Apparatus and method for detecting a leak in a swimming pool

Abstract

An apparatus and method for detecting water loss from a swimming pool includes a first container having an upper end, a lower end, an inner cavity and at least one opening allowing swimming pool water to flow in and out of said inner cavity; a substantially waterproof load cell positioned within the inner cavity of said first container, for measuring weight bearing thereon; and a second container having an upper end, a lower end, and an inner cavity closed to water flow, said second container positioned within the inner cavity of said first container having its lower end upon said load cell so as to bear weight thereon.

That which is claimed:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for detecting water loss from a swimming pool, said apparatus comprising: 
 a first container having an upper end, a lower end, an inner cavity and at least one opening allowing swimming pool water to flow in and out of said inner cavity;    a substantially waterproof load cell positioned within the inner cavity of said first container, for measuring weight bearing thereon; and    a second container having an upper end, a lower end, and an inner cavity closed to water flow, said second container positioned within the inner cavity of said first container having its lower end upon said load cell so as to bear weight thereon.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source connected to said load cell.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a display connected to said load cell for displaying weight measured by said load cell.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor connected to said load cell for processing weight information generated by said load cell.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper end of said first container has an opening connecting with said inner cavity and includes a cover thereon.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising sufficient ballast for holding the apparatus at least partially submerged in water.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in said first container is positioned near the lower end.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opening further comprises a hose extending therefrom.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm responsive to said load cell.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a recorder responsive to said load cell.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor connected to said load cell, said processor including sufficient storage capacity for storing weight information generated by said load cell.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transmitter connected to said load cell for transmitting weight information to a remote monitoring station.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for detecting water loss from a swimming pool, said apparatus comprising: 
 a first container having a substantially closed upper end, a lower end, an inner cavity extending within said container from the upper end to the lower end, and a first opening at the lower end including a valve thereon for allowing swimming pool water to flow in and out of said inner cavity;    a substantially waterproof load cell positioned within the inner cavity of said first container at the lower end and connected to a power source, for measuring weight bearing thereon;    a second container having an upper end, a lower end, and an inner cavity, said second container positioned within the inner cavity of said first container having its lower end upon said load cell so as to bear weight thereon; and    a water pump and siphon tube combination having an air bleed valve and fluidly connecting the inner cavity of said first container with the inner cavity of said second container for filling said second container with water.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable support members connected to said first container so as to allow leveling of the apparatus.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a leveling indicator for ascertaining that the apparatus is properly leveled during operation.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a handle connected to said first container for aiding in handling the apparatus.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a display connected to said load cell for displaying weight measured by said load cell.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a processor connected to said load cell for processing weight information generated by said load cell.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising sufficient ballast for holding the apparatus at least partially submerged in water.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a second opening at the lower end of said first container, said second opening connecting the inner cavity of the first container to outside and comprising a hose extending therefrom.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an alarm responsive to said load cell.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a recorder responsive to said load cell.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a processor connected to said load cell, said processor including sufficient storage capacity for storing weight information generated by said load cell.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a wireless transmitter connected to said load cell for transmitting weight information to a remote monitoring station.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for detecting loss of liquid in a contained body of liquid, said apparatus comprising: 
 a first container having an upper end, a lower end, an inner cavity and at least one opening allowing the liquid to flow in and out of said inner cavity;    a load cell submersible in the liquid and positioned within the inner cavity of said first container, for measuring a weight bearing thereon; and    a second container having an upper end, a lower end, and an inner cavity closed to liquid flow, said second container positioned within the inner cavity of said first container having its lower end upon said load cell so as to bear weight thereon.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a power source connected to said load cell.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said submersible load cell is substantially liquidproof.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a display connected to said load cell for displaying weight measured by said load cell.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a processor connected to said load cell for processing weight information generated by said load cell.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the upper end of said first container has an opening connecting with said inner cavity and includes a cover thereon.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising sufficient ballast for holding the apparatus at least partially submerged in water.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the opening in said first container is positioned near the lower end.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the opening further comprises a hose extending therefrom.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising an alarm responsive to said load cell.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a recorder responsive to said load cell.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a processor connected to said load cell, said processor including sufficient storage capacity for storing weight information generated by said load cell.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a wireless transmitter connected to said load cell for transmitting weight information to a remote monitoring station.  
     
     
         38 . A method for detecting loss of a contained liquid from a container, the method comprising: 
 segregating a fractional volume of the contained liquid so as to extend above a surface of a total volume of contained liquid;    weighing the fractional volume;    holding the fractional volume segregated during a predetermined time; and    detecting a sufficient increase in weight of the segregated fractional volume relative to the total volume during the predetermined time to thereby indicate loss of contained.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the contained liquid comprises water and the container comprises a swimming pool or spa.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein detecting further comprises processing information generated during weighing.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising storing in a computer readable medium information generated during weighing.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting information generated during weighing to a remote monitoring station.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising displaying the weight of the fractional volume.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising displaying a change in weight of the fractional volume.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein weighing further comprises submerged weighing in the contained liquid.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising recording responsive to weighing.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising recording responsive to detecting.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising signaling an alarm responsive to detecting.  
     
     
         49 . A method for detecting a leak in a first container containing a total volume of liquid, the method comprising: 
 segregating a fractional volume of the liquid in a second container;    positioning the second container at a predetermined depth above bottom within the first container so that the segregated fractional volume of liquid extends above a surface of the total volume of liquid in the first container;    weighing the second container over a predetermined period of time while maintaining the predetermined depth constant; and    detecting a sufficient increase in the weight of the second container to thereby indicate a loss of total volume of liquid due to a leak in the first container.