as to be non-pressurized. | 10-17-2013 |
20150040307 | System and Method for Controlling a Heat Pump for a Swimming Pool - The invention relates to a swimming pool heating system, characterized in that it comprises a heat pump and means for controlling the compressor of said heat pump according to a number of non-zero power levels, as a function of a predetermined set of parameters. The system comprises, for example, three power levels, the first level being close to | 02-12-2015 |
20150368921 | Hybrid Heater - Embodiments of the invention provide a pool heater including a housing, a first tankless heater, a second tankless heater, and a controller. The controller is configured to activate only the first tankless heater when a first condition is met, activate only the second tankless heater when a second condition is met, and activate the first and the second tankless heaters simultaneously when a third condition is met | 12-24-2015 |
20160194892 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS OF REDUCING HEAD LOSS IN HEATING DEVICES | 07-07-2016 |
20220136269 | Swimming Pool/Spa Gas Heater Inlet Mixer System And Associated Methods - An inlet mixer system for a gas heater includes a housing in fluid communication with an inlet of a combustion blower, and first and second mixer inserts, each removably positionable within the housing. Each mixer insert includes a body defining a mixing chamber, an air intake, and a plurality of orifices disposed radially about the body and extending through the body, which provide respective volumetric flow rates of a fuel gas. When the first mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the inlet mixer system is configured for use with a first fuel gas, and when the second mixer insert is positioned within the housing, the inlet mixer system is configured for use with a second fuel gas. | 05-05-2022 |