System for Maintaining pH and Sanitizing Agent Levels of Water in a Water Feature

Abstract

A system automatically maintains at least one of a pH level and a sanitizing agent level of water in a water feature. The system includes a sensor assembly responsive to at least one of a pH level of the water and a sanitizing agent level of the water. The system further includes a controller which generates control signals in response to signals from the sensor assembly. The system further includes at least one of a first source containing a sanitizing agent material and a second source containing a pH-modifying material. The system further includes a third source comprising a valve assembly and a third container containing a liquid calibrant material. The valve assembly is responsive to at least a portion of the control signals from the controller by selectively allowing the calibrant material to flow from the third container through the sensor assembly to the water feature.

1 . A source for controllably adding a chemical material to a water circulation system of a water feature, the source comprising:
 a container comprising:
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; and 
 a vessel having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion containing the chemical material, the lower portion of the vessel removably coupled and fluidly coupled to the inlet, the upper portion of the vessel removably coupled and fluidly coupled to the outlet; 
   a first valve fluidly coupled to the water circulation system and to the inlet, the first valve selectively opened to fluidly couple the water circulation system and the inlet; and   a second valve fluidly coupled to the water circulation system and to the outlet, the second valve selectively opened to fluidly couple the water circulation system and the outlet, wherein upon opening the first valve and the second valve, water flows from the water circulation system through the inlet, into the lower portion of the vessel, mixes with the chemical material, flows out of the upper portion of the vessel, through the outlet to the water circulation system.   
     
     
         2 . The source of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are selectively opened substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . The source of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical material comprises at least one of an acidic material, an alkaline material, a biocide material, an oxidizer material, a clarifier material, an enzyme material, and a fragrance material. 
     
     
         4 . The source of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical material is a water-soluble dry chemical material. 
     
     
         5 . The source of  claim 4 , wherein the dry chemical material comprises an erodible solid. 
     
     
         6 . The source of  claim 4 , wherein the dry chemical material comprises a granular material, and wherein the vessel contains water saturated by the dry chemical material, at least a portion of the dry chemical material remaining in an undissolved state. 
     
     
         7 . The source of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical material is a liquid chemical material. 
     
     
         8 . The source of  claim 7 , wherein the liquid chemical material is diluted by water flowing through the vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The source of  claim 1 , wherein the water circulation system comprises a first portion with water having a first pressure and comprises a second portion with water having a second pressure, the second pressure less than the first pressure, the inlet fluidly coupled to the first portion when the first valve is open, and the outlet fluidly coupled to the second portion when the second valve is open. 
     
     
         10 . The source of  claim 9 , wherein the second pressure is below atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The source of  claim 1 , wherein the source further comprises a conduit which fluidly couples the inlet to the lower portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The source of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve comprises a solenoid-activated valve. 
     
     
         13 . The source of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve comprises a pinch valve. 
     
     
         14 . A source for controllably adding a liquid chemical material to a water circulation system of a water feature, at least a portion of the circulation system comprising water having a first pressure, the source comprising:
 a container comprising:
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; and 
 a vessel containing the liquid chemical material, the vessel removably coupled and fluidly coupled to the inlet and to the outlet; 
   a first valve fluidly coupled to a fluid at a second pressure and to the inlet, the first valve selectively opened to expose the inlet to the second pressure, the second pressure larger than the first pressure; and   a second valve fluidly coupled to the outlet and to the portion of the circulation system comprising water having the first pressure, the second valve selectively opened to fluidly couple the outlet and the portion of the circulation system comprising water having the first pressure, wherein upon opening the first valve and the second valve, the liquid chemical material flows from the vessel through the outlet to the portion of the circulation system comprising water having the first pressure.   
     
     
         15 . The source of  claim 14 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are selectively opened substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         16 . The source of  claim 14 , wherein the chemical material comprises at least one of an acidic material, an alkaline material, a biocide material, an oxidizer material, a clarifier material, an enzyme material, and a fragrance material. 
     
     
         17 . The source of  claim 14 , wherein the vessel comprises a lower portion containing the chemical material and an upper portion, and wherein the inlet is fluidly coupled to the lower portion of the vessel and the outlet is fluidly coupled to the upper portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The source of  claim 17 , wherein the source further comprises a conduit which fluidly couples the inlet to the lower portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The source of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve comprises a solenoid-activated valve. 
     
     
         20 . The source of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve comprises a pinch valve. 
     
     
         21 . The source of  claim 14 , wherein the first pressure is below atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         22 . A sensor assembly for sensing a chemical level in water of a water feature, the sensor assembly comprising:
 a pH sensor; and   a sanitizing agent sensor, wherein the pH sensor and the sanitizing agent sensor share a common reference electrode.   
     
     
         23 . The sensor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the pH sensor is a combination pH sensor comprising a pH-sensitive electrode and a reference junction electrically coupled to the common reference electrode. 
     
     
         24 . The sensor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the common reference electrode is a double-junction reference electrode. 
     
     
         25 . The sensor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the sanitizing agent sensor comprises an amperometric sensor. 
     
     
         26 . The sensor assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the amperometric sensor comprises a working electrode and an auxiliary electrode. 
     
     
         27 . The sensor assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the pH sensor comprises a ground, which is selectively decoupled from a system ground and which is selectively coupled to the auxiliary electrode during pH measurements. 
     
     
         28 . The sensor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the pH sensor is removably coupled to the sensor assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The sensor assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a memory device which stores information regarding at least one of the pH sensor and the sanitizing agent sensor. 
     
     
         30 . The sensor assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the memory device comprises an electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory device. 
     
     
         31 . The sensor assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         32 . A source for controllably adding a liquid chemical material to a water circulation system of a water feature, at least a portion of the circulation system comprising water having a first pressure, the source comprising:
 a container comprising:
 an inlet; 
 an outlet; and 
 a vessel containing the liquid chemical material, the vessel removably coupled and fluidly coupled to the inlet and to the outlet; 
   a first valve fluidly coupled to a fluid at a second pressure and to the inlet, the first valve selectively opened to expose the inlet to the second pressure, the second pressure larger than the first pressure; and   a second valve fluidly coupled to the outlet and to the portion of the circulation system comprising water having the first pressure, the second valve selectively opened to fluidly couple the outlet and the portion of the circulation system comprising water having the first pressure, wherein upon opening the first valve and the second valve, the liquid chemical material flows from the vessel through the outlet to the portion of the circulation system comprising water having the first pressure.   
     
     
         33 . The source of  claim 32 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are selectively opened substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         34 . The source of  claim 32 , wherein the chemical material comprises at least one of an acidic material, an alkaline material, a biocide material, an oxidizer material, a clarifier material, an enzyme material and a fragrance material. 
     
     
         35 . The source of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the vessel comprises a lower portion containing the chemical material and an upper portion;   the inlet is fluidly coupled to the lower portion of the vessel; and   the outlet is fluidly coupled to the upper portion of the vessel.   
     
     
         36 . The source of  claim 35 , wherein the source further comprises a conduit which fluidly couples the inlet to the lower portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         37 . The source of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve comprises a solenoid-activated valve. 
     
     
         38 . The source of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve comprises a pinch valve. 
     
     
         39 . The source of  claim 32 , wherein the first pressure is below atmospheric pressure.