High-efficiency heater pump

Abstract

The present invention provides a high-efficiency water pump and heater assembly for use with a pool or spa as a device that facilitates the filtering and heating of the pool water. A water pump and turbine engine are combined using an inventive linkage assembly that incorporates a revolutions per minute (rpm) reducing device. The rpm reducing device is operative to reduce the rpm speed associated with the turbine engine substantially to a revolutions-per-minute speed commonly associated with pool water pumps. A heat exchanger is disposed in the exhaust path of the turbine engine whereby water flowing through the heat exchanger coils is heated to a predetermined threshold as monitored by a temperature-monitoring device. The temperature-monitoring device causes a bypass device to redirect the flow of exhaust air once the predetermined temperature threshold has been reached such that the heat exchanger coils are bypassed as long as the water temperature is at or above the predetermined threshold.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A water pump and heater assembly for use with a pool or spa, said water pump and heater assembly comprising: 
 a water pump having an inlet and outlet, said water pump operative to draw water from the pool and expel the water through the outlet;    a turbine engine having an air inlet path and exhaust path, said turbine engine operative to heat air drawn into said inlet path and expel the heated air through said exhaust path;    a heat exchanger disposed in the exhaust path, said heat exchanger being in fluid communication with the water pump outlet and the pool such that water from the water pump outlet flows through the heat exchanger and into the pool; and    a linkage assembly in mechanical communication with the water pump and the turbine engine, said linkage assembly operative to cause a reduction in rpm from the turbine engine to the water pump.    
     
     
         2 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a exhaust diverter having a bypass solenoid, said bypass solenoid operative to cause exhaust air to be diverted from said heat exchanger to said exhaust diverter.  
     
     
         3 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a thermostat operative to cause said bypass solenoid to energize when water in the pool reaches a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         4 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a combustion chamber and an igniter in communication with said turbine engine.  
     
     
         5 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 1  wherein the linkage assembly further comprising a gear box in mechanical communication with said water pump, said gear box operative to cause a reduction in rpm speed from the turbine engine to the water pump.  
     
     
         6 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a noise attenuating device for reducing noise produced by said turbine engine.  
     
     
         7 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an air inlet nozzle disposed at said air inlet.  
     
     
         8 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 5  wherein said gear box further comprises an oil pump portion.  
     
     
         9 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 2  wherein the heat exchanger further comprises dual coils disposed in the exhaust diffuser.  
     
     
         10 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger is a radiator.  
     
     
         11 . The water pump and heater assembly of  claim 1  wherein said assembly is portable.