EP0521884A1 - Device designed to create a movement in a liquid, especially at its surface. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device intended to create movement in a liquid, in particular at the surface thereof, this liquid being contained in a basin delimited by one or more walls, in particular in a swimming pool, this device comprising an element in contact with the liquid in which, in particular on the surface of which, a movement must be created. The device according to the invention comprises, as an element, a floating or submerged assembly not integral with a wall of the basin, said assembly comprising two bodies (1, 5) interconnected by at least one means (7), this means (7) being intended to move the bodies (1, 5) with respect to one another so as to create a movement in the liquid, in particular on the surface thereof.

Description

DEVICE FOR CREATING A MOVEMENT IN A LIQUID, PARTICULARLY ON THE SURFACE OF THE SAME

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device intended to create a movement in a liquid, in particular on the surface thereof, this liquid being contained in a basin delimited by one or more walls, in particular in a swimming pool, this device comprising an element in contact with the liquid in which, in particular on the surface of which, a movement must be created.

The device according to the invention comprises, as an element, a floating or submerged assembly which is not integral with a wall of the basin, said assembly comprising two bodies connected together by at least one means, this means being intended to move the bodies relative to each other so as to create a movement in the liquid, in particular on the surface thereof.

The present invention also relates to an assembly emitting a signal when a body, in particular a floating body must undergo a depression in a liquid in which or on the surface of which a movement must be created, so that the deviation between the moment for which a wave or a movement passes through a specified state and the moment of sinking corresponds to a determined value. This assembly advantageously includes an acceleration sensor connected to an electronic chip or microprocessor. STATE OF THE ART

Document EP-A-0 236 653 discloses an artificial wave generator system in a basin. This system comprises a jack secured to a wall of the basin, the piston piston shaft carrying a float. The jack thus prints an alternating movement in the same horizontal plane to the float.

The use of a system of this type in a swimming pool requires significant work along a wall of the latter.

On the other hand, the use of a system of this type in a swimming pool will only have a random effect. Indeed, when a wave returns

(return due to the reflection of a wave on a wall) several cases are possible, including among others:

- the float acts during the return of the wave towards it, so that the movement of the float is opposed to the return movement of the wave, that is to say that the energy of the float is used to s '' oppose the wave return movement;

the float acts in the hollow of a wave, so that the power transmitted by the float to the liquid to be moved is low since the float always moves in the same horizontal plane.

Finally, since the float remains in the same horizontal plane, such a float acts ^as' Rière bar- or energy absorber of a reflected wave. There is also known a swimming pool device consisting of a substantially vertical panel connected to a wall of the swimming pool, on the one hand, by a hinge and, on the other hand, by a jack. This known device makes it possible to create waves on the surface of the pool. This system requires significant infrastructure work. In addition, the energy transmitted to the liquid will depend on the level of the wave in contact with the panel. Such a device consumes a lot of energy to create waves.

The present invention relates inter alia to a device which requires only little energy to create waves, for example in a swimming pool. In fact, the device according to the invention allows, among other things, the best use of energy to create movements on the surface of a swimming pool.

Indeed, in the case of a swimming pool, the device according to the invention is not integral with a wall of the swimming pool and does not, as such, create a static obstacle to the movements created. However, it can become a dynamic obstacle in a particular form of use, in which the movement of movement of the bodies of the device is controlled in rear quadrature with respect to the movement of the waves.

Finally, the operation of the device can be controlled to obtain maximum efficiency. Thus, if one wishes to obtain movements of maximum amplitude, the device according to the invention will be enslaved in front quadrature with respect to the movement of the waves created. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention is a device intended to create a movement in a liquid, in particular on the surface thereof, this liquid being contained in a basin delimited by one or more walls, in particular in a swimming pool. The device comprises an element in contact with the liquid in which or on the surface of which a movement must be created. Said element is a floating or submerged assembly which is not integral with a wall of the basin, said assembly comprising two bodies connected together by at least one means, this means being intended to move the bodies relative to each other so to create a movement in the liquid, in particular on the surface of this one.

The term “assembly not attached to a wall of the basin” means two bodies connected together by a means which forms a floating or submerged assembly free of any movement in the liquid or on the surface thereof, but also two bodies connected together by a means which forms a floating or submerged assembly whose movement in the liquid or on the surface of the liquid is limited so as to allow a certain positioning- ^* - * xloτ.τ-ant or immersed in the liquid or on the surface of the latter (anchoring of the device according to the invention for example by means of a cord to obtain the positioning of the device in a determined volume of the liquid or a determined zone of the surface of said liquid).

The first body is advantageously an envelope in which the second body moves. Preferably, the device also comprises means intended to at least partially compensate for the effect of the gravity of the second body on the first body. This means consists for example of an elastic element placed between the bottom of the first body and a face of the second body. Advantageously, said means is a spring, one end of which bears on the bottom of the first body, while one face of the second body substantially parallel to said bottom rests on the other end of the spring.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention comprises a system for controlling the movement of the bodies relative to each other. Such a system can comprise at least one sensor chosen from sensors intended to evaluate the amplitude of the waves such as a depth echo sensor, sensors intended to evaluate the displacement of the bodies relative to each other , the sensors intended to evaluate the sinking of the first body, the accelerometers, etc.

In one embodiment, the first body is a tank having a bottom connected to the second body by a jack, the displacement of the rod of the latter causing the displacement of the bodies relative to one another.

In another embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises means consisting of a gearmotor carried by a first body, said gearmotor driving in rotation a shaft carrying a crank, a connecting rod extending between said crank and the second body . In this form embodiment, the gearmotor is advantageously a variable speed gearmotor.

The device according to the invention advantageously comprises a control system. Such a system is for example a system comprising a unit for controlling the speed of movement of the bodies relative to one another, and a unit for controlling the phase of movement of the bodies relative to the 'other with respect to the phase of movement created in the liquid or on the surface thereof.

In the case of a device comprising a means consisting of a gear motor driving in rotation a shaft carrying a crank connected to a connecting rod, one end of which is connected to a body, the gear motor is advantageously provided with a first sensor generating a proportional frequency at the speed of the motor driving the reduction gear and, preferably, of a second so-called synchronization sensor emitting a signal when the connecting rod-crank system is in an extreme position. The speed control unit and the phase control unit are connected to a sensor generating a frequency proportional to the speed of the gearmotor, a second synchronization sensor emitting a signal when the bjeJ e-crank system reaches a position extreme and an acceleration factor.

The speed sensor of the geared motor or more precisely of the motor driving the reduction gear and the synchronization sensor can be of the type comprising a photoelectric cell, said cell comprising 10

determined,

a unit making it possible to deduce from these values periods of resonance of the waves or of the movement of a liquid contained in a basin, and

a system emitting a signal for the penetration of the body to obtain waves or a movement having a period close to a period of resonance.

Other particularities and details of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

In these drawings:

- Figures 1 to 4 show different embodiments of a device according to the invention, -

Figure 5 is a partial view along line V-V of the device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention provided with an electronic device;

- Figure 7 is a view of a last embodiment of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 8 schematically represents a particular system for controlling the movement of the bodies relative to each other example in the case of a swimming pool, the zero state (i.e. the state in which the wave in 'the liquid has reached the average level).

Finally, the present invention also relates to an assembly making it possible to determine a moment when a body must undergo a depression in a liquid in which or at the surface of which a movement must be created, so as to obtain a predetermined movement in the basin or swimming pool. , especially on the surface of it.

Such an assembly can be used in a device according to the invention but can also be used to emit a signal such as a sound indicating for example to a swimmer that he must push a floating body to obtain a predetermined movement, for example waves of maximum amplitude in a swimming pool.

This set includes an acceleration sensor connected to an electronic chip or microprocessor.

Said chip or said microprocessor advantageously comprises:

a signal processing unit coming from the acceleration sensor in which an average value over a determined period of time and the minimum and maximum values of said signals are determined, and in which, by means of these values, the moment when a wave on the surface of the liquid or movement in the liquid goes through a predetermined state is a transmitter and a receiver between which moves part of a disc secured to the motor shaft driving said reduction gear or the reduction gear shaft, said disc having one or more notches or perforations allowing the receiver to receive a signal transmitted by the transmitter.

In a preferred embodiment, the control system comprises an electronic chip or a microprocessor receiving by cables signals from the speed sensor of the gearmotor, from the synchronization sensor and from the acceleration sensor and emitting a signal controlling the power supply to the variable speed gearmotor.

The electronic chip or micropossessor advantageously controls the power supply of the gearmotor so as to allow speed regulation of the gearmotor. In one embodiment, said chip or said microprocessor comprises:

a memory for a speed setpoint value of the gearmotor for each revolution,

- a memory for the desired period of the geared motor (inverse of the frequency of rotation of the geared motor);

a unit for determining the average period of the gearmotor over several turns of the gearmotor;

- a unit for determining the difference between the average period and the desired period, and a unit for modifying the speed setpoint memory of the gearmotor as a function of the difference measured, so as to allow speed regulation of the gearmotor.

Preferably, the electronic chip or microprocessor also comprises:

a signal processing unit from the acceleration sensor in which an average value over a determined period of time and the minimum and maximum values of said signals are determined and in which by means of these values the moment when a wave of the movement on the surface of the liquid or a movement in the liquid passes through a predetermined state is determined,

a unit measuring the difference between said moment and the moment of passage through an extreme state of the rod-crank system,

- possibly a deviation processing element so as to determine an average deviation over several periods, and

a system comparing this difference or average difference to an optimal difference, this system transmitting a signal to the power supply of the gearmotor so as to correct the difference existing between the difference or average difference and the optimal difference, that is to say tell the moment of passage through an extreme state of the connecting rod-crank system compared to the moment when a wave on the surface of the liquid or a movement in the liquid passes through said predetermined state (by Figures 9 and 10 give over time the position of the bodies relative to each other and the level N at which the device according to the invention is located, in Figure 9, the position of the bodies one relative to the other being in front quadrature (phase shift of a quarter of a period) relative to the level N at which the device is located so as to obtain maximum waves or agitation, while in FIG. 10 the position of the body relative to each other is brought into a forward quadrature position relative to the level N at which the device is located, and

- Figure 11 is a schematic view of an assembly emitting a signal at the time when a body in particular in floating body must undergo a depression in a liquid in which or on the surface of which a movement must be created.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The device according to the invention is intended to create a movement in a liquid, in particular on the surface 8 of a liquid contained in a basin delimited by one or more walls. This device comprises an element in contact with the liquid in or on the surface of which a movement is to be created.

In an embodiment shown in cross section in Figure 1, the element in contact with the liquid, for example on the surface of which a movement must be created is a floating assembly 1 not secured to a wall of the basin. This set includes: a first body 1 in the form of a frustoconical envelope or tank 2 provided with a bottom 3 and a float rod 4;

- A second body 5 connected to the first body 1 by at least one means 7 intended to move the second body in the envelope 2 relative to the bottom 3, the displacement (X) of the bodies relative to the other creating movement in the liquid, in particular on the surface 8 of a liquid, for example of a body of water or of a swimming pool.

The device according to the invention also comprises springs 9 intended to at least partially compensate for the effect of the gravity of the second body 5 on the first body 1. These springs bear by one of their ends on the bottom 3 of the first body, while a face 10 of the second body 5 rests on the other end of the springs 9. Advantageously, said face 10 is substantially parallel to the bottom 3 of the first body.

The second body comprises two chambers 11, 12 separated from each other by a wall. The upper chamber 11 contains a foam soaked in water, this water serving to increase the weight of the second body. It goes without saying that lead bars, etc. could have been used. to increase the weight of the second body.

However, the use of a foam soaked in water makes it possible, by evacuating the water, to reduce the total weight of the device when it has to be removed from a water body or has to be moved. The foam makes it possible to prevent the water contained in the chamber 11 from undergoing exaggerated movements.

The second chamber 12 or lower chamber contains a control system 14 for the displacement of the rod 13 of the jack, this jack acting as a means 7 intended to move the bodies relative to one another.

This control system 14 comprises a regulating device 15 of a pump 16 mounted on a conduit 17 connecting the part 19 of the cylinder 7 located under its piston 18 to a reservoir 20. The part 21 of the cylinder located above the piston 18 is connected to the reservoir 20 by a conduit 22.

The regulating device 15 of the pump 16 acts on the motor 28 driving the latter. This regulating device 15 regulates the energy supplied to the pump motor, this energy coming from a battery 23 placed in the second chamber 12.

When the regulation system 14 operates by means of a gas or that the reservoir 20 is equipped with an elastic membrane, a simple system for at least partially compensating for the gravity of the second body on the first consists of a jack connected to a tank whose volume is advantageously greater than three times that of the jack. The gas can be compressed air. The volume of the tank and the pressure of the gas will preferably be chosen so as to obtain a substantially linear compensation effect. A system that can be used to move the bodies relative to each other comprises a production unit or a reservoir of compressed gas or liquid, this compressed gas or liquid being intended to actuate the jack. An example of a compressed gas production unit is a unit where a chemical and / or physical reaction takes place, such a unit is for example an internal combustion engine or a chamber in which calcium carbide is mixed with water .

Different sensors are connected to the regulating device 15 so that the latter can take account of the position of the bodies relative to one another, of the depression or of the acceleration imparted to said device.

Thus the device according to the invention is provided with an accelerometer 24 or with a sensor 25 intended for evaluating the amplitude of the waves such as a depth echo sensor, with a sensor 26 intended for evaluating the sinking the first body and a sensor 27 for measuring the displacement of the bodies relative to one another.

The regulating device 15 makes it possible to synchronize the movement of the bodies relative to one another with the movement of the waves.

The second body 5 advantageously has a weight which is at least 5 times greater than the weight of the first body.

A device of the type shown in Figure 1 was placed in a swimming pool. The first body was a cylindrical tank 70 cm high and 78 cm diameter, this tank being provided with a swelling tube 25 cm in diameter, this tube being fixed at mid-height. The weight of this first body was 35 kg.

The second body weighed 170 kg and was moved relative to the first body by means of a motor of around 400 Watts while springs (spring constant: _ 25 N / cm) compensated for the effect of gravity of the second body on the first.

The maximum displacement of the bodies relative to each other was approximately 10.2 cm.

The speed of movement of the bodies relative to each other has been adjusted so that they move away from each other more at least 30 times per minute, so that the frequency d spacing of the bodies relative to each other is close to a wave resonance frequency (to within 0.5%).

It has been noted that once the device according to the invention has been placed and put into operation at the

2 surface of a swimming pool (50 m), it was possible to obtain after 3 to 5 minutes waves of more or less 80 cm in height. It was also noted that the device according to the invention had during these tests an ability to place itself on the spot of the pool most suitable for creating waves.

It goes without saying that if the device were a device immersed in a liquid, it could place itself in the most suitable place to obtain maximum agitation in the liquid. The device according to the invention represented in FIG. 1 advantageously comprises a regulation system connected to a depth echo sensor, this system making it possible to synchronize the movement of the bodies with respect to each other as a function of the position of the device in relation to a wave.

The device according to the invention can also be used to create counter waves, that is to say for example to create a movement on the surface of a body of water s Opposing waves created naturally or artificially.

The device according to the invention can also be used in multi-phase liquid systems such as systems comprising immiscible liquids and of different density. In this case, the device according to the invention is advantageously partially floating with respect to the higher density liquid.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a device according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the means 7 intended to move the first body 1 relative to the body 5 consists of a geared motor 30 driving in rotation a shaft 31 in the direction of the arrow Y and a strap or cable 32 extending between said shaft 31 and the second body 5. The geared motor 30 is mounted on a plate 34 carried by the upper rim 33 of the body 1.

The operation of this device is described below. During a time V- the gearmotor 30 is actuated so that the strap 32 is wound around the shaft 31 so as to move the bodies 1,5 relative to one another.

After this time V-, the current supplying the gearmotor 30 is cut so that, by the action of gravity on the second body, the strap or cable 32 unrolls quickly.

During the unwinding of the strap or cable, the shaft 31 is rotated in the direction of the arrow Z. The rotation of this shaft allows the motor driving the reduction gear to work in dynamo which makes it possible to control, thanks to a tension measurement, the descent of the second body 5 relative to the first body 1.

When the second body 5 has finished its descent relative to the first body, the gearmotor 30 is supplied so that it drives the shaft

31 in the direction of arrow Z to cause the body 5 to rise relative to the body 1.

The operating cycle of the device according to the invention can thus continue.

It is possible to act in such a system on the weight of the second body 5, on the ascent height of the second body, on the braking due to the geared motor when the second body descends, and on the power of the motor driving the reduction gear. , to obtain the desired movement period.

Figures 3 and 4 show other means 7 which can be used to move the bodies 1.5 One in relation to the other.

In FIG. 3, the means 7 is a gear motor 40 driving in rotation a disc 41 carrying at its periphery four parts of U-shaped angles 42.

This geared motor 40 is integral with a plate 43 bearing on an upper edge of the first body 1.

The second body 5 is connected to a rod 44 to which an arm 45 is articulated. The rod 44 can slide in a sleeve 46 secured to the first body 1. The arm 45 carries at its free end a finger 47 intended to be engaged in the groove of the U-shaped angles 42 (see FIG. 5).

The operation of such a device is as follows:

During a half-rotation A of the disc 41, the arm 45 and the rod 44 are pulled upwards so that the second body 5 is lifted.

During the other half-rotation S of the disc, the finger 47 is no longer engaged in the groove of an angle iron 42 so that, by the action of gravity on the second body 5, the rod 44 and the arms 45 slide quickly into the sleeve.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of another variant of a means 7 which can be used in a device 1 according to the invention. This means 7 consists of a jack 50, the rod 51 of the piston 52 thereof being integral with the second body 5.

This jack 50 or more exactly the chamber 53 thereof situated below its piston 52 is connected to a pump 54 by a conduit 55.

When the device according to the invention is used in a swimming pool, this pump can draw water from the swimming pool to act on the piston.

The jack which is advantageously secured to the bottom 3 of the body 1 has one end provided with a valve 56 which can pivot around a shaft 57 (arrow Q). The valve 56 is closed by an electrically controlled latch 58 (movement of the latch according to arrow P).

When the piston is in the high position, the latch 58 is controlled so as to allow the valve 56 to pivot around the shaft 57.

Said pivoting or opening of the valve takes place naturally by the action of gravity on the body 5 and by the fact that the shaft 57 is eccentric, that is to say that it is not located along an axis of symmetry of the valve 56.

The action of gravity on the body 5 allows the water contained in the chamber 53 of the jack 50 to be evacuated until the finger 59 secured to the piston 52 touches one end of the valve and causes it to pivot. ci and closing it by the latch. The operating cycle can thus continue.

It goes without saying that instead of using a jack as a means 7 intended to move the bodies 1.5 relative to one another, a system could have been used comprising a connecting rod, a crank connecting rod, a cam, etc.

A rod-crank system will also be described below for the device represented in FIG. 6.

Preferably, the center of gravity of the body 5 is close to the center of lift or flotation of the device so as to ensure relative stability of the device, advantageously a perfectly stable equilibrium.

Figure 6 shows in cross section another embodiment of a device according to the invention.

This device comprises a spherical envelope 2 and a body 5 connected to the envelope 2 by means 7.

The body 5 consists of a series of discs 119 having a central perforation in which is placed a mandrel 120 made of Ertalon ^, the central opening of the mandrel delivering passage to a bar or guide rod 121 secured to the envelope 2. The use of Ertalon makes it possible to limit the frictional forces existing when the mandrel slides along the rod 121. Means 7 includes:

a motor 122 mounted on the second body 5, the shaft 123 of which drives a reducer 124, the motor-reducer assembly being designated below by the reference notation 150;

a crank 125 driven by the shaft 140 of the reduction gear 124, and

a connecting rod 126 connected at one end by a pivot 127 to the crank 125 and at its other end by a pivot 128 to the rod 121.

The connecting rod and the crank extend in planes parallel to the rod 121. The rotation of the shaft 123 and therefore of the shaft 140 causes the rotation of the crank 125 and therefore the displacement along the bar or rod 121 of body 5 (arrow O).

Advantageously, one or more springs 9 extend between the pivot 128 and the body 5 to at least partially compensate for the effect of gravity.

The device according to the invention comprises a control system external to the sphere. This control system controls the supply of the geared motor 150 via a cable 129. This cable is in fact connected to a box 141 from which two wires 142 leave to supply the geared motor and wires 143, 144, 145 to a sensor acceleration 77, a synchronization sensor 76 (position of the connecting rod-crank system) and a speed sensor 60. Cable 129 also allows the transmission of signals from the sensors to the control system. The cable 129 also allows the device according to the invention shown in FIG. 6 to move freely on the surface 8.

The control system controls the power supply of the gearmotor 150. This power supply sends by the cable 129 a current whose voltage varies from 0 to 24 V towards the gearmotor 150. The system makes it possible to obtain a speed error less than t 0.5%; this does not mean that the tension is constant. This supply is of the type ensuring two-quadrant regulation, that is to say of the type allowing braking or acceleration of the speed of rotation, the direction of rotation always remaining the same.

The device according to the invention shown in FIG. 7 comprises a spherical casing 2 in which a body 5 having a central opening moves, providing passage to a guide member 155 secured to the spherical casing 2, said member having the form of a sleeve.

The body 5 includes:

- A chamber 152 intended to be filled with water so as to increase the weight of the body 5;

the gearmotor 150 which drives a crank 125 connected by a pivot 127 to a connecting rod 126, one end of which is connected to a pivot 128 secured to the guide member 155.

- the control system 14, and a pump 151 intended for emptying the chamber 152.

The spherical casing 2 has at its lower part a cavity in which is housed a battery 158 intended to supply current to the device according to the invention, as well as the drain 151 and filling 161 pumps of the chamber 152. This battery is fixed to the casing 2, for example, by means of threaded rods and bolts 170.

The device is provided with means 9 for at least partially compensating for the action of gravity on the body 5. This means 9 consists of a spring extending between the pivot 128 and the geared motor 150 secured to the chamber 152 .

The filling pump 161 is mounted on the spherical casing 2. In fact, the filling pump 161 and the drain pump 151 are connected together by a channel 153. This channel 153 consists of a chamber 156 whose volume corresponds to the free space left in the cavity during the housing of the battery 158, of the pipe formed by the sleeve 155 and of a flexible pipe 159 extending between the drain pump 151 and the pipe 155.

To allow filling of the chamber

152 as well as its emptying, a tube 162 extends between the chamber 152 and the spherical envelope 2 so as to allow the evacuation or the arrival of air in the chamber 152.

In the embodiment shown in section in Figure 7, this tube 162 enters through a passage that the flexible hose 159 presents in the. channel 153 and leaves said channel through the end 163 of the sleeve 155 opposite to that adjacent to the battery 158. A cover 164 having an opening allowing passage to the tube 162 closes the end 163 of the sleeve 155 which is opposite to that adjacent to the battery 158.

The passage provided by the flexible pipe 159 for introducing the tube 162 into the channel 153 preferably has a passage surface greater than the surface of the cross section of the tube 162., so as to allow communication 184 between the channel 153 and the upper part of the chamber 152. This small communication 184 with respect to the cross section of the pipe 159 makes it possible to avoid any siphon effect of the channel 153.

The filling and emptying operations of the chamber 152 will be briefly described below.

To fill the chamber 152, the pump 161 pushes water into the chamber 156 and brings this water through the channel 153 into the chamber 152. This water exits through the drain pump 151 which is not actuated. During this operation, the air present in the chamber 152 is evacuated by the tube 162. It should be noted that once almost all of the air is evacuated, the operation of the pump 161 allows the passage of water through the tube 162. This water then leaves the end adjacent to the cover 164. In this way we obtain a device according to the invention provided with a fountain.

When the pump 161 is no longer actuated, the communication makes it possible to prevent the chamber 152 from emptying by the effect of a siphon. To empty the chamber 152, the pump 151 is activated (pump 161 stopped). This pump 151 pushes the water in the channel 153 towards the pump 161, this water leaving by this pump 161.

The control system 14 receives signals from a speed sensor 60 from the motor 122 driving the reduction gear 124, from a synchronization sensor 76 and from an acceleration sensor 77.

The current coming from the battery 158 is brought to the control system by the wires 169. This current is modified by the control system 14 before being brought by the wires 160 to the motor 122 driving the reducer 124.

The battery 158 can be recharged by a current flowing through a magnetic coupling. To perform this magnetic coupling, the envelope comprises half of a magnetic circuit 132, a coil 133 being wound around this half of the magnetic circuit 132, this coil being connected via a rectifier (comprising its electronics) 139 to the battery 158 .

To recharge the battery 158, it suffices to place in front of half 132 of the magnetic circuit the other half 134 of said circuit and to connect the winding 138 of this other half 134 to an alternating current source.

FIG. 8 shows a system for controlling the movement of the bodies relative to one another. This control system includes:

a unit 74 for controlling the speed of the gearmotor (machine control), a unit intended to modify the supply of the gearmotor to obtain a speed of rotation of the latter (for example speed of rotation of the shaft 140 of the gearbox: 60 revolutions / minute) close to the desired speed (for example at _ 0.5%), and,

a unit 75 intended to control the phase of movement of the bodies with respect to the phase of the movement created in the liquid or on the surface thereof (system control).

The speed control unit 74 is connected to a speed sensor 60 of the motor 122 driving the reduction gear and to a synchronization sensor 76 of the shaft of the gearmotor 124, that is to say of the connecting rod system -crank.

The phase control unit 75 is connected to an acceleration sensor 77 and to the synchronization sensor 76.

The control device comprising a speed control unit 74 and a phase control unit 75 advantageously forms part of an electronic chip or a microprocessor 78 shown in broken lines.

The electronic chip or microprocessor 78 transmits a signal to the power supply 131 of the motor 122 driving the reducer 124. The motor speed control unit 74 includes:

a memory 81 for a reference value of the speed of the geared motor, value which is transmitted by the cable 82 to the power supply 131;

a memory 83 for the value of the desired period of the geared motor;

a step of reading 106 of the signals coming from the sensors;

a test 107 to determine whether the tour of the gearmotor has ended; if not, we return to reading step 106;

a processing unit 84 for signals from the speed sensor 60 and from the synchronization sensor 76 intended to determine the average period of the geared motor (average over several revolutions of the geared motor);

a unit 85 for determining the difference existing between the average period determined by the unit 84 and the value of the period of the memory 83, and

a unit 86 for modifying the reference value of the memory 81 as a function of the measured difference (for example by incrementing or withdrawing the reference value by a value equal to the difference multiplied by a constant) so as to obtain speed regulation of the motor.

Control in phase 75 includes: a step 93 of reading signals from the acceleration sensor 77 and a step 94 of reading signals from the synchronization sensor 76;

a test 95 to determine whether the tour of the gearmotor has ended, in the negative we return to the reading step 94;

a unit 87 for processing signals from the accelerometer 77, this unit 87 determining the period of a wave, the average period of the waves (average over a determined period of time), and the minimum and maximum amplitude of the waves , this unit making it possible to determine thanks to these values the moment of the passage of the wave through a determined state;

a unit 98 seeking the resonance frequency of the waves (for example by Fourrier or Hamilton transform);

a unit 88 determining the average speed of the geared motor, its period and comparing the moment of the passage of the wave through a determined state (for example state in which the wave reaches the average level) and the moment of passage through an extreme state of the connecting rod system -crank, that is to say a unit determining the difference between the phase of the gearmotor and the phase of the wave; a processing unit 89 for the phase differences determined by the unit 88, this unit 89 determining an average phase difference and comparing this average phase difference with the reference value of a memory 90;

a test 99 in which the speed (frequency of rotation) of the gearmotor is compared with the resonance frequency of the waves and in which the arvplitude of the waves is compared with a predetermined value (10 cm *), if the difference between the speed of the geared motor and the resonance frequency is less than 5% or if the amplitude is greater than the predetermined value, the average phase difference value is sent to the system 91, in the other cases, one returns to the reading steps 93, 94 for a new phase control cycle;

a system 91 modifying a reference value of the speed of the motor of a memory 92, reference value which is transmitted to the power supply 131 of the geared motor, the control cycle then recommencing in the reading steps 93, 94.

This system 91 determines the speed correction direction (increase or decrease in speed) as well as the speed variation necessary to make up for the phase difference. This variation is the minimum value between a maximum predetermined variation and the product of a gain by the measured phase difference. *: approximately 10% of the diameter of the spherical envelope. This system includes a door intended, when too many corrections are made in the same direction, to modify the basic speed of the gearmotor.

It will be noted that the electronic chip or microprocessor may include a unit intended to modify the desired values of phase difference (memory 90) and speed (memory 83) to change the mode of movement of the waves or to move the device according to the invention. in a swimming pool, especially on the surface of it. In fact, the displacement of the device can be obtained by creating variations in phase difference.

In Figures 9 and 10 are shown, over time, the position of the bodies relative to each other, as well as the level N at which the device according to the invention is located.

In Figure 9 is shown the position of the bodies relative to each other to obtain waves of maximum amplitude. As will be noted, the body 5 moving relative to the envelope 2 is 90 ° in phase advance, that is to say that the body 5 is in its middle position when the device according to the invention is at maximum or minimum level of a wave (time t,, t_, t-) and is in the extreme position when the device is at the medium level (time t_, "t.). In fact, the body 5 is in the lower extreme position to a movement t_ which is a quarter of a period before the wave reaches its minimum level (time t-.).

If we want to dampen waves in a pool quickly, we modify the phase of the movement of the bodies between them, so that said displacement is in rear quadrature with respect to the movement of the waves.

In FIG. 10, the device according to the invention is phase-shifted by -90 ° (rear squaring) relative to the wave. At time t_ the body 5 is in the middle position, while the level of the wave is the maximum level. At time t.-, the level is an intermediate level between the maximum level and the average level, while the body 5 has approached the top of the envelope 2. At time t., The body 5 is close to the top of the envelope 2, while the device is at an intermediate level between the maximum level and the average level. At time t-, the body 5 descends and aatttteeiinntt aauu tteemmppss tt _fi , llaa ppooss: ition middle. The level is the minimum level at time t ,,

To return the device according to the invention to 90 ° phase advance (situation shown in FIG. 10), the speed of rotation of the motor is modified at time t _R (moment when the connecting rod-crank position is an extreme position - point low death - position shown in figure 6). In Figure 10, there is also shown the position of the crank over time. In this representation, point C is the crank-rod connection, while line T is the position of the crank with respect to point C.

In fact, in the case shown in Figure

10, the speed of rotation of the motor has been reduced by a factor of two at time t ₀ so that after a half-turn of the crank the body 5 is adjacent to the top of the casing 2, while the device is at medium level (time t ..,). Between time t_ and t-, the body 5 passes from an adjacent bottom position of the envelope 2 to an adjacent position of the top of the envelope 2.

At time t .. ,, the normal speed of rotation of the motor is restored.

Another subject of the present invention is an assembly emitting a signal at the moment when a body, in particular a floating body, must undergo a depression in a liquid in which or on the surface of which a movement must be created.

Such an assembly is advantageously mounted in a device according to the invention. However, such an assembly can also be used to determine the moment when a swimmer must sink a floating body to obtain a movement in particular on the surface of a swimming pool.

This assembly includes an acceleration sensor 200 connected to an electronic chip or a microprocessor 201 (see FIG. 11).

Thanks to the signals sent by the acceleration sensor 200 to the electronic chip or microprocessor 201, the period, the minimum and maximum levels of the wave as well as the moment when a wave of movement on the surface of the liquid or a movement in that -this passes through a specified state (in particular in the case of a swimming pool, the state in which the wave reached reaches the average level) can be determined. By means of these values, the chip 201 determines by a search step 202 the resonance frequencies of the waves in the swimming pool or basin. This stage of research can be done using Fourrier or Hamilton transforms.

When a resonant frequency is determined, the chip determines the resonance period of the wave and determines when the floating body is to be depressed. The chip then emits a signal to a warning system 203. Such a signal is for example a sound, a light signal, etc. which warns a swimmer that he must push a floating body.

Advantageously, the warning system 203 comprises a unit 204 advancing the emission of the signal relative to the moment of sinking to take account of the response time of the swimmer.

This corresponds to the particular case of the device represented in FIG. 6 where the chip determines the period of the motor to obtain or approach the calculated resonance period of the wave (deviation of 0.5%). This motor period value is stored in the memory 83 of the speed control unit 74.

Finally, the floating body can also include a pressure sensor 205 intended to determine the force exerted by the swimmer when the body is pushed in. The pressure measurement can be carried out using a floating body made of flexible material. In this way, the force exerted by the swimmer causes a deformation of the body and therefore causes a variation in the volume of the floating body and therefore in the pressure prevailing inside it. This pressure measurement is sent to the electronic chip so as to take this into account. variable to determine the moment of sinking of the body to obtain a wave of maximum amplitude.

It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the device according to the invention.

Thus the energy necessary for the operation of the device according to the invention can be supplied by batteries, solar cells, rechargeable batteries, for example by magnetic coupling, etc.

As an accelerometer, a strain gauge _^ can be used, this gauge expressing the movement of the load.

The control system of the device according to the invention can be located outside or in the device according to the invention. The device can be provided with a transceiver of signals, for example radio waves, etc., said signals being picked up or transmitted by a transceiver connected to a microprocessor.

For small pools (for example

2 example up to 50 m of surface) the energy necessary to obtain waves of great amplitude using the device represented in figure 5 (diameter of the spherical envelope __ 0.75 m) was of the order of 100

Watts. This energy can be reduced to around 40 Watts when small amplitude waves are to be obtained. (Total weight of the device: 100 kg). The device according to the invention can be used in closed or semi-closed basins making it possible to obtain resonant movements, such as swimming pools, marinas, pleasure basin, settling basins, water purification basin, basin sludge treatment, etc., in chemical processes, etc.

Preferably, the movement of the bodies relative to each other is vertical. However, this movement could have been horizontal. This movement can be continuous or intermittent, according to a sinusoidal or impulse mode.

Finally, in the case of a swimming pool, it may be advantageous to place along the walls singularities intended to reduce the depth of the swimming pool along these walls and therefore to limit the height of the waves along the walls.

Experiments have also shown that the movements in the vicinity of the bottom of a swimming pool are very specific and that these movements allow dross to accumulate at specific places in the bottom. This thus facilitates the cleaning of the swimming pool since the drosses are located in determined places.

These experiments also showed that one could obtain different types of waves (different modes, such as solitary waves, etc.) depending on the excitation (continuous or intermittent, according to a sinusoidal or impulse mode).

Claims

1. Device intended to create a movement in a liquid in particular on the surface thereof, this liquid being contained in a basin delimited by one or more walls, in particular in a swimming pool, this device comprising an element in contact with the liquid in which or on the surface of which a movement is to be created, characterized in that said element is a floating or submerged assembly not integral with a wall of the basin, said assembly comprising two bodies (1,5) connected to each other by the at least one means (7), this means being intended to move the bodies relative to one another so as to create a movement in the liquid, in particular on the surface thereof.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first body (1) is an envelope in which the second body moves.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means (9) intended to at least partially compensate for the effect of the gravity of the second body (5) on the first body (1).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (9) intended to at least partially compensate for the effect of the gravity of the second body (5) on the first body (1) consists of an elastic element placed between the bottom (3) of the first body (1) and a face (10) of the second body (5).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said means (9) is a spring, one end of which bears on the bottom (3) of the first body (1) while a face (10) of the second body (5 ) substantially parallel to said bottom (3) rests on the other end of the spring.

6. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first body (1) is a tank (2) having a wall, in particular a bottom (3) connected to the second body (5) by a jack (7), the displacement of the rod (13) thereof causing the displacement of the bodies relative to each other.

7. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (7) intended to move the bodies (1,5) relative to each other comprises, on the one hand, a geared motor (30) driving in rotation a shaft (31) and, on the other hand, a strap or a cable (32) extending between said shaft (31) and the second body (5), said gearmotor (30) being mounted on a plate (34) carried by an upper edge (33) of the body (1).

8. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (7) intended to move the bodies (1,5) relative to one another comprises, on the one hand, a geared motor (40) driving in rotation a disc (41) 'carrying at least one part (42) having a groove and, on the other hand, a rod (44) integral with the body (5) to which is articulated an arm (45) carrying its free end a finger (47), intended to be engaged in the groove during a part of rotation (A) of the disc, said gear motor (40) being integral with a plate (43) bearing on a flange upper of the first body (1).

9. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said means (7) comprises a geared motor (150) carried by a first body (5), said geared motor (150) driving in rotation a crank (125) connected to a connecting rod (126), said connecting rod (126) being connected by a pivot (128) to the other body (2).

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the gearmotor is a variable speed gearmotor

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means intended to move the bodies relative to each other comprises a production unit or a reservoir of compressed gas or liquid, this gas or liquid tablet being intended to act on one or more bodies or on the means so as to move them relative to one another.

12. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the jack has an end provided with a valve (56) which can pivot around a shaft (57) which is not located along an axis of symmetry of the valve (56), the closure of said valve (56) being provided by a latch (58), so that, when the latter no longer acts on the valve, the action of gravity on the second body (5) causes a pivoting of the valve (56).

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a control system (14) of the movement of the bodies (1,5) relative to one another.

14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the control system (14) comprises at least one sensor chosen from a sensor (25) intended to evaluate the amplitude of the waves, a sensor (27) intended to evaluate the displacement bodies (1,5) relative to each other, a sensor (26) for evaluating the sinking of the first body (1), an accelerometer (24) and a pressure sensor.

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the sensor (25) intended to evaluate the amplitude of the waves is a depth echo sensor.

16. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the control system comprises a speed control unit (74) for the movement of the bodies relative to each other and a phase control unit ( 75) of the displacement of the bodies with respect to each other with respect to the phase of the movement created in the liquid or on the surface thereof.

17. Device according to claims 10 and 16, characterized in that the speed control unit and the phase control unit are connected to a sensor (60) generating a frequency proportional to the speed of the gearmotor a second synchronization sensor (76) transmitting a signal when the connecting rod-crank system reaches a position extreme and an acceleration sensor (77).

18. Next device, claim 17, characterized in that it comprises an electronic chip or a microprocessor (78) receiving signals from the speed sensor (60) of the gear motor, from the synchronization sensor (76) of the rod-crank system and the acceleration sensor (77) and emitting a signal controlling the supply of the variable speed gearmotor.

19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the electronic chip or microprocessor (78) controls the supply (130) of the gearmotor (150) so as to allow speed regulation of the gearmotor.

20. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the electronic chip or microprocessor (78) comprises a memory (81) for a speed setpoint value of the geared motor for each revolution, a memory (83) for the desired period of the geared motor , a unit (84) for determining the average period of the geared motor over several turns, a unit (85) for determining the difference between the average period and the desired period and a unit for modifying (86) the memory of speed setpoint of the gearmotor as a function of the difference measured so as to allow speed regulation of the gearmotor.

21. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the electronic chip or microprocessor comprises: a signal processing unit (87) from the acceleration sensor (77) in which an average value over a determined period of time of said signals and the minimum and maximum values of said signals are determined and in which by means of these values the moment when a wave on the surface of the liquid or a movement in the liquid passes through a predetermined state is determined,

a unit (88) measuring the difference between said moment and the moment of passage through an extreme state of the ielle-crank system,

- possibly a processing element (89) for deviations so as to determine an average deviation over several periods, and

- A system (91) comparing this difference or average difference to an optimal difference and transmitting a signal to the power supply (131) of the gearmotor so as to correct the difference existing between the average difference and the optimal difference, this is ie the moment of passage through an extreme state of the rod-crank system.

22. Electronic assembly, in particular for a device according to any one of the preceding claims, emitting a signal at the moment when a body, in particular a floating body, must undergo a penetration in a liquid, in particular on the surface of which a movement must be created, this assembly comprising an acceleration sensor (200) connected to an electronic chip or a microprocessor (201), this chip or this microprocessor emitting a signal to a system warning (203) that the body should be pushed in.

23. Assembly according to claim 22, characterized in that the chip or the microprocessor comprises:

a signal processing unit coming from the acceleration sensor in which an average value over a determined period of time and the minimum and maximum values of said signals are determined, and in which, by means of these values, the moment when a wave of the movement on the surface of the liquid or a movement in the liquid goes through a specified state is determined /

a unit making it possible to deduce from these values periods of resonance of the waves or of the movement of a liquid contained in a basin, and

- a system emitting a signal for the penetration of the body to obtain a movement or waves having a period close to a period of resonance.