FR3112568A1 - SWIMMING TANK - Google Patents

Abstract

SWIMMING BASIN Swimming basin (1) comprising a tank (2) whose side walls are stiffened by folds forming re-entrant oblique bands (5c, 7c) at mid-height, and which is associated with a frame formed of vertical uprights (16e, 16f, 16g) secured to the upper half of the tank (2). The shape of the side walls (5, 7) defines, in the lower part of the periphery of the tank (2), housings (5f, 7f) for the passage of the pipes (14f) of fluids. Figure to be published with abstract: Fig. 6

Description

SWIMMING TANK

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of artificial pools intended for the practice of swimming and water recreation.

Artificial basins most often require the construction of civil engineering infrastructures on the installation site, with a generally parallelepipedic tank shape, in which sealing means such as a liner and water treatment means are then fitted. water and production of water jets and air jets. This results in a relatively high construction cost, and the need to intervene at length on the installation site to build the civil engineering infrastructure as well as the adaptation of the sealing means and the water treatment means and production of water jets and air jets.

It has also been proposed prefabricated artificial basins, in which a sealing tank has relatively thin vertical peripheral walls connecting to a relatively thin horizontal bottom, the tank being associated with an external frame sufficiently massive to ensure the rigidity of the whole . This set can be transported from a production workshop to the site of use, but it is then necessary to adapt the peripheral pipes as well as the means of water treatment and production of water jets and air jets, which only very partially solves the problem of the length of on-site intervention time for the construction of the basin.

A problem proposed by the present invention is to further significantly reduce the on-site intervention time for the construction of a swim tank.

In particular, the present invention aims to allow the pre-assembly in the factory not only of the tank itself, but also of the peripheral frame, the means for treating water and producing water jets and water jets. air, as well as peripheral water and air pipes into the interior of the tank, the assembly remaining transportable for transport by a non-exceptional road vehicle to the site of use.

To solve these problems, the idea underlying the invention is to give the tank itself sufficient qualities of rigidity so that the peripheral frame can be simplified and reduced, and to simultaneously give the tank a shape particularly well suited to the passage of peripheral water and air pipes so that their assembly in the factory is possible without disturbing transport on site.

To achieve these objects as well as others, the invention proposes a swim tank comprising:
- a sealing tank, delimiting a generally parallelepipedic interior space, composed of a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall, said walls connecting to each other along watertight connection lines,
and in which:
- the right side wall, the left side wall and the anterior wall each comprise, from an upper peripheral rim, a section of upper wall being connected by a first inward fold to an intermediate re-entrant oblique band which itself is connected by a second fold down to a lower wall section.

Intermediate pleats and re-entrant bands have two functions:
- first of all, they give the tank itself great intrinsic rigidity, allowing the use of a simplified peripheral frame, which is lighter and less bulky,
- then, they give the tank itself a shape that tapers downwards, defining on the lower periphery of the tank housings for passage of the water and air pipes without these pipes protruding above beyond the peripheral frame. It is thus possible to fit the water and air pipes in the factory, without this disturbing the transport of the swim tank to the site of use.

“Folds” may consist of a generally cylindrical transition zone with a small radius of curvature between two adjacent generally planar surfaces. For example, for a stainless steel tank, an inside radius of curvature of 2 to 3 times the thickness of the sheets may be suitable.

Preferably, the first ply and the second ply are substantially parallel to each other and to the bottom wall. By this arrangement, the folds and the oblique strips correspond on all the side walls, front and rear, in a continuous manner over the entire circumference of the tank, further promoting good rigidity of the tank.

Even more preferably, the first fold and the second fold can be made in a zone located at an intermediate distance between the upper peripheral rim and the bottom wall, advantageously halfway between the upper peripheral rim and the bottom wall. This position is favorable for good ergonomics, the interior space of the tank then being better adapted to the size of the users whose arms are located rather in the upper part of the interior space.

In practice, the re-entrant oblique bands can form an angle of approximately 45° with the bottom wall. A good compromise is thus achieved between the rigidity of the tank and ergonomics by the fact that there are no aggressive angles in the interior surface of the tank.

Also, the upper wall sections and the lower wall sections can advantageously be substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, to optimize the volume of the interior space without affecting the total size of the swim tank.

The rear wall can advantageously be shaped to define a protected technical space in which the active components of the swim tank can be housed, such as the means for producing water jets, the water treatment means and the drive means. of air. For this, the rear wall comprises a section of upper peripheral rim with increased width, followed by an upper connection zone up to a re-entrant oblique band offset inwards and in correspondence of the re-entrant oblique bands of the right side and side walls. left, and a lower wall section in correspondence of the lower wall sections of the right side and left side walls.

In this reserved technical space, we can thus accommodate:
- pumping means associated with means for producing water jets to produce water jets directed towards the interior space from the rear wall of the tank,
- water treatment means communicating with the interior space by water pipes housed in a lower peripheral space under the intermediate oblique band of the front, left side and side walls,
- air expulsion means communicating with air injection nozzles by air ducts housed in the lower peripheral space under the intermediate oblique band of at least one of the left side and right side walls, the air injection nozzles being distributed along at least one of the left side and right side walls and being capable of generating air jets directed towards the interior space of the tank.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that:
- the lower wall sections are each connected to the bottom wall by a lower end zone comprising a respective lower band perpendicular to the bottom wall and surmounted by a respective low oblique band facing outwards,
- Air injection nozzles and/or light sources are distributed in holes passing through at least one of the lower oblique bands.

This arrangement facilitates access for the assembly and maintenance of the air injection nozzles and/or light sources, while promoting the tight connection between the lower wall section and the bottom wall.

As regards the peripheral frame, this can be made up in a simple, light and compact manner, by reinforcing uprights, distributed around the periphery of the tank, secured to the upper wall sections of the tank and to plates of base at the bottom wall.

Removable covering plates can advantageously be fixed to the reinforcing uprights, in an orientation generally perpendicular to the bottom wall, and covering the peripheral space of the tank. This ensures a good compromise between the aesthetics of the swim tank and good ergonomics by facilitating access to the entire periphery for maintenance.

To facilitate the transport of the swim tank to a site of use, it is advantageous to provide a lifting kit suitable for attaching the swim tank to lifting means, which lifting kit comprises:
- at least a first pair of fixing elements, shaped to be removably fixed to a pair of respective reinforcing uprights located respectively against the left side and right side walls in an eccentric longitudinal position closer to the front wall, and each having a lifting ring at its upper end,
- at least a second pair of fixing elements shaped to be removably fixed to a pair of respective reinforcing uprights, located respectively against the left side and right side walls in an eccentric longitudinal position closer to the rear wall, and each having a lifting ring at its upper end,
- two rigid anti-compression crosspieces connecting the upper ends of the pairs of fastening elements.

In practice, to allow transport on a non-exceptional conventional vehicle, and to simultaneously maximize the useful volume of the swimming pool, it can advantageously have the following dimensions:
- a total height of between 1.30 m and 1.50 m, advantageously around 1.40 m to contain a height of water of around 1.30 m,
- a total length of approximately 4.50 m, for a tank length of approximately 3.50 m between the lower sections of the front and rear walls,
- a total width of approximately 2.20 m, for a tank width of approximately 1.78 m between the lower sections of the right side and left side walls.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the appended figures, among which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealing tank for a swim tank according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the elements constituting the tank and the peripheral frame according to a particular embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a top view of a swim tank according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a side view in longitudinal section along the plane AA of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view of the rear face of the swim tank of Figures 3 and 4, covering plates removed;

Figure 6 is a left side view of the swim tank of Figures 3 and 4, trim plates removed;

Figure 7 is an end view of the front face of the swim tank of Figures 3 and 4, covering plates removed;

Figure 8 is a left side view of the swim tank of Figures 3 and 4, trim plates removed and lifting kit in position;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along the plane CC of Figure 8, lifting kit in position; And

Figure 10 is a top view illustrating the lift kit in position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

When identical numerical references are used in several embodiments of the invention or in several figures, these numerical references designate identical or similar elements in each of the embodiments or in each of the figures.

Figure 1 illustrates a sealing tank 2, delimiting a generally parallelepipedal interior space 3. The tank is composed of a bottom wall 4, a front wall 5, a rear wall 6, a left side wall 7 and a right side wall 8. The walls 4-8 connect the to each other along watertight connecting lines such as connecting line 9, at the four corners of tank 2.

Means for producing water jets direct water jets towards the interior space 3 from the rear wall 6. In FIG. rear wall 6 approximately three quarters of the height of the interior space 3. The swimming nozzles 10a, 10b and 10c are supplied with water by pumps arranged behind the rear face of the rear wall 6, and produce jets of water for swimming against the current.

Means for producing air jets direct jets of air towards the interior space 3. The means for producing air jets comprise air injection nozzles, such as the air injection nozzle. air 15b, distributed in the lower zone of the tank 2. Air expulsion means, arranged behind the rear face of the rear wall 6, communicate with the air injection nozzles 15b via air pipes.

We now consider Figures 3 to 5, illustrating in more detail the geometry of the tank 2.

As can be seen better in these figures, the right side wall 8, the left side wall 7 and the anterior wall 5 each comprise, from a common upper peripheral rim 11, a respective upper wall section 8a, 7a and 5a being connected by a first respective inward fold 8b, 7b and 5b to a respective intermediate re-entrant oblique band 8c, 7c and 5c which itself is connected by a respective second downward fold 8d, 7d and 5d to a section of lower wall 8th, 7th and 5th respectively.

The first folds 8b, 7b and 5b are connected one after the other to the corners of the tank 2. The same applies to the second folds 8d, 7d and 5d, which themselves are parallel to the first folds and to the bottom wall 4.

The first folds 8b, 7b and 5b and the second folds 8d, 7d and 5d are made in a zone located at an intermediate distance between the upper peripheral rim 11 and the bottom wall 4. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first folds 8b, 7b and 5b and the second folds 8d, 7d and 5d are made in a zone located halfway between the upper peripheral rim 11 and the bottom wall 4.

The respective re-entrant oblique bands 8c, 7c and 5c are connected one after the other to the corners of the tank, and form an angle of approximately 45° with the bottom wall 4. The upper wall sections 8a, 7a and 5a , as well as the lower wall sections 8th, 7th and 5th are substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 4.

As seen more particularly in Figures 4 and 5, the presence of the respective re-entrant oblique bands 8c, 7c and 5c on each of the right side wall 8, the left side wall 7, and the anterior wall 5, makes it possible to define, in the lower part of the periphery of the tank 2, respective lower peripheral spaces 8f, 7f and 5f which will be used for the passage of water and air conduction pipes, without these pipes protruding at the deviation from the overall size of the tank 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, in the zone occupied by the rear wall 6, the upper peripheral rim 11 comprises a section 11a of upper peripheral rim of greater width. The rear wall 6 comprises an upper connection zone 6a between said section 11a of upper peripheral rim and a re-entrant oblique band 6c, which is itself in correspondence of the respective re-entrant oblique bands 8c and 7c of the right side 8 and left side walls 7 , and which then connects to a 6th lower wall section in correspondence of the respective 8th and 7th lower wall sections of the right side 8 and left side walls 7. The upper connection zone 6a offsets the re-entrant oblique strip 6c and of the lower wall section 6e towards the inside of the tank 2. This results in the creation of a technical space 6f reserved under the upper peripheral rim section 11a and under the upper connection zone 6a of the rear wall 6, for accommodation of functional organs.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, in the technical space 6f are housed all the functional components of the swim tank, and in particular:
- pumping means such as swimming pumps 12a, 12b and 12c delivering water through respective delivery pipes to the swimming nozzles 10a, 10b and 10c for the production of water jets, and sucking the water via respective suction pipes from swimming suction nozzles 13a, 13b and 13c located in the lower part of the rear wall 6,
- water treatment means, such as a filtration pump 14a and a sand filter 14b,
- air expulsion means 15a,
- An electrical box 20 to power and control the functional units present in the technical space 6f.

The filtration pump 14a draws in the filtration water coming from surface collectors 14c, 14d (commonly called skimmers) located (FIG. 3) in the upper part of the upper connection zone 6a, and delivers the water through the filter to sand 14b to discharge nozzles 14e (FIG. 6) located in the upper part of the front wall 5 and connected by water pipes 14f arranged in the respective lower peripheral spaces 8f, 7f and 5f. The discharge nozzles 14e push back the floating waste towards the surface collectors 14c and 14d.

In the embodiment illustrated in particular in FIGS. 3 to 5, the respective lower wall sections 5th, 8th and 7th of the front 5, right side 8 and left side 7 walls are connected to the bottom wall 4 by zones of respective lower ends each comprising a lower band 5g, 8g or 7g perpendicular to the bottom wall 4 and surmounted by a respective low oblique band 5h, 8h or 7h facing outwards.

Air injection nozzles 15b are distributed in holes passing through the lower oblique strips 7h and 8h of the left side 7 and right side walls 8, and are connected to the air expulsion means 15a by air ducts located in the lower peripheral spaces 7f and 8f. Light sources can also be distributed in holes crossing the lower oblique bands 5 o'clock, 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock. The oblique orientation of the low oblique bands 5 o'clock, 7 o'clock and 8 o'clock facilitates the assembly and maintenance of the air injection nozzles 15 b and the light sources.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, in particular in FIG. 1, the upper connection zone 6a comprises a raised central zone in which the surface collectors 14c and 14d as well as the swimming nozzles 10a, 10b and 10c are housed. The raised central zone is bordered by two lower lateral zones 6b and 6d on which users can find a seating area generally parallel to the bottom wall 4. The re-entrant oblique band 6c improves comfort in these lateral zones 6b and 6d .

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 7, there is provided a peripheral frame comprising reinforcing uprights, distributed around the periphery of the tank 2, and secured to the upper wall sections of the tank 2 and to the base plates at the level of the bottom wall 4. Thus, in the figures, there are two reinforcing uprights 16a and 16b on the outer face of the front wall 5, two reinforcing uprights 16c and 16d on the outer face of the rear wall 6, and three reinforcement posts 16e, 16f and 16g on the exterior face of the left side wall 7. Similarly, three reinforcement posts 16h, 16i and 16j (FIG. 2) are also provided on the exterior face of the right side wall 8. Four angle brackets are also provided at the four corners of the tank 2.

The constituent elements of the tank 2 and of the peripheral frame are better visible in figure 2, illustrating in exploded view these constituent elements in an embodiment based on 316 L stainless steel sheets cut, bent and assembled by welding. One thus distinguishes the base plates 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d to which are welded the lower ends of the respective reinforcing uprights 16a-16j, said base plates ensuring by welding continuity with a bottom plate 17d forming the bottom wall 4 of the tank 2. The inner surface of the tank 2 is advantageously bead blasted, to reduce the risk of users slipping untimely.

According to the invention, removable cover plates (not shown in the figures) can be fixed to the reinforcing uprights, in an orientation generally perpendicular to the bottom wall 4, and covering the peripheral space of the tank 2. together form the swim tank 1.

In the embodiment which has been explicitly illustrated in the figures, the tank 2 is made from metal sheets assembled by welding. However, the invention applies just as well to tanks made wholly or partly of other materials, for example polyester, polycarbonate. One can for example make all or part of the side walls of the tank 2 in polycarbonate, to make them transparent. It is also possible to use different materials for the different parts of the swim tank, for example using plastic materials to make the removable covering plates.

Consider now Figures 8 to 10, illustrating a lifting kit suitable for attaching the swim tank 1 to lifting means.

In the illustrated embodiment, there is a first pair of fixing elements 18a and 18b, shaped to be removably fixed to a pair of respective reinforcing uprights 16e and 16h (FIG. 2) located respectively against the left side walls 7 and right side 8 in an eccentric longitudinal position closer to the anterior wall 5. The fixing elements 18a and 18b each have a lifting ring 18c and 18d at their upper end.

In the same way, a second pair of fixing elements 18e and 18f can be distinguished, shaped to be removably fixed to a pair of respective reinforcing uprights 16g and 16j located respectively against the left side 7 and right side walls 8 in one eccentric longitudinal position closer to the posterior wall 6, and each having a lifting ring 18g and 18h at its upper end.

Two rigid anti-compression crosspieces 19a and 19b connect the upper ends of the pairs of fixing elements 18a and 18b, 18e and 18f.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof contained within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (12)

1 – Swim tub (1), comprising:
- a sealing tank (2), delimiting a generally parallelepipedal interior space (3), composed of a bottom wall (4), a front wall (5), a rear wall (6), a left side wall (7), and a right side wall (8), said walls being connected to each other along sealed connection lines,
characterized in that:
- the right side wall (8), the left side wall (7) and the anterior wall (5) each comprise, from an upper peripheral rim (11), an upper wall section (8a, 7a, 5a) connecting via a first inward fold (8b, 7b, 5b) to an intermediate re-entrant oblique band (8c, 7c, 5c) which itself is connected by a second downward fold (8d, 7d, 5d) to a section lower wall (8th, 7th, 5th). 2 - swim tank (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first fold (8b, 7b, 5b) and the second fold (8d, 7d, 5d) are substantially parallel to each other and to the bottom wall (4). 3 - swim tank (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first fold (8b, 7b, 5b) and the second fold (8d, 7d, 5d) are made in a zone located at an intermediate distance between the upper peripheral rim (11) and the bottom wall (4), advantageously halfway between the upper peripheral rim and the bottom wall. 4 - swim tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the re-entrant oblique bands (8c, 7c, 5c) form an angle of approximately 45° with the bottom wall (4). 5 - swim tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper wall sections (8a, 7a, 5a) and the lower wall sections (8th, 7th, 5th) are substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall (4). 6 - swim tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rear wall (6) comprises an upper peripheral rim section (11a) of increased width, followed by an upper zone of connection (6a) to a re-entrant oblique band (6c) offset inwards and in correspondence of the re-entrant oblique bands (8c, 7c) of the right side (8) and left side (7) walls, and a section of wall lower (6e) in correspondence of the lower wall sections (8e, 7e) of the right side (8) and left side (7) walls, the rear wall (6) thus delimiting a technical space (6f) reserved under the rim section upper peripheral (11a) and under the upper connection zone (6a) of the rear wall (6) for the housing of functional organs. 7 - swim tank (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, in the technical space (6f) reserved are housed:
- pumping means (12a, 12b, 12c) associated with means for producing water jets (10a, 10b, 10c) directed towards the interior space (3) from the rear wall (6) of the tank ( 2),
- water treatment means (14a, 14b) communicating with the interior space (3) by water pipes (14f) housed in a lower peripheral space (5f, 7f, 9f) under the intermediate oblique strip ( 5c, 7c, 8c) of the anterior (5), left lateral (7) and right lateral (8) walls,
- air expulsion means (15a) communicating with air injection nozzles (15b) by air pipes housed in the lower peripheral space (7f, 8f) under the intermediate oblique band (7c, 8c) of at least one of the left side walls (7) and right side walls (8), the air injection nozzles (15b) being distributed along at least one of the left side walls (7) and right side (8) and being able to generate air jets directed towards the interior space (3) of the tank (2). 8 - swim tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that:
- the lower wall sections (5th, 7th, 8th) are each connected to the bottom wall (4) by a lower end zone comprising a respective lower strip (5g, 7g, 8g) perpendicular to the bottom wall ( 4) and surmounted by a respective low oblique band (5h, 7h, 8h) facing outwards,
- air injection nozzles (15b) and/or light sources are distributed in holes passing through at least one of the lower oblique bands (5h, 7h, 8h). 9 - swim tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a peripheral frame having reinforcing uprights (16a-16j), distributed around the periphery of the tank (2), secured to the upper wall sections (5a, 7a, 8a) and to base plates (17a, 17b, 17c) at the bottom wall (4). 10 - swim tank (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises removable covering plates fixed to the reinforcing uprights (16a-16j) in an orientation generally perpendicular to the bottom wall (4) and covering the peripheral space of the tank (2). 11 - swim tank (1) according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises a lifting kit suitable for attaching the swim tank (1) to lifting means, which lifting kit comprising :
- at least a first pair of fixing elements (18a, 18b), shaped to be removably fixed to a pair of respective reinforcing uprights (16e, 16h) located respectively against the left side (7) and right side walls (8) in an eccentric longitudinal position closer to the anterior wall (5), and each having a lifting ring (18c, 18d) at its upper end,
- at least a second pair of fixing elements (18e, 18f) shaped to be removably fixed to a pair of respective reinforcing uprights (16g, 16j), located respectively against the left side (7) and right side walls (8) in an eccentric longitudinal position closer to the posterior wall (6), and each having a lifting ring (18g, 18h) at its upper end,
- two rigid anti-compression crosspieces (19a, 19b) connecting the upper ends of the pairs of fixing elements (18a, 18b; 18e, 18f). 12 - Swim tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it has the following dimensions:
- a total height of between 1.30 m and 1.50 m, advantageously around 1.40 m to contain a height of water of around 1.30 m,
- a total length of approximately 4.50 m, for a tank length of approximately 3.50 m between the lower sections of the front and rear walls,
- a total width of approximately 2.20 m, for a tank width of approximately 1.78 m between the lower sections of the right side and left side walls.