FR2765606A1 - Girder to support grating around edge of swimming pool - Google Patents

Abstract

The tubular extruded girder supports a grating (9) which covers a housing (A) which contains the rotating drum (T) for the floating cover (C). At the base of the girder there is a groove (4) which holds a brush (7) for cleaning the upper surface of the cover. A tubular section (3) fits over the bank of cover cleaning water jets (6) and both the tube and rail have teeth which allow the angle of the jets to be adjusted. On the side of the housing there is a groove (210) which holds slides (8) attached to counterweights (81). The girder has a ridge (2) to support the grating. The girder has two slot in end sections (5a, 5b), one end of which is pushed into the end of the girder and the other end is designed to be inserted into a housing in the side wall of the pool.

Description

SUPPORT BEAM FOR A GRILLE
IN-GROUND POOL
The present invention relates to a support beam for a swimming pool grating, and more specifically for an inground swimming pool grating, which covers a box containing the winding drum with a floating cover, the beam being arranged transversely, that is to say ie parallel to the axis of the drum and overhanging the cover in the area of separation of the trunk and the basin.

 This type of swimming pool is very widespread.

 In general, the cover is made up of a set of hollow and waterproof slats, for example of P.V.C, which are connected to each other by a hinge assembly.

 At one of the two ends of the swimming pool basin is installed a pit, called "trunk", in which is mounted a drum for winding the cover.

The axis of the drum is arranged horizontally, parallel to the slats constituting the cover, this direction being designated in the following by "transverse direction".

 When the pool is filled with water, the drum is submerged.

 In general, a vertical wall separates the chest from the basin; its function is to prevent users of the swimming pool, and in particular children, from entering the boot unexpectedly, as they could be trapped behind or under the drum.

 Of course, the wall is low enough to remain below the water level, and not to break the waterline, thus allowing the unrolling and winding of the floating cover.

 Traditionally, the chest containing the cover winding drum is overhung and protected by a grating, for example of plastic or wood, on which it is possible to walk.

 This grating rests by its long sides (which extend transversely), on the one hand on the corresponding transverse wall of the trunk, and on the other hand on a transverse beam which is fixed by its two ends to the side walls (longitudinal edges) opposite the pool.

 The beam extends in the separation zone between the chest and the basin, above the wall, if there is one.

 When, when the pool is not in use, the cover is in its deployed and floating position, covering the pool, its upper surface is exposed to dirt, in particular to the fall of the dead leaves, which adhere to it.

 When the cover is rolled up on its receiving drum, for the use of the swimming pool, part of the stains which it carries detaches from it as a result of the winding, and ends up in the pit.

 This poses a relatively acute problem, insofar as cleaning the trunk is not easy, this recess being difficult to access, especially if the trunk is provided with a low wall.

 In practice, a good cleaning of the pit requires a preliminary emptying of the swimming pool.

 In addition, the cleaning of the cover, to rid it of the leaves and other particles which remain adhering to it, is often done empirically, using a jet of pressurized water which is manipulated by the operator. outside the pool.

 The main objective of the present invention is to solve these difficulties by proposing to equip the swimming pool at an inexpensive cost with an integrated cleaning system, capable of ridding the leaves and other stains of the upper face of the cover, by preventing them get inside the trunk.

 This objective is achieved, in accordance with the invention, thanks to the fact that the support beam of the grating, which was mentioned above, comprises, in its lower part, at least one receiving housing capable of receiving and supporting a means of cleaning the upper face of the cover.

 Thanks to this arrangement, when the cover is rolled up on its drum, all of its upper face will be gradually exposed to the action of this cleaning means, which will prevent dirt from entering the interior space. from the trunk.

 The particles thus removed are found on the surface of the water, near the basin / trunk separation zone, and it is then easy to remove them, for example using a landing net.

In one possible embodiment, the receiving housing is a slide receiving a brush
In another embodiment, the receiving housing is an open tube in the lower part, receiving a washing ramp.

 Moreover, preferably, the beam receives both a brush and a washing ramp, the washing ramp being located downstream of the brush if we consider the direction of movement of the cover during its winding (this is i.e. on the trunk side).

 Advantageously, the tube which receives and supports the washing ramp cooperates with the latter by means, such as teeth, which make it possible to modify the orientation of the ramp, and correlatively the angle of incidence of the jets of washing emitted by the ramp against the upper face of the cover.

 Preferably, the beam also comprises, on the side of the formwork, a slide which is intended to receive slides used to attach counterweights.

 The counterweights are attached to cables which pass over the drum and are applied against the portion of the cover which connects the floating part to the wound part.

 In known manner, the function of these counterweights is to exert on this portion of the cover a pressure which favors the guiding of the cover at the time of its winding and its unwinding, and which prevents it from expanding unexpectedly on the roller, in its wound or semi-wound state.

 Several counterweights are preferably provided, evenly distributed over the length of the roller; by moving the slides in their slide it is easy to best ensure this distribution.

 In a preferred embodiment, the beam comprises, on the side of the trunk, a support spoiler for the edge of the grating.

 In a preferred embodiment, the beam is a tubular (hollow) profile which is produced by extrusion.

 It can be made of any extrudable material having the mechanical strength necessary to receive and support the grating.

 The beam is preferably metallic, for example steel or a light alloy based on aluminum.

 According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, this beam comprises nestable end caps.

 In a possible embodiment, each of these end pieces comprises a part, called internal, capable of being force-fitted into one of the ends of the beam, and another part, said external, which, after interlocking, extends the corresponding end of the beam, this external part being intended to be embedded in a sealing box provided in the side wall of the swimming pool.

 Preferably, the upper face of this external part of the end piece has a concave profile which is complementary to the edge of a coping intended to cover the sealing box.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description and appended drawings which represent, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment.

On these drawings
Figure 1 shows the cross section of a beam according to the invention.

 Figure 2 is a partial perspective view on a smaller scale of the same beam.

 Figure 3 shows, still in perspective, and on an even smaller scale, an end piece intended to fit on the beam.

 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the beam, a central portion has been cut away due to the size of the figure, this beam being provided with these two end caps.

 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, on a slightly smaller scale, showing the beam in its context of use, supporting the edge of the grating, and equipped with means for cleaning and attaching the counterweights.

 Figure 6 is a schematic section of one of the side edges of the pool, this view illustrating the mounting of the end of the beam in the wall.

 Figure 7 is a schematic view, cut by a longitudinal vertical plane of the end of the pool, pit side, this view to understand the different functions of the beam according to the invention.

 The beam shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a metal profile, for example steel, manufactured by extrusion by means of a die whose section corresponds to that of the beam.

 The length of the beam corresponds substantially to the width of the pool.

 By "width", the transverse dimension will be stretched, parallel to the winding axis of the cover, while by "length" we will mean the perpendicular or longitudinal direction.

 Profile 1 is hollow, and its internal wall has a series of extra thickness in the form of a dovetail, referenced 100.

 The section of the beam has, very approximately, the shape of an isosceles trapezium whose upper face 10 corresponds to the large base and the lower face 13 to the small base, the lateral faces 11 and 12 therefore converging downwards. As will be seen below, the face designated 11 is intended to be turned towards the side of the swimming pool basin, while the opposite face 12 is intended to be turned towards the side of the trunk.

 These two faces 11 and 12 are slightly inclined relative to the vertical.

 Outside the face 12, the beam 1 has a projecting part or spoiler, referenced 2, the section of which is approximately in the shape of a right triangle having a horizontal upper side and an inclined lower side.

 The face corresponding to the horizontal upper side, referenced 20, is intended to serve as a support for the edge of the grating 9. The face 21 corresponding to the inclined side has a longitudinal slide 210 of dovetail section, the function of which will be explained more far.

 In the lower part of the beam, at the base of the face 12, there is a part 3 of semi-cylindrical tubular shape, this part is not completely closed, but opens downwards through an opening 300.

 The inner wall of this tubular part has a toothing 30.

 Still at the base of the beam 1, in the face 13, is hollowed out a horizontal and longitudinal slide 4, da rectangular section, which also opens downwards through a slot 40.

 FIG. 3 represents an end tip 5.

 it is a part advantageously obtained by molding, and preferably made of the same material as the beam, although this is not compulsory.

 The tip 5 is composed of two main parts 50, SI, located in the extension of one another.

 The part 51 has a complementary contour of the internal wall of the tubular beam 1. It has in particular grooves 510 forming a slide, capable of being fitted by axial sliding on the studs 100.

 The part 51 is dimensioned in such a way that it can be force-fitted into one of the two ends of the beam 1.

 there is provided a set of two end pieces 5a, 5b, the parts 50 of which are identical in shape, but the parts 51 of which have a section of symmetrical shape with respect to each other, so that they can be each fitted at one of the two ends of the beam.

 After fitting the parts 5a and 5b, their external parts 50 remain visible, projecting at the two ends of the beam, which they extend, as shown in FIG. 4.

 As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the external part 50 has a height substantially lower than that of the beam, and is connected to the part 51, at its upper face, by a concave curved part 52, of roughly forms a quarter cylinder.

 The role of this concavity will be explained later.

 In Figure 5 are designated by the references 6, 7 and 8, respectively, a washing ramp, a brush, and a cable fastening slide for supporting a counterweight.

 The washing ramp 6 consists of an approximately cylindrical duct, for example of plastic, the length of which corresponds to the length of the beam 1, and the diameter of which corresponds, apart from the interlocking clearance, to that of part 3.

 On part of its circumference, the conduit 6 has a toothing similar to that which lines the interior wall of the part 3, so that the cooperation of the two toothing ensures the angular setting of the conduit 6.

 In its non-toothed portion, directed downwards, the wall of the conduit 6 is pierced with a series of small holes 60, distributed along a generatrix, over its entire length.

 One end of the conduit 6 being closed, and the other being connected to a source of pressurized water, this conduit therefore constitutes a washing ramp, capable of generating through the holes 60 a plurality of water jets directed down.

 The angle formed by the axis of the holes 60 relative to the vertical has been designated by the reference.

 By modifying the angular position of the ramp 6 in its tubular housing 3, the angle a and, correspondingly, the angle formed by the washing jets relative to the vertical can be varied.

 Alternatively, the series of holes 60 could be replaced by one or more slots running along the entire length of the conduit.

 If the duct 6 is made of flexible material, radially deformable, it can be put in place from the bottom up without its housing, it suffices for this to crush it slightly to allow it to pass through the opening 300, after which it resumes its shape natural by its own elasticity inside its housing.

 If the duct is rigid, it can be put in place by one of the ends of the housing 3, then sliding in axial translation.

 The brush 7 comprises a base 70 which has the shape of a T-shaped section profile, the central branch of which has a row of flexible bristles 71. The brush 7 also runs, like the conduit 6, over the entire length of the beam 1.

 The base of the profile 70, which corresponds to the upper branch of the T-section, is dimensioned so as to be able to slide inside the slide 4, the positioning being effected by sliding in axial translation, from one end to the other of the slide.

 The brush can. also be made up of several sections which are placed end to end.

 The slide 210, when it receives one or more slides 8.

 it is a short piece, the cross section of which corresponds to that of the dovetail of the slide 210 so it cannot escape from the slide, but can be moved there in the longitudinal direction, to be brought to the desired location all along the beam.

 Each of the slides 8 is fixed to the end of a cable 80, the other end of which is attached to a counterweight 81 (see FIG. 7).

 Thanks to the inclination of the face 20, the cable 80 has a direction approximately perpendicular to the slide.

 Preferably, in known manner, the useful length of the cable 80 is adjustable in order to be able to be adapted to different lengths of cover, and correspondingly, to different diameters of winding of the cover on the drum.

 FIG. 6 illustrates the principle of fixing one end of the beam 1 to a side wall P of the swimming pool to be equipped.

 We start by choosing a beam whose length is just a little less than the width of the pool, that is to say the spacing between the two opposite walls P (which are generally made of concrete).

 In practice, this type of beam is intended to be sold in series of several different lengths. The length immediately greater than that desired is selected, and one end is cut, for example by sawing, to bring it back to this length.

 The end pieces 5a, 5b are force-fitted into the ends of the beam 1.

 An opening is opened in the upper part of each wall P in which a housing S, for example metal, is scclled, whose shape corresponds substantially to that of the part 50.

The height of this box corresponds to that of the part 50 of the end piece, so that the upper face of this part comes substantially flush with the top of the wall
P after installation.

 The assembly is then covered, in a traditional manner, by a coping 90; its rounded edge 900 is inscribed inside the concave part 52, their courburcs preferably being adapted to each other for aesthetic purposes.

 The same fixing principle is used at the two ends of the beam, which is therefore immobilized in its longitudinal direction; moreover, owing to the fact that the part 50 of the end pieces has a polygonal contour, which corresponds to that of the sealing box in which it is housed, the beam is also immobilized transversely and in rotation on itself.

 Note that the mounting of the beam is very simple; if necessary, it is also easy to disassemble and remove the beam.

 In Figure 7, there is shown a pit, or trunk A, for inground pool. Inside this trunk is mounted a drum T on which is partially wound a floating cover C. The horizontal and transverse axis of the drum is referenced XX ', while its direction of rotation when winding is symbolized by the arrow F.

 The chest A is provided with a low wall M, which separates the pit proper A from the basin B.

 The pool being filled with water, its level - referenced N -, and passes over the low wall M.

 The beam 1 object of the invention is installed directly above the low wall M, above level N.

The external transverse wall of the trunk has been designated by the reference PA
A. This, like the rest of the walls, is for example made of concrete and is surrounded by earth fill, its internal face being covered with a waterproof coating.

 The beam 1 is positioned in height so that the upper face 20 of its spoiler 10 is in the same horizontal plane as the upper face delaparoi PA.

 The spoiler is at a distance from the wall PA which is slightly less than the width of the grating 9, so that the latter can rest, by one of its edges on the wall PA, and by the other on the spoiler 2.

 In the longitudinal direction, the grating is immobilized, basin side by the face 12 of the beam and outside side by a coping 90.

 it is however possible to remove the grating by lifting it, if you wish to access the trunk A.

 The bristles of the brush 7 have a sufficient length so that in the position of use, shown in FIG. 7, they rub against the upper face of the cover C.

 As shown in Figure 7, the beam 1 is placed so that the brush 7 is upstream of the washing ramp 6, if we consider the displacement of the cover C at the time of its winding F (displacement of the right to the left in the figure).

 The arrow i symbolized the pressurized water jet emitted by the ramp.

 At the time of winding of the cover, by rotation of the drum T around its axis XX ', controlled by a suitable motor located at one of the ends of the roller, in a sealed compartment, the cables 80 exert on the portion dc the cover during winding an effort which favors the operation.

 As this winding progresses, the top of the cover C is cleaned, first mechanically by rubbing the brush 7, then hydraulically, by means of the jets produced by the ramp 6.

 Soiling carried by the cover cannot, or practically not, penetrate into the trunk A They are expelled on the top of the cover towards the basin, then in the water of the basin, when the free edge of the cover reaches the level of the low wall M. It is then easy to take them out and remove them from the basin.

 Thanks to the invention, the beam 1 performs, in addition to its role of supporting the grating 9, several functions, namely cleaning - by brushing and washing - of the cover, and retaining the counterweights.

Claims (10)

 1. Support beam for a buried swimming pool grating, this grating (9) covering a box (A) containing the winding drum (T) with a floating cover (C), which is arranged transversely, that is to say i.e. parallel to the axis (XX ') of the drum (T), and overhangs the cover (C) in the area of separation of the trunk (A) and the basin (B), characterized in that it comprises , in its lower part, at least one receiving housing (3, 4) capable of receiving and supporting means (6, 7) for cleaning the upper face of the cover (C).  2. Beam according to claim 1, characterized in that said receiving housing is a slide (4) receiving a brush (7).  3. Beam according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said receiving housing is a tube (3) open in the lower part, receiving a washing ramp (6).  4. Beam according to claim 3, characterized in that the tube (3) cooperates with the ramp (6) by means, such as teeth, which make it possible to modify the orientation (a) of the ramp .  5. Beam according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises, on the side of the trunk (A), a slide (210) intended to receive slides (8) used to attach counterweights ( 81).  6. Beam according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises, on the side of the trunk (A), a spoiler (2) bearing for the edge of the grating (9).  7. Beam according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it consists of an extruded tubular profile.  8. Beam according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises nestable end caps (5a, 5b).  9. Beam according to claim 8, characterized in that the nestable ends (5) comprise a part (51) - called internal - able to be force-fitted into one of the ends of the beam (1) and a part (50) - called external which, after fitting, extends this end and is intended to be embedded in a sealing box (S) provided in the side wall (P) of the pool.  10. Beam according to claim 9, characterized in that the upper face of said external part (50) of the end piece (5) has a concave profile (52) complementary to the edge (900) of a coping (90) intended to cover the sealing box (S).