Filter apparatus with nozzle unit having nested nozzle tubes

Abstract

A self-cleaning, automated apparatus with a filter for fluids includes a nozzle unit assembly that has two nozzle tubes, one inside of another. Each of the tubes has a respective pattern of one or more slots or holes. As the tubes rotate, one with respect to the other, part of the pattern of the one coincides at times with part of the pattern of the other, resulting in a jet of fluid directed toward a filter to remove debris from the filter. The filter is rotated so the jet can reach all parts to be cleaned. The respective patterns of the two nozzle tubes may be an approximation of a helix and/or an approximation of a line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a housing;   a filter, enclosed at least in part by the housing, having material that allows fluid to pass therethrough while filtering particles from the fluid;   a nozzle unit, enclosed at least in part by the housing, having nozzle tubes;   the nozzle tubes including at least one nozzle tube and an other nozzle tube;   the nozzle tubes having respective openings arranged in respective patterns;   the one nozzle tube being rotatably disposed within the other nozzle tube to permit a rotation of the one nozzle tube with respect to the other nozzle tube;   the respective openings of the nozzle tubes being arranged in the respective patterns so that the rotation of the one nozzle tube with respect to the other nozzle tube causes at least one of the respective openings of the one nozzle tube to come into a mutual alignment, with at least one of the respective openings of the other nozzle tube, in a direction facing the filter; and   a motive power source coupled with the nozzle unit and configured to apply a rotational force that causes the rotation of the one nozzle tube with respect to the other nozzle tube.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motive power source is coupled with the filter and configured to cause the filter to rotate. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the motive power source comprises a first motor and a second motor, distinct from the first motor;   the first motor is configured to cause the rotation of the one nozzle tube with respect to the other nozzle tube; and   the second motor is configured to cause the filter to rotate.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the respective openings of the one nozzle tube are arranged in a helical pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the respective openings of the other nozzle tube are arranged in a linear pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the respective openings of the other nozzle tube are arranged in a helical pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one nozzle tube comprises polyoxymethylene providing a snug and slidable engagement between the one nozzle tube and the other nozzle tube and accommodating a film of fluid therebetween that acts as a lubricant. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump operable to supply pressure to push fluid into the nozzle unit. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the nozzle unit emits a fluid jet toward the filter when the pump pushes fluid into the nozzle unit and the at least one of the respective openings of the one nozzle tube is in the mutual alignment with the at least one of the respective openings of the other nozzle tube. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the nozzle unit emits substantially only one said fluid jet at a time within the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle unit emits a fluid jet when fluid under pressure is disposed in the nozzle unit and the at least one of the respective openings of the one nozzle tube is in the mutual alignment with the at least one of the respective openings of the other nozzle tube. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein substantially only one said fluid jet exists at a time within the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a set of flow components that control flow of a fluid into and out of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein the set of flow components comprise:
 in the housing, a plurality of fluid ports;   a plurality of valves;   an inlet pressure sensor and an outlet pressure sensor; and   a filter vent valve.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the one nozzle tube being coupled to a first fluid port of the plurality of fluid ports;   the housing being coupled to a second fluid port of the plurality of fluid ports;   the filter being coupled to a third fluid port of the plurality of fluid ports;   the housing being coupled to a fourth fluid port of the plurality of fluid ports; and   the housing being coupled to a filter vent port.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of valves comprises:
 a nozzle unit valve controlling a flow of the fluid through the first fluid port;   a drain valve controlling the flow of the fluid through the fourth fluid port; and   a filter vent valve controlling flow through the filter vent port.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a pump operable to move the fluid along a first fluid path including the second fluid port, the filter, and the third fluid port.   the inlet pressure sensor sensing an inflow pressure of the fluid at the second fluid port; and   the outlet pressure sensor sensing an outflow pressure of the fluid at the third fluid port.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a flow control system operable to communicate with the set of flow components, the flow control system comprising:
 a processing system having a hardware processor operable to perform a predefined set of basic operations in response to receiving a corresponding basic instruction selected from a predefined native instruction set of codes, and with a memory accessible to the processing system;   flow-control logic, comprising machine codes stored in the memory and selected from the predefined native instruction set of codes of the hardware processor, adapted to interact with the set of flow components, the motive power source, and the pump;   the flow-control logic having a first flow-control sublogic controlling the nozzle unit valve to close, the drain valve to close, the filter vent valve to close, and the pump to propel the fluid; and   the flow-control logic having a second flow-control sublogic controlling the nozzle unit valve to open, the drain valve to open, the motive power source to cause the rotation of the one nozzle tube with respect to the other nozzle tube, and the motive power source to rotate the filter.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a processing system having a hardware processor operable to perform a predefined set of basic operations in response to receiving a corresponding basic instruction selected from a predefined native instruction set of codes, and with a memory accessible to the processing system;   a user-interface controller, controlled by the processing system; and   user-interface logic, comprising first machine codes stored in the memory and selected from the predefined native instruction set of codes of the hardware processor, adapted to operate with the user-interface controller to implement a user interface on a flow control display;   wherein the user interface comprises:
 a display area showing a present apparatus status; and 
 user-activatable display regions, including a manual cleaning start button and an auto cleaning on/off button. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the display area displays a representation of a difference between pressures sensed by the inlet pressure sensor and the outlet pressure sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the user-activatable display regions include one or more auxiliary buttons to control one or more of pool lights, a spa circulation feature, a spa whirlpool feature, and a pool heater.