Temperature Stabilized Heating System For Spa

Abstract

A spa tub includes a control system that operates with a water temperature modification system to stabilize the spa water at a set temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the water temperature modification system is a heat pump. The stabilized temperature provides safety to users of the spa.

1 . A spa tub system, comprising: 
 a) a spa tub;    b) a hydrotherapy system including a plurality of jet assemblies mounted within the tub, a suction fitting mounted in the tub, plumbing coupling said jet assemblies, and a water pump that can circulate water from the suction fitting through the plumbing and back into the tub through the jet assemblies under pressure;    c) a water temperature modification system operatively coupled to hydrotherapy system capable of modifying the water temperature of water flowing through said hydrotherapy system; and    d) a control system coupled to said water temperature modification system to activate the water temperature modification system to maintain the water temperature of the water between upper and lower temperature limits relative to a user set water temperature.    
     
     
         2 . A spa tub system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said control system activates a heating mode of said water temperate modification system if the water temperature is below said lower limit, and activates a cooling mode of said water temperature modification system if the water temperature is above said upper limit.    
     
     
         3 . A spa tub system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said upper and lower limits are ±1°F. relative to the user set water temperature.    
     
     
         4 . A spa tub system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said water temperature modification system can both actively raise and lower the water temperature of the water flowing through said hydrotherapy system.    
     
     
         5 . A spa tub system according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said water temperature modification system includes a heat pump.    
     
     
         6 . A control system for a water temperature modification system for a spa tub, said control system comprising: 
 a) a user interface allowing user input of a user set water temperature; and    b) a controller that monitors the water temperature of the spa water and activates the water temperature modification system to heat the water when the water temperature is below the user set water temperature and activates the water temperature modification system to cool the water when the water temperature is above the user set water temperature.    
     
     
         7 . A control system according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said controller operates to maintain the water temperature within a preset temperature range.    
     
     
         8 . A control system according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said preset temperature range is ±1° F. relative to the user set water temperature.    
     
     
         9 . A method of regulating water temperature in a spa tub including a water temperature modification system relative to a user set water temperature input at a user interface, comprising: 
 a) monitoring the temperature of the water with a system controller;    b) transmitting a signal from the system controller to a water temperature modification system to automatically raise the water temperature when the water temperature is below the user set water temperature; and    c) transmitting a signal from the system controller to a water temperature modification system to automatically lower the water temperature when the water temperature is above the user set water temperature.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 d) maintaining the water within upper and lower temperature limits relative to the user set water temperature.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said maintaining includes deactivating the water temperature modification system.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said maintaining includes maintaining the water temperature modification system under constant activation.    
     
     
         13 . A spa tub system, comprising: 
 a) a spa tub;    b) a hydrotherapy system including a plurality of jet assemblies mounted within the tub, a suction fitting mounted in the tub, plumbing coupling said jet assemblies, and a water pump that can circulate water from the suction fitting through the plumbing and back into the tub through the jet assemblies under pressure; and    c) a heat pump including a water heat exchanger,    wherein the water pump circulates water contained by the tub through the water heat exchanger to heat the water.