US20070271693A1

US20070271693A1 - Movable Floor Pool and Method of Cleaning Movable Floor Pool

Info

Publication number: US20070271693A1
Application number: US11/663,197
Authority: US
Inventors: Shigeru Yotsuyanagi
Original assignee: Yotsuyanagi Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yotsuyanagi Co Ltd
Priority date: 2004-09-24
Filing date: 2005-09-16
Publication date: 2007-11-29
Also published as: JP4570169B2; JP3163098U; CN100510298C; CN101027452A; JPWO2006033294A1; WO2006033294A1

Abstract

A movable floor pool in which the space under a movable floor formed under the movable floor can be kept clean and a method of cleaning the movable floor pool is provided.

The movable floor pool (1) has a pool body (10) for containing water, a movable floor (21) which is vertically movable along a side wall (14) of the pool body (10), and a water flow generation means (30) for generating a rotational flow (R) in water contained in a space (23) formed under the movable floor (21).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a movable floor pool and a method of cleaning the movable floor pool.

BACKGROUND ART

Movable floor pools as disclosed in, for example, patent document 1, have been known as a swimming pool whose water depth can be suitably changed. As shown in FIG. 6, this movable floor pool has a movable floor 120 which is vertically movable and placed inside a pool body 110, and the height of the movable floor 120 is adjusted by an ascending and descending apparatus 130 so that the water depth of the pool can be changed.
When cleaning of the pool water is carried out in such a movable floor pool 100, the pool water is usually drawn from the bottom 111 of the pool body 110 and cleaned. However, there has been the problem that drawing the pool water stored above the movable floor 120 and cleaning the water are difficult because of the obstruction of the movable floor 120.
A water cleaning apparatus for movable floor pools as disclosed in patent document 2 is known as an apparatus for overcoming such a problem. This apparatus leads the pool water contained in the underfloor space formed under the movable floor in a movable floor pool and the pool water above the movable floor independently into a sterilizing apparatus and a filtering device to clean the pool water by removing bacteria and viruses floating in the water.
[Patent document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-166727
[Patent document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-299964

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[Object to be Solved by the Invention]
However, when the pool water contained in the movable floor pool is cleaned by the water cleaning apparatus for movable floor pools as disclosed in patent document 2, there is the problem that removing foreign objects, slimy matter and other contaminants deposited on the back side of the movable floor, the side wall of the pool body in the space under the movable floor, the bottom of the pool body, etc., is difficult.
There are many dead water areas where water is stagnant in the space under the movable floor in the movable floor pool. Moreover, each time the water depth of the pool is changed by moving the movable floor, much of foreign objects (for example, hair, sand, fibers) accumulated on the movable floor get into the underfloor space formed under the movable floor through the gap between the movable floor and the side wall of the pool body. Therefore, there have been the problems that deposition of foreign objects and slimy matter onto the back side of the movable floor and other portions is promoted, and bloodworm, mosquito larvae or the like propagate.
To remove the foreign objects, slimy matter and the like deposited on the back side of the movable floor, the side wall of the pool body in the space under the movable floor and the bottom of the pool body, the pool water needs to be discharged from the movable floor pool and then a person needs to go into the space under the movable floor and manually remove contaminants such as foreign objects and slimy matter deposited on portions such as the back side of the movable floor, which requires great efforts.
The present invention was made to overcome such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a movable floor pool and a method of cleaning the movable floor pool in which the underfloor space formed under the movable floor can be kept clean.
[Problems to be Solved By the Invention]
The object of the present invention mentioned above is achieved by a movable floor pool having a pool body for containing water and a movable floor which is movable vertically along the side wall of the pool body and a water flow generation means for generating a rotational flow in the water contained in the space formed under the movable floor.
In this movable floor pool, it is preferable that a water outlet is provided at the bottom of-the pool body and the water outlet is disposed in such a manner that it approximately coincides with the rotational center of the rotational flow formed by the water flow generation means in plan view.
Moreover, the water flow generation means is a rotational water flow generation apparatus for generating a water flow by the rotation of a plurality of rotation blades. It is preferable that a plurality of the rotational water flow generation apparatuses are preferably disposed in the vicinity of the side walls of the pool body so that the water flow generated by the rotational water flow generation apparatuses flows along the side wall of the pool body.
Moreover, the above-mentioned object of the present invention is achieved by a method of cleaning a movable floor pool having a pool body for containing water and a movable floor which is movable vertically along the side wall of the pool body, the method having a step of generating a water flow for generating a rotational flow in the water contained in the space formed under the movable floor.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a movable floor pool in which the underfloor space formed under the movable floor can be kept clean and a method of cleaning the movable floor pool can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural sectional view showing the movable floor pool according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a structural outline plan view of the underfloor space formed under the movable floor of the movable floor pool according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view showing an example of the water flow generation means constituting the movable floor pool according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a structural outline plan view showing another variant of the movable floor pool according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a structural outline plan view showing another variant of the movable floor pool according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a known movable floor pool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS

1 Movable floor pool
10 Pool body
11 Bottom
12 Water outlet
14 Side wall
20 Movable floor apparatus
21 Movable floor
22 Ascending and descending apparatus
23 Space under the movable floor
24 Opening portion
25 Lid
27 Space above the movable floor
30 Water flow generation means
31 Rotation blade
32 Power supply cable
35 Case

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural sectional view showing the movable floor pool according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic structural plan view showing the underfloor space formed under the movable floor of the movable floor pool. It should be noted that the ascending and descending apparatus, which is shown in FIG. 1, is omitted in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the movable floor pool according to this embodiment 1 has a pool body 10 for containing water, a movable floor apparatus 20 and a water flow generation means 30.
The pool body 10 is formed in the shape of a rectangle in plan view as shown in FIG. 2, and a water outlet 12 for discharging the water contained in the pool body 10 is provided at its bottom 11. This water outlet 12 is provided approximately at the center of the bottom 11 of the pool body 10 in such a manner that it approximately coincides with the rotational center in plan view of a rotational flow R formed by the water flow generation means 30, as described later. Moreover, a circulation path for returning the water discharged from the water outlet 12 to the space above the movable floor 27 formed above the movable floor 21 is connected at the water outlet 12 (not shown). This circulation path has a filtering device for removing foreign objects and other substances by filtering the water discharged from the water outlet 12 and a chlorine injection device for injecting chlorine which kills bacteria and pest insects living in the water contained in the pool body 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, the movable floor apparatus 20 has the movable floor 21 and an ascending and descending apparatus 22 for vertically moving the movable floor 21 along the side wall 14 of the pool body 10. The movable floor 21 has an opening portion 24 for placing the water flow generation means 30 in the space 23 under the movable floor formed under the movable floor 21 and a lid 25 which covers the opening portion 24 and is freely openable and closable. The ascending and descending apparatus 22 is placed in the space 23 under the movable floor, and its upper part is connected to the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21. The height of the movable floor 21 can be adjusted and the water depth of the pool can be changed by the vertical movement of this ascending and descending apparatus 22.
The water flow generation means 30 is a means for generating a rotational flow by generating a water flow in the water contained in the space 23 under the movable floor formed under the movable floor 21, and is placed in the space 23 under the movable floor. This embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, is constituted in such a manner that a plurality of water flow generation means 30 are disposed in the vicinity of the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 so that the water flow formed by the water flow generation means 30 becomes the rotational flow R in a certain direction along the side wall 14 of the pool body 10. Moreover, the water flow generation means 30 is accommodated in a case 35 which is formed by combining a mesh plate, as shown in FIG. 3. Examples of the water flow generation means 30 include rotational water flow generation apparatuses which generate a water flow by the rotation of a plurality of rotation blades such as underwater mixers and underwater pumps. FIG. 3 shows an underwater mixer as an example of the water flow generation means 30. The underwater mixer is constituted in such a manner that the water can be transferred from left to right in FIG. 3 by rotating rotation blades 31. The rotation blades 31 are rotated by the driving of a motor (not shown) connected to a power supply cable 32.
The operation of the movable floor pool according to this embodiment 1 will be described now. First, the water flow generation means 30 is driven, and a water flow is generated in the water contained in the space 23 under the movable floor formed under the movable floor 21. The water flow generated by the water flow generation means 30 forms the rotational flow R flowing along the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 in the space 23 under the movable floor. Since this rotational flow R is formed by combining water flows generated by a plurality of water flow generation means 30, the flow is maintained by almost constant momentum and becomes smooth.
The water outlet 12 for discharging water is provided at the bottom 11 of the pool body 10 which approximately coincides with the rotational center in plan view of the rotational flow R formed by the water flow generation means 30. Therefore, the rotational flow R forms a vortex which turns in a certain direction and at the same time flows toward the water outlet 12.
Since the water flow generation means 30 generate the rotational flow R compulsorily in the water contained in the space 23 under the movable floor, contaminants such as foreign objects and slimy matter deposited on the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21, the bottom 12 of the pool body 10, the ascending and descending apparatus 22 and other portions can be peeled off and removed by the momentum of this rotational flow R. The removed foreign objects, slimy matter and the like are carried by the vortex mentioned above toward the water outlet 12, passes through the water outlet 12 and are filtered by the filtering device on the circulation path (not shown) to be collected.
Moreover, foreign objects accumulated in the space 23 under the movable floor and floating in the water are carried by the vortex mentioned above toward the water outlet 12, and passes through the water outlet 12 to be collected by the filtering device. Moreover, part of the rotational flow R formed by the water flow generation means 30 flows along the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 in the space 23 under the movable floor to hit a corner 15 of the pool body 10. Therefore, foreign objects remaining at the corner 15 which are difficult to remove can be surely carried along by the rotational flow R. The foreign objects carried along by the rotational flow R are brought toward the water outlet 12 as mentioned above, and are collected by the filtering device (not shown) on the circulation path (not shown).
The water which has passed through the water outlet 12 and has become free of foreign objects due to filtration by the filtering device on the circulation path (not shown) is led to the space above the movable floor 27 along with chlorine injected from the chlorine injection device. Chlorine led into the space above the movable floor 27 passes through the gap between the movable floor 21 and the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 and enters the space 23 under the movable floor. Chlorine which has entered the space 23 under the movable floor is dispersed throughout the space 23 under the movable floor by the water flow formed by the water flow generation means 10. Therefore, bacteria and pest insects living in the space 23 under the movable floor can be efficiently killed.
In such a manner, according to the movable floor pool 1 of this embodiment, unlike in known ones, contaminants such as foreign objects and slimy matter deposited on the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21, the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 in the space 23 under the movable floor and the bottom 12 of the pool body 10 can be surely removed without manual removal of foreign objects and slimy matter by a person going into the space 23 under the movable floor formed under the movable floor 21, and the space 23 under the movable floor formed under the movable floor 21 can be kept clean. As a result, propagation of pest insects such as bloodworms and mosquito larvae in the space 23 under the movable floor can be prevented.
Moreover, since the rotational flow R formed by the water flow generation means 30 hits the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21, the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 in the space 23 under the movable floor, the bottom 12 of the pool body 10, the ascending and descending apparatus 22 and other portions, deposition of slimy matter, foreign objects, etc., on these portions can be effectively prevented, and the space 23 under the movable floor can be kept clean.
Moreover, stagnation of the water contained in the space 23 under the movable floor can be prevented by generating a water flow of the water contained in the space 23 under the movable floor by the water flow generation means 30, whereby propagation of pest insects such as bloodworms and mosquito larvae in the space 23 under the movable floor can be prevented. Moreover, if the water flow generation means 30 is placed in the space 23 under the movable floor immediately after the completion of the movable floor pool so that a water flow is generated in the water contained in the space 23 under the movable floor, infestation of these pest insects can be prevented.
Moreover, chlorine which is led from the chlorine injection device on the circulation path to the space above the movable floor 27 and passes through the gap between the movable floor 21 and the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 and enters the space 23 under the movable floor can be dispersed throughout the space 23 under the movable floor by the water flow formed by the water flow generation means 30. Therefore, bacteria and pest insects living in the space 23 under the movable floor can be efficiently killed.
Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the rotational flow R flowing along the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 is formed and the water outlet 12 is provided on the bottom 11 of the pool body 10 in such a manner that it approximately coincide with the rotational center in plan view of this rotational flow R. Accordingly, a vortex flowing throughout the space 23 under the movable floor can be formed. As a result, foreign objects and slimy matter deposited on the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21, the bottom 11 of the pool body 10 and other portions can be peeled off and removed in all areas of the space 23 under the movable floor, and also contaminants such as the peeled and removed foreign objects and slimy matter can be efficiently collected to be discharged from the water outlet 12.
Moreover, employing a rotational water flow generation apparatus which generates a water flow by the rotation of a plurality of rotation blades as the water flow generation means 30 and disposing this rotational water flow generation apparatus in the vicinity of the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 in the space 23 under the movable floor so that the rotational flow R is formed allows the water flow generation means 30 to be readily installed also in existing movable floor pools, whereby foreign objects and slimy matter deposited on the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21 and the bottom 11 of the pool body 10 can be removed and the space 23 under the movable floor can be kept clean.
Moreover, the water flow generation means 30 in this embodiment is a rotational water flow generation apparatus which transfers water by the rotation of a plurality of rotation blades 31. Hence, pest insects such as mosquito larvae floating in the transferred water can be cut and killed by the rotation of the rotation blades 31, efficiently killing pest insects. Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described in the above, specific aspects of the present invention specific are not limited to the above embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of water flow generation means 30 are disposed in the space 23 under the movable floor. However, for example, a single water flow generation means 30 may be disposed as shown in FIG. 4. Even in such a constitution, since the water flow sent out from the water flow generation means 30 flows while it keeps colliding with the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 to form the rotational flow R, a vortex flowing toward the water outlet 12 can be formed. As a result, as mentioned above, foreign objects and slimy matter can be removed and deposition of slimy matter on the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21 and other portions can be prevented, whereby the space 23 under the movable floor can be kept clean.
Moreover, this embodiment is constituted in such a manner that a water flow is generated by the water flow generation means 30 placed in the space 23 under the movable floor, but it is not particularly limited to such a constitution. For example, a constitution in which a jet is discharged from the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 under the movable floor 21 into the space 23 under the movable floor to generate a water flow can be also employed.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, this embodiment is constituted in such a manner that a single rotational flow R which turns along the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 in the space 23 under the movable floor is formed, but it is not limited to such a constitution. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, water flows ejected from the water flow generation means 30 may be caused to collide with each other to form a plurality of rotational flows R1, R2, R3 and R4. Even in such a constitution, foreign objects, slimy matter and the like deposited on the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21 and the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 in the space 23 under the movable floor can be peeled off and removed by the action of each of the rotational flows R1, R2, R3 and R4, and the removed foreign objects, slimy matter and the like can be discharged from the water outlet 12. The space 23 under the movable floor can be thus kept clean.
Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the water outlet 12 is provided on the bottom 11 of the pool body 10 in such a manner that it approximately coincides with the rotational center in plan view of the rotational flow R formed by the water flow generation means 30, but it is not limited to such a constitution For example, the water outlet 12 may be provided at the bottom 11 of the pool body 10 remote from the rotational center of the rotational flow R in plan view. Even in such a constitution, the action of the rotational flow R formed by the water flow generation means 30 allows peeling and removing foreign objects, slimy matter and the like deposited on the back side 21 a of the movable floor 21 and the side wall 14 of the pool body 10 in the space 23 under the movable floor, and discharging of the removed foreign objects, slimy matter and the like from the water outlet 12. The space 23 under the movable floor can be thus kept clean.
Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the pool body is formed in the shape of a rectangle in plan view. However, the configuration of the pool body is not limited to such a constitution. For example, the configurations such as a circle in plan view or an ellipse in plan view may be employed.

Claims

1: A pool having a pool body for containing water and a floor disposed in such a manner of forming a space between itself and the bottom of the pool body,

in which a water flow generation means for generating a water flow in water contained in the space formed under the floor is provided.

2: A pool according to claim 1, wherein a,

the floor is a movable floor which is movable along a side wall of the pool body.

3: A floor pool according to claim 2, wherein

a water outlet is provided at the bottom of the pool body

and the water outlet is disposed approximately at the rotational center in plan view of the rotational flow formed by the water flow generation means.

4: A pool according to claim 3, wherein the water flow generation means is a rotational water flow generation apparatus for generating a water flow by the rotation of a plurality of rotation blades,

and a plurality of the rotational water flow generation apparatuses are disposed in the vicinity of the side walls of the pool body so that the water flow generated by the rotational water flow generation apparatuses flows along the side wall of the pool body.

5: A method of cleaning a pool having a pool body for containing water and a floor disposed in such a manner of forming a space between itself and the bottom of the pool body,

the method having a water flow generation step for generating a water flow in water contained in a space formed under the floor.

6: A floor pool according to claim 1, wherein wherein a water outlet is provided at the bottom of the pool body,

7: A pool according to claim 6, wherein the water flow generation means is a rotational water flow generation apparatus for generating a water flow by the rotation of a plurality of rotation blade,

8: A pool according to claim 1, wherein the water flow generation means is a rotational water flow generation apparatus for generating a water flow by the rotation of a plurality of rotation blade,

9: A pool according to claim 2, wherein the water flow generation means is a rotational water flow generation apparatus for generating a water flow by the rotation of a plurality of rotation blade,