Apparatus for generating water currents in swimming pools or the

Details Apparatus for generating water currents in swimming pools or the Apparatus for generating water currents in swimming pools or the

1997-03-28

2000-02-29

Thorpe, Timothy S.

Pumps

Condition responsive control of pump drive motor

Single motor control element responsive to means sensing...

E04H 412

Patent

active

060301805

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to apparatus for generating a current in a swimming pool or other vessel containing a liquid such as water.
There have previously been proposed various types of apparatus for generating water currents in swimming pools whereby the water current acts as resistance to a swimmer so that swimming exercises can be carried out in a pool of quite short length.
Hitherto, most types of water current generating apparatus for swimming pools have consisted of a water inlet and intake pipe mounted in a wall of the swimming pool, a separate outlet pipe and water outlet mounted in another location of the swimming pool and pump or jet means for receiving water from the inlet pipe and arranged to forcibly eject the water through the outlet pipe and water outlet to create a water current in the swimming pool. This type of apparatus, however, suffers from the disadvantage that separate mountings for the intake and outlet pipes and for the pump are required to be made in the swimming pool.
It is therefore desirable to provide water current generating apparatus for swimming pools and the like in which one or more disadvantages of prior art apparatus are alleviated. It is also desirable to provide water current generating apparatus of a relatively simple construction which can be readily installed in the wall of a swimming pool or the like.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for generating a current in a swimming pool or other vessel containing a liquid, such as water, the apparatus comprising a liquid intake chamber for receiving liquid from the pool or other vessel, discharge means defining a discharge channel and having a discharge outlet, and pump means for receiving liquid from the intake chamber and discharging liquid into the pool or other vessel via the discharge channel and outlet, wherein the intake chamber and the discharge channel are contained within a common housing, the discharge channel being of tubular form and containing a pumping element of the pump means.
The discharge means preferably comprises a discharge tube or pipe extending longitudinally within the housing and arranged so that the space in the housing around the discharge tube forms the intake chamber. An open front end of the tube conveniently forms the discharge outlet and is at least partly surrounded by an inlet formed by an open front end of the housing leading to the intake chamber. The other, rear end of the tube is placed in communication with the intake chamber, preferably by terminating before a closed, rear end of the housing. Alternatively, one or more communication passages may be provided in a rear end portion of the discharge tube. The arrangement is preferably such that the liquid flows in one direction in the intake chamber and is directed by the closed end of the housing to flow in the opposite direction through the discharge channel containing the pumping element.
The pumping element of the pump means preferably comprises an impeller which may be rotatably driven by any convenient drive means, such as an electric drive motor. Preferably the drive means is connected to the impeller by a drive shaft which extends through a rear end wall of the housing remote from the inlet and outlet.
The discharge channel and/or the intake chamber may include guide means arranged to direct the water longitudinally along the discharge channel and/or the intake chamber.
Preferably, a safety guard or cover is provided for the inlet to the intake chamber to prevent part of a swimmer's body or clothing from being sucked into the apparatus when the pump means is operating. The discharge outlet preferably also has a safety guard to prevent objects being inserted into the discharge channel where the pumping impeller is located. A common safety guard in the form of a grid or grate may be provided which extends over the front ends of the housing and the discharge tube forming the inlet and outlet. Alternatively, the safety guards for the inlet and outlet may be formed in separate parts which may be adapt

REFERENCES:
patent: 3977027 (1976-08-01), Speck
patent: 4665572 (1987-05-01), Davidson et al.
patent: 4853987 (1989-08-01), Jaworski
patent: 5347664 (1994-09-01), Hamza et al.

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