Chlorination system for swimming pools and the like

Abstract

An improved chlorination system for pools, spas, potable water supplies, and the like, provides a vertically oriented electrolytic cell connected between a pump and a lightly salinated pool. The cell preferably contains a metallic electrode, such as copper, and a precious metal coated titanium electrode, and has means for passing an electric current through the cell. The present invention further provides a novel electrode stack design, conducive for forming an efficient chlorinator comprising a plurality of interconnecting electrode stacks of separate electrical cells.

1 . A chlorinator for a body of water, comprising: 
 a vertically-oriented electrolytic cell, said electrolytic cell comprising a housing of electrically insulating material and a union disposed at an upper end thereof for closing said housing, said housing further carrying a water inlet adjacent a lower end thereof and a water outlet disposed near said upper end;    a first current header connecting rod penetrating said union and electrically connecting to a first vertically-oriented electrode via a tab carried by said first electrode, said first electrode for carrying an electrical charge of a first polarity;    a second current header connecting rod penetrating said union and electrically connecting to a second vertically-oriented electrode via a tab carried by said second electrode, said second electrode for carrying an electrical charge of a second polarity;    said tab carrying an electrical charge of said first polarity being offset from said tab carrying an electrical charge of said second polarity;    said first electrode disposed within said housing adjacent said second electrode, but separated therefrom by an insulator; and,    means for supplying electrical power to said electrolytic cell at said first and second current header connecting rods.    
   
   
       2 . The chlorinator of  claim 1  wherein said first electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes interconnected therebetween in electrical parallel arrangement, and wherein said second electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes interconnected therebetween in electrical parallel arrangement, each one of said plurality of first and second electrodes being interspersed in adjacent alternating arrangement, but electrically separated therebetween by an insulator, the combination comprising an electrode stack.  
   
   
       3 . The chlorinator of  claim 2  wherein said electrode stack comprises a plurality of electrode stacks, each said electrode stack being disposed in adjacent arrangement, but electrically separated therebetween by an insulator, said plurality of stacks comprising a plurality of electrical cells when electrically interconnected.  
   
   
       4 . The chlorinator of  claim 1  wherein one of said current header connecting rods further comprises a hole offset from a central vertical axis of said rod, said hole located within a flat upon said rod.  
   
   
       5 . The chlorinator of  claim 1  wherein one of said current header connecting rods further comprises a lughole to electrically connect with said power means.  
   
   
       6 . The chlorinator of  claim 1  wherein said power supply comprises a polarity reversible direct current power supply.  
   
   
       7 . The chlorinator of  claim 1  wherein said electrolytic cell comprises at least one precious metal coated electrode.  
   
   
       8 . The chlorinator of  claim 7  wherein said precious metal coated electrode comprises a titanium substrate.  
   
   
       9 . The chlorinator of  claim 7  wherein said precious metal coated electrode is connected to the positive side of said power supply.  
   
   
       10 . The chlorinator of  claim 1 , further comprising means for maintaining a desired salinity in the water to be protected.  
   
   
       11 . The chlorinator of  claim 10  wherein said means for maintaining a desired saline solution in the water to be protected is selected from the group consisting of: a porous float, a dispenser, a feeder mechanism, or manual addition.  
   
   
       12 . A chlorinator for a body of water, comprising: 
 a plurality of vertically-oriented electrolytic cells, said electrolytic cells carried within a housing of electrically insulating material, and a union disposed at an upper end thereof for closing said housing, said housing further carrying a water inlet adjacent a lower end thereof and a water outlet disposed near said upper end;    each said cell comprising a first metallic current header connecting rod penetrating said union and electrically connecting to a first vertically-oriented electrode via a tab carried by said first electrode, said first electrode for carrying an electrical charge of a first polarity; a second metallic current header connecting rod penetrating said union and electrically connecting to a second vertically-oriented electrode via a tab carried by said second electrode, said second electrode for carrying an electrical charge of a second polarity; said tab carrying an electrical charge of said first polarity being offset from said tab carrying an electrical charge of said second polarity; said first electrode disposed adjacent said second electrode, but separated therefrom by an insulator;    said cells disposed proximate one another within said housing, but electrically separated therebetween by an insulator, said cells being interconnected in electrical series arrangement; and,    a power supply to energize said electrolytic cells.    
   
   
       13 . The chlorinator of  claim 12  wherein said first electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes interconnected therebetween in electrical parallel arrangement, and wherein said second electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes interconnected therebetween in electrical parallel arrangement, each one of said plurality of first and second electrodes being interspersed in adjacent alternating arrangement, but electrically separated therebetween by an insulator.  
   
   
       14 . The chlorinator of  claim 12  wherein said power supply comprises a polarity reversible direct current power supply.  
   
   
       15 . The chlorinator of  claim 12  wherein each said electrolytic cell comprises at least one precious metal coated electrode.  
   
   
       16 . The chlorinator of  claim 15  wherein said precious metal coated electrode comprises a titanium substrate.  
   
   
       17 . The chlorinator of  claim 15  wherein said precious metal coated electrode is connected to the positive side of said power supply.  
   
   
       18 . The chlorinator of  claim 12 , further comprising means for maintaining a desired salinity in the water to be protected.  
   
   
       19 . The chlorinator of  claim 18  wherein said means for maintaining a desired saline solution in the water to be protected is selected from the group consisting of: a porous float, a dispenser, a feeder mechanism, or manual addition.  
   
   
       20 . A chlorinator for a body of water, comprising: 
 a plurality of vertically-oriented electrolytic cells, said electrolytic cells carried within a housing of electrically insulating material, and a union disposed at an upper end thereof for closing said housing, said housing further carrying a water inlet adjacent a lower end thereof and a water outlet disposed near said upper end;    each said cell comprising a first metallic current header connecting rod penetrating said union and electrically connecting to a first vertically-oriented electrode via a tab carried by said first electrode, said first electrode for carrying an electrical charge of a first polarity; a second metallic current header connecting rod penetrating said union and electrically connecting to a second vertically-oriented electrode via a tab carried by said second electrode, said second electrode for carrying an electrical charge of a second polarity; said tab carrying an electrical charge of said first polarity being offset from said tab carrying an electrical charge of said second polarity; said first electrode disposed adjacent said second electrode, but separated therefrom by an insulator;    said cells disposed proximate one another within said housing, but electrically separated therebetween by an insulator, said cells being interconnected in electrical series arrangement.