GB2407763A

GB2407763A - Reconfigurable pool adapted for wave generation

Info

Publication number: GB2407763A
Application number: GB0325979A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Wyllie; Douglas Murphy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-07
Filing date: 2003-11-07
Publication date: 2005-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-07
Also published as: GB2407763B; GB0325979D0

Abstract

A reconfigurable swimming and leisure pool including a wave generating device 10 at a first end of the pool, a vertically moveable transverse boom 14 positioned between the first and second ends of the pool, extending across the width of the pool, and a moveable floor 18, having a first vertically moveable edge adjacent to the boom and a second edge opposite the first edge, vertically moveable independently of the first edge and adjacent to the second end of the pool 12. The pool can be used in configuration 1a for competition or various leisure uses. The pool can be configured according to Fig 1b for use as a wave pool by lowering the boom 14 and inclining the floor downwardly from the second end of the pool towards the boom.

Description

1 Swimming & Leisure Pools 3 The present invention concerns improvements

relating 4 to swimming and leisure pools, especially pools incorporating wave generating devices.

7 It is well known to incorporate wave generating 8 devices into swimming and leisure pools. Such 9 devices generally comprise a chamber extending across the width of one end of the pool having an 11 aperture below the water level. Air is pumped into 12 and released from the chamber above the water level 13 to generate transverse waves in the pool. The floor 14 of the pool is required to be inclined along at least a portion of its length, becoming shallower at 16 the end opposite the wave chamber to absorb the wave 17 energy and to prevent undesirable reflection and 18 interference of the waves. Wave pools also require 19 a greater freeboard above the water level than conventional swimming and leisure pools.

1 There is a conflict between the requirements for 2 pools intended for competition swimming and pools 3 intended for general leisure use. A competition 4 pool ideally has a uniform water depth while a leisure pool generally requires a shallow end and a 6 deep end and/or completely separate areas having 7 differing depths. It is also well known for 8 swimming and leisure pools to incorporate movable 9 floors and booms. Movable floors may be raised and lowered parallel to the water surface to provide 11 variable uniform depth or may be adapted to be 12 inclined, or both. Booms generally extend across 13 the width of the pool and may be raised and lowered 14 between a first position in which they are fully recessed into the floor of the pool and a second 16 position where the top surface of the boom is level 17 with the edge of the pool. In this way, the pool 18 may be divided into multiple areas, each of which 19 could have an independently movable (parallel and/or inclined) floor.

22 Movable floors and booms may be buoyant, being 23 pulled down by systems of cables, pulleys, hydraulic 24 rams, winches or the like, or may have variable buoyancy using a ballast system, or may be 26 negatively buoyant, being raised and lowered by any 27 suitable mechanical means. Buoyant systems are 28 generally preferred, since these fail safe.

The present invention provides a novel arrangement 31 for a re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 32 incorporating a wave generating device at a first 1 end of the pool, at least a first vertically movable 2 transverse boom extending across the width of the 3 pool between said first end and a second, opposite 4 end of the pool, and at least a first movable floor having a first vertically movable edge adjacent to 6 the boom and a second edge opposite said first edge, 7 vertically movable independently of said first edge 8 and adjacent to said second end of the pool.

In a first embodiment, the boom is located 11 immediately adjacent the first end of the pool. In 12 other embodiments, the boom is located remotely from 13 the first end of the pool. In such embodiments, one 14 or more additional transverse booms may be located between the first end of the pool and the first 16 boom. Areas of the pool between said first boom and 17 said first end of the pool, and/or between the first 18 boom, any further boom(s) and the first end of the 19 boom may each include a further independently movable floor.

22 Preferably, the first edge of the first floor is 23 connected to the first boom and is vertically 24 movable across a vertical face of the boom.

Preferably also, the second edge of the first floor 26 is connected to an end wall at the second end of the 27 pool and is vertically movable across said end wall.

28 Alternatively, the edges of the floor, the boom and 29 the second end wall of the pool may be adapted to allow the edges of the floor to be secured to the 31 face of the boom and the end wall at a plurality of 32 discrete, vertical positions.

2 The pool is configured for use as a wave pool by 3 lowering the first and any additional booms and 4 inclining the first floor downwardly from the second end of the pool to the first boom. In wave mode, 6 the freeboard of the pool may be increased, if 7 required, by any means including lowering the water 8 level in the pool and/or providing a water 9 containment barrier around the periphery of the pool. A removable containment barrier could be 11 fitted to an existing drainage channel surrounding 12 the pool.

14 Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the 16 accompanying drawings in which: 18 Fig. 1 is a schematic, sectional side view of a 19 first embodiment of a swimming and leisure pool in accordance with the invention in a first 21 configuration; 23 Fig. 1A shows the pool of Fig. 1 in a second 24 configuration; 26 Fig. 1B shows the pool of Fig. 1 in a third 27 configuration; 29 Fig. 2 is a schematic, sectional side view of a second embodiment of a swimming and leisure pool in 31 accordance with the invention in a first 32 configuration; 2 Fig. 2A shows the pool of Fig. 2 in a second 3 configuration; Fig. 2B shows the pool of Fig. 2 in a third 6 configuration; and 8 Fig. 2C shows the pool of Fig. 2 in a fourth 9 configuration.

11 Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a 12 swimming and leisure pool having a wave generating 13 device such as a wave chamber 10 at a first end and 14 an end wall 12 at the second, opposite end. A vertically movable boom 14 extends across the width 16 of the pool immediately adjacent to the wave chamber 17 10 and is shown fully lowered into a recess 16 in 18 the bottom of the pool. A vertically movable floor 19 18 extends from the front of the boom 14 to the end wall 12. The configuration shown in Fig. 1 is not 21 generally suitable for use of the wave generating 22 device, but provides the maximum pool area for 23 general use.

Fig. 1A shows the boom 14 raised to provide a pool 26 edge across the front of the wave chamber. The 27 distance from the front of the boom 14 to the end 28 wall 12 may correspond to a standard pool length, 29 typically 25 or 50 m. The boom 14 might typically have a width of about 2 m. With the boom 14 raised, 31 the floor 18 may be set to any of a variety of 32 depths, parallel or inclined to the water surface, 1 for competition or various leisure uses, or to 2 provide a dry surface above the water level.

4 Fig. 1B shows the pool configured for use of the wave generating device. The boom 14 is lowered and 6 the floor 18 is inclined upwards from the front/top 7 edge of the boom 14 to the top of the end wall 12.

9 Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a swimming and leisure pool. In this case, a first boom 24 and 11 associated recess 26 extend across the width of the 12 pool at a position remote from the wave generating 13 device 20. The details and operation of the first 14 boom 24 and movable floor 28 are otherwise the same as the boom 14 and floor 18 of Fig. 1. The movable 16 floor 28 extends from the first boom 24 to the end 17 wall 22.

19 In this example, a second boom 30 and associated recess 32 extend across the pool at a position 21 intermediate the first end of the pool and the first 22 boom 24. The second boom may generally be wider 23 than the first boom, typically about 5 m. The 24 distance from the front of the second boom 30 to the end wall 22 may correspond to a standard pool 26 length, typically 50 m. The distance from the front 27 of the first boom 24 to the end wall 22 may also 28 correspond to a second standard pool length, 29 typically 25 m. The distance from the first end of the pool to the rear of the second boom may further 31 correspond to a standard pool width, such as 10 m.

1 This arrangement allows a number of different pool 2 configurations for competition and leisure use. The 3 configuration of Fig. 2 maximizes the available pool 4 area. With the second boom 30 raised and the first boom 24 and floor 28 lowered as shown in Fig. 2A, 6 the pool is divided into a competition pool 34 7 between the second boom 30 and end wall 22 and a 8 warm up pool 36 between the first end of the pool 9 and the second boom 30.

11 Fig. 2B shows the second boom 30 lowered and the 12 first boom 24 raised. The floor 28 may then be set 13 to any of a variety of depths, or inclined, for a 14 variety of uses as in the first embodiment. Fig. 2C shows both booms lowered and the floor 28 inclined 16 as in Fig. 1B, suitable for operation of the wave 17 generating device 20.

19 It will be apparent that other configurations are possible in both embodiments. Other possible 21 variations in the arrangement and/or number of booms 22 and movable floors will also be apparent. In the 23 embodiment of Fig. 2, further movable floors could 24 be provided between the first and second booms and/or between the first end of the pool and the 26 second boom 32, the second boom 32 could be omitted, 27 etc. 29 The movable floor 18 or 28 may be secured to the boom 14 or 24 and end wall 12 or 22 by any suitable 31 means, allowing for either continuous vertical 32 movement or attachment at a variety of vertical 1 positions in each case. In one example, for 2 operation in wave mode, the boom 14 or 24 may first 3 be raised and the floor connected to the boom and 4 the end wall. The boom would then be lowered so that floor forms a sloping "beachn as shown in Figs. 6 1B and 2C. The fixings between the boom and the 7 floor and/or the end wall and floor would be adapted 8 to telescope for this purpose.

When used in wave mode, the pools will generally 11 require a greater freeboard above the water level 12 than for other leisure or competition purposes.

13 Depending on the depth of the pool, this may be 14 accomplished by lowering the water level.

Alternatively, a water containment barrier, 16 preferably removable, may be provided around the 17 periphery of the pool. A removable barrier might 18 suitably be designed to engage an existing drainage 19 channel surrounding the pool.

21 Improvements and modifications may be incorporated 22 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 Claims 3 1. A re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 4 comprising: a

wave generating device located at a first end 6 of the pool; 7 at least a first vertically moveable transverse 8 boom extending across the width of the pool between 9 the first end and a second opposite end of the pool; and 11 at least a first moveable floor having a first 12 vertically moveable edge adjacent to the boom and a 13 second edge opposite the first edge, vertically 14 moveable independently of the first edge and adjacent to the second end of the pool.

17

2. The re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 18 of claim 1, wherein the boom is located immediately 19 adjacent the first end of the pool.

21

3. The re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 22 of claim 1, wherein the boom is located remotely 23 from the first end of the pool.

4. The re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 26 of claim 3, wherein one or more additional 27 transverse booms is located between the first end of 28 the pool and the first boom.

5. The re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 31 of claim 4, wherein areas of the pool between the 32 first boom and the first end of the pool, and/or 1 between the first boom, any further booms and the 2 first end of the boom include a further 3 independently moveable floor.

6. The re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 6 of any preceding claim, wherein the first edge of 7 the first floor is connected to the first boom and 8 is vertically moveable across a vertical face of the 9 boom.

11

7. The re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 12 of any preceding claim, wherein the second edge of 13 the first floor is connected to an end wall at the 14 second end of the pool and is vertically moveable across the end wall.

17

8. The re-configurable swimming and leisure pool 18 of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the edges of the 19 floor, the boom and the second end wall of the pool may be adapted to allow the edges of the floor to be 21 secured to the face of the boom and the end wall at 22 a plurality of discrete, vertical positions.

24

9. The re-configurable swimming and leisure pool of any preceding claim, wherein the freeboard of the 26 pool may be increased by providing a barrier around 27 the periphery of the pool.

29

10. A re-configurable swimming and leisure pool as herein described with reference to the accompanying 31 drawings.