CA2002804C - Solar blanket storage device - Google Patents
Solar blanket storage deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA2002804C CA2002804C CA 2002804 CA2002804A CA2002804C CA 2002804 C CA2002804 C CA 2002804C CA 2002804 CA2002804 CA 2002804 CA 2002804 A CA2002804 A CA 2002804A CA 2002804 C CA2002804 C CA 2002804C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pool
- roller
- arms
- comprised
- axis
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/10—Coverings of flexible material
- E04H4/101—Coverings of flexible material wound-up on a fixed axis
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A solar blanket storage device that rolls up a flexible solar blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, and by means of pulley operated arms attached to poles at one end of the pool lifts and moves the rolled up solar blanket to a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool from behind the position. This eliminates hazard and interference with users of the pool, and with the ability of guarding persons to watch the pool.
In addition, the blanket can be collected or dispensed without chafing against the pool because the solar blanket can be drawn off the roller when it is in a partly raised position, away from the side of the pool.
A solar blanket storage device that rolls up a flexible solar blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, and by means of pulley operated arms attached to poles at one end of the pool lifts and moves the rolled up solar blanket to a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool from behind the position. This eliminates hazard and interference with users of the pool, and with the ability of guarding persons to watch the pool.
In addition, the blanket can be collected or dispensed without chafing against the pool because the solar blanket can be drawn off the roller when it is in a partly raised position, away from the side of the pool.
Description
Z1[~ 8~4 01 ThiS invention relates in general to a 02 solar blanket storage device.
03 It is usually desirable to warm swimming 04 pool water without the use of fuel, and to retard 05 evaporation of the pool water. A solar blanket is 06 commonly used to cover the pool and to trap the heat 07 of the sun in the pool water when the swimming pool is 08 not in use, thus achieving the above results. A solar 09 blanket is typically constructed of water vapor impervious material such as vinyl which is transparent 11 or translucent to solar radiation, and includes in its 12 construction pockets of air usually in the form of 13 bubbles o~ the vinyl material that enable the solar 14 blanket when in use, to float at the surface of the pool water and insulate the pool water from the air 16 above.
17 The solar blanket when it is not in use is 18 often stored on a solar blanket roller. The solar 19 blanket roller is typically an elongated aluminum cylinder that is rotatably fixed at its ends to small 21 dollies mounted on casters, located adjacent an end of 22 the swimming pool. A handle is used to manually turn 23 the solar blanket roller about a horizontal axis in 24 order for it to collect or dispense the solar blanket. Once the solar blanket has been collected, 26 the dollies can be, and are intended to be moved away 27 from the end of the pool, so that the roller with the 28 collected blanket will not interfere with pool users 29 at the end of the pool. However the entire apparatus is quite heavy when loaded with a solar blanket. For 31 this reason, the loaded apparatus is usually not 32 removed from the end of the pool.
33 Since the solar blanket roller is kept 34 near the end of, or near the surface of the swimming pool, the solar blanket roller represents an obstacle 36 to swimmers or to users of the swimming pool and is 37 therefore a safety hazard, as well as being an . . , . , : . -,: ... i : : . .. ~ , , .,. .. . ~.
03 It is usually desirable to warm swimming 04 pool water without the use of fuel, and to retard 05 evaporation of the pool water. A solar blanket is 06 commonly used to cover the pool and to trap the heat 07 of the sun in the pool water when the swimming pool is 08 not in use, thus achieving the above results. A solar 09 blanket is typically constructed of water vapor impervious material such as vinyl which is transparent 11 or translucent to solar radiation, and includes in its 12 construction pockets of air usually in the form of 13 bubbles o~ the vinyl material that enable the solar 14 blanket when in use, to float at the surface of the pool water and insulate the pool water from the air 16 above.
17 The solar blanket when it is not in use is 18 often stored on a solar blanket roller. The solar 19 blanket roller is typically an elongated aluminum cylinder that is rotatably fixed at its ends to small 21 dollies mounted on casters, located adjacent an end of 22 the swimming pool. A handle is used to manually turn 23 the solar blanket roller about a horizontal axis in 24 order for it to collect or dispense the solar blanket. Once the solar blanket has been collected, 26 the dollies can be, and are intended to be moved away 27 from the end of the pool, so that the roller with the 28 collected blanket will not interfere with pool users 29 at the end of the pool. However the entire apparatus is quite heavy when loaded with a solar blanket. For 31 this reason, the loaded apparatus is usually not 32 removed from the end of the pool.
33 Since the solar blanket roller is kept 34 near the end of, or near the surface of the swimming pool, the solar blanket roller represents an obstacle 36 to swimmers or to users of the swimming pool and is 37 therefore a safety hazard, as well as being an . . , . , : . -,: ... i : : . .. ~ , , .,. .. . ~.
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1 obstacle to free enjoyment of the entire pool.
2 The solar blanket often becomes degraded after 3 being collected or dispensed many times due to the sol~r 4 blanket chaf ing against the sides of, or the end S structure of the swimming pool. The degradation is 6 particularly severe if the pool end where the blanket is 7 collected is not squared with straight sides of the ~ pool~
9 The present invention provides apparatus for the solar blanket roller to be movable to a distance 11 substantially above the surface and/or away from the end 12 of the swimming pool. This allows the solar blanket to 13 avoid contact with the sides and end of a swimming pool, 14 whether s~uared end or not, and to avoid contact with the ground surface adjacent the swimming pool while 16 collecting or dispensing the solar blanket. Thus the 17 solar blanket is protected from being degraded due to 18 chafing.
19 The invention also provides a movable solar blanket storage device that moves the solar blanket 21 roller away from the surface of the swimming pool to a 22 distance away from the sides of and from the surfac~ of 23 the swimming pool when the solar blanket is not in use.
24 This removes an obstacle and removes a safety hazard ~ from users of the swimming pool.
26 In general, in accordance with an embodiment 27 of the invention, a solar blanket storage device is 28 comprised of first apparatus for rolling up a flexible 29 solar blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, and raising apparatus for lifting and moving the 31 first apparatus to a position above and to the side of 32 the pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire 33 region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking 34 a view of the pool from behind the position.
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20Q2~Q~
1 In accordance with an embodiment of the 2 invention, a solar blank storage device is comprised of 3 a first apparatus for rolling up a flexible solar 4 blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, raising apparatus for lifting and moving the first 6 apparatus to a position above and to the side of the 7 pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire 8 region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking 9 a view of the pool from behind the position, the first apparatus being comprised of a roller having a central 11 axis around which the solar blanket can be wound, the 12 raising apparatus being connected to opposite ends of 13 the roller, the raising apparatus being comprised of 14 first and second posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end of the swimming pool; a pair of 16 elongated congruent arms each having a first end t7 rotatably connected to a corresponding first and second 18 opposite end of the roller, each arm having a second end 19 pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points defining a first axis, rotating 21 apparatus connected between the arms and the posts for 22 applying force to the arms and thereby rotating the arms 23 about the first axis, thus moving the roller about th~
24 axis, the rotating apparatus being comprised of first 2s and second cables, each cable being connected to a 26 correspondiny arm at a position a substantial distance 27 from its pivot point and to a take-up device for 28 collecting and dispensing the first and second cables.
29 In accordance with another embodiment, a solar blank storage device is comprised of first apparatus for 31 rolling up a flexible solar blanket from a flat position 32 covering a swimming pool, raising apparatus ~or lifting 33 and moving the first apparatus to a position above and 34 lifting and moving the first apparatus to a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be 38 - 2a -~' :
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1 substantially clear of the entire region above the pool 2 and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool 3 from behind the position, the first apparatus being 4 comprised of a roller having a central axis around which S the solar blanket can be wound, the raising apparatus 6 being connected to opposite ends of the roller, the 7 raising apparatus being comprised of first and second 8 posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end 9 of the swimming pool; a pair of elongated congruent arms each having a first end rotatably connected to a 11 corresponding first and second opposite end of the 12 roller, each arm having a second end pivotally connected 13 to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points 14 defining a first axis, rotating apparatus connected between the arms and the posts for applying force to the 16 arms and thereby rotating the arms about the first axis, 17 thus moving the roller about the axis, the rotating 18 apparatus is comprised of first and second cahles, each 19 cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a position at substantial distance from its pivot point 21 and to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing 22 the first and second cables, further including a pulley 23 attached to each pole, for routing a corresponding cable 24 from a corresponding arm toward the pole, and thence to the take-up device.
26 In accordance with another embodiment, a solar 27 blanket storage device is comprised of a a ~irst 28 apparatus ~or rolling up a flexible solar blanket from a 29 flat position covering a swimming pool, raising apparatus for lifting and moving the first apparatus to 31 a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be 32 substantially clear of the entire region above the pool 33 and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool 34 from behind the position, the first apparatus being 37 - 2~ -~ . .. : . . .
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1 comprised of a roller having a central axis around which 2 the solar blanket can be wound, the raising apparatus 3 being connected to opposite ends of the roller, the 4 raising apparatus being comprised of first and second S posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end 6 of the swimming pool; a pair of elongated congruent arms 7 each having a first end rotatably connected to a 8 corresponding first and second opposite end of the 9 roller; each arm having a second end pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points 11 defining a first axis, rotating apparatus connected 12 between the arms and the posts for applying force to the 13 arms and thereby rotating the arms about the first axis, 14 thus moving the roller about the axis, the rotating apparatus being comprised of first and second cables, 16 each cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a 17 position a substantial distance from its pivot point and 18 to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing the 19 first and second device, further including a pulley attached to each pole, for routing a corresponding cable 21 from a corresponding arm toward the pole, and thence to 22 the take-up device, the take-up device being comprised 23 of a braked ~pindle connected to a crank for winding the 24 cables around a spindle upon rotation of the crank.
The device can thus collect the solar blanket 26 at a position substantially away from the sides and end 27 of the pool thus avoiding degradation due to chafing 28 during collection or dispensing of the blanket. At the 29 same time, or later, the storage device can remove 37 - 2c -' '` " :
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20~ 4 01 the stored pool cover to a position away from where it 02 can be a hazard and in~erference, such as well above 03 the heads of pool users, and away from the end of the 04 pool.
05 A better understanding of the invention 06 will be obtained with reference to the single figure, 07 which illustrates a perspective view of the preferred 08 embodiment of the invention.
09 The figure illustrates a solar blanket 3, connected to a solar blanket roller 5 adjacent to a 11 swimming pool 7 by means of straps 6. The solar 12 blanket roller 5 is an elongated aluminum cylinder 13 having a first end 8 and a second end 9. The solar 14 blanket roller 5 is equipped with a handle 10 fixedly connected to an axle end at its first end 8. The 16 handle 10 is used to turn the solar blanket roller 5 17 in order for it to collect around or dispense the 18 solar blanket 3.
19 A first elongated arm 11 is rotatably connected to the first end 8 and a preferably 21 congruent second elongated arm 12 is rotatably 22 connected to the second end 9 of the solar blanket 23 roller 5 via axle ends of the roller, or equivalent 24 apparatus. The handle 10 is located on the opposite side of arm 11 than the roller. The first and second 26 elongated arms 11 and 12 are pivotally mounted 27 (rotatably pinned) to corresponding ~irst and second 28 fixed brackets 15 and 16. The pinning points at the ~9 brackets 15 and 16 define a preferably horizontal axis A-A that is parallel to the central axis of the solar 31 blanket roller. According to the preferred 32 embodiment, the first and second elongated arms 11 and 33 12 are parallel to each other, and are each 34 perpendicular to the horizontal axis A-A and to the central axis of the solar blanket roller 5.
36 The first and second elongated arms 11 and 37 12 can be made variable in length to fixed desired : '' ' .. ~: ' , : . :
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01 lengths. This can be achieved by making the first and 02 second arms 11 and 12 each of telescopic construction 03 in which respective first and second sections of each 04 arm slide against or pass one within the other. The 05 first and second sections of each arm are preferably 06 secured to one another by nuts and-bolts ~not shown).
07 A first vertical post 18 and a second 08 vertical post 19, located behind one end of the pool Og and approximately in planes containin~ the spool sides, support the corresponding first and second 11 brackets 15 and 16 preferably an equal distance above 12 the ground. The bottom ends of the first and second 13 vertical poles are preferably embedded in the ground 14 via cement footings 20, but they can be supported on secure portable platforms if desired.
16 A first cable 21 and a second cable 22 are 17 connected to corresponding first and second elongated 18 arms 11 and 12 a substantial distance from brackets 15 19 by clamps 24.
The cables 21 and 22 can be 1/8 inch 21 diameter metal braided cables, and the first and 22 second vertical posts 18 and 19 can each be 2 inch 23 diameter metal pipes.
24 A first pulley 27 is connected at or near the top of the first vertical pole 18 and engages the 26 first cable 21. A second pulley 28 and a third pulley 27 29 are connected at or near the top of corresponding 28 first and second vertical posts 18 and 19. The second 29 pulley 28 and the third pulley 29 both engage the second cable 22.
31 A rotatable preferably ratchet retained or 32 otherwise braked spindle 33 is connected at a 33 convenient height to the first vertical pole 18 below 3~ pulleys 27 and 29 and engages the first and second cables 21 and 22. The spindle 33 is attached to a 36 crank handle 34 that is used to manually turn the 37 spindle 33 in order for it to collect or dispense the .. ~
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01 first and second cables 21 and 22.
02 In operation, the collecting and 03 dispensing of the first and second cables 21 and 22 by 04 the spindle 33 causes application of an equal force to 05 each of the first and second elongated arms 11 and 06 12. This causes rotation of the first and second 07 roller arms 11 and 12 about the first and second 08 brackets 15 and 16.
09 The collecting or taking up of the first and second cables 21 and 22 on spindle 33 thus moves 11 the solar blanket roller 5 to a position high above 12 and away from the surface and the end of the swimming 13 pool 7, and the dispensing of the first and second 14 cables 21 and 22 moves the solar blanket roller 5 toward a position close to and above the surface of 16 the swimming pool 7.
17 The solar blanket can be dispensed or 18 rolled up from any convenient position. The handle 10 19 connected to the solar blanket roller 5 is used to manually rotate the solar blanket roller 5 about its 21 central axis in order for it to collect around or 22 dispense the solar blanket 3. During the above 23 operation, the solar blanket roller is positioned 24 above the surface of the swimming pool 7 adjacent its end, high enough so that the solar blanket does not 26 chafe against the sides of the swimming pool.
27 The solar blanket roller 5 is moved to a 28 position higher and away from the surface of the 29 swimming pool 7 when the solar blanket 3 has been fully collected around the solar blanket roller 5.
31 It should be understood that while the 32 swimming poool 7 has been illustrated as an 33 above-ground swimming pool, the invention is equally 34 applicable to a below-ground swimming pool. In such a case, the height of the first and second brackets 15 36 and 16 above the ground could be substantially less 37 than for an above-the-ground pool.
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01 If the distances of the pulleys 27 and 23 02 from cor~esponding brackets 15 and 16 are made similar 03 to the distance between brackets 24, and 15 and 16, 04 the arms 11 and 12 could be drawn up to be 05 substantially parallel with posts 18 and 19, removing 06 the rolled up solar blanket completely from the 07 vicinity of the pool.
08 Other embodiments of th~ invention are 09 possible. For example, the first and second elongated arms 11 and 12 may extend beyond their connections to 11 the first and second ends 8 and 9 of the solar blanket 12 roller 5, in order for the extended ends of the first 13 and second elongated arms 11 and 12 to contact the 14 side of the swimming pool 7. This may ensure that the extended ends of the arms 11 and 12, and not the solar 16 blanket roller 5 or the solar blanket 3 would contact 17 the side of the swimming pool 7, and holds the roller 18 5 in perfect alignment so as to dispense the solar 19 blanket into place on the pool.
The invention may also include apparatus 21 to counteract the mass of the solar blanket roller 5 22 in order to reduce the force to be applied to the arms 23 11 and 12 and pulleys 28, 29 and 27 by cables 21 and 24 22. For example, the first and second elongated arms 11 and 12 may be extended beyond brackets 15 and 16.
26 The extended ends of the arms 11 and 12 can include 27 weights to provide a force moment about the brackets 28 in order to counteract the mass of the solar blanket 29 roller 5. The weights can be moved out along the arm extensions by means of cables, deployed during the 31 cxanking of crank 10 in order to maintain balance of 32 the increased weight on the roller 5.
33 It is anticipated that the crank 34 used 34 to manually turn the spindle 33 may be replaced with a mechanized apparatus in the form of a geared down 36 electric motor. In such a case, care should be 37 taken to ensure that the electric motor is .~ :;' ., ' , . ' :
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01 electrically isolated from the swimming pool water.
02 Alsor ins~ead of using cables for rotating arms 11 and 03 12 about brackets 15 and 16, hydraulic or pneumatic 04 cylinders can be used.
05 It should be recognized that the use of 06 the term posts for elements 18 and 19 is intended to 07 include any supporting structure for arms 11 and 12, 08 such as a fence, a frame, the wall of a shed or house, 09 etc.
A person understanding the present 11 invention may conceive of other embodiments thereof.
12 All such modifications are believed to be within the 13 sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the 14 claims appended hereto.
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1 obstacle to free enjoyment of the entire pool.
2 The solar blanket often becomes degraded after 3 being collected or dispensed many times due to the sol~r 4 blanket chaf ing against the sides of, or the end S structure of the swimming pool. The degradation is 6 particularly severe if the pool end where the blanket is 7 collected is not squared with straight sides of the ~ pool~
9 The present invention provides apparatus for the solar blanket roller to be movable to a distance 11 substantially above the surface and/or away from the end 12 of the swimming pool. This allows the solar blanket to 13 avoid contact with the sides and end of a swimming pool, 14 whether s~uared end or not, and to avoid contact with the ground surface adjacent the swimming pool while 16 collecting or dispensing the solar blanket. Thus the 17 solar blanket is protected from being degraded due to 18 chafing.
19 The invention also provides a movable solar blanket storage device that moves the solar blanket 21 roller away from the surface of the swimming pool to a 22 distance away from the sides of and from the surfac~ of 23 the swimming pool when the solar blanket is not in use.
24 This removes an obstacle and removes a safety hazard ~ from users of the swimming pool.
26 In general, in accordance with an embodiment 27 of the invention, a solar blanket storage device is 28 comprised of first apparatus for rolling up a flexible 29 solar blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, and raising apparatus for lifting and moving the 31 first apparatus to a position above and to the side of 32 the pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire 33 region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking 34 a view of the pool from behind the position.
, . . . : - . ~. - .
... . ... . .
20Q2~Q~
1 In accordance with an embodiment of the 2 invention, a solar blank storage device is comprised of 3 a first apparatus for rolling up a flexible solar 4 blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, raising apparatus for lifting and moving the first 6 apparatus to a position above and to the side of the 7 pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire 8 region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking 9 a view of the pool from behind the position, the first apparatus being comprised of a roller having a central 11 axis around which the solar blanket can be wound, the 12 raising apparatus being connected to opposite ends of 13 the roller, the raising apparatus being comprised of 14 first and second posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end of the swimming pool; a pair of 16 elongated congruent arms each having a first end t7 rotatably connected to a corresponding first and second 18 opposite end of the roller, each arm having a second end 19 pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points defining a first axis, rotating 21 apparatus connected between the arms and the posts for 22 applying force to the arms and thereby rotating the arms 23 about the first axis, thus moving the roller about th~
24 axis, the rotating apparatus being comprised of first 2s and second cables, each cable being connected to a 26 correspondiny arm at a position a substantial distance 27 from its pivot point and to a take-up device for 28 collecting and dispensing the first and second cables.
29 In accordance with another embodiment, a solar blank storage device is comprised of first apparatus for 31 rolling up a flexible solar blanket from a flat position 32 covering a swimming pool, raising apparatus ~or lifting 33 and moving the first apparatus to a position above and 34 lifting and moving the first apparatus to a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be 38 - 2a -~' :
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:
20028~
1 substantially clear of the entire region above the pool 2 and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool 3 from behind the position, the first apparatus being 4 comprised of a roller having a central axis around which S the solar blanket can be wound, the raising apparatus 6 being connected to opposite ends of the roller, the 7 raising apparatus being comprised of first and second 8 posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end 9 of the swimming pool; a pair of elongated congruent arms each having a first end rotatably connected to a 11 corresponding first and second opposite end of the 12 roller, each arm having a second end pivotally connected 13 to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points 14 defining a first axis, rotating apparatus connected between the arms and the posts for applying force to the 16 arms and thereby rotating the arms about the first axis, 17 thus moving the roller about the axis, the rotating 18 apparatus is comprised of first and second cahles, each 19 cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a position at substantial distance from its pivot point 21 and to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing 22 the first and second cables, further including a pulley 23 attached to each pole, for routing a corresponding cable 24 from a corresponding arm toward the pole, and thence to the take-up device.
26 In accordance with another embodiment, a solar 27 blanket storage device is comprised of a a ~irst 28 apparatus ~or rolling up a flexible solar blanket from a 29 flat position covering a swimming pool, raising apparatus for lifting and moving the first apparatus to 31 a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be 32 substantially clear of the entire region above the pool 33 and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool 34 from behind the position, the first apparatus being 37 - 2~ -~ . .. : . . .
-: :~ : '' ':': , ' ' ':' . : - . , - .
21~02~0~
1 comprised of a roller having a central axis around which 2 the solar blanket can be wound, the raising apparatus 3 being connected to opposite ends of the roller, the 4 raising apparatus being comprised of first and second S posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end 6 of the swimming pool; a pair of elongated congruent arms 7 each having a first end rotatably connected to a 8 corresponding first and second opposite end of the 9 roller; each arm having a second end pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points 11 defining a first axis, rotating apparatus connected 12 between the arms and the posts for applying force to the 13 arms and thereby rotating the arms about the first axis, 14 thus moving the roller about the axis, the rotating apparatus being comprised of first and second cables, 16 each cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a 17 position a substantial distance from its pivot point and 18 to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing the 19 first and second device, further including a pulley attached to each pole, for routing a corresponding cable 21 from a corresponding arm toward the pole, and thence to 22 the take-up device, the take-up device being comprised 23 of a braked ~pindle connected to a crank for winding the 24 cables around a spindle upon rotation of the crank.
The device can thus collect the solar blanket 26 at a position substantially away from the sides and end 27 of the pool thus avoiding degradation due to chafing 28 during collection or dispensing of the blanket. At the 29 same time, or later, the storage device can remove 37 - 2c -' '` " :
.
20~ 4 01 the stored pool cover to a position away from where it 02 can be a hazard and in~erference, such as well above 03 the heads of pool users, and away from the end of the 04 pool.
05 A better understanding of the invention 06 will be obtained with reference to the single figure, 07 which illustrates a perspective view of the preferred 08 embodiment of the invention.
09 The figure illustrates a solar blanket 3, connected to a solar blanket roller 5 adjacent to a 11 swimming pool 7 by means of straps 6. The solar 12 blanket roller 5 is an elongated aluminum cylinder 13 having a first end 8 and a second end 9. The solar 14 blanket roller 5 is equipped with a handle 10 fixedly connected to an axle end at its first end 8. The 16 handle 10 is used to turn the solar blanket roller 5 17 in order for it to collect around or dispense the 18 solar blanket 3.
19 A first elongated arm 11 is rotatably connected to the first end 8 and a preferably 21 congruent second elongated arm 12 is rotatably 22 connected to the second end 9 of the solar blanket 23 roller 5 via axle ends of the roller, or equivalent 24 apparatus. The handle 10 is located on the opposite side of arm 11 than the roller. The first and second 26 elongated arms 11 and 12 are pivotally mounted 27 (rotatably pinned) to corresponding ~irst and second 28 fixed brackets 15 and 16. The pinning points at the ~9 brackets 15 and 16 define a preferably horizontal axis A-A that is parallel to the central axis of the solar 31 blanket roller. According to the preferred 32 embodiment, the first and second elongated arms 11 and 33 12 are parallel to each other, and are each 34 perpendicular to the horizontal axis A-A and to the central axis of the solar blanket roller 5.
36 The first and second elongated arms 11 and 37 12 can be made variable in length to fixed desired : '' ' .. ~: ' , : . :
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.:
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01 lengths. This can be achieved by making the first and 02 second arms 11 and 12 each of telescopic construction 03 in which respective first and second sections of each 04 arm slide against or pass one within the other. The 05 first and second sections of each arm are preferably 06 secured to one another by nuts and-bolts ~not shown).
07 A first vertical post 18 and a second 08 vertical post 19, located behind one end of the pool Og and approximately in planes containin~ the spool sides, support the corresponding first and second 11 brackets 15 and 16 preferably an equal distance above 12 the ground. The bottom ends of the first and second 13 vertical poles are preferably embedded in the ground 14 via cement footings 20, but they can be supported on secure portable platforms if desired.
16 A first cable 21 and a second cable 22 are 17 connected to corresponding first and second elongated 18 arms 11 and 12 a substantial distance from brackets 15 19 by clamps 24.
The cables 21 and 22 can be 1/8 inch 21 diameter metal braided cables, and the first and 22 second vertical posts 18 and 19 can each be 2 inch 23 diameter metal pipes.
24 A first pulley 27 is connected at or near the top of the first vertical pole 18 and engages the 26 first cable 21. A second pulley 28 and a third pulley 27 29 are connected at or near the top of corresponding 28 first and second vertical posts 18 and 19. The second 29 pulley 28 and the third pulley 29 both engage the second cable 22.
31 A rotatable preferably ratchet retained or 32 otherwise braked spindle 33 is connected at a 33 convenient height to the first vertical pole 18 below 3~ pulleys 27 and 29 and engages the first and second cables 21 and 22. The spindle 33 is attached to a 36 crank handle 34 that is used to manually turn the 37 spindle 33 in order for it to collect or dispense the .. ~
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01 first and second cables 21 and 22.
02 In operation, the collecting and 03 dispensing of the first and second cables 21 and 22 by 04 the spindle 33 causes application of an equal force to 05 each of the first and second elongated arms 11 and 06 12. This causes rotation of the first and second 07 roller arms 11 and 12 about the first and second 08 brackets 15 and 16.
09 The collecting or taking up of the first and second cables 21 and 22 on spindle 33 thus moves 11 the solar blanket roller 5 to a position high above 12 and away from the surface and the end of the swimming 13 pool 7, and the dispensing of the first and second 14 cables 21 and 22 moves the solar blanket roller 5 toward a position close to and above the surface of 16 the swimming pool 7.
17 The solar blanket can be dispensed or 18 rolled up from any convenient position. The handle 10 19 connected to the solar blanket roller 5 is used to manually rotate the solar blanket roller 5 about its 21 central axis in order for it to collect around or 22 dispense the solar blanket 3. During the above 23 operation, the solar blanket roller is positioned 24 above the surface of the swimming pool 7 adjacent its end, high enough so that the solar blanket does not 26 chafe against the sides of the swimming pool.
27 The solar blanket roller 5 is moved to a 28 position higher and away from the surface of the 29 swimming pool 7 when the solar blanket 3 has been fully collected around the solar blanket roller 5.
31 It should be understood that while the 32 swimming poool 7 has been illustrated as an 33 above-ground swimming pool, the invention is equally 34 applicable to a below-ground swimming pool. In such a case, the height of the first and second brackets 15 36 and 16 above the ground could be substantially less 37 than for an above-the-ground pool.
20~2~Q~
01 If the distances of the pulleys 27 and 23 02 from cor~esponding brackets 15 and 16 are made similar 03 to the distance between brackets 24, and 15 and 16, 04 the arms 11 and 12 could be drawn up to be 05 substantially parallel with posts 18 and 19, removing 06 the rolled up solar blanket completely from the 07 vicinity of the pool.
08 Other embodiments of th~ invention are 09 possible. For example, the first and second elongated arms 11 and 12 may extend beyond their connections to 11 the first and second ends 8 and 9 of the solar blanket 12 roller 5, in order for the extended ends of the first 13 and second elongated arms 11 and 12 to contact the 14 side of the swimming pool 7. This may ensure that the extended ends of the arms 11 and 12, and not the solar 16 blanket roller 5 or the solar blanket 3 would contact 17 the side of the swimming pool 7, and holds the roller 18 5 in perfect alignment so as to dispense the solar 19 blanket into place on the pool.
The invention may also include apparatus 21 to counteract the mass of the solar blanket roller 5 22 in order to reduce the force to be applied to the arms 23 11 and 12 and pulleys 28, 29 and 27 by cables 21 and 24 22. For example, the first and second elongated arms 11 and 12 may be extended beyond brackets 15 and 16.
26 The extended ends of the arms 11 and 12 can include 27 weights to provide a force moment about the brackets 28 in order to counteract the mass of the solar blanket 29 roller 5. The weights can be moved out along the arm extensions by means of cables, deployed during the 31 cxanking of crank 10 in order to maintain balance of 32 the increased weight on the roller 5.
33 It is anticipated that the crank 34 used 34 to manually turn the spindle 33 may be replaced with a mechanized apparatus in the form of a geared down 36 electric motor. In such a case, care should be 37 taken to ensure that the electric motor is .~ :;' ., ' , . ' :
`
01 electrically isolated from the swimming pool water.
02 Alsor ins~ead of using cables for rotating arms 11 and 03 12 about brackets 15 and 16, hydraulic or pneumatic 04 cylinders can be used.
05 It should be recognized that the use of 06 the term posts for elements 18 and 19 is intended to 07 include any supporting structure for arms 11 and 12, 08 such as a fence, a frame, the wall of a shed or house, 09 etc.
A person understanding the present 11 invention may conceive of other embodiments thereof.
12 All such modifications are believed to be within the 13 sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the 14 claims appended hereto.
,, ~
, - . . . ..
Claims (7)
1. A solar blanket storage device comprising a first means for rolling up a flexible solar blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, raising means for lifting and moving the first means to a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool from behind said position, the first means being comprised of a roller having a central axis around which the solar blanket can be wound, the raising means being connected to opposite ends of the roller, the raising means being comprised of:
first and second posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end of the swimming pool;
a pair of elongated congruent arms each having a first end rotatably connected to a corresponding first and second opposite end of the roller, each arm having a second end pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points defining a first axis, rotating means connected between the arms and the posts for applying force to the arms and thereby rotating the arms about said first axis, thus moving the roller about said axis, the rotating means being comprised of:
first and second cables, each cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a position a substantial distance from its pivot point and to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing the first and second cables.
first and second posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end of the swimming pool;
a pair of elongated congruent arms each having a first end rotatably connected to a corresponding first and second opposite end of the roller, each arm having a second end pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points defining a first axis, rotating means connected between the arms and the posts for applying force to the arms and thereby rotating the arms about said first axis, thus moving the roller about said axis, the rotating means being comprised of:
first and second cables, each cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a position a substantial distance from its pivot point and to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing the first and second cables.
2. A solar blanket storage device comprising a first means for rolling up a flexible solar blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, raising means for lifting and moving the first means to a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool from behind said position, the first means being comprised of a roller having a central axis around which the solar blanket can be wound, the raising means being connected to opposite ends of the roller, the raising means being comprised of:
first and second posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end of the swimming pool;
a pair of elongated congruent arms each having a first end rotatably connected to a corresponding first and second opposite end of the roller, each arm having a second end pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points defining a first axis, rotating means connected between the arms and the posts for applying force to the arms and thereby rotating the arms about said first axis, thus moving the roller about said axis, the rotating means is comprised of:
first and second cables, each cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a position a substantial distance from its pivot point and to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing the first and second cables, further including a pulley attached to each pole, for routing a corresponding cable from a corresponding arm toward the pole, and thence to the take-up device.
first and second posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end of the swimming pool;
a pair of elongated congruent arms each having a first end rotatably connected to a corresponding first and second opposite end of the roller, each arm having a second end pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points defining a first axis, rotating means connected between the arms and the posts for applying force to the arms and thereby rotating the arms about said first axis, thus moving the roller about said axis, the rotating means is comprised of:
first and second cables, each cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a position a substantial distance from its pivot point and to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing the first and second cables, further including a pulley attached to each pole, for routing a corresponding cable from a corresponding arm toward the pole, and thence to the take-up device.
3. A solar blanket storage device comprising a first means for rolling up a flexible solar blanket from a flat position covering a swimming pool, raising means for lifting and moving the first means to a position above and to the side of the pool so as to be substantially clear of the entire region above the pool and to avoid substantial blocking a view of the pool from behind said position, the first means being comprised of a roller having a central axis around which the solar blanket can be wound, the raising means being connected to opposite ends of the roller, the raising means being comprised of:
first and second posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end of the swimming pool;
a pair of elongated congruent arms each having a first end rotatably connected to a corresponding first and second opposite end of the roller, each arm having a second end pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points defining a first axis, rotating means connected between the arms and the posts for applying force to the arms and thereby rotating the arms about said first axis, thus moving the roller about said axis, the rotating means being comprised of:
first and second cables, each cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a position a substantial distance from its pivot point and to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing the first and second cable, further including a pulley attached to each pole, for routing a corresponding cable from a corresponding arm toward the pole, and thence to the take-up device, the take-up device being comprised of a braked spindle connected to a crank for winding the cables around a spindle upon rotation of the crank.
first and second posts deployed at opposite sides of, and adjacent an end of the swimming pool;
a pair of elongated congruent arms each having a first end rotatably connected to a corresponding first and second opposite end of the roller, each arm having a second end pivotally connected to a corresponding first and second post at pivot points defining a first axis, rotating means connected between the arms and the posts for applying force to the arms and thereby rotating the arms about said first axis, thus moving the roller about said axis, the rotating means being comprised of:
first and second cables, each cable being connected to a corresponding arm at a position a substantial distance from its pivot point and to a take-up device for collecting and dispensing the first and second cable, further including a pulley attached to each pole, for routing a corresponding cable from a corresponding arm toward the pole, and thence to the take-up device, the take-up device being comprised of a braked spindle connected to a crank for winding the cables around a spindle upon rotation of the crank.
4. A device as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the first axis is parallel to the central axis of the roller.
5 . A device as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the rotating means is comprised of means for applying an equal force to each arm.
6. A device as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the posts are substantially vertical, and are fixed in the ground.
7. A device as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the posts are fixed to portable platforms.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2002804 CA2002804C (en) | 1989-11-10 | 1989-11-10 | Solar blanket storage device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2002804 CA2002804C (en) | 1989-11-10 | 1989-11-10 | Solar blanket storage device |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2002804A1 CA2002804A1 (en) | 1991-05-10 |
| CA2002804C true CA2002804C (en) | 1993-03-02 |
Family
ID=4143539
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2002804 Expired - Fee Related CA2002804C (en) | 1989-11-10 | 1989-11-10 | Solar blanket storage device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2002804C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR3095220A1 (en) * | 2019-04-17 | 2020-10-23 | Kokido Development Limited | Cover reel for above-ground swimming pools |
-
1989
- 1989-11-10 CA CA 2002804 patent/CA2002804C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR3095220A1 (en) * | 2019-04-17 | 2020-10-23 | Kokido Development Limited | Cover reel for above-ground swimming pools |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2002804A1 (en) | 1991-05-10 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |