Crack mitigation systems and techniques for water-containing housings subject to freezing temperatures

Abstract

Freeze-protection systems and techniques are identified, particularly for equipment of swimming pools and spas. Included within structures subject to receiving water subject to freezing are means for accommodating expanded volumes of the water as it freezes. In this manner, the expanded volumes are less likely to cause damage to the structures themselves.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . Equipment of a swimming pool or spa configured to accommodate an expanded volume of water within the equipment as the water freezes. 
     
     
         2 . The equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the equipment is a heat exchanger comprising a housing and a coil within the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the equipment comprises a crack mitigation system comprising an absorber within a housing of the equipment configured to accommodate the expanded volume of water within the equipment as the water freezes. 
     
     
         4 . The equipment of  claim 3 , wherein the absorber comprises a foam structure. 
     
     
         5 . The equipment of  claim 4 , wherein the equipment is a heat exchanger comprising a housing and a coil within the housing, wherein the coil defines an interior region, and wherein the foam structure is at least partially within the interior region. 
     
     
         6 . The equipment of  claim 3 , wherein the absorber comprises a sealed enclosure filled with a compressible material. 
     
     
         7 . The equipment of  claim 3 , wherein the absorber comprises a material that is more flexible than a material of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . A crack mitigation system for equipment of a swimming pool or spa comprising:
 (i) a housing configured to receive water of the swimming pool or spa; and   (ii) accommodating means, contained at least partially within the housing, for accommodating or absorbing expanded volume of the received water within the housing as the water freezes and thereby reducing a likelihood of the expanded volume causing the housing to crack.   
     
     
         9 . The crack mitigation system of  claim 8 , wherein the equipment is a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The crack mitigation system of  claim 8 , wherein the accommodating means comprises a foam structure. 
     
     
         11 . The crack mitigation system of  claim 10 , wherein the equipment comprises a coil within the housing, wherein the coil defines an interior region, and wherein the foam structure is at least partially positioned within the interior region. 
     
     
         12 . The crack mitigation system of  claim 10 , wherein the foam structure comprises polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         13 . The crack mitigation system of  claim 8 , wherein the accommodating means comprises a sealed enclosure with a compressible material. 
     
     
         14 . The crack mitigation system of  claim 13 , wherein the compressible material comprises air, and wherein the sealed enclosure is a flexible material. 
     
     
         15 . The crack mitigation system of  claim 13 , wherein the accommodating means comprises an absorber having a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . A method of circulating water within a swimming pool or spa comprising passing the water through equipment comprising a housing defining a housing region, the housing comprising accommodating means for accommodating expanded volume of the water within the housing as the water freezes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the equipment is a heat exchanger comprising a coil within the housing region, the coil comprising an interior region. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises positioning the accommodating means at least partially within the interior region of the coil, and wherein the accommodating means comprises a foam structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the accommodating means comprises an absorber having a flexibility greater than a flexibility of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the absorber comprises a foam structure or a sealed enclosure comprising a compressible material.