GB2186483A - Swimming pool installation - Google Patents

Abstract

An indoor swimming pool installation comprises a rectangular platform 4 vertically movable, by a hoisting system comprised of four cables 10 coiled upon a common winding drum, between a pool-closing position in which the platform 4 rests upon a ledge 3 and the horizontal upper surface 5 of the platform 4 is flush with the pool surround surface 6 and a fully open position in which the platform 4 is immediately beneath the ceiling 7. Shortly beneath the fully open position is a docking position of the platform 4 in which the platform 4 is suspended upon four hooks releasably engageable in recesses 23 in the platform 4. In the closed position, the cables 10 are detachable from the platform 4 and can be drawn upwards to leave the space above the platform 4 clear. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Installation According to the present invention, there is provided an installation comprising an artificial pool, a rigid platform the upper surface of which is substantially horizontal, and means serving to displace the platform away from the pool from a closed position in which the platform at least partially closes the pool at the top of the pool and is usable as a floor and an open position in which it leaves the pool open,andto return the platform to said closed position.

Advantageously, the displacing means serves to lift the platform from its closed position to its open position, and to lower itto its closed position.

It is particularly advantageous if the displacing means is such that it does not obstruct the upper such face of the platform when the latter is in use as a floor.

In orderthatthe invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective interior view of a room in a building and including an artificial swimming pool, with a rigid platform in a partially raised position, Figure2 shows a detail of the ceiling of the room, with the platform in an almost fully raised position, Figure 3 shows a perspective exterior view of the roof ofthe building, Figure 4shows a perspective view of an open lidded housing of a platform-hoisting system on the roof, and Figure 5shows electrical circuitry of the platformhoisting system.

Referring to the drawings, a room 1 contains a swimming pool 2 of rectangularform. The mouth of the pool 2 has an inwardly-projecting ledge 3 around its whole circumference. The ledge 3 serves to bear a rigid wooden platform 4which, in the closed position in which it bears upon the ledge 3 around its cir cumference, fits in the mouth ofthe pool 2 and has its horizontal uppersurface5flushwiththefloorsur- face 6 surrounding the pool. The platform 4 is liftable and lowerable, between that closed position and a fullyopen position in which it is immediately beneaththe ceiling 7 ofthe room 1, by means of a hoisting system 8 supported by the roof 9.The system 8 includesfourcables 10which are wound upon a helically grooved drum 11 contained in a lidded housing 12. Each cable extends from the winding drum 11 through a slot 13 in the housing 12, bends horizontally around a vertical-axis guiding pulley 14, bends vertically around a horizontal-axis guiding pulley 15, extends through the roof via an upwardly protruding tube 16 serving to prevent rainwater penetration via the hole providedthroughthe roofforthecable10, and extends down to a steadying weight 17 connected to the platform 4via a quick-release coupling 18 which is so designed that, after uncoupling, the sur faceS is flush.Fixed immediately underneath the cei- ling 7 are four casings 19 each provided with a hole 20 which receives the corresponding weight 17 in the raised position ofthe platform 4, and also each provided with a slot 21 from which protrudes downwardly a hook 22 which engages in an associated recess 23 in the adjacent side wall 24 of the platform 4.

The hook 22 has an upturned free end 25 for engaging behind the side wall 24. The weights 17 are preferablyfrusto-conical in shape to avoid theirjamming against the undersides of the casings 19 in the event that the weights swing significantly when being raised without the platform 4.

The housing 12 contains an electric motor 26 which, via a worm gear and clutch 27, a pinion 28 and a chain 29, drives a sprocket wheel 30 fixed to the drum 11. Also contained in the housing 12 is a waterproof box31 containing various items of the circuitry shown in Figure 5. One ofthe cables 10 isformed with a fixed projection 32 arranged to operate a feeler 33 of a normally closed, limit switch 34 defining the maximum extent of lowering ofthecables 10. As a safeguard, it may be preferable to employ two such limit switches, one in respect of each oftwo diametrically opposite cables 10.

Each hook 22 isturnable about a horizontal axis and can be turned outofthevertical path of move ment ofthe platform 4 by a solenoid 35 provided in the associated casing 19. Each solenoid is inclined downwardly to its hook and has its armature articulated to the hook, so that the weight of the armature biasses the hook into its engaged position, which is vertical.

One ofthe casings 19 contains a normallyclosed, limit switch 36 operable by the associated weight 17 arriving in its uppermost position. As a safeguard, there is advantageously another such limit switch arranged in the diametrically opposite casing 19for operation by the diametrically opposite weight 17.

Referring pa rticularly to the circuitry shown in Figure 5, two lines 37 and 38, of which 37 is a negative supply line, are interconnected by a solenoid R1 in series with a manually operable, normally open, up switch 40, itself in parallel with normally open, holding relay contacts R1/1 and normally closed contacts R3/1. Also interconnecting the lines 37 and 38 are a timer solenoid TMR1 in series with normally closed, up auxiliary contacts UP AUX and normally open contacts R1/2.Atimer switch TMR1/1 operated bythe solenoid TMR1 is shown connected to the line 38 byway ofthe contacts R1/2 and, in parallel therewith, normally open contacts R2/1 and to the line 37 by way of a down auxiliary limit switch DOWN AUX 1, an up contactor44ofthe motor 26 and the up limit switch 36. When the switch TMR 1/1 is changed-over, it is connected to the line 37 via the solenoid TMR2, or two normally open sets of contacts DOWN AUX 2 and R2/2, and, via a timer switch TMR2/1 associated with the solenoid TMR2, either via a solenoid R3 or via the down limit switch 34 and a down contactor46 ofthe motor 26.The lines 37 and 38 are also interconnected by way of the solenoids 35, normally closed contacts TMR3/1, normally open contacts DOWN AUX 3, normally open contacts R2/3 and normally closed contacts R3/2. The contacts UP AUX are operated by the up contactor44, whilst the contacts DOWN AUX 1, DOWN AUX 2 and DOWN AUX 3 are operated by the down contactor 46. The contacts DOWN AUX 1 are used for an electrical interlock to preventthe up contactorfrom being energized atthe same time as the down contactor, The two contactors are also mechanically interlocked. The contacts R2/3 are holding contacts of a solenoid R2 connected in series with a down switch 47 across the lines 37 and 38.The contacts TMR3/1 andthesol- enoids 35 are arranged in parallel with a timer sol enoidTMR3.An infrared detectorsystem R4/1, R5 and R5/1 is connected between a live supply line 48 and the line 37, the detector system also including normally closed relay contacts R5/2 via which and a dead man master switch 49 and a normally closed, overload switch 50 the live line 48 is connected to the line 38. The infra-red detector system is a safety precaution arranged to detect objects immediately to any side of the path of movement of the platform 4, particularly in order to prevent the platform being lowered onto an objector person beside the pool.

The operation of the installation will now be described. With the platform 4 in its closed position, in which it has served as, for example, a dance floor, and with the cables 10 coupled to the platform, with a small amount of slack in the cables having allowed the couplings 18to be readily engaged, the master switch 49 is closed and the up switch 40 is then closed to energize the solenoid R1 This causes the contacts R1/1 and R1/2 to be closed, and the up contactor44 is energized via the switches TMR1/1 and 36 and the contacts DOWN AUX 1, and thus the contacts UP AUX are opened. The motor 26takes upthe small amount of slack in the cables 10 and then lifts the platform 4.As the platform 4approaches its fully raised position, it pushes the hooks 22 slightly aside.

Aweight 17 opens the limit switch 36 to de-energize the motor 26 and closes the contacts UPAUXto start thetimerTMRl.Aftera predetermineddelayof,for example, five seconds to allowthe motor 26 to stop fully, the switch TMR1/1 operates to start the down timer TMR2 and, throughythe switch TMR2/1 and the down limit switch 34, to energize the down con tactor46 of the motor to open the contacts DOWN AUX 1, to close the contacts DOWN AUX 2 and DOWN AUX3, and to lowerthe platform 4, sothat the hooks 22 ride into the recesses 23 and theirfree ends 25 engage behind the side walls 24 of the platform 4, so thatthe platform 4 is anchored in a docking position,whereupon the timerTMR2 oper- ates its switch TMR2/1 to de-energize the motor and close the contacts DOWN AUX 1 and open the contacts DOWN AUX 2 and DOWN AUX 3 and to en ergizethe solenoid R3. The lowering of the platform 4 closes the switch 36 whilst the energization ofthe solenoid R3 opens the contacts R3/1 and R3/2, so deenergizing the solenoid R1, so opening the contacts R1/1 and R1/2. The opening ofthe contacts R1/2 de energizes the solenoid TMR1 whereupon the switch TMR1/1 returns to its initial condition.This also deenergizes the solenoid TMR2 which return its switch TMR2/1 to its initial condition, as well as the solenoid R3, whereby the contacts R3/1 and R/2areclosed.

Then the master switch 49 is released to de-energize the system.

To lower the platform, the down switch 47 is oper ated, which energizes the solenoid R2,whereupon the contacts R2/1, R2/2 and R2/3 are closed. Closure of the contacts R2/1 causes the up contactor 44 to be energized and thus the contacts UP AUX to be opened and the motorto lift the platform 4untilthe weight opens the switch 36 and the up contactor 44 is de-energized. The resultant closing of the contacts UPAUX energizes the solenoidTMRl and, atthe op- eration of the switch TMR1/1 the down contactor46 is energized to open the contacts DOWN AUX 1 and to close the contacts DOWN AUX 2 and DOWN AUX 3, sothatthetiming function ofthesolenoidTMR2is held off via the contacts DOWN AUX 2 and R2/2. The closing of the contacts DOWN AUX 3 starts the timer TMR3 and energizesthesolenoids35to pullthe hooks 22 out ofthe path ofthe platform 4. The timer TMR 3 provides a sufficient delay before opening its contactsTMR3/1 to allow the platform 4to pass the hooks 22 completely. Astheweights 17 lower, they close the switch 36.The platform 4 is lowered until it rests upon the ledge 3, and the cables 10 continue to be lowered thereafter to a small extent to produce a slight amount ofslacktherein,whereupon the limit switch 34 is opened, and the down contactor is deenergized to de-energize the motor, to close the contacts DOWN AUX 1 and to open the contacts DOWN AUX 2 and DOWN AUX 3. The solenoid TMR 2 is then energized to start the timer TMR2which after a predetermined delay operates its switch TMR2/1 to energize the solenoid R3 to open the contacts R3/1 and R3/2 to de-energize the solenoid R2 and thus open the contacts R2/1, R2/2 and R2/3 to de-energize the solenoids TMR1 and TMR2 to return the switches TMR1/1 and TMR2/1 to their initial positions. The readily releasable couplings 18 are then disconnected and the up switch 40 is operated to liftthe weights 17 into the casings 19. Then the master switch 49 is released to de-energize the system.

When it is desired to raise the platform again,the master switch 49 is closed and the down switch 47 operated to cause the weights 17 to be lowered for the couplings 18 to be re-engaged.

Claims (15)

1. An installation comprising an artificial pool, a rigid platform the upper surface of which is substantially horizontal, and means serving to displace the platform away from the pool from a closed position in which the platform at least partially closes the pool atthetop ofthe pool and is usable as afloor and an open position in which itleavesthe pool open,andto return the platform to said closed position.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means serves to liftthe platform from said closed position to said open position and to lower the platform from said open position to said closed position.

3. An installation as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means extends upwardly from said uppersurface of said platform during lifting and lowering of said platform but, with said platform in said closed position, is movable into a condition in which said means does not constitute obstruction of said upper surface.

4. An installation as claimed in claim 3,wherein said means comprises elongate members detachably connected to said platform at respective zones of said upper surface and extending upwardlytherefrom,there being drive means arranged to draw said elongate members upwards so as to lift said platform when said members are connected to said platform and as to move said members into said condition when said members are not connected to said platform.

5. An installation as claimed in claim 4, wherein said elongate members comprises respective cables and said drive means comprises winding drum means round which said cables are coiled.

6. An installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein said elongate members include respective masses in the lower end regions of the respective elongate members.

7. An installation as claimed in claim 6, and further comprising, above said open position, respective casings within which said masses are received in said open position.

8. An installation as claimed in claim 6 or7, wherein said masses are of upwardly tapering form.

9. An installation as claimed in any one of claims 2to 8, and further comprising detentmeansarran- ged to detain said platform releasably in said open position and displacing means arranged to displace said detent means out of engagementwith said platform.

10. An installation as claimed in claim 9, wherein said detent means comprises a plurality of downwardly-extending hooks arranged around said open position, and said displacing means is arranged to displace said hooks from positions in which they project into the path of movement of said platform between said closed position and said open position into positions in which they are out of said path of movement.

11. An installation asclaimed in claim 10, wherein said displacing means comprises a plurality of electrical solenoids with their armatures articulated to the respective hooks, said solenoids being inclined downwardlyto said hooks.

12. An installation as claimed in any preceding claim, and further comprising control circuitry including first limit switch means arranged to detect the arrival of said platform in said closed position and second limit switch means arranged to detect the arrival of said platform in said open position.

13. An installation as claimed in claim 12 as appended to claim 9 as appended to claim 4, wherein said circuitryfurther includes afirsttimeroperableto provide a dwell between upward movement of said platform by said drive means and downward movement of said platform by said drive means, a second timer arranged to preset the distance moved downwards by the platform from a fully raised position thereof to the open position in which said detent means engages said platform, and a third timer operable to ensure that said displacing means holds said detent means out of engagement with said platform during its movement from said open position to said closed position.

14. An installation as claimed in any preceding claim and further comprising detecting meansarran- ged to detect the presence of foreign objects at loca tions along the sides ofthe path of movement of said platform from said open position to said closed position.

15. An installation, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.