Filter block for swimming pools with a system for measuring the degree of blockage and / or for detecting a blocked state of a filter.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a swimming pool filtration block equipped with a system for measuring the level of clogging and / or detecting the state of clogging of a filter.

[0002] Filtration units are known to consist of a tank with an opening that feeds into a volume of pool water and an access opening designed to be located at ground level around the pool. At least one filter is located inside the tank. The tank has, at its lower end, a primary water inlet. This inlet is connected to the inlet of a pump, which has an outlet connected to the injection inlet of a flow multiplier, such as a Venturi type. In addition, at least one secondary water inlet is connected to the suction inlet of the flow multiplier, which generates a water current within the pool basin.

[0003] As it is used, the filter block tends to become clogged, meaning that dirt tends to accumulate between the filter meshes, causing it to lose its filtering capacity.

[0004] To detect filter clogging, document FR2979656 recommends using a pressure switch installed at the flow multiplier. However, such a sensor is expensive and cannot detect a sufficiently significant pressure difference between a new and a clogged filter. Indeed, the applicant observed that while such a pressure sensor was effective for detecting fouling in a sand filter, it could not be used to detect clogging in a woven material filter, since the filter housing is not properly sealed and therefore does not allow for the observation of pressure variations indicative of filter clogging.

[0005] Furthermore, document FR3090714 instructs users to measure the water flow rate to determine the filter clogging level. The difference in flow rate between an unclogged filter and a clogged filter is sufficient to detect filter clogging. The clogging level measurement system includes a suction port located in a low suction zone of the basin or in an area around the filter unit, and an outlet port in the flow multiplier, which constitutes a discharge zone. However, such a configuration does not effectively detect a significant flow rate difference to indicate filter clogging if the outlet of the flow multiplier is far from the water suction zone.

[0006] US patent 9849412B2 describes a method for detecting fluid filter clogging. The method involves measuring the upstream-to-downstream pressure difference ΔP across the filter at successive sampling times, calculating the first time derivative {ΔP}' of the pressure difference ΔP at different times, and then sending a clogging signal SC representative of the pressure difference ΔP. The filter is considered clogged when the first derivative {ΔP}' is equal to zero.

[0007] The invention aims to effectively remedy this drawback by proposing a swimming pool filtration block defined by the following set of claims.

[0008] The invention thus makes it possible, by making the suction connection as well as the outlet connection of the sensor conduits directly in the wall of the tank, to guarantee the detection of a clogging of the filter regardless of the position of the flow multiplier.

[0009] According to the invention, the filter having a hollow cylindrical shape having a high end and a low end, the suction connection is made in the wall of the tank upstream of the high end of the filter.

[0010] According to the invention, the outlet connection is made in the wall of the tank between the upper end and the lower end of the filter.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, said filtration block includes a control module enabling the determination of a level of clogging and / or a state of clogging of the filter as a function of the water flow measured by the sensor.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control module is capable of determining the level of clogging via the use of a map establishing a correspondence between a level of clogging, expressed for example in percent, and a flow rate measured by the sensor.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control module is capable of determining a "not clogged" or "clogged" state by comparing the flow rate measured by the sensor with a threshold.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control module includes means for communicating the level of clogging and / or the clogging state of the filter to a monitoring device and / or a user's portable device.

[0015] According to the invention, the filter has a hollow cylindrical shape.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the filter is preferably made of a sheet of non-woven material pleated in an accordion pattern.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pump includes a variable speed, multi-speed, or fixed speed electric motor.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given only to illustrate, but in no way limit, the invention. [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a front perspective view of the filtration block incorporating a system for measuring the level of clogging and / or the state of clogging of a filter according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the filtration block incorporating a system for measuring the level of clogging and / or the state of clogging of a filter according to the invention; [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the filter block incorporating a system for measuring the level and / or state of clogging of a filter according to the invention; Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 shows a perspective view of a tapping of a conduit of the sensor belonging to the system for measuring a level of clogging and / or a state of clogging of a filter according to the invention.

[0019] Identical, similar or analogous elements retain the same reference from one figure to another.

[0020] Furthermore, the orientation terms "upper" or "lower" are understood by reference to a functioning filtration unit around a swimming pool.

[0021] THE figures 1 et 2 The diagrams show a filtration unit 10 for a swimming pool comprising a tank 11 having a wall 14, in particular cylindrical in shape, delimiting an internal space. The wall 14 of the tank is made of material with a recovery conduit 13, preferably flared in shape, having an opening 12 leading into a volume of the swimming pool basin. The wall 14 of the tank 11 has, on its upper end, an access opening 15 intended to be located at ground level around the pool. The access opening 15 is intended to be closed by a removable hatch (not shown).

[0022] At least one filter is located inside the internal space of tank 11. Advantageously, as can be seen on the figure 3 A first filter 16.1 provides coarse filtration, allowing particles smaller than a fraction of a millimeter to pass through, based on a screen filter principle. For example, this first filter 16.1 consists of a molded filter basket with pores formed between ribs of injected plastic. In addition, a second filter 16.2, providing fine filtration, has a hollow cylindrical shape. This cylindrical filter 16.2 is preferably made of a sheet of accordion-pleated nonwoven material. The sheet is held between two circular flanges and surrounded by an outer nonwoven material. Upstream of the first filter 16.1, a pre-filtration means may be provided, such as a mesh with pores of 0.1 to 0.5 mm, for example, 0.3 mm. The tank 11 may be equipped with an overflow device 20. Alternatively, the filter 16.2 may be made of a woven material.

[0023] A first conduit 17 from tank 11, carrying a primary water flow, is connected to an inlet of a pump 18. This pump has an outlet connected to an injection inlet 19 of a flow multiplier 21. A second conduit 22 from tank 11, carrying a secondary water flow, is connected to a suction inlet 24 of the flow multiplier 21. The flow multiplier 21, preferably of the Venturi type, comprises, in a manner known per se, a converging section and a diverging section to accelerate the water flow generated at its outlet 25. This creates a water circulation current within the swimming pool. The pump 18 may have a variable-speed, multi-speed electric motor to vary the intensity of the water flow within the pool, or alternatively, a fixed-speed motor.

[0024] The recovery duct 13 and the outlet 25 of the flow multiplier open into a plate 26 integrated into a wall 27 of the swimming pool.

[0025] Furthermore, as can be seen on the figures 2 And 3 , the filtration block 10 includes a system 28 for measuring a level of filter clogging and / or detecting a state of filter clogging 16.2.

[0026] This system 28 includes a fluid flow or velocity measurement sensor 29, a suction duct 30.1 connected to the sensor 29 having a suction port 31.1 made in the wall 14 of the tank 11 upstream of the filter 16.2, and an outlet duct 30.2 connected to the sensor 29 having an outlet port 31.2 made in the wall 14 of the tank 11. Preferably, the suction port 31.1 made in the wall 14 of the tank 11 is located upstream of the filters 16.1 and 16.2.

[0027] The sensor 29 can take the form of a Hall effect sensor combined with a magnet fixed to a moving element positioned in the water flow. As the moving element rotates, the frequency of the electrical signal received by the sensor varies. A control device processes the signal to deduce the flow rate or velocity of the fluid passing through conduits 30.1 and 30.2.

[0028] Preferably, as can be seen on the figure 3 The cylindrical filter 16.2 has an upper end 33 and a lower end 34. The suction inlet 31.1 is located in the wall 14 of the tank 11 upstream of the upper end 33 of the filter 16.2. The outlet inlet 31.2 is located in the wall 14 of the tank 11 between the upper end 33 and the lower end 34 of the filter 16.2. The suction inlet 31.1 and the outlet inlet 31.2 are thus located between an upper end and a lower end of the tank 11, with the outlet inlet 31.2 being located downstream of the suction inlet 31.1. Alternatively, the outlet inlet 31.2 can be located in the wall 14 below the lower end 34 of the filter 16.2.

[0029] Advantageously, as can be seen on the figure 4 A branch connection 31.1, 31.2 of the conduits is made using a snap-on connector 35 positioned at the location where the flow rate or liquid velocity measurement is to be performed. Alternatively, the branch connection 31.1, 31.2 of the conduits is made by gluing, welding, screwing, or any other means suitable for the application.

[0030] Furthermore, as illustrated on the figure 2 , a control module 37 allows to determine a level of clogging and / or a state of clogging of the filter according to the water flow measured by the sensor 29.

[0031] The determination of the level of clogging can be carried out via the use of a C map establishing the correspondence between a level of clogging, expressed for example in percent, and a water flow measured by sensor 29.

[0032] Alternatively, or in addition, the control module 37 determines a "clean" or "clogged" state by comparing the flow rate measured by sensor 29 with a clogging threshold. Thus, filter 16.2 is considered "clean" when the flow rate measured by sensor 29 is below the threshold, and "clogged," requiring filter replacement, when the flow rate measured by sensor 29 exceeds the threshold. Indeed, when filter 16.2 is clogged, the water flow rate passing through sensor 29 increases. Of course, intermediate clogging levels can be detected using intermediate thresholds.

[0033] The control module 37 may include means 40 for communicating the clogging level and / or the clogging status of the filter to a monitoring device and / or a portable device. The communication means 40 may be wireless or wired.

[0034] Of course, the preceding description has been given as an example only and does not limit the scope of the invention, which would not be exceeded by replacing the various elements with any other equivalents.

[0035] Furthermore, the different features, variants, and / or embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various ways, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

Claims

1. A filtration block (10) for a swimming pool, comprising: - a pump (18), - a tank (11) comprising a wall (14) delimiting an internal space, - at least one filter (16.1, 16.2) having a hollow cylindrical shape inside the internal space of the tank (11), - a system (28) for measuring a clogging level and / or detecting a clogging state for said filter (16.1, 16.2) comprising: - a sensor (29) for measuring a fluid flow rate or velocity, - a suction duct (30.1) connected to the sensor (29) having a suction port (31.1) and an outlet duct (30.2) connected to the sensor (29) having an outlet port (31.2), characterized in that the suction port (31.1) is made in the wall (14) of the tank (11) upstream of the filter (16.2) and the outlet port (31.2) is made in the wall (14) of the tank (11), - the filter (16.2) having an upper end (33) and a lower end (34), the suction port (31.1) is made in the wall (14) of the tank (11) upstream of the upper end (33) of the filter (16.2), - the outlet port (31.2) being made in the wall (14) of the tank (11) between the upper end (33) and the lower end (34) of the filter (16.2).

2. The filtration block according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a control module (37) enabling the determination of a clogging level and / or a clogging state for the filter as a function of the water flow rate measured by the sensor (29).

3. The filtration block according to claim 2, characterized in that the control module (37) is capable of determining the clogging level via the use of a mapping (C) establishing a correspondence between a clogging level, expressed for example in percent, and a flow rate measured by the sensor (29).

4. The filtration block according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the control module (37) is capable of determining a "unclogged" or "clogged" state by comparing the flow rate measured by the sensor (29) with a threshold.

5. The filtration block according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the control module (37) includes means for communicating (40) the clogging level and / or clogging state for the filter (16.1, 16.2) to a user's monitoring device and / or portable device.

6. The filtration block according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter (16.2) is preferably made of a sheet of accordion-pleated non-woven material.

7. The filtration block according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pump (18) comprises a variable speed, multispeed, or fixed speed electric motor.