AU2006220357A1 - Treatment of water - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 BRIAN FREDERICK ABBOTT, PETER JAMES BUCHAN COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Treatment of water The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- THIS INVENTION relates to the treatment of water. In partcular, it relates to c method of treating water, and to a water treatment substance dispenser, Calcium hypochiorite is an effective awimming pool water treatment substance which releases chlorine when It Is introducoed Into water. H-owever, It has hitherto been difficult to use calcium hypochlorite in long-lasting dispensers due to its propensity to dissolve rapdly, eg much more rapidly then tllchlorolsocyanuric acid which ran also be used but which Is less effective, and (11) to form a crystalline resIdue clue to the low solubility of its Inert ingredients, and which tend to clog up.any dispenser apertures through which chlorine is meant to be released into the pool water.

It is hence an object of this Invention to provide a means whereby these drawbacks are at least alleviated.

According to a first aspect of the Invention, there Is provided a method of treating water, which inofudes allowing water to enter a water treatment compartment of a buoyant body floating In a body of the water, allowing the water inside the compartment to come into contact with solld water treatment substance present In the compartment, so that an active ingredient Is released into the water, thereby to form treated water which contains the active Ingredhent- and withdrawing treated water through a conduit leading from the buoyant body and discharging the treated water Into the body of water in* which the buoyant body floats, at a location remote from the body.

WhIle the water to be treated can, at least In principle, be any body of water requiring treatmeht, it is beleved that the Invention will have particular application in treating swimming pool water. Thus, the water treatment sUbstance will then be a swimming pool water treatment chemical, with the cN active Ingredient being suitable for treating, eg sanitizing, swimming pool 0 10 water. The active ingredient may be a halogen, particularly chlorine. The ci water treatment substance will thus be capable of releasing chlorine Into the water, on water contacting the water treatment substance. The water treatment substance may be In the form of one or more tablets. The water treatment substance may thus be, or Include, a rapid release compound such as calcium hypochlorits and/or a slow release compound such as tihloroisocyanuric acid, In particular, a plurality of tablets may be provided. The tablets may be stacked one on top of the other, arid a water impervious sleeve may be provided around-the stack of tablets s0 that Only the upper surface of the uppermnost tablet and the lower surface of the lowermost tablet are exposed to the water Inside, the compartment through open ends of the sleeve. -The sleeve slows down dissolution of the tablets, thereby assisting in controlling dosage of the active ingredient Into the water. In particular, the sleeve may be shrink-wrapped around the stack of tablets.

The buoyant body may, in particular, free float In the body of water. The water may enter the body through at least one opening in a side wall of the buoyant body.

The condult may, In particular, be flexlbl6, eg It may be a length of elastic tube, and a sub-atrmspheric pressure may be present in the conduit so that, by virtue of the suib-atmospheric pressure or vacuum in the conduit, water is drawn Into the compartment and turbulent conditIons created therein, thereby promoting dissolution of the water treatment chemical. Thus, the conduit may be connected to the auction side of a pump. In particular, the conduit may be connected to a flexible hose which forms part of an automatic pool cleaning system comprising also a pool cleaning device located in the swimming pool and attached to one end of the hose, The other end of the hose may then be connected to a pool weir which Is operatively connected to the pump suction, The pump discharge is in turn operatively connected to a water outlet in a well of the pool. A water filter is normally connected to the pump suction or to the pump discharge.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a water treatment substance dispenser, which includes a buoyant body providing a water treatment compartment in which can be located, In use, a water treatment substance; at least one water Inlet opening in the buoyant body through which water can enter the compartment when the buoyant body floats in a body of water; and a conduit protruding from the buoyant body and being in communication with the water treatment compartment.

The buoyant body may comprise a basket or container having a more-or-less cylindrical wall, a floor closing off an operatively lower end of the wall, and a cover closing off the operatively upper end of the wall. The cover may be removable to permit access to the water treatment compartment, which is thus defined by the inside of the wall, between the floor and the cover.

The dispenser may include buoyancy Imparting means to impart buoyancy to the buoyant body. The buoyancy imparting means may be an air-filled compartment In the wall or the cover, and/or may be a substance, such as foamed polystyrene, forming part of the buoyant body.

The water Inlet opening may be provided in the wall, and may be located closer to the floor than to the cover. Preferably, a plurality of the openings, spaced apart circumferentially, may be provided. The dispenser may then include adjustment means for adjusting or varying the effective open areas of the openings, Thus, the adjustment means may comprise an adjustment ring located rotatably around the wall, with the adjustment ring comprising an imperforate band having an aperture for each Inlet opening in the wall of the basket. Thus, by adjusting the alignment of the ring apertures relative to the wall Inlet openings by rotating the ring relative to the wall, the effective open areas of the openings can be varied, One or more spacers may protrude upwardly from the floor into the compartment The spacer(s) will ensure that a solid water treatment substance, when present in the compartment, will not rest on the floor, thereby promoting dissolution thereof. As hereinbefore set out. the water treatment substance may be capable of releasing an active ingredient, particularly chlorine, when contacted by water. The dispenser may thus include such a water treatment substance inside the compartment, In particular, the water treatment substance may be in the form of a plurality of water treatment tablets located one against the other, le arranged as a stack, with a water Impervious sleeve or wrapper provided around the tablets. At least portions of the outer surfaces of the topmost and lowermost tablets will then be exposed, ie not covered by the wrapper, with the lowermost tablet resting on the spacers).

Each tablet may typically comprise calcium hypochlorite, up to 15% (by mass) bonding agent such as hydrated lime, and a lubricant for tablettlng.

The conduit may lead from near the cover of the basket, ie its inner end may be located near the cover, and the protruding portion of the conduit may be flexible, eg may be a length of elastic tube. Instead, however, It may lead from a water outlet opening provided In the wall or floor of the basket.

The dispenser may Include a fitting to which the protruding end of the conduit Is attached and which permits connection thereof to an APC hose. Thus, the fitting may comprise a cylindrical sleeve having a female coupling component at one end thereof and a male coupling component at its other and, with the protruding and of the conduit being connected or connectible to the sleeve.

An adjustment device, for adjusting the water throughput through the conduit, may also be provided.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a water ci treatment substanca dispenser, which includes INDa buoyant body providing a water treatment comipartmenlt in which ran C) 10 be located, in use, a water treatment substance, the buoyant body comprising a peripheral wall, a floor closing off an operatively lower and of the waif, and a cover closing off the operatively upper and of the wall, with the water treatment compartment being defined by the Inside of the wall, between the floor and the cover, at least onm water Inlet opening in the wall of the buoyant body through which water can enter, the compartment when the buoygint body floats in a body of water; adjustment means for adjusting the effective open area of the water inlet opening; arnd a water outlet opening in the body, and through which water can exit the compartment.

The dispenser may Include a conduit connected to the water outlet opening or protruding tirough the water outlet opening into the compartment, buoyancy 26 imparting means, spacers, water treatment tablets, etc, as hereiribefore described.

The wall of the buoyant body may be mnore-or-less cylindrical, and the adjustment means may comprise an adjustment ring located rotatably around the wall, as also hereinbefore described.

The invention extends also to a fitting and to an adjustment device as herGInbefore described.

Trho Invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE I shows a side view of a water treatment substance dispenser, according to the invention; FIGURE 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view through 1l-li in Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 shows a side view of a coupling and adjustment clip for use with the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally Indicates a water treatment substance dispenser. The dispenser 10 includes a basket or container, generally indicated by reference numeral 12. The basket 12 comprises a more-or-less cylindrical wall 14, which is typically a moulding of plastics material so that it is of a durable non-disposable, Is reusable, nature. The operatively lower end of the wall 14 Is closed off with a floor 16, while a removable oover or lid 18 closes off the operatively upper end of the wall 14.

Thus, for example, the upper end portion of the wail 14 may be provided with an external screw thread formation with a flange-like portion 17 of the cover or lid 18 being provided with a complementary internal screw thread formation (not shown). The cover 18 Includes a ring 20 of buoyant foamed polystyrene, to Impart buoyancy to the basket 12, A compartment 30 is defined by the wall 14, the floor 16 and the lid 18.

In proximity to the floor 16, the side wall 14 is provided With a plurallty of cirournfearentially spaced elongate water Inlet openings, each generally indicated by reference numeral 22. Typically. up to four such water inlet -openings. spaced equidistantly apart, may be provided, Each water inlet opening 22 may, If desired, be replaced by a plurality of slits (not shown), le a group of slits, in the wall 14. It Is believed that such slits, which typically will then extend In the direction of the axis of the wall 14 so that they are spaced apart about the per~phery of the wall, and which will thus be narrower then the openings 22, will inhibit or prevent passage of debris such as leaves, Into the compartment 30 In use.

An adjustment ring 24 fits rotatably around the wall 14 at the level of the openings 22. The ring 24 comprises an Imperforate band 25 around the wall '14, with the band 25 having an elongate aperture 26 for each of the openings 22 in the wall 14. Thus, by rotating the ring 24 manually relative to the wall 14, the degree to which the ring apertures 26 are aligned with the openings 22, le the effecti've open areas of the openings 22, can be adjusted or varied.

A plurality of spacers or prongs 28 protrude upwardly from the floor 16 into the compartment The dispenser 10 includes a swimming pool water treatmnt chemical dispensing pack, generally indicated by reference numeral 32-. The pack 32 comprises a plurality of tablets 34 stacked one above the other and enclosed, le shrink-wrapped, with a water Impervious, eg PVC, sleeve 36. Thus, the outer surfaces of the lowermnost tablet 34 and the uppermost tablet 34 are exposed while the sides of the tablets are covered by the sleeve 38. However if desired, one of more perforations or apertures (not shown) can be provided in the sleeve 38, to promote dissolution of the tablets 34.

Each tablet comprises calcium hypochiorite, up to 15% (by mass) of hydrated lime as a bonding agent, and a lubricant for tablettIng.

A flexible conduit eg a iength of elastic tube 40, protrudes through an opening 19 in the. floor 18 into the compartment 3D, with an inner end 42 of the tube being located at least half way up the wall 14, eg at about the same level as the top of the pack 32. The exposed portion 44 of the tube 40 leads to a fitting, generally Indicated by reference numeral 50 (see Figure 3), In another embodiment of the Invention (not shown), a nozzle may protrude from the wall 14 (below the ring 24) or from the floor 16. The nozzle then has a passalgeway which is In communication with the compartment 30i by means of. a water ouL~et opening in the wall or floor. The elastic, tube 40 will then be connected to the nozzle, and will thus not have a portion protruding into the compartment The length of the exposed portion 44 of the tube 40 Is typically about 500MM to 750mm. The tube 40 typically has an inner diameter of about 6mm.

The fitting 50 compfises a sleeve or cylindrical component 52 which is of the same diameter as that of an automatic pool cleaning (APC) system hose (not shownl), le about 40mm. At its one and it is provided with a male coupling component 54 while at its other end it Is provided with a female coupling component 56. The male and female coupling components permit coupling thereof between sections of the APO hose. The protruding end portion 5 of the tube 40 is connected to fth cylindrical component 52 of the fiting 50, eg fits over a nozzle (noat shown) which protrudes from the cylindrical component 52.

Near the fitting 50, the tube portion 44 Is provided with an ;adjustment device, generally indicated by reference numeral 60, by means of which the volume of water passing along the tube 40 can be adjusted. Typically, the adjustment device 60 may be of a type which has a closure member (not shown) which bears against the tube 40. By pressing down on the closure member, the passageway of the tube Is constricted due to the elasticity of the tube, thereby reducing water flow along the tube, The APC system thus comprises the hose which is made up of a plurality of hose sections which connedt together spigot-socket fashion; and a pool cleaner attached to one end of the hose. The other end of the hose fits into a weir which is connected, by means of a pipe, to the suction side of a pump.

The pump disoharge is connected, by rneans of a pipe, to a water outlet, normally filled with an aim flow jet, In a wail of the pool. A water lifter, eg a sand filter, is provided In one of the pipes.

In use, a refill pack 32, typically comprising 4 to 6 tablets of 150g to 200g each, and enclosed in the PVC sleeve, le shrink-wrapped with the PVC sleeve, is placed inside th compartment 30, on the spacera 28 which thus Permit water access to the lowermost tablet 34. The lid 18 Is screwed onto the wall 14, and the basket 12 placed in a swimming pool so that It floats in the pool water. The fitting 50 *is attached to the APO hosei typically between two sections of the hose close to the pool weir, eg between first and second or second and third hose sections closest to the pool weir. It is believed that this position of the fitting 50 will minimize the likelihood of the dispenser having any influence over the movement and efficiency of the Pool cleaner. The pump Is tn switched on, so that normal pool cleaning Including water filtration Commences. A small proportion of the auction, and therefore water flow, will be diverted through the dispenser 10 by virtue of the water Inlet openings 22 and the tube 40. This Water will cause some of the chlorinecontaining chemical forming part of the tablets 34 to dissolve so that a very high concentraton of active ingredient florms within the compartment 30. This high chlorine content concentrate Is drawn into the tube 14 and fed into the APC hose so that It passes through the pool filtration system and returns to the pool via the return pipe or line from the pump dlscharge. The volume of flow through the tube 40 can be controlled by means of the adjustable clip The rate of dissolution of the tablets in the pack 32 can be adjusted by rotation of the ring 24 which enlarges or reduces the effective open area of the openings 22, thus affecting the amount of water flow and agitation that the tablets 34 are subjected to.

If desired, a further water inlet opening (not shown) can be provided In the wail 14 below the level of the ring 24. This opening will thus always be exposed or uncovered, thereby ensuring that at all times there will be some water in the compartment 30, even Vf the Inlet openings 22 are wholly covered by the ring 24.

It Is believed that the use of the dispenser 10 will give rise to the following advantages or benefits: The ability to use calcium hypochlortte In a longlasting, controlled fashion without the uisk of inert ingredients Clogging the dispensing mechanism. This is achieved through the venturi-type suction mechanism created by the tube 40, the diameter of which Is N64de enough to minimize the chance of crystalline calcium deposits forming Inside. Furthermore, any heavier chlorine particles that break away from the tablet stack 32 fall to the bottom of the chamber 30, whIlst the water is sucked Into the tube from higher up so blockage is no longer a factor. The fact that the dispenser 10 itself Is non-disposable also means that it can be cleaned and serviced by the pool owner on a regular basis.

The chlorine is fed through the filtration system of the pool, which is commonly referred to as 'in-line' chloriatIon. It Is well known that Inline chlorination Is desirable because it increases the efficiency of the chlorine by forming a very high concentration of active ingredient in the return line, where losses due to solar action are not a factor, and (b where fltration removes a lot of suspended matter that could Interfere with the action of chlorine In the pool. The end result is that less chlorine is needed than when one adds it directly to the pool, or even when It is dispensed via a standard disposable floater.

Because the treated water Is drawn through the APC, and therefore from the bottom of the pool, chlorination is improved, since most dosing methods (and particularly floaters) only treat the upper layers of pool 2G water, which is inefficient. Chiorinated wrater is dispersed across the surface of the pool via the aim flow Jet, then drawn to the bottom again by the APC. Overall dispersion of active ingredient is thus promoted.

Confidential preliminary tests have Indicated that, by using this method of chlorine dispersioni less active ingredient Is required in order to get the same result. There Is thus a saving In chemical Usage as well, Calcium residue is blocked in the filter and then baclkwashed out of the system, so there Is less upward pressure on pool PH1 over time and there Is less scale formation associated with calcium hypochiorite use.

S0. It Is further believed that, in particular, the combInation of the following features, leads to effective dosage of swimming pool water with chlorine: the dosage of the swimming pool water through the APC system, which results In more efficient chlorine dosage; 12 water flow into the dispenser via the Inlet openings 22, and hence calcium hypochiotite dsoiution, Is adjustable by virtue of the adjustment ring 24; and shrink-wrapping of the tablet 34 results In slower dissolution thereof, and hence promotes more accurate chlorine dosage.

Claims (17)

1. A method of treating water, which Includes allowing water to enter a water treatment compartment of a buoyant body floating in a body of the water; In allowing the water inside the compartment to come Into contact with Ssolid water treatment substance present in the compartment, so that an active Singredient is released Into the water, thereby to form treated water which 0 10 contains the active ingredient; and Swithdrawing treated water through a conduit leading from the buoyant body and discharging the treated water Into the body of water in which the buoyant body floats, at a location remote from the body,

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the water in which the buoyant body floats is swimming pool water, with the active ingredient being chlorine and the water treatment substance being in the form of a tablet.

3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein a plurality of the tablets are provided, with the tablets being stacked one on top of the other, and with a water impervious sleeve being provided around the stack of tablets so that only the upper surface of the uppermost tablet and the lower surface of the lowermost tablet are exposed to the water inside the compartment, through open ends of the sleeve,

4. A method according to any one of Claims. 1 to 3 inolusive, wherein the buoyant body free floats in the water, with the water entering the bbdy through at least one opening in a side wall of the buoyant body.

5. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 Inclusive, wherein the conduit is flexible, and wherein a sub-atmospheric pressure is present In the conduit so that, by virtue of the sub-atmospheric pressure or vacuum in the conduit,, water is drawn into the compartment and turbulent conditions created therein, thereby promoting dissolution of the water treatment chemical.

6. A method according to Claim 5, wherein the conduit is connected to the suction side of a pump.

7. A method according to Claim 6, wherein the conduit is connected to a flexible hose which forms part of an automatic pool cleaning system comprising also a pool cleaning device located In the swimming pool and attached to one end of the hose, with the other end of the hose being connected to a pool weir Which is operatively connected to a pump suction and a pump discharge In turn being operatively connected to a water outlet In a wall of the pool.

8. A water treatment substance dispenser, which Includes a buoyant body providing a water treatment compartment in which can be located, in use, a water treatment substance; at least one water Inlet opening In the buoyant body through which water can enter the compartment when the buoyant body floats in a body of water; and a conduit protruding from the buoyant body and being in communication with the water treatment compartment

9. A dispenser according to Claim 8, wherein the buoyant body comprises a basket or container having a more-or-ess cylindrical wall, a floor closing off an operatively lower end of the wall, and a cover closing off the operatively upper end of the wall, with the cover being removable to permit access to the water treatment compartment, which is thus defined by the Inside of the wall, between the floor and the cover. A dispenser according to Claim 9. which includes buoyancy Imparting means to Impart buoyancy to the buoyant body.

11. A dispenser according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the water inlet opening is provided In the wall, with adjustment means for adjusting or varying the effective open areas of the opening being provided.

12. A dispenser according to Claim 11, wherein the adjustment means comprises an adjustment ring located rotatably around the wall, with the adjustment ring comprising an imperforate band having an aperture so that by adjusting the alignment of the ring apertures relative to the wall inlet openings by rotating the ring relative to the wall, the effective open areas of 1 the opening can be varied.

13. A dispenser according to any one of Claims 9 to 13 Inclusive, which includes at least one water treatment substance table inside the compartment,

14. A dispenser according to Claim 13, wherein a plurality of the water treatment substance tablets, located one above the other in the form of a stack, are provided, with a water impervious sleeve or wrapper provided around the tablets so that at least portions of the outer surfaces of the topmost and lowermost tablets will then be exposed, A dispenser according to any one of Claims 9 to 14 Inclusive, wherein the conduit leads from near the cover of the basket, and with the protruding portion of the conduit being flexible

16. A dispenser according to any one of Claims 9 to 15 Inclusive, which includes a fitting to which the protruding end of the conduit Is attached and which permits connection thereof to an APC hose.

17. A dispenser according to Claim 18, wherein the fitting comprises a cylindrical sleeve having a female coupling component at one end thereof and a male coupling component at its other end, with the protruding end of the conduit being connected or connectible to the sleeve.

18. A water treatment substance dispenser, which includes a buoyant body providing a water treatment compartment In which can be located, in use, a water treatment substance, the buoyant body comprising a peripheral wall, a floor closing off an operatively lower end of the wall, and a cover closing off the operatively upper end of the wall, with the water treatment compartmen being defined by the iside of the wall, between the floor and the cover; at least one water Inlet opening In the wall of the buoyant body through which water can enter the compartment when the buoyant body floats In a body of water, adjustment means for adjusting the effective open area of the water inlet opening; and a water outet opening in the body, and through which water can exit the compartment.

19. A dispenser according to Claim 18, which Includes a conduit connected to the water outlet opening or protruding through the water outlet opening Into fte compartment DATED 14 SEPTEMBER 2006 Brian Frederick Abbott Peter James Buchan Patent attorney for the applicants:- F.B. RICE CO.