AU2014262204B2

AU2014262204B2 - A pool construction

Info

Publication number: AU2014262204B2
Application number: AU2014262204A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dennis Andrew Bennell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-01-25
Filing date: 2014-11-12
Publication date: 2016-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-12
Also published as: AU2014262204A1

Abstract

A FPOO()L C0 N$ST TU CTI1 N A, swimming pooi (70) fonned wvithi a wvall including a plurality of upright paes(74) and a plurality of suport channel assem-blies (76), The panels, (74) arranged in side.by~side relationship so that adjacent panels have adjacent sidle edges and in top-to-bottom relationship so that adjacen panels are in layered brick sack type courses, The plurality of su-pport channel assemblies (76) are arranged beneath a lo-werm-ost course, ofthe anl (74) and each of the support channel assemblies ('76) has an upwardly facing recess adapted to rciea portion of a boo edge of a pai of adjacent panels (74) so as to locate the adjacent p nelvith respect to each other.

Description

1 2014262204 21 Oct 2016

A POOL CONSTRUCTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the construction of walls from prefabricated panels and more particularly but not exclusively to the construction of such walls when used to form a reservoir. As examples the reservoir may be a commercial or domestic water tank. The wall may also be used to form a domestic or commercial swimming pool. As a further example of the use of the wall of the present invention, the wall may be used to construct a building whether commercial or domestic, including buildings such as silos.

Background of the Invention

Typically tanks and swimming pools are formed by first excavating a hole, lining the hole with reinforcing and applying concrete to the reinforcing. This forms a shell that provides the body of the tank or pool.

Other constructions include providing a footing that receives a plurality of upwardly extending prefabricated panels. The panels are then secured together by a beam joining the upper edges of the panels.

The above discussed methods of tank and pool constructions suffers from a number of disadvantages that may include cost and time of construction and vulnerability to failure

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a tank or swimming pool wall, the wall having a thickness and including: a plurality of upright panels arranged in a side-by-side and top-to-bottom relationship so that adjacent panels are in layered brick stack-type courses, with each panel having vertical end 11904726_1 :hxa 2 2014262204 21 Oct 2016 edges, so that horizontally adjacent panels have horizontally adjacent vertical end edges, and vertically adjacent panels do not have vertically aligned vertical end edges, with each panel having said thickness with the wall having said thickness at the horizontally adjacent vertical end edges; a plurality of support channel assemblies arranged beneath a lowermost course of the panels, each of the support channel assemblies having an upwardly facing recess within which a portion of a bottom edge of a pair of adjacent said panels so as to locate the adjacent panels with respect to each other.

Preferably, the support channel assemblies include a support channel that is substantially U-shaped in cross section.

Preferably, the support channel is straight so as to locate the adjacent panels therein parallel with respect to each other.

Preferably, the support channel is right angled so as to locate the adjacent panels therein normally with respect to each other.

Preferably, the support channel assemblies include one or more posts extending downwardly from the support channel.

Preferably, the wall includes a concrete pier into which each of the posts is embedded.

Preferably, the support channel assemblies include one or more tubes extending upwardly from the support channel.

Preferably, the wall includes a reinforcing bar inserted into each of the tubes and extending upwardly therefrom.

Preferably, the reinforcing bars extend into a concrete comer pier.

Preferably, the wall includes gutter type formwork attached to a top edge of an uppermost course of the panels, which is filled with concrete to create a beam around the outer periphery of the wall. 11904726_1 :hxa 3 2014262204 18 Oct 2016

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of an embodiment of a swimming pool having a side wall provided by a plurality of upstanding panels;

Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of a portion of a pair of adjacent panels of the wall of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view of a dowel to be employed in joining adjacent panels;

Figure 4 is a schematic isometric view of portion of the wall of the swimming pool of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of a spacer used to join a pair of panels of the wall of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a schematic front elevation of portion of the spacer of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic top plan view adjacent portions of a pair of adjacent panels of the wall of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a schematic elevation of an edge of one of the panels of the wall of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a schematic top plan view of a portion of the wall of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a schematic isometric view of a modification, of the swimming pool of Figure

Figure 11 is a schematic top plan view of portion of the modified swimming pool of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a schematic isometric view of a spacer employed in the swimming pool of Figure 10; 2014262204 18 Oct 2016

Figure 13 is a schematic isometric view of a spacer employed in the swimming pool of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a schematic isometric view of portion of the swimming pool of Figure 10;

Figure 15 is a schematic end elevation of the portion of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a schematic end elevation of portion of the swimming pool of Figure 10;

Figure 17 is a schematic isometric view of portion of the swimming pool of Figure 10;

Figure 18 is a schematic top plan view of a pair of adjacent panels employed in the swimming pool of Figure 10;

Figure 19 is a schematic further top plan view of a modification of the portion as shown in Figure 18; and

Figure 20 is a schematic top plan view of a further portion of the swimming pool as modified by Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a schematic top plan view of the panels as shown in Figure 18;

Figure 22 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of a swimming pool having a side wall provided by a plurality of upstanding panels;

Figure 23 is a partial schematic perspective view of the portion of the swimming pool shown in Figure 22;

Figure 24 is a partial schematic perspective view of the portion of the swimming pool shown in Figure 22; H8900b0„l hxa 5 2014262204 21 Oct 2016

Figure 25 is a schematic top plan view of the portion the swimming pool shown in Figure 22;

Figure 26 is a schematic cross sectional side view of the portion the swimming pool shown in Figure 22;

Figure 27 is a schematic cross sectional side view of a first modification to the portion of the swimming pool shown in Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a schematic cross sectional side view of a second modification to the portion of the swimming pool shown in Figure 26; and

Figure 29 is a perspective view of a further panel variation;

Figure 30 is a partial cross sectional view of the panel shown in Figure 29;

Figure 31 is partial cross sectional view a yet further panel variation;

Figure 32 is a partial front view of a swimming pool wall using a first arrangement of the panels shown in Figure 30; and

Figure 33 is a partial front view of a tank wall using a second arrangement of the panels shown in Figure 29.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an embodiment of a swimming pool 10. However it should be appreciated that the swimming pool 10 may be a commercial or domestic swimming pool. The pool 10 is formed with a side wall 11. In that regard it should be appreciated that the side wall 11 may also be used to form the wall of a building, reservoir, silo or other construction. The wall 11 in this embodiment is merely used to form the side wall of the swimming pool 10.

The wall 11 is formed from a plurality of panels 12 that in plan view may be straight or curved. The panels 12 are generally upright and are arranged in a side-by-side 11904726_1 :hxa 6 2014262204 18 Oct 2016 relationship. Preferably each of the panels 12 is preformed and more particularly but not exclusively precast from concrete.

Each panel 12 has a top edge 13, a bottom edge 14, and a pair of generally upwardly extending side edges 15 and 16. The edges 15 and 16 of each panel 12 are spaced and preferably are substantially coextensive and parallel. The edges 13 and 14 are also spaced and are preferably substantially parallel and co-extensive.

The edges 15 and 16 arc preferably planar.

The panels 12 are arranged in sets 17 with adjacent sets being separated by a pier 18, The panels 12 of each set 17 have (heir side edges 15 adjacent and preferably abutting.

Each of the side edges 15 and 16 is provided with a recess 19, with the recesses 19 of adjacent panels 12 being aligned so that a dowel 20 may be located in the adjacent aligned recesses 19 so as to extend between adjacent panels 12 to aid in securing the panels 12 in their upright side-by-side relationship.

For each pier 18, there is a gap 22 between a pair of adjacent panels 12 within which there is located spacers 21. The spacers 21 are attached to the adjacent panels 12 and abut the edges 15 and 16.

Each spacer 21 includes a pair of plates 23, with each plate 23 abutting a respective one of the edges 15 and 16. A rod 24 is fixed to and extends between the plates 23 to maintain them at a spaced position. Each plate 23 has a pair of apertures 25 and 26, with the aperture 26 being shaped so that a dowel 20 may extend into the adjacent recess 19 of the adjacent panel 12.

Each panel 12 is provided with at least one passage 27 that extends between the edges 15 and 16. Preferably each passage 27 is formed by a tube 35, such as stainless steel and galvanised tube extending between the faces 15 and 16 of each panel 12. When each panel 12 Is in position, the passages 27 are generally horizontally extending. The passages 27 of adjacent panels 12 are longitudinally aligned so that a cable 28 may extend through the aligned passages 27. The end portions 29 of each cable 28 are threaded and receive a washer 30 and nut 31, with the nuts 31 being rotated to tension the associated cable 28 to thereby urge the panels 12 of each set 17 towards each other to thereby retain the panels 12 in their side-by-side generally upright 11890050.1-hx3 7 2014262204 18 Oct 2016 relationship. As is best seen in Figure 5, the end portions 29 and associated washers 30 and 31 project into the gap 22.

When the cables 28 are tensioned, sheet material is placed to enclose the gap 22 so that concrete may be poured therein to form the pier 18. Preferably reinforcing material would be employed.

Preferably each pier 18 would include a portion 32 that projects into a hole formed below the ground surface 33 on which the edges 14 were resting. Typically the hole receiving the pier portion 32 would be formed by drilling. Preferably reinforcing material would extend into the pier portion 32 linking it with the remainder of the pier 18< When concrete is delivered to the gap 22 to form the pier 18, the concrete encloses the rods 24, end portions 29 and dowels 20.

Preferably the internal faces 33 of each panel 12 is formed with a slot 34 that would aid in securing a liner to the internal surfaces of the wall 11. Preferably the pier 18 would be moulded to have a slot aligned with the adjacent slots 34, with the slots 34 being horizontally aligned. There may also be included vertical slots to again aid in securing the liner to the wall 1 i.

In Figure 9. there is schematically depicted a modification of the adjacent panels 12. in this embodiment, the recesses 19 and dowel 20 are replaced by a tongue 36 in one panel 12 and a recess 37 in the adjacent panel 12, with the tongue 36 received with the recess 37. The longue 36 and recess 37 are upwardly oriented and extend the full length of the faces 15 and 16. in Figure 10, there is schematically depicted a modification of the swimming pool 10. In this embodiment the spacers 21 include upwardly extending angle members 38 that are joined by transverse brace portions 39 that are preferably welded to the members 38.

Preferably, a panel 40 of compressed reinforced cement sheeting is secured to the members i 8 by threaded fasteners. The panel 40 would then at least partly enclose a cavity 41 to receive concrete.

The spacers 21 described with reference to Figure 10 are illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. The spacer of Figure 12 would be used with panels 12 that lie within a single plane, while the spacer 13 would be used with panels 12 that are inclined. 11890050„1:hxa 8 2014262204 18 Oct 2016

The cables 28 (as shown, in Figure 11) could be tensioned by a turn buckle 42. The turn buckle 42 would threadably engage the end portions 43 of the cables 28 and then rotated to tension the cables 28, If so required, a nut 66 may be applied to threaded end of each cable 28 that is tensioned to aid in retaining the panels 12 in position until all the panels are correctly located and the turn buckle 42 activated to tension the cables 28.

When forming the cavity 41» a formwork member 44 could be secured to the panels by means of fasteners 45 so that the cavity 41 is essentially enclosed and can be filled with concrete.

When the pool 10 of the previous embodiments is to be above ground, there could be attached to the spacers 21 a brace assembly 45. Each brace assembly 45 would include an upright 46 and a base 47 joined by an inclined member 48.

In Figures 16 to 19, there is schematically depicted a modification of the swimming pool 10 of the previous embodiments. In this embodiment, the pool 10 is provided by a side wall 50. The side wall 50 includes vertically stacked panels 51 joined by a dowel 52, or alternatively a tongue and groove assembly as described previously. The upper panel 51 would have recesses 53 designed to receive a liner 54 having a securing bead 55, Each panel 51 would have a pair of upwardly oriented side edges 56 joined by longitudinally extending upper and lower edges 57. Extending between the side edges 56 are passages $8 that receive the cables 28 previously described. The cables 28 would be tensioned as previously discussed, with spacers 21 located between vertically stacked groups 59 of panels 51.

In Figures 19 and 20, there is illustrated adjacent panels 51. A spacer 21 is located between the upwardly extending edge faces 56, while in this embodiment the cables 28 are tensioned by nuts 31 engaging the spacer 21. In the arrangement as shown in Figure 20, the panels 51 are aligned so as to be generally in the same plane. In the embodiment of Figure 10, the panels 51 are inclined, accordingly the configuration of the members 38 accommodates the inclination.

In the embodiment of Figure 18, the spacer 21 includes a stiffener and reinforcing portions 60 provided with eyelets 61. The cables 28 pass through the eyelets 61 and are tensioned by means of nuts 62. 11890050.,1 :hxa 9 2014262204 20 Oct 2016

In this embodiment a further nut 63 is provided. In assembling of the pool 10, the panels 51 are placed in position and the cables 28 inserted through the passages 27. Thereafter the nuts 63 are engaged so that the panels 51 are retained in position. Once all the panels 51 are in position, the cables 28 are tensioned by operation of the nuts 62. In such instances, the nuts 63 will then move away from the spacer 21 and will need retensioning.

In the above described preferred embodiments, the pool 10 can be constructed so that the cables 28 do not substantially compress the adjacent panels. In such instances, the forces applied by the cables 28 substantially cancel out in opposite directions. In other embodiments, the cables 28 when tensioned compress adjacent panels together. However the cables 28 support the panels to aid in retaining the panels in position, with the cables 28 resisting the outward forces applied to the panels by the water in the pool or tank.

Figures 22 to 26 show a further embodiment of a swimming pool 70. The pool 70 is formed with a side wall 72. The wall 72 is formed from a plurality of panels 74 that are generally upright and are arranged in side-by-side relationship so that adjacent panels have adjacent side edges and in top-to-bottom relationship so that adjacent panels are in layered brick stack-type courses. Accordingly vertical edges of adjacent panels 74 are not vertically aligned, as illustrated in Figure 30. Adjacent side edges of the panels 74 are located by tongue and groove arrangements and adjacent top and bottom edges of the panels 74 are located by tongue and groove arrangements. A plurality of support channel assemblies 76 are arranged beneath a lowermost course of the panels 74. Figure 23 shows a comer type of support channel assembly 76b, which has a support channel 78 that is substantially U-shaped in cross section. The channel 78 is arranged in two sections which are right angled with respect to one another so that adjacent panels 74 located therein are positioned normally with respect to each other. A post 80 depends from each section of the support channel 78 which, in use, are embedded into cylindrical concrete piers 82. The channels 78 also include upwardly extending tubes 84 into which are inserted upwardly extending reinforcing bars 86. Figure 24 shows a straight type of support channel assembly 76a which has similar features and which is used to locate adjacent panels 74 parallel with respect to each other.

Returning to Figure 22, there is also shown threaded rods 84 which are embedded in the panels 74 so as to protrude from one end thereof. An uppermost concrete beam 87 is also 11900173_1 :hxa 10 2014262204 18 Oct 2016 shown, which extends around the outer periphery of the pool 70. A reinforced concrete floor 88 is also shown.

The construction of the wall 72 will now be described. Firstly, the floor 88 is laid in the traditional manner, A series of spaced apart holes are then dug around the outer periphery of the floor at predetermined intervals equal to the length of the panels 74. The support channel assemblies 76 are then positioned over each of the hole and stacked or wedged to an appropriate consistent level. The lowermost course of panels 74 are then positioned in the support channel assemblies 76 such that they are supported at each end by the support channel assemblies 76. Other courses of panels 74 are then laid above the lowermost course in a staggered or brick stack-type arrangement. The holes are filled with concrete, which forms the piers 82.

The construction at the corners is best described with reference to Figure 25, This figure shows a panel 90 which is connected between adjacent ends of the corner panels 74. The panel 90 is bolted to the protruding ends of the threaded rods 84. PVC formwork, which is substantially hemispherical in cross section, is also positioned between the adjacent ends of the corner panels 74. The formwork 92 is supported by back filling with soil. A void 94 is thus created between the panel 90 and the formwork 92 which is then filled with concrete. The concrete engages with the rods 86 which are bent at approximately right angles near their upper ends to extend into and through the formwork 92.

Figure 26 shows the wall panels 74 in cross section. The panels 74 arc formed from external cement sheets 94 with a lightweight concrete core 96. Aluminium extruded sections 98 along the top and bottom edges are used to form the previously mentioned tongue and groove arrangements. An aluminium extruded liner 100 extends along the top of the uppermost course of panels 74. Figure 27 shows the uppermost panel 74 after a slurry gutter formwork 102 has been attached thereto by rivets 104. The formwork 102 is filled with concrete to form the peripheral concrete beam 87. As best seen in Figure 26 and 30, the wall thickness does not change where the panels 94 abut.

Figure 28 shows an alternative arrangement in which walkway reinforcement 106 is attached to the uppermost panel 74. The reinforcement 106 comprises twisted flat bar 106a holding reinforcing rods 106b. Concrete is poured around the reinforcement 106, within the boundaries indicated by dashed lines 108, to form a walkway edge beam. 11890050„1:hxa 11 2014262204 21 Oct 2016

Figure 29 shows a further panel variation 120 with a groove 122 around its entire periphery (ie. front edge, back edge, top edge and bottom edge). As best seen in Figure 30, the panel 120 has a pair of walls 124, formed from a cement sheet or formed concrete, and an extruded aluminium edge part 126, in which the groove 122 is formed. A tongue 128 is inserted into the grooves 122 of adjacent panel edges to locate the panels 120.

Figure 31 shows a variation of the edge part 126’ having a pair of grooves 122’.

Figure 32 shows a first (horizontal) arrangement of the panels 120 shown in Figure 29 to form a swimming pool wall. Figure 33 shows a second (vertical) arrangement of the panels 120 shown in Figure 30 to form a tank wall. 11904726_1 :hxa

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tank or swimming pool wall, the wall having a thickness and including: a plurality of upright panels arranged in a side-by-side and top-to-bottom relationship so that adjacent panels are in layered brick stack-type courses, with each panel having vertical end edges, so that horizontally adjacent panels have horizontally adjacent vertical end edges, and vertically adjacent panels do not have vertically aligned vertical end edges, with each panel having said thickness with the wall having said thickness at the horizontally adjacent vertical end edges; and a plurality of support channel assemblies arranged beneath a lowermost course of the panels, each of the support channel assemblies having an upwardly facing recess within which a portion of a bottom edge of a pair of adjacent said panels so as to locate the adjacent panels with respect to each other.

1. The wall as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support channel assemblies include a support channel that is substantially U-shaped in cross section.
2. The wall as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support channel is straight so as to locate the adjacent panels therein parallel with respect to each other.
3. The wall as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support channel is right angled so as to locate the adjacent panels therein normally with respect to each other.
4. The wall as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the support channel assemblies include one or more posts extending downwardly from the support channel.
5. The wall as claimed in claim 5, wherein the wall includes a concrete pier into which each of the posts is embedded.
6. The wall as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the support channel assemblies include one or more tubes extending upwardly from the support channel.
7. The wall as claimed in claim 7, wherein the wall includes a reinforcing bar inserted into each of the tubes and extending upwardly therefrom.
8. The wall as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reinforcing bars extend into a concrete comer pier.
9. The wall as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall includes gutter type formwork attached to a top edge of an uppermost course of the panels, which is filled with concrete to create a beam around the outer periphery of the wall.
10. The wall as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the wall includes walkway reinforcement attached to a top edge of an uppermost course of the panels, which is surrounded by concrete to create a walkway around the outer periphery of the wall.
11. The wall of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said wall encloses a volume to receive a liquid.
12. A tank having the wall according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
13. A swimming pool having the wall according to any one of claims 1 to 12.