Water Circulation System

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/550,687, filed Feb. 7, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a water circulation system that is configured to circulate pool water for a warm water pool and/or a cold water pool, thereby controlling or adjusting the temperature thereof.

Description of the Related Art

Warm water baths can relieve stress, reduce pain, and promote blood circulation, while cold water baths can lower body temperature, boost the immune system, and eliminate muscle aches. Some people prefer warm water baths, while some people prefer cold water baths. Optionally, people take warm water baths and cold water bath alternately for improving their physical health (for example, activating the autonomic nervous system and making their bodies stronger).

Conventionally, pools for warm water baths and for cold water baths are individually designed and manufactured. When both of the warm water pool and cold water pool are required, reduction of manufacturing cost is a significant issue.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a water circulation system for a warm water pool and a cold water pool. The water circulation system is able to circulate pool water for either or both of the water pool and cold water pool. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The water circulation system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a motor, a plurality of first vanes and a plurality of second vanes. The motor includes a first output shaft and a second output shaft. The first vanes are connected to the first output shaft and driven by the motor to circulate warm water for a warm water pool. The second vanes are connected to the second output shaft and driven by the motor to circulate cold water for a cold water pool.

In another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system further includes a heating device configured to heat the warm water after the warm water is drawn out of the warm water pool and before the warm water is sent back to the warm water pool.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the heating device includes at least one electric heating tube.

In another exemplary embodiment, after drawn out of the warm water pool, a part of the warm water is introduced to the motor, absorbs heat from the motor, and is sent back to the warm water pool.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system further includes a refrigeration device configured to remove heat from the cold water after the cold water is drawn out of the cold water pool and before the cold water is sent back to the cold water pool. The refrigeration device in operation generates heat that is provided for the warm water after the warm water is drawn out of the warm water pool and before the warm water is sent back to the warm water pool.

In another exemplary embodiment, the refrigeration device includes a compressor. After drawn out of the warm water pool, the warm water is introduced to the compressor, absorbs heat from the compressor, and is sent back to the warm water pool.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system further includes a water pump configured to pump the warm water to the compressor.

In another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system further includes a refrigeration device and a multi-way valve. The refrigeration device is configured to remove heat from the cold water after the cold water is drawn out of the cold water pool and before the cold water is sent back to the cold water pool. After drawn out of the warm pool, a part of the warm water flows through the multi-way valve to the motor, absorbs heat from the motor, and is sent back to the warm water pool. The refrigeration device includes a compressor. After drawn out of the warm pool, another part of the warm water flows through the multi-way valve to the compressor, absorbs heat from the compressor, and is sent back to the warm water pool.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system further includes a refrigeration device and a fan. The refrigeration device is configured to remove heat from the cold water after the cold water is drawn out of the cold water pool and before the cold water is sent back to the cold water pool. The refrigeration device includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator which operate to form a refrigeration cycle. The fan is configured to dissipate heat from the condenser and the compressor.

In another exemplary embodiment, airflow is generated by the fan, and the airflow absorbs the heat generated by the condenser and the compressor and flows to a surrounding of the circulated warm water.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the warm water pool and the cold water pool are made of stiff or flexible material.

In another exemplary embodiment, the flexible material includes foam.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the warm water pool and the cold water pool are inflatable products.

In another exemplary embodiment, the warm water pool and the cold water pool have a partition wall disposed therebetween.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the partition wall includes a connecting space for connecting the warm water pool and the cold water pool. A valve is disposed at the connecting space, allowing or obstructing connection between the warm water pool and the cold water pool.

In another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system includes a motor, a plurality of first vanes and a plurality of second vanes. The motor includes a first output shaft and a second output shaft. The first vanes are fixed to the first output shaft and driven by the motor to circulate warm water for a warm water pool. The second vanes are fixed to the second output shaft.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system further includes a heating system configured to heat the warm water after the warm water is drawn out of the warm water pool and before the warm water is sent back to the warm water pool.

In another exemplary embodiment, the heating system includes at least one electric heating tube.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, after drawn out of the warm water pool, a part of the warm water is introduced to the motor, absorbs heat from the motor, and is sent back to the warm water pool.

In another exemplary embodiment, the warm water pool is made of stiff or flexible material.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the flexible material includes foam.

In another exemplary embodiment, the warm water pool is an inflatable product.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system includes a motor, a plurality of first vanes and a plurality of second vanes. The motor includes a first output shaft and a second output shaft. The first vanes are fixed to the first output shaft. The second vanes are fixed to the second output shaft and driven by the motor to circulate cold water for a cold water pool.

In another exemplary embodiment, the water circulation system further includes a refrigeration device configured to remove heat from the cold water after the cold water is drawn out of the cold water pool and before the cold water is sent back to the cold water pool.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the refrigeration device includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator which operate to form a refrigeration cycle. The evaporator is configured to remove heat from the cold water.

In another exemplary embodiment, the cold water pool is made of stiff or flexible material.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the flexible material includes foam.

A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a water circulation system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention that operates in a first operation mode.

FIG. 2 depicts the water circulation system in accordance with the embodiment of the invention that operates in a second operation mode or in a third operation mode.

FIG. 3 depicts the water circulation system in accordance with the embodiment of the invention that operates in a fourth operation mode.

FIG. 4 depicts the water circulation system in accordance with the embodiment of the invention that operates in a fifth operation mode.

FIG. 5 depicts the water circulation system in accordance with the embodiment of the invention that operates in a sixth operation mode or in a seventh operation mode.

FIG. 6 depicts a water flow for recovering the heat generated by a compressor in accordance with the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 depicts the water circulation system in accordance with the embodiment of the invention wherein a water pump is provided to pump warm water to the compressor of a refrigeration device.

FIG. 8 depicts the water circulation system in accordance with the embodiment of the invention wherein a fan is used for generating airflow that carries the heat generated by the condenser and the compressor and flows to the warm water circuit.

FIG. 9 depicts a modification of the warm water pool and the cold water pool of the embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a water circulation system 110 of an embodiment of the invention is configured to circulate pool water for a warm water pool 211 and/or a cold water pool 212 thereby controlling or adjusting the temperature thereof. The warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212 are made of stiff or flexible material. For example, the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212 are made of foam. For another example, the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212 are inflatable products. The water circulation system 110 includes a motor 121, a plurality of first vanes 122, and a plurality of second vanes 123. The motor 121 has two output shafts at both ends, to which the first vanes 122 and the second vanes 123 are connected respectively. During operation, the first vanes 122 are driven by the motor 121 to circulate warm water for the warm water pool 211. The second vanes 123 are driven by the motor 121 to circulate cold water for the cold water pool 212. The water circulation system 110 is able to operate in different modes, described in detail below.

First Operation Mode

The water circulation system 110 can operate in a first operation mode to circulate pool water only for the warm water pool 211 when the cold water pool 212 is not in use. FIG. 1 depicts the water circulation system 110 operating in the first operation mode, wherein the pipes (or the functionally equivalent structures like channels, passages, chambers and so forth) for conveying pool water are omitted and only the water flow is shown for easy understanding. In the first operation mode, a solenoid valve 124 is open, a solenoid valve 125 is closed, and the outlets 171, 172, 173 of a multi-way valve 170 are closed. Warm water is drawn out of the warm water pool 211, passes through the solenoid valve 124, passes through a filtering device 141 for filtering out impurities from water, passes through a heating device 151 to be heated, and is sent back to the warm water pool 211. The heating device 151 is, for example, an electric heating tube.

In the first operation mode, the pool water is heated by the heating device 151 to control or adjust the temperature of the warm water pool 211.

Second Operation Mode

It is optional that the water circulation system 110 operates in a second operation mode when the cold water pool 212 is not in use. As shown in FIG. 2, in the second operation mode, the solenoid valve 124 is open, the solenoid valve 125 is closed, the outlets 171, 172 of the multi-way valve 170 are closed, and the outlet 173 of the multi-way valve 170 is open. After drawn out of the warm water pool 211, a first part of warm water flows to the solenoid valve 124 and a second part of warm water flows to the multi-way valve 170. The second part of warm water flows out of the outlet 173, enters the pipes that are disposed around the motor 121, absorbs the heat energy generated by the motor 121, and is introduced to join the first part of the warm water. Then, the warm water with the first part and the second part combined passes through the filtering device 141 for filtering out impurities from water, passes through the heating device 151 to be heated, and is sent back to the warm water pool 211.

In the second operation mode, the warm water drawn out of the warm water pool 211 is not only heated by the heating device 151 but heated by the motor 121.

Third Operation Mode

It is also optional that the water circulation system 110 operates in a third operation mode when the cold water pool 212 is not in use. FIG. 2 can also depicts the water circulation system 110 operating in the third operation mode, wherein the solenoid valve 124 is open, the solenoid valve 125 is closed, the outlets 171, 172 of the multi-way valve 170 are closed, and the outlet 173 of the multi-way valve 170 is open. After drawn out of the warm water pool 211, warm water is introduced to the motor 121 and absorbs the heat energy generated by the motor 121.

It is worth noting that the heating device 151 is turned off without heating the warm water. In the third operation mode, therefore, the warm water drawn out of the warm water pool 211 is only heated by the motor 121.

Fourth Operation Mode

The water circulation system 110 can operate in a fourth operation mode to circulate pool water only for the cold water pool 212 when the warm water pool 211 is not in use. FIG. 3 depicts the water circulation system 110 operating in the fourth operation mode, wherein the solenoid valve 124 is closed, and the solenoid valve 125 is open. Cold water is drawn out of the cold water pool 212, passes through a filtering device 142 for filtering out impurities from water, passes through the solenoid valve 125, passes through a refrigeration device 130 to remove heat therefrom, and is sent back to the cold water pool 212.

The refrigeration device 130 includes a compressor 131, a condenser 132, an expansion device 133 and an evaporator 134 which operate to form a refrigeration cycle. In the refrigeration cycle, refrigerant enters the compressor 131 as a low-pressure, low-temperature gas, and leaves the compressor 131 as a high-pressure, high-temperature gas. The condenser 132 removes heat from the refrigerant (heat is dissipated to the ambient air) so that the refrigerant condenses into a saturated liquid state. After condensing, the refrigerant is a high-pressure, low-temperature liquid. The expansion device 133 is used to create a drop in pressure of the refrigerant. The refrigerant enters the evaporator 134 as a low-temperature liquid at low pressure, removes heat from the cold water that passes through the refrigeration device 130, and leaves the evaporator 134 as a low-temperature gas at low pressure. Then, the refrigerant is sent back to the compressor 131 to repeat the refrigeration cycle.

In the fourth operation mode, the pool water has heat removed by the refrigeration device 130 to control or adjust the temperature of the cold water pool 212.

Fifth Operation Mode

The water circulation system 110 can operate in a fifth operation mode to simultaneously circulate pool water for the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212. FIG. 4 depicts the water circulation system 110 operating in the fifth operation mode, wherein the solenoid valves 124, 125 are open. The circulation of warm water for the warm water pool 211 is the same as that in the first operation mode shown in FIG. 1, and the circulation of cold water for the cold water pool 212 is the same as that in the fourth operation mode shown in FIG. 3. In the fifth operation mode, therefore, the warm water drawn out of the warm water pool 211 is heated by the heating device 151, and the cold water drawn out of the cold water pool 212 has heat removed by the refrigeration device 130. By such arrangement, the temperatures of the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212 can be individually controlled or adjusted.

Sixth Operation Mode

It is optional that the water circulation system 110 operates in a sixth operation mode to simultaneously circulate pool water for the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212. FIG. 5 depicts the water circulation system 110 operating in the sixth operation mode, wherein the solenoid valves 124, 125 are open, the outlets 171, 172 of the multi-way valve 170 are closed, and the outlet 173 of the multi-way valve 170 is open. The circulation of warm water for the warm water pool 211 is the same as that in the second operation mode shown in FIG. 2, and the circulation of cold water for the cold water pool 212 is the same as that in the fourth operation mode shown in FIG. 3. In the sixth operation mode, therefore, the warm water drawn out of the warm water pool 211 absorbs heat from the heating device 151 and the motor 121, and the cold water drawn out of the cold water pool 212 has heat removed by the refrigeration device 130. By such arrangement, the temperatures of the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212 can be also individually controlled or adjusted.

Seventh Operation Mode

It is also optional that the water circulation system 110 operates in a seventh operation mode to simultaneously circulate pool water for the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212. FIG. 5 can also depict the water circulation system 110 operating in the seventh operation mode, wherein the solenoid valves 124, 125 are open, the outlets 171, 172 of the multi-way valve 170 are closed, and the outlet 173 of the multi-way valve 170 is open. The circulation of warm water for the warm water pool 211 is the same as that in the third operation mode shown in FIG. 2, and the circulation of cold water for the cold water pool 212 is the same as that in the fourth operation mode shown in FIG. 3. In the seventh operation mode, therefore, the warm water drawn out of the warm water pool 211 absorbs heat from the motor 121, and the cold water drawn out of the cold water pool 212 has heat removed by the refrigeration device 130. By such arrangement, the temperatures of the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212 can be individually controlled or adjusted.

Eighth Operation Mode

It is also optional that the water circulation system 110 operates in an eighth operation mode to simultaneously circulate pool water for the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212. Most of operation in the eighth operation mode is the same as that in the fifth operation mode shown in FIG. 4. The operation in the eighth operation mode differs from that in the fifth operation mode in that the warm water in the eighth operation mode is further heated by recovering the heat generated by the compressor 131 of the refrigeration device 130. FIG. 6 depicts a water flow for recovering the heat generated by the compressor 131, wherein the outlet 172 of the multi-way valve 170 is open. A part of warm water, flows out of the outlet 172, is introduced to the pipes (or the functionally equivalent structures like channels, passages, chambers and so forth) that are disposed around the compressor 131, absorbs the heat energy generated by the compressor 131, and is sent back to the warm water circuit for the warm water pool 211.

In the eighth operation mode, the warm water drawn out of the warm water pool 211 absorbs heat from the heating device 151 and the compressor 131, and the cold water drawn out of the cold water pool 212 has heat removed by the refrigeration device 130.

Ninth Operation Mode

It is also optional that the water circulation system 110 operates in a ninth operation mode to simultaneously circulate pool water for the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212. Most of operation in the ninth operation mode is the same as that in the fifth operation mode shown in FIG. 5. The operation in the ninth operation mode differs from that in the sixth operation mode in that the warm water in the ninth operation mode is further heated by recovering the heat generated by the compressor 131 of the refrigeration device 130. FIG. 6 can also depict the water flow for recovering the heat generated by the compressor 131 during operation of the water circulation system 110 in the ninth operation mode.

In the ninth operation mode, the warm water drawn out of the warm water pool 211 absorbs heat from the heating device 151, the motor 121 and the compressor 131, and the cold water drawn out of the cold water pool 212 has heat removed by the refrigeration device 130.

Tenth Operation Mode

It is also optional that the water circulation system 110 operates in a tenth operation mode to simultaneously circulate pool water for the warm water pool 211 and the cold water pool 212. Most of operation in the tenth operation mode is the same as that in the seventh operation mode shown in FIG. 5. The operation in the tenth operation mode differs from that in the seventh operation mode in that the warm water in the tenth operation mode is further heated by recovering the heat generated by the compressor 131 of the refrigeration device 130. FIG. 6 can also depict the water flow for recovering the heat generated by the compressor 131 during operation of the water circulation system 110 in the tenth operation mode.

In the tenth operation mode, the warm water drawn out of the warm water pool 211 absorbs heat from the motor 121 and the compressor 131, and the cold water drawn out of the cold water pool 212 has heat removed by the refrigeration device 130.

For the eighth operation mode through the tenth operation mode, a water pump 161 can be additionally provided to pump the warm water to the compressor 131 of the refrigeration device 130, for recovering the heat generated by the compressor 131, as shown in FIG. 7.

Further, a fan 181 can be provided to dissipate heat from the compressor 142 and the condenser 132 as shown in FIG. 8. Airflow 182 generated by the fan 181 flows through the condenser 132 and the compressor 131, absorbs heat from the condenser 132 and the compressor 131, and is introduced to where the warm water circuit is located. By such arrangement, the efficiency of heating the warm water can be improved.

Further, the above-mentioned warm water pool and cold water pool can be modified as shown in FIG. 9. The warm water pool 211′ and the cold water pool 212′ have a partition wall 231 disposed therebetween. The partition wall 231 is provided with a connecting space 251 (a hole, a passage or any functionally equivalent structure) for connecting the warm water pool 211′ and the cold water pool 212′. A valve 241 is disposed at the connecting space 251, allowing or obstructing connection between the warm water pool 211′ and the cold water pool 212′. When the valve 241 is closed, the warm water pool 211′ and the cold water pool 212′ can be simultaneously in use. When the valve 241 is open, water can flow between the pools 211′, 212′ so that both of the pools 211′, 212′ function the same, used as two warm water pools or two cold water pools. The usable space is expanded.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.