Retrofit Heating System For Spa

Abstract

A spa is retrofit for use with a heat pump for both heating and cooling the water contained in the spa tub. The heat pump uses the existing water pump of the hydrotherapy system to circulate the water through the heat exchanger of the heat pump.

1 . A spa tub system, comprising: 
 a) a spa tub;    b) a cabinet in which said spa tub is mounted;    c) a hydrotherapy system including a plurality of jet assemblies mounted within the tub, a suction fitting mounted in the tub, first plumbing located between said spa tub and said cabinet coupling said jet assemblies, and a water pump that can circulate water from the suction fitting through the first plumbing and back into the tub through the jet assemblies under pressure; and    d) a heat pump system including a compressor, a water heat exchanger, an expansion device, an ambient heat exchanger, and a heat pump operatively coupled to said hydrotherapy system so as to modify the temperature of the water flowing through said hydrotherapy system, at least a portion of said heat pump system located external of said cabinet.    
     
     
         2 . A spa tub system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 second plumbing coupled to said first plumbing to circulate water out of the cabinet to the water heat exchanger of said heat pump system and back to the first plumbing.    
     
     
         3 . A spa tub system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the water heat exchanger of the heat pump system is provided within said cabinet.    
     
     
         4 . A spa tub system according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the ambient heat exchanger is provided external said cabinet.    
     
     
         5 . A spa tub system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said portion of said heat pump system located external of said cabinet is mounted on said cabinet.    
     
     
         6 . In a spa tub system including a spa tub, a cabinet in which the spa tub is mounted, and a hydrotherapy system including a plurality of jet assemblies mounted within the tub, a suction fitting mounted in the tub, first plumbing located between the spa tub and the cabinet coupling the jet assemblies, and a water pump that can circulate water from the suction fitting through the first plumbing and back into the tub through the jet assemblies under pressure, and an electric heater for heating water within the tub, the improvement comprising: 
 a heat pump system including a compressor, a water heat exchanger, an expansion device, an ambient heat exchanger, said heat pump coupled to a hydrotherapy system so that the heat pump system can modify the water temperature of spa water instead of or in conjunction with the electric heater.    
     
     
         7 . The improvement of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 at least a portion of said heat pump system is located external of the cabinet.    
     
     
         8 . The improvement of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the ambient heat exchanger is provided external of the cabinet.    
     
     
         9 . The improvement of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said water heat exchanger is also provided external of the cabinet.    
     
     
         10 . The improvement of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said portion of said heat pump system located external of the cabinet is mounted to the cabinet.    
     
     
         11 . The improvement of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said water heat exchanger is provided external of the cabinet.    
     
     
         12 . A method of retrofitting a spa tub system: 
 a) providing a spa tub system having a spa tub, a cabinet in which the spa tub is mounted, and a hydrotherapy system including a plurality of jet assemblies mounted within the tub, a suction fitting mounted in the tub, first plumbing located between the spa tub and the cabinet coupling the jet assemblies, and a water pump that can circulate water from the suction fitting through the first plumbing and back into the tub through the jet assemblies under pressure, and an electric heater for heating water within the tub; and    b) coupling a heat pump system relative to the hydrotherapy system so that the heat pump system can modify the water temperature of spa water instead of or in conjunction with the electric heater.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said coupling includes providing at least a portion of the heat pump system within a housing that forms at least one of steps, a bench, a seat, or a planter.    
     
     
         14 . In a spa tub system including a spa tub, a cabinet in which the spa tub is mounted, and a hydrotherapy system including a plurality of jet assemblies mounted within the tub, a suction fitting mounted in the tub, first plumbing located between the spa tub and the cabinet coupling the jet assemblies, and a water pump that can circulate water from the suction fitting through the first plumbing and back into the tub through the jet assemblies under pressure, the improvement comprising: 
 a heat pump system located external of said cabinet including a compressor, a water heat exchanger, an expansion device, an ambient heat exchanger, said heat pump coupled to a hydrotherapy system so that the heat pump system can modify the water temperature of spa water instead of or in conjunction with the electric heater.    
     
     
         15 . The improvement of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said heat pump includes a housing forming a functional unit for users of the spa tub system to enter or relax about said spa.    
     
     
         16 . The improvement of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said heat pump is at least partially provided within a housing, said housing forming at least one of steps, a bench, a seat, and a planter.