WO2007048945A1

WO2007048945A1 - Device for moving a rigid pool cover

Info

Publication number: WO2007048945A1
Application number: PCT/FR2006/002431
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emmanuel Dauguet Barbat
Original assignee: Emmanuel Dauguet Barbat
Priority date: 2005-10-28
Filing date: 2006-10-27
Publication date: 2007-05-03
Also published as: FR2892746B1; FR2892746A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a non-powered device for vertically moving a pool rigid cover. It consists of at least one sealed tank, comprising inside, at least one sealed sliding counterweight (2) linked to the rigid cover (1) of the pool (8) via at least one predimensioned cable (3) passing through at least one pulley (4) fixed to a structure elevated relative to the pool (8), the rigid cover assembly (1) being thus secured to the sealed counterweight(s) (2) the total weight of which is slightly greater than that of the rigid cover (1) located naturally in a high position, and it further comprises a system for filling and emptying a fluid (12) inside said tank (6), enabling through a variable Archimedean thrust (Pa), the counterweight(s) and hence reciprocally the rigid cover (1) to be displaced. The inventive device is particularly designed to swimming pools.

Description

DEVICE FOR DISPLACING A RIGID BASIN COVER

The present invention relates to a novel device for moving a rigid pelvic cover.

Swimming pools are already known comprising a removable cover plate in a vertical translation, allowing to enjoy the pleasures of swimming when it is in the up position and provide a solution in terms of safety, thermal insulation, and exploitation of the covered surface when it is in the low position.

(Various systems have been designed with the aid of devices for vertically moving a cover, described for example in documents EP 1 148 185, EP 278 009 and EP 353 833.)

Known systems have the major disadvantage of requiring complex actuating means and, expensive, and / or noisy and in particular motorized devices such as winches, cylinders, pistons and the like. In addition, these solutions are often energy consuming and may impose relatively complex safety devices, adjustment and maintenance actions.

Patent FR-A-2 785 008 also discloses a simpler device in which the movement of a rigid pelvic cover is driven and initiated by the movement of a float inside a well, the float communicating to the basin by a calibrated orifice and by a cable and pulleys and being able to cause the immersion of the plate by a fluctuation of the level of the water. This device is immersed, resulting in a particular choice of water-resistant materials, rapid wear and complex maintenance. It is not adaptable to existing basins because of the central well, or to basins with variable depth.

For this purpose, the device for raising or lowering a rigid cover covering a basin using a method using the buoyancy force, according to the invention, overcomes these disadvantages. It comprises at least one sealed tank having, at its inside, at least one sliding waterproof counterweight connected to the rigid cover of the basin by means of at least one pre-dimensioned cable passing through at least one pulley fixed to an elevated structure relative to the basin, the entire rigid cover thus being secured to or sealed counterweight whose total mass is slightly greater than that of the rigid cover naturally located in the upper position, and that further comprises a system of filling and emptying a fluid inside this or these reservoirs, allowing thanks to a variable buoyancy pressure, the vertical displacement of the counterweight and thus that of the rigid cover. The assembly tank / cable / pulley / counterweight forms non-motorized assistance means of displacement.

Indeed, in order to lower the rigid cover which is naturally in the upper position and cover the basin, a fluid supply is carried out inside the tank or tanks. The level of the rising fluid, at the moment when it meets the volume of the counterweight or counterweight, an Archimedes push is created, reducing this or these. When the total immersed volume of the counterweight (s) is greater than the volume of fluid necessary to accommodate the difference in mass between

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Hègte 26) that of the hard cover and that of the counterweight, the balance is broken. The resultant of the force generated by the mass of the counterweight (s) and the buoyancy is lower than that of the rigid cover, the counterweight (s) rise and the rigid cover descends. The supply of fluid and therefore the mounting of the counterweight or counterweight is made until the rigid cover reaches its recovery position. Conversely, in order to mount the rigid cover and to discover the basin, a simple uniformly distributed emptying of the fluid in the reservoir (s) lowers the submerged volumes and consequently the Archimedes' thrust, to the equilibrium stage from which the resulting from the force generated by the latter and the mass of the counterweight or weights is greater than that generated by the mass of the rigid cover. As a result, the counterweight (s) descend and the rigid cover rises.

According to particular embodiments:

The supply of fluid inside the tank or reservoirs is achieved by means of a pump.

The fluid in the reservoir or tanks is water drawn and reinjected into the basin.

The pump allowing the supply or the emptying of water in the tank or reservoirs is that of the classic group of filtration of the basin, if this basin is a swimming pool or if it already comprises, for its functioning a group of filtration, supplemented by the installation of a bypass placed at the inlet and outlet of this pump, so that the opening of a valve located downstream of the filtration circuit raises the level of the water in the reservoir or tanks and vice versa when opening a valve located upstream. In this case, it is the pump of the existing filtration unit that varies the water level in the tank or tanks and therefore that of the basin.

A system of overflow is realized at the top of the tank, well above the level of water necessary for the closing of the basin, so as to ensure the stability of the rigid cover in low position by means of a thrust of Archimedes more important, the excess water at the overflow level is channeled to the basin so that the system operates in a closed circuit.

A water supply in the tank or tanks at very low flow can be automatic and regular so as to ensure the stability of the hard cover in the low position in case of high evaporation due to hot weather. This very low water flow is then conducted in all or tanks through the pump that starts automatically and regularly and a flow restrictor. The water overflows by the overflow, previously described, to be returned to the basin. The maximum water level in the tank or tanks is thus maintained permanently.

In the case of the presence of several tanks, according to one embodiment, the pump is connected to a pipe network connecting them in series, to each other at their base, so as to play the principle of communicating vessels. The level of water in the various reservoirs goes up or down uniformly in all of these. Several water supply lines may also be considered.

One or more post systems, composed of one or more parts, at least one of which is hollow and leak-proof, uniformly distributed around the periphery of the basin, play the role of both a reservoir in which the watertight counterweight is located and a structure, the pulley then being fixed at the top of the post system. This or these post systems are then each constituted either of a single pole which will be hollow and sealed, or both of a pole forming a support and guiding of the cables and a sealed tank which is attached thereto.

These post systems serve as a support for the laying of a structure or framework to create an aesthetic cover thus transforming the basin into a sought-after and practical structure that can be the support of various fun events. This cover can be functional and ecological by supporting solar panels, runoff water can be collected via gutters and be accompanied, by a device of evacuation of rain water, inside the systems of posts thus allowing the overflow system described above to maintain the water level of the basin.

The rigid cover reserves a volume for ballast so as to compensate for any changes in density. For convenience, the counterweight or weights will have a predefined mass and the adjustment of the differences in mass can be done, as a balance, a ballast more or less important in the center of the hard cover.

The hard cover is a floor that can support an operating load to use as a play area (reception, games or other).

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention by taking as an example a non-limiting system of posts, serving both as a reservoir and a structure. In this nonlimiting example, the basin is octagonal and the posts, eight in number, are evenly spaced: Figures 1 to 4, non-limiting, represent in section, the device of the invention taking as an example the mechanism of a single pole during the various phases of vertical translation of the hard cover.

Figure 1, the rigid cover is in the upper position, it is at the head of the post. Figure 2, the hard cover goes down.

Figure 3, the rigid cover is in the low position, it covers the basin. Figure 4, the hard cover goes up.

Figure 5, non-limiting, shows a schematic example, in top view of the basin, representing a solution for regulating the water level in the posts for the downward phase of the hard cover. Figure 6, non-limiting, shows a schematic example, in top view of the basin, representing a solution for regulating the water level in the columns for the ascending phase of the hard cover.

With reference to these drawings, the device comprises a rigid cover part (1) covering the water of a basin (8) which is connected to a watertight counterweight (2) via a cable (3) passing by a pulley (4) located at the head of a sealed hollow post (6). The sealing counterweight (2) is located and slides inside the sealed hollow post (6). Its mass (M2) is slightly greater than that of the rigid cover portion concerned (Ml), so that in equilibrium phase, the watertight counterweight (2) rests on the ground (11), resting on its skid shock absorber and the rigid cover (1) in elevation close to the sealed hollow column head (6). The principle is as follows: by varying the water level (12) in the sealed hollow post (6) via a device consisting of a water pipe network (14) connected to a by - pass (15) connected to the inlet and the outlet of the pump (13) of the basin (8), it is possible to exert on the watertight counterweight (2) an Archimedean thrust (Pa) of intensity variable. This weak force (Pa), additional to that exerted by the mass of the relevant rigid cover part (Ml), is enough to reverse the equilibrium and see the rigid cover (1) go down. Indeed, when the watertight counterweight (2) is immersed with a volume of water greater than that which would be necessary to overcome the difference in mass between that of the relevant rigid cover portion (Ml) and that of the watertight counterweight (M2), the counterweight (2) rises and the rigid cover (1) goes down to its support (9).

It is then sufficient to drain the water (12) from the sealed hollow post (6), via the bypass (15) connected to the inlet and the outlet of the pump (13) of the basin (8) , to reverse the movement of the counterweight (2) and see the hard cover (1) go up. The rise speed of the assembly depends on the flow rate of the pump (13). The sealed hollow columns (6) are connected to each other at their base by a pipe network (14) which distributes the flow of water uniformly between them so as to optimize the principle of communicating vessels.

The advantages of this device are numerous: it is at the same time simple and playful, automatic, inexpensive, ecological, of low maintenance, reassuring (in case of bad maneuver the rigid cover will rise), silent, and it lowers the level of basin water when the hard cover is in the low position which allows a thick hard cover to register in the pool without being immersed. In addition, this device can be adapted to any form of pool and any load of rigid cover.

According to Figure 1, the rigid cover (1) is in the high position. The assembly is in equilibrium, the resultant of the forces is zero, the force exerted by the mass of the relevant rigid cover part (Ml) is equal to the force exerted by the mass of the counterweight (M2) minus the ground reaction (Rl 1).

The water level in the post (12) is almost zero The valves of the bypass device (15) connected to the inlet and the outlet of the pump (13) of the basin (8) are closed.

The counterweight (2) rests on the ground (11) on its damping pad

The hard cover (1) is at the head of the pole (6)

The water level in the basin (8) is maximum

According to Figure 2, the hard cover goes down. The force exerted by the mass of the relevant rigid cover portion (Ml) is greater than that exerted by the mass of the counterweight (M2) minus the buoyancy force (Pa).

The sealed hollow post (6) is filled little by little with water by opening a valve of the bypass device (15) at the outlet of the pump (13) of the basin (8).

The water is drawn in the basin (8), its level drops, that of the pole (12) rises.

The buoyancy (Pa) increases and the equilibrium stage is exceeded.

The watertight counterweight (2) rises to the flow rate of the pump (13). According to Figure 3, the rigid cover (1) is in the low position. The whole is in equilibrium, the resultant of the forces is null. The force exerted by the mass of the relevant rigid cover portion (Ml) minus the reaction of its support (R9) is equal to the force exerted by the mass of the counterweight (M2) minus the thrust of Archimedes (Pa) .

The sealed hollow post (6) is filled to the maximum.

Its water level (12) reaches the overflow level (10).

The watertight counterweight (2) is at the highest.

The buoyancy of Archimedes (Pa) is maximum.

Adjustment and maintenance of the watertight counterweight (2) can be done thanks to a trapdoor (5)

The valves of the bypass device (15) connected to the inlet and the outlet of the pump (13) of the basin (8) are closed.

The hard cover (1) is in the lower position resting on a support (9).

It is at the level of the suburban floor (7).

The water level of the pool (8) is at its lowest.

According to Figure 4, the rigid cover (1) rises. The force exerted by the mass of the relevant rigid cover portion (Ml) is less than the force exerted by the weight of the counterweight (M2) minus the buoyancy force (Pa).

The hollow hollow post (6) is emptied little by little of water by opening a valve of the bypass device (15) at the inlet of the pump (13) of the basin (8).

The buoyancy of Archimedes (Pa) decreases.

The balance is broken, the watertight counterweight (2) goes down to the speed of the pump flow (13), the rigid cover (1) rises.

The water is reinjected into the basin (8), its level rises. According to Figure 5 (non-limiting), water is injected uniformly into the posts (6).

The various sealed hollow columns (6) of the basin (8) are connected to each other in series by a pipe network (14) itself connected to a bypass (15) connected to the inlet and the outlet of the pump (13) of the basin (8).

By opening a valve of the bypass device (15) at the outlet of the circuit of the pump (13) of the basin (8), the water drawn from the basin (8) is injected into the pipe network (14) by at least two opposite sides to distribute the flow evenly between the various sealed hollow columns (6).

The counterweights (2) go up and the rigid cover (1) goes down. According to Figure 6 (non-limiting), the water is emptied uniformly poles (6).

The various sealed hollow columns (6) of the basin (8) are connected to each other in series by a pipe network (14) itself connected to a bypass (15) connected to the inlet and the outlet of the filtration group (13) of the basin (8).

By opening a valve of the bypass device (15) at the inlet of the circuit of the pump (13) of the basin (8), the water of the sealed hollow columns (12) is emptied by the network of channeling (14) by at least two opposite sides in order to uniformly distribute the emptying of the various sealed hollow columns (6), and is reinjected into the basin (8).

The counterweights (2) descend and the rigid cover (1) rises.

By way of non-limiting example, the rigid cover will have a total mass of 500 kg and the counterweights, 8 in number, will each be characterized by a mass of 67.5 kg and a volume of 20 liters. The total mass of all counterweights will be 540 kg (67.5 kg * 8). When the posts are emptied, the counterweights rest on the ground. At the moment when the water supply in the posts immerses the counterweights to more than 25% of their volume, ie for example 26%, the balance is broken, the counterweights rise and the rigid cover goes down. Is :

20 liters * 26% = 5.2 liters of water, or 5.2 kg less per counterweight 540 kg - (5.2kg * 8) = 540 kg - 41.6 kg = 498.40 kg overall counterweight 498.40 kg (mass of all counterweights - buoyancy load) <500 kg (mass of the hard cover)

The maximum immersion of the counterweights can be adjusted, via overflow, to 75% of their volume. At maximum immersion, the weight of all the counterweights less the buoyancy force is 420 kg:

20 liters * 75% = 15 liters of water, 15 kg less per counterweight 540 kg - (15 kg * 8) = 420 kg

The hard cover then covers the pond with a pressure of 80 kg: 500 kg - 420 kg = 80 kg The device according to the invention is intended for existing basins and then be made to measure and installed by means of a trench dug around said basin to set up its various elements and, where appropriate, its connection to the filtration unit existing, to the basins of commerce not yet built and then be custom made and set up during the construction of said basin, the basins trade not yet built and then be manufactured in series and marketed as a "accessory" possible to the basins destined, from their conception, to welcome it and marketed as a whole. The elements of the construction, transported on one or more pallets, are brought on the construction site for the assembly which will be total or partial, certain elements being able to be assembled before the setting on pallet. The invention is not limited to the examples described above. It also relates, in general, any non-motorized device where a force is exerted on the hard cover manually, without the use of fluid.

Claims

1) Device for raising or lowering a rigid cover (1) covering a basin (8) according to a mechanical process using the buoyancy pressure characterized in that it comprises at least one sealed reservoir comprising, in its interior, at at least one sliding counterweight (2) connected to a rigid cover (1) of the pond (8) via at least one pre-dimensioned cable (3) passing through at least one pulley (4) fixed to a structure elevation relative to the basin (8), the entire rigid cover (1) thus being secured to the or sealed counterweight (2) whose total mass is slightly greater than that of the hard cover (1) naturally located in high position, and in that it further comprises a system for filling and emptying a fluid inside this or these reservoirs, allowing thanks to a variable Archimedean thrust (Pa), the vertical displacement of the or counterweights (2) and thus that of the hard cover (1).

2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the supply of fluid inside the reservoir or tanks is formed by means of a pump (13).

3) Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the fluid in the reservoir or tanks is water drawn and reinjected into the basin (8).

4) Device according to claims 2 or 3 characterized in that the pump (13) for the supply or discharge of water into the reservoir or tanks is that of the conventional filtration group basin (8), completed by the installation a bypass (15) placed at the inlet and outlet of this pump (13).

5) Device according to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that an overflow system (10) is formed at the top of the tank so as to ensure the stability of the rigid cover (1) in the low position, the surplus water at the level of the overflow (10) being channeled to the basin (8) so that the system operates in a closed circuit.

6) Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the supply of water (12) in the or tanks at very low flow is automatic and regular thanks to the pump (13) which starts automatically and regularly and a flow reducer, the maximum water level in the tank or reservoirs being thus maintained permanently.

7) Device according to claims 2,3,4,5 or 6 characterized in that, in the case of several tanks, the pump (13) is connected to a pipe network (14) connecting them in series with each other at their base, so as to play the principle of communicating vessels.

8) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that one or more post systems (6), composed of one or more parts, at least one of which is hollow and sealed, uniformly distributed at the periphery of the basin (8) play the role of both reservoir in which is the sealed counterweight (2), and structure, the pulley (4) being then fixed at the head of the post system (6). 9) Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the post systems (6) serve as a support for the installation of a structure or frame to create a cover where the runoff can be collected by the intermediate of gutters and accompanied inside the column systems (6).

10) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the rigid cover (1) reserves a volume for ballast so as to compensate for any changes in density.

11) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the hard cover (1) is a floor that can support an operating load.

12) Pond comprising a device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.