Patents Assigned to Pentair Water Pool & Spa, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10480516
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, the present disclosure provides for systems and methods for controlling a pumping system for at least one aquatic application. The pumping system can include a pump, a motor coupled to the pump, an interface associated with the pump designed to receive input instructions from a user, and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller determines a blockage condition based on a power consumption value of the motor, and can further include an auto-restart function that is designed to allow the pump to automatically restart after detection of the blockage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc., Danfoss Power Electrics A/S
    Inventors: Robert W. Stiles, Jr., Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Peter Westermann-Rasmussen, Gert Kjaer, Florin Lungeanu
  • Patent number: 10472263
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a chemical balancing system for a pool that includes a salt chlorine generator system. The salt chlorine generator system produces chlorine through an electrolytic process at a salt chlorine generator cell in communication with a flow of water from the pool. A pH monitoring and balancing unit is coupled to the salt chlorine generator system. A power cord connects a power supply to the salt chlorine generator. A controller is in communication with both the salt chlorine generator system and the pH monitoring and balancing unit. The controller is configured to estimate a current pH value of the pool, determine how much pH balancing solution is required to re-balance the pool to a desired pH level, and dispense pH balancing solution until the pH level in the pool reaches the desired pH level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Johnson, Kevin Doyle, Keith Schulte
  • Patent number: 10465676
    Abstract: A pumping system and method including a flow locking feature. A pump controller includes a user interface configured to initially receive and set a plurality of programmed flow rate settings, a maximum locked flow rate, and a minimum locked flow rate. The pump controller is also configured to disable resetting of the maximum flow rate and the minimum flow rate once they are initially received and set and to allow resetting of the plurality of programmed flow rate settings throughout operation of the pumping system. The pump controller is further configured to operate a pump motor in order to maintain a first flow rate set by one of the plurality of programmed flow rate settings as long as the first flow rate is between the minimum locked flow rate and the maximum locked flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald B. Robol, Daniel J. Hruby, Rodney McCall
  • Patent number: 10469811
    Abstract: An underwater projection system includes a controller designed to generate a map based on the boundary of a projection area, receive image content, and generate a control output based on the image content and the map. A projector is in communication with the controller to project the control output through the fluid onto the projection area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Reddy, Bruce Johnson, Kevin Doyle
  • Patent number: 10443259
    Abstract: A pool cleaner including a turbine assembly, a timer assembly, and a scrubber assembly. The timer assembly is configured to rotate the turbine assembly in a first direction and a second direction. The scrubber assembly is configured to rotate in a forward direction when the turbine assembly rotates in the first direction, and to rotate in a rearward direction when the turbine assembly rotates in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh C. Gopalan, Nitin Agarwal, Jayamurali Kaladharan
  • Patent number: 10427076
    Abstract: A method for removing diatomaceous earth and contaminants from a filter, and for filtering liquid using diatomaceous earth is provided. Embodiments of the method can include a washdown process, a backwash process, and a filtering process. Some embodiments can include one or more filter cartridges with cartridge tubes to increase flow during the backwash process. Some embodiments can also include a backwash sprayer to disturb contaminants during the backwash process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Frank Swindell, Leonard Richiuso, Brian Everett Cox
  • Patent number: 10416690
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Koehl
  • Patent number: 10415569
    Abstract: A pumping system for at least one aquatic application includes a motor coupled to a pump and a controller in communication with the motor. The controller is adapted to determine a first motor speed of the motor, determine a reference power consumption using a reference flow rate and a curve of speed versus power consumption for the reference flow rate, and generate a difference value between the reference power consumption and a present power consumption. The controller drives the motor to reach a steady state condition at a second motor speed based on the difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc., Danfoss Power Electronics A/S
    Inventors: Robert W. Stiles, Jr., Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Peter Westermann-Rasmussen, Gert Kjaer, Florin Lungeanu
  • Patent number: 10409299
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Koehl
  • Patent number: 10400466
    Abstract: A heater including a housing, a first tankless heater, a second tankless heater, a first and second flow directing elements, the first flow directing element in communication with the first tankless heater and the second flow directing element and the second flow directing element in communication with the second tankless heater, and a controller in communication with the first and second tankless heaters and the first and second flow directing elements, the controller configured to control the first and second flow directing elements to control flow to one or both of the first and second tankless heaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventor: Azur Dzindo
  • Patent number: 10302935
    Abstract: A motion control system for controlling an image projected from an underwater projection system in a water feature includes a chassis, a mirror support coupled to the chassis, a mirror member on the mirror support, a first drive member, and a second drive member. The mirror member is configured to reflect the image projected from the underwater projection system in the water feature. The first drive member is coupled to the chassis and configured to rotate the mirror support relative to the chassis about a first axis to move the reflected image in the water feature. The second drive member is coupled to the chassis and a fixed mount and is configured to rotate the chassis and the mirror support about a second axis to move the reflected image in the water feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Reddy, Bruce Johnson, Kevin Doyle, Gabriel Perez
  • Patent number: 10289129
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Koehl
  • Patent number: 10241524
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Koehl
  • Patent number: 10240604
    Abstract: A pumping system for at least one aquatic application controlled by a user. The pumping system includes a pump and a motor disposed in a first housing and coupled to the pump. A user interface is associated with a second housing, the second housing defined by a base portion shaped to interact with the first housing and a user interface portion that carries a plurality of control buttons, wherein the second housing is selectively positionable among a plurality of positions relative to the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc., Danfoss Power Electronics A/S
    Inventors: Robert W. Stiles, Jr., Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Ronald B. Robol, Christopher Yahnker, Daniel J. Hruby, Kevin Murphy, Einar Kjartan Runarsson, Arne Fink Hansen, Florin Lungeanu, Peter Westermann-Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 10240606
    Abstract: A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump, a variable speed motor, and an arrangement for controlling the variable speed motor. The pumping system further includes an auxiliary device operably connected to the arrangement for controlling, which is capable of receiving a parameter from the auxiliary device. The arrangement for controlling is capable of independently controlling the variable speed motor without receipt of a parameter from the auxiliary device. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc., Danfoss Drives A/S
    Inventors: Robert W. Stiles, Jr., Lars Hoffmann Berthelsen, Ronald B. Robol, Christopher R. Yahnker, Daniel J. Hruby, Kevin Murphy, Edward Brown, David MacCallum, Dennis Dunn, Kenneth Clack, Einar Kjartan Runarsson, Alberto Morando
  • Patent number: 10219491
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a recirculating aquaculture system for aquatic life. The system includes a culture tank, a sensor configured to measure a current dissolved oxygen level in the culture tank, a variable speed pump configured to circulate water through the culture tank, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the variable speed pump. The controller is configured to retrieve a dissolved oxygen threshold level and a maximum gas to liquid ratio in the culture tank, retrieve the current dissolved oxygen level, compare the current dissolved oxygen level with the dissolved oxygen threshold level, and automatically increase one of a current water flow rate and a current oxygen flow through the system when the current dissolved oxygen level is less than the dissolved oxygen threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Stiles, Jr., Dennis P. DeLong, Thomas Losordo
  • Patent number: 10191498
    Abstract: A chemical controller for an aquatic application comprising at least one output relay. The chemical controller further includes a current detection circuit configured to detect current on an output of the at least one output relay and a current fault detection device configured to output a current fault signal indicative of the occurrence of a current fault condition. The chemical controller further comprises at least one relay latch configured to receive the relay enable signal and the current fault signal and to decouple the relay enable signal from a corresponding relay latch output when the current fault signal indicates the occurrence of a current fault condition. A relay drive circuit is configured to receive a signal from the corresponding relay latch output to and to responsively activate and deactivate the at least one output relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Lewis, Greg Lyons
  • Patent number: D840621
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Richiuso, Suresh Gopalan
  • Patent number: D852913
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: James Drozdowski, Jonathan Mapes, Chris Jung, Jerry Amato
  • Patent number: D859618
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Louis Pinnell, Sean Michael McEwan, James Lee Miller