System and apparatus for determining and controlling water clarity

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for determining and controlling water clarity or water opacity especially useful in pools, spas, and contained bodies of water.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of, and priority to U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 14 / 283,868 filed May 21, 2014, currently pending, which application claims the benefit of, and priority to, provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61 / 825,965, filed May 21, 2013, provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61 / 885,353, filed Oct. 1, 2013, and provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61 / 920,421, filed Dec. 23, 2013, which are all herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention is directed to a system and apparatus for determining and controlling water clarity. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system and apparatus for determining and controlling water clarity that includes a water chamber having an inlet, an outlet, and a transparent lens or window, a light source capable of lighting up the water contained ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a system and apparatus for determining and controlling the clarity or opacity of water in a pool, spa, or other water containment system. The system includes a water chamber with a transparent member, a light source, and a light sensitive detection unit. The light source illuminates the water and the light sensitive detection unit detects the light. The control unit receives an output signal from the light sensitive detection unit and determines a target signal to send to a water treatment system. The system also includes a local indicator for indicating the clarity or opacity level of the water and a remote indicator for remotely indicating the clarity or opacity level of the water. The system can adjust the water treatment system based on the detected clarity or opacity level of the water to maintain a sanitization level.

Problems solved by technology

If the load is too high, the system will not generate enough sanitizer, resulting in under sanitation.

In these cases, unhealthy organic build up or microbial life may develop.

Alternatively, if the load is too light, extra chlorine or extra sanitizer may be generated resulting in irritation to bathers, equipment corrosion, and reduced generator cell life or reduced equipment life.

Over sanitation and under sanitation are particularly problematic in spa sanitizer systems, especially the newly developed spa sanitizer systems for salt water spas.

Unlike swimming pools, many spas sit idle for long periods of time.

In these cases, it is possible that a sanitizer or a chlorine / bromine generator (in the case of salt water spas) set for one type of use one week may produce far too much sanitizer the next week when the spa goes unused and remains covered.

The result can be severe corrosion of internal components and / or external decorative stainless jet trim, and severe deterioration of spa pillows, spa covers, and even jet seal O-rings.

From a practical standpoint, this has been historically difficult and expensive to implement on a consumer-level scale.

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