Systems including variable speed pumps for cleaning swimming pools and spas

Abstract

Systems and methods for circulating water of swimming pools or spas are detailed. The systems may include both a main filtration pump and a secondary booster pump, with the booster pump containing a variable-speed motor. By adjusting motor speed of the booster pump, pressurized water may be supplied to certain automatic swimming pool cleaners more efficiently, without need for energy-wasting by-pass paths or restrictor plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of adjusting operational performance of an automatic swimming pool cleaner, comprising:
 a. using a booster pump, causing water to flow to the automatic swimming pool cleaner at a first flow rate;   b. assessing operational performance of the automatic swimming pool cleaner while water flows to it at the first flow rate; and   c. altering the operational performance of the automatic swimming pool cleaner by adjusting a speed of a motor of the booster pump to cause water to flow to the automatic swimming pool cleaner at a second flow rate different than the first flow rate.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the act of operating a filtration pump, causing water to flow to the booster pump. 
     
     
         3 . A method of operating a water-circulation system of a swimming pool, comprising:
 a. operating a filtration pump so as to (i) evacuate a first portion of water from the swimming pool and (ii) pass the first portion of water to water distribution equipment downstream of the filtration pump;   b. operating a booster pump at a first motor speed so as to (i) evacuate a second portion of water from the water distribution equipment, the second portion of water being at least a part of the first portion of water, and (ii) pass the second portion of water to an automatic swimming pool cleaner; and   c. adjusting the motor speed of the booster pump so as to operate the booster pump at a second motor speed different than the first motor speed.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  in which the automatic swimming pool cleaner is a pressure-side, hydraulic cleaner. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 3  in which the filtration pump has a variable-speed motor, further comprising the act of adjusting the motor speed of the filtration pump from a first speed to a second speed different than the first speed. 
     
     
         6 . A pool-cleaning system comprising:
 a. an automatic swimming pool cleaner having an inlet and configured to operate based at least in part on pressurized water supplied to the inlet;   b. connection means; and   c. a booster pump (i) having an outlet connected, via the connection means, only to the automatic swimming pool cleaner so as to supply pressurized water to the inlet of the automatic swimming pool cleaner and (ii) comprising a variable-speed motor configured in use for adjustment of a flow rate of pressurized water supplied to the inlet of the automatic swimming pool cleaner.   
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6  in which the connection means comprises a hose. 
     
     
         8 . A water-circulation system for a swimming pool, comprising:
 a. an automatic swimming pool cleaner;   b. water distribution equipment;   c. a filtration pump configured in use so as to (i) evacuate a first portion of water from the swimming pool and (ii) pass the first portion of water to the water distribution equipment downstream of the filtration pump; and   d. a booster pump configured in use to operate at least at different first and second motor speeds so as to (i) evacuate a second portion of water from the water distribution equipment, the second portion of water being at least a part of the first portion of water, and (ii) pass the second portion of water to the automatic swimming pool cleaner.   
     
     
         9 . A booster pump (a) comprising a variable-speed motor and (b) configured for use with a hydraulic automatic swimming pool cleaner.