AU617355B2

AU617355B2 - Automatic pool filler

Info

Publication number: AU617355B2
Application number: AU21852/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Clifford Roy Cooke
Original assignee: SUNRAYSIA CONCRETE POOLS Pty L
Current assignee: SUNRAYSIA CONCRETE POOLS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-09-03
Filing date: 1988-09-02
Publication date: 1991-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-02
Also published as: AU2185288A

Description

i i I- S17 355 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Form Application Number: Lodged: FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class .5 S S 5 55 Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Published: 0 Related Art: Name of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT SUNRAYSIA CONCRETE POOLS PTY. LTD.

P.O. Box 2242, Mildura, Victoria, 3500 I Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: SANDERCOCK, SMITH BEADLE 207 Riversdale Road, Box 410) Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: AUTOMATIC POOL FILLER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-

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2 This invention relates to a device for maintaining the surface or other level of a body of fluid, and is particularly applicable to maintaining the surface level of a swimming pool.

It is clearly convenient to have associated with a swimming pool means to automatically maintain the surface of the water at a particular level. In the absence of such means, the surface level will drop, particularly in the summer months when the pool is in maximum use.

In AU-A-25535/84 there is disclosed a mechanical device consisting of a housing in which a float member ee .moves with the surface level of a pool, relative to the housing. The float member is adapted to mechanically f operate a water valve at a predetermined level. Such an 15 arrangement is similar to those used in toilet cisterns.

The invention provides a device for maintaining the I level of a body of fluid at a predetermined position in a container, including a chamber in which said level is represented, detecting means including a source element 20 adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation across said chamber, and a detection element adapted to detect said electromagnetic radiation, said detection element being able to detect said electromagnetic radiation when said level is below a particular position, and to be unable to detect said electromagnetic radiation when said level is at or above a particular level, control means for controlling the supply of fluid to or the removal of fluid from said jcspe.023/sunraysia 91 9 9 7 x ot m -1 2a container, said control means being responsive to the detection or non-detection of said electromagnetic radiation by said detection element, and delay means between said detection element and said control means to prevent said control means from responding to said detection or non-detection, unless, after a predetermined time, said detection or non-detection, respectively still occurs, thereby preventing said control means from operating to supply or remove fluid from said container when said level is subject to short-duration fluctuations such as those caused by surface waves or ripples.

Si An embodiment of the invention will b' described in Si 'detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- :I 15 Fig. 1 is an elevation of an automatic pool filing device, with the pool water at a first level; I o jcspe.023/sunraysia 91 99 j ~rrr~ 3 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 29 Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device of Fig. 1 with the pool water at a second level; and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of valve control means associated with the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section through part of a pool, showing draining and valve means; Fig. 5 is a partial elevation showing a second embodiment of an automatic pool filling device, with the pool water at a first level; and Fig. 6 is a partial elevation of the arrangement of Fig. 5, with the pool water at a second level.

In Figs. 1 and 2, there is a housing 10 adapted to be rigidly attached to the pool surrounds, wall or the like preferably by adjustable brackets, such that it is able to communicate with the water 12 in the pool. Preferably the housing 10 is arranged vertically. In Figs. 1 and 2 the housing 10 sits in the top portion of the water 12, and water may enter the housing through an aperture 14 in the base 16 of the housing. There is an air vent 18 located in the top 20 of housing 10, to enable the water level to freely rise and fall within the housing A float member 22 is located in housing 10, and is adapted to rise and fall with surface level 24 of the water 12. Preferably, the float 22 is fabricated from a plastics material.

Located on or in housing 10 is an infra-red emitter 26 which directs a beam of infra-red light across the interior 28 of housing to a detecting means 30. The detecting means 30 is connected to circuitry, shown in block on Fig. 3.

880902,!jcspe.Ol,sunray.spe, I: i 4 1 2 3 4 6 7 S* 9 1* 10 12 13 S 0 14 0 0* 16 17 18 .5 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 Clearly, any other means equivalent to infra-red means, could be used in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 3, detector means 30 is electrically connected to a controller 32, which itself is connected to a solenoid valve 34 or the like, which controls the flow of water from a supply 36 to the pool 38. Preferably the solenoid valve 34 is a 24v AC valve.

Supply of power (not shown) is preferably from mains, through a transformer to 24v AC, mounted within a weatherproof enclosure.

Controller 32 may include a delay circuit, so that short-term changes in pool surface level, as a result of waves caused by persons in the pool, are not detected as a change proper in the level.

The controller 32 is made up of two sections.

There is a circuit board; this board contains the electronic logic required for both water level detection and power switching for the solenoid.

In addition, there is the electronic wave detector circuit; this circuit board is made up of a timing circuit which is preset to 25 seconds maximum, preferably.

Preferably, the controller 32 and the housing including the infra-red devices and the float are constructed in a plastic case fully assembled and totally sealed with epoxy resin, thus rendering the whole unit completely waterproof.

The mounting of the unit is as previously mentioned, by two adjustable brackets that are preferably an integral part of the main assembly. The unit is designed to be mounted 880902,!jcspe.011,sunray.spe, i 5 1 2 3 4 6 7 0e "10 11 16 18

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19 21 9S 14 216 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 within a pool and operating continuously.

The transformer unit is a 240 volt A.C. input, fully isolation transformer mounted within a plastics case assembly; the secondary output is fused on both sides (both active and neutral) to ensure maximum safety. The transformer is specified for use around swimming pools.

Although the solenoid valve 34 may be remotely located with respect to the control unit, the plumbing associated therewith must be in compliance with the respective local ordinances or State or Federal laws.

In addition, it is recommended, and in some jurisdictions mandatory, for the power supply to be mounted at least 3m from the pool.

The device of Figs. 1 to 3 operates as follows.

With the water level 24 in the position shown in Fig.

1, the infra-red detector 30 detects the beam of infra-red light from emitter 26; float 22 is well out of the line of the beam. The detector sends the appropriate electrical signal to controller 32. The logic circuit, as a result of the receipt of that signal, operates solenoid valve 34 to open, to allow water to flow from supply 36 to the pool 38.

When the pool fills to a level at which float 22 interrupts the infra-red beam, detector 30 will send a signal to controller 32 which controller 32 reads as a 'stop fill' signal, and it then closes solenoid valve 34.

If waves are created on surface 24 of the pool 38, they may cause float 22 to cease to interrupt the infra-red beam.

This causes detector 30 to detect the presence of the infrared signal. The appropriate 'presence of light' signal is 880902,!jcspe.011,sunray.spe, 6 sent to the controller 32. Without a delay circuit, the controller 32 would respond by opening solenoid valve 34.

However, the delay circuit allows the status quo to continue; if, after the predetermined delay, the detector still detects light, then the controller 32 will open solenoid valve 34.

Fig. 4 shows portion of a pool 40 having a wall 42 and surround 44. The water level 24 in the pool is shown. A modified device 10 as described in relation to Figs. 1 to 3 is shown on wall 42.

A drain pipe 48, for example of 25mm diameter, leads S.'from the pool 40 to a storm-water drain or the like. A solenoid valve 46 normally prevents water from passing through pipe 46.

15 The arrangement of Fig. 4 is intended to cater for high rainfall areas, where a major problem is over-filling of a pool rather than lowering of the water level. The arrangement of Figs. 1 to 3 could be used, except that the circuitry would open solenoid valve 46 to drain water from 20 the pool, rather than open a valve to fill the pool, until S: the desired water level is reached. Alternatively, the sensors 26,30 could be placed at the base of the float tube 28 rather than at the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

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As indicated, 24v solenoid valves may be used for valves 34,46. An alternative, for pumping between tanks, especially in rural areas, is an arrangement where a 240v pump is switched by a device jcspe.023/sunraysia 91 9 9 i--~CIITC~Y~-UIL 6a In rural areas, water is supplied to dwellings from a single tank, which needs to be replenished from other water storage tanks. In such an arrangement the domestic tank would include a device 10, which would operate as described in relation to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, except that water is pumped tank-to-tank, and that a 24v-240v relay is r r K~ x 4, jcspe.023/sunraysia 91 9 9 7 1 operated to switch on the 240v pump. As described with the 2 swimming pool embodiment, the water storage tank is still 3 isolated from mains voltage.

4 Figs. 5 and 6 describe an alternative to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, in that no float is used. A detector 6 arrangement is used in which a LED or 'he like 50 emits 7 light for the detection or non-detection by a photodetector S 8 52.

S 9 The elements 50,52 are located in proximity to a three- 10 sided prism 54, located in chamber 28 with its lower surface 11 parallel to water surface 24.

S 12 As shown in Fig. 5, when the prism 54 is spaced from 13 the water 24, the light emitted from 50 will refract or I 14 reflect internally, and be received by detector 52. Thus, Fig. 5 may represent the 'low-water' state, and the system 16 would operate as described for the Figs. 1 to 3 embodiment, 17 to open solenoid valve 34 to fill the pool or fluid S 18 container.

19 When water 24 contacts the lower face of prism 54, the refracting or reflecting characteristics of the prism 54 are 21 altered, so that light or other radiation from 50 is 22 refracted out of the prism, and is not detected by detector 23 52. This would result in the valve 34 being shut off. Of 24 course, the operation could be reversed for a high-rainfall situation according to Fig. 4.

26 It can be seen that the present invention provides an 27 effective fluid container filling and/or draining system.

28 The entire contents of the provisional specifications 29 lodged with Australian Patent Applications of which this is 880902,!jcspe.011,sunray.spe, 8- 1 the complete specification are hereby imported into this 2 specification and form part of the disclosure of this 3 specification. The claims form part of the disclosure of 4 this specification.

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Claims

1. A device for maintaining the level of a body of fluid at a predetermined position in a container, including a chamber in which said level is represented, detecting means including a source element adapted to emit electromagnetic radiation across said chamber, and a detection element adapted to detect said electromagnetic radiation, said detection element being able to detect said electromagnetic radiation when said level is below a particular position, I 10 and to be unable to detect said electromagnetic radiation when said level is at or above a particular level, control means for controlling the supply of fluid to or the removal Pi of fluid from said container, said control means being 0 responsive to the detection or non-detection of said II 15 electromagnetic radiation by said detection element, and delay means between said detection element and said control means to prevent said control means from responding to said detection or non-detection, unless, after a predetermined p ;time, said detection or non-detection, respectively still 20 occurs, thereby preventing said control means from i operating to supply or remove fluid from said container when said level is subject to short-duration fluctuations such as those caused by surface waves or ripples.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein a float is located in said chamber, which float is adapted to prevent said electromagnetic radiation from being detected by said detection element when said particular position is reached. jcspe.023/sunraysia 91 9 9 10

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein a prism is located in said chamber, said prism allowing passage of said electromagnetic radiation from said source element to said detection element when said prism is spaced from said water, and now allowing the passage of said radiation when a surface of said prism is in contact with said water.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, including solenoid valve means to control the supply or the discharge of fluid to or from said container.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said fluid is water.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said container is a swimming pool.

7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein said container is a water tank.

8. A device substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, 4 or 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this

9 September 1991 :i 20 CARTER SMITH BEADLE i Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: SUNRAYSIA CONCRETE POOLS PTY. LTD. S jcspe.023/sunraysia 91 9 9 If L k