POOL AERATOR

Abstract

The invention provides an improved pool aerator for pools with water recirculation circuit, comprising a hemispherical body (200a) and an atmospheric air intake pipe (201). The body of the aerator comprises a rounded plastic object, having in the middle area a cylindrical portion (221), and at one end with a connecting means (202) to the pool nozzle, the middle portion of the aerator body continuing with a hemispherical dome (223), inside being a Venturi tube made in the form of two intersected frustoconical spaces—one for inlet (209) and the other (211) for mixing and discharging water mixed with air—whose two axes form an angle (α) between 10 and 20 degrees. The mixing hole communicates with a vertical cylindrical hole (203), in which the intake pipe is inserted by sliding, until the inner wall of the frustoconical hole is reached.

Claims

1. Swimming pool aerator provided with a water recirculation circuit, comprising a body with a Venturi tube channel and an atmospheric air intake pipe above the pool, characterized in that said spray body consists of a frustoconical plastic tube (100), provided at the smaller diameter end with a connecting means (102) to a recirculating water outlet in the pool, below the pool water level, the other end, of larger diameter, being free for the jet outlet of the aspirated air together with the recirculated water, in the pool water, the axis of the frustoconical plastic tube (100) being inclined at an angle (α) between 10-20 degrees to the perpendicular to the base plane of the connecting means (102), and in the first third of the length of the spray body (100) from the end with the connecting means (102), said spray body (100) being provided with a cylindrical branch (103) also acting as guide, in which the lower end of the intake pipe (101) is inserted by sliding until it reaches the inner wall of the tube.

2. Pool aerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means (102) is a cylindrical flange threaded on the outside, also having a hollow interior, which is also frustoconical in shape, being connected to the frustoconical plastic tube of the spray body (100), the threaded flange screwed into the existing nozzle in the pool wall, thus ensuring the installation of the aerator in the pool.

3. Pool aerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the air intake pipe (101) consists of a plastic pipe having an outer diameter which allows it to slide through the cylindrical guide (103), and a length that makes its upper third rise above the water, the pipe being closed at the upper end by a plug (104) and being provided, also at this end, with a longitudinal slot (105) for air absorption, which ensures a low noise level during operation.

4. A hemispherical pool aerator provided with a water recirculation circuit comprising a spray body made in the form of a Venturi tube (200a) and an atmospheric air intake pipe (201), characterized in that, in preferred embodiment, the body of the aerator (200a) comprises a rounded plastic object, having in the middle area a cylindrical portion (221), which continues at the end from the pool wall with a connecting means (202), corresponding to the outlet of the water recirculated in the pool, the middle portion (221) of the aerator body (200a) continuing with an area in the form of a hemispherical cap (223), inside the aerator body (200a), being a Venturi tube made in the form of two frustoconical holes with a small common base—one for inlet (209) and the other (211) for mixing and discharging water mixed with air—the frustoconical inlet hole (209) being located for the most part between the connecting means (202) having a horizontal axis (A-A′), and the other frustoconical hole (211) is located mostly in the middle of the connecting means and the spherical portion of the aerator body, having a longitudinal axis (B-B′) inclined in relation to the horizontal axis (A-A′) of the frustoconical inlet hole (209) at an angle (α) of about 10 to 20 degrees, the frustoconical mixing hole (211) communicating in the first third from the common base with a cylindrical hole (203) having a vertical axis, in which the lower end of the intake pipe is inserted by sliding, until the inner wall of the frustoconical mixing and discharge hole (211) is reached (201).

5. Pool aerator according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting means (202) is made in the form of a cylindrical portion with a diameter (D1) smaller than the diameter (D) of the middle portion, the connection between them being made by a frustoconical portion (222), the connecting means (202) being provided with an external thread (202a) corresponding to the outlet used for evacuating recirculated water in the pool.

6. Pool aerator according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting means (202) of the body (200b) of the pool aerator is made in the form of a cylindrical portion, is elongated so that the frustoconical inlet hole (209) continues with a cylindrical hole (202b) of the same diameter as the large base of the cone, said cylindrical hole (202b) being threaded inwards corresponding to the outer thread of the outlet used for evacuating recirculated water in the pool.

7. Pool aerator according to claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the intake pipe is closed at the upper end by a plug (204) and is also provided, also at this end, with an air intake hole (205), hidden under the plug, round in shape, which ensures a low level of noise during operation.

8. Pool aerator according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the intake pipe (101, 201) can be made of a single section or of several sections, tightly connected to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Some embodiments of the invention is given below in connection to FIG. 1-4 which represents:

[0019] FIG. 1 is an overview of a first embodiment of the pool aerator according to the invention;

[0020] FIG. 1A, is a detailed view of the pool aerator from FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 1B, is a longitudinal cross-section view of the pool aerator from FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 2, is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the pool aerator;

[0023] FIG. 2A, is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the pool aerator from FIG. 2;

[0024] FIG. 2B, is a comparative cross-sections of the hemispherical shape of the aerator of FIG. 2, superimposed over that of the aerator in FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 2C, is a longitudinal cross-section view of the preferred embodiment of the body of the pool aerator in FIG. 2, and of the air intake pipe from the atmosphere;

[0026] FIG. 2D, is a cross-section view of the aerator of FIG. 2, mounted in the existing nozzle of the pool;

[0027] FIG. 3, is a perspective view of an alternative of the preferred embodiment of the pool aerator body according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 3A, is a side view of the body of the pool aerator from FIG. 3;

[0029] FIG. 3B, is a longitudinal cross-section of the body of the pool aerator from FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 4, is a top view and a longitudinal cross-section of a pool provided with two pool aerators according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The invention consists of two plastic parts, which work on the Venturi principle, the first part being mounted in the existing discharge nozzle in the pool, and the second, which brings the air from the atmosphere from the water surface, into the aerator.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A, the pool aerator with water recirculation circuit includes a spray body 100 and a intake pipe 101 of the atmospheric air. The spray body 100 consists of a frustoconical plastic tube, being provided at the smaller diameter end with a connecting means 102 to a recirculated water outlet/nozzle, in the pool, below the level of the pool water; the other end, larger in diameter, is free for the evacuation of the aspirated air mixed with recirculated water, in the pool water.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 1B, cross-section through the aerator of FIG. 1, the longitudinal axis of the frustoconical plastic tube of the spray body 100 is inclined at an angle (α) between 10-20 degrees from the horizontal (perpendicular to the basic plane of the connecting means 102, so that the intake pipe once inserted in the body of the aerator stands in a vertical position, parallel to the pool wall. In the length of the spray body 100, it is provided with a branch having also the role of cylindrical guide 103, in which it is inserted by sliding, until reaching the inner wall of the tube, the lower end of intake pipe 101. The axis of the cylindrical guide 103 is vertical, so that between this and the longitudinal axis of the spray body there is an angle (a) between 10-20 degrees, an optimal angle and position to produce the maximum efficiency of the density of air bubbles dispersed in water.

[0034] With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the air intake pipe 101 consists of a plastic pipe having an outer diameter that allows it to slide through the cylindrical guide 103, and a length that makes its upper third stand above the water. This pipe is closed at the upper end by a plug 104, being provided, also at this end, in a first embodiment, with a longitudinal slot 105 for air absorption, which ensures a low noise level during operation.

[0035] In a first concrete embodiment, the spray body 100 has the approximate dimensions: the outer diameter of 18 mm at the narrow end, the outer diameter of 43 mm at the opposite end, and a total length of about 195 mm. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b, the aerator has, at the narrow end, cast, a cylindrical flange threaded on the outside, acting as a connecting means 102, having a hollow interior, also of frustoconical shape which is connected on the same diameter to a plastic tube of frustoconical shape of the spray body 100. With the help of this flange the body of the spray 100 is screwed into the body of an existing nozzle in the pool wall (after removing the nozzle ball), thus ensuring the installation of the aerator in the pool. Also, in the first third of the length of the aerator from the connecting means 102, there is a cylindrical guide 103, cast, with an inner diameter of about 11 mm, a height of about 15 mm, vertically oriented, a guide in which the pipe is inserted by sliding air intake 101.

[0036] The air intake pipe 101 consists of a cylindrical plastic pipe with an outer diameter of about 11 mm and a length of about 350 mm, which makes one end of it stand out of the water, the recommended dimensions for mounting the discharge nozzles being 300 mm below the water level. This pipe is closed at one end by a plug 104 and also provided, also at this end, with an air slot 105 of approximate dimensions: 0.5 mm width and 30 mm length. This slot ensures a low level of noise during the operation of the aerator according to the invention.

[0037] The spray body 100 is mounted by screwing the threaded flange 102 into an existing pool discharge nozzle, the air intake pipe 101 is slid into the spray body 100 so that the air slot 105 remains on the surface of the water and the water jet exits through the discharge nozzle, due to the optimal angle of inclination and the position in relation to the spray body 100, sucks the air through the intake pipe 101; air and water are mixed in the spray body and then evacuated with pressure over a length of about 2 m resulting in a curtain of air bubbles 106 (illustrated in FIG. 4).

[0038] With reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2C, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body of the aerator (200a) comprises a rounded plastic object, having in the middle area a cylindrical portion (221), which continues at the end from the pool wall with a connecting means (202), corresponding to the outlet of the water recirculated in the pool, the middle portion (221) of the aerator body (200a) continuing with an area in the form of a hemispherical cap/dom (223), inside the aerator body (200a) being a Venturi tube made in the form of two frustoconical holes with a small common base, one for inlet (209) and the other (211) for mixing and discharging water mixed with air. The axes (A-A′) and (B-B′) of the two frustoconical trunks form an angle (a) between 10 and 20 degrees. The frustoconical mixing hole (211) communicates in the first third from the common base with a cylindrical hole (203) having a vertical axis, in which the lower end of the intake pipe (201) is inserted by sliding, until the inner wall of the frustoconical mixing and discharge hole (211) is reached.

[0039] The pool aerator according to the invention has two parts, preferably of plastic material—a pool aerator body 200a with rounded anti-impact shapes and an atmospheric air intake pipe 201 which is inserted into the aerator body, operating based on the Venturi principle, inside of the aerator body being found the pool aerator from FIG. 1, as shown schematically in FIG. 2B, adjusted to be surrounded and to fit the dimensions of the rounded body, for reasons of impact protection, robustness and for an enhanced aesthetic appearance. The body of the pool aerator shall be mounted by means of a connection means 202 to the water recirculation circuit, at least in one of the existing outlets to the pools with water recirculation circuit (preferably to be mounted in all, otherwise it is necessary to block the outlets without aerators in order to equalize the water pressure at the outlet), holes located below the pool water level, and pipe 201 that sucks air from the atmosphere from the water surface, is attached to the spray body in a cylindrical hole 203 which communicates with said Venturi tube. The pipe 201 has an upper end closed with a cylindrical plug/lid 204, with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the intake pipe 201, below which is provided an atmospheric air intake hole 205, hidden/masked by plug 204.

[0040] The body 200a of the pool aerator with water recirculation circuit consists of a plastic object, generally round, having in the middle a cylindrical shape portion 221 of diameter D, this middle portion continuing at the end from the wall of the pool (which is mounted in the recirculated water discharge nozzle), with the connecting means 202, made in the form of a cylindrical portion with a diameter D1 smaller than the diameter D, the connection between them being made by a frustoconical portion 222. The connecting means 202 is provided with an external thread 202a corresponding to the recirculated water outlet in the pool, if it is provided with an internal thread. At the opposite end (from the pool wall), the middle portion 221 of the aerator body 200a is continued with a hemisphere-shaped portion (spherical caps) 223.

[0041] The Venturi tube inside the body 200a of the aerator is made in the form of two frustoconical holes 209 and 211 having the small common base (neck) of diameter D2. The frustoconical inlet hole 209 is located mostly in the connecting means 202, has the horizontal axis A-A′, and the inlet port 209a of the diameter D1. The frustoconical conical hole 211 for mixing and evacuating water mixed with air, is located mostly inside the middle portion and the end of the hemispherical portion, having the longitudinal axis B-B′ inclined with respect to the axis A-A′ of the frustoconical inlet hole 209, with an angle α around 10-20° (sexagesimal degrees), and the outlet 211a of diameter D3. The frustoconical hole 211 communicates in the first third from the common base, with a cylindrical hole 203 having the vertical axis (perpendicular to the axis A-A′ of the frustoconical inlet hole 209). In the cylindrical hole 203 is inserted by sliding, until the inner wall of the frustoconical mixing and discharge hole 211 is reached, the lower end of the intake pipe 202, thus automatically reaching the maximum yield position and angle.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 2C, the air intake tube 201 consists of a cylindrical pipe preferably made of plastic having an outer diameter that allows sliding through the cylindrical hole 203, and a length that makes its upper end stand above the water. This pipe is closed at the upper end by a plug 204, being also provided, also at this end, with an air absorption hole 205, round in shape or rectangular slot which ensures a low level of noise during operation. The intake pipe can be made of a single section or of several sections, for example two or three, tightly connected to each other.

[0043] FIG. 2D shows, in section, the way in which the pool aerator 200a and the air intake pipe 201 are mounted in the existing nozzle in the wall of a swimming pool with reinforced concrete walls, according to the invention.

[0044] With reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, in an alternative of the preferred embodiment, the body 200b of the pool aerator has the connecting means 202 made in the form of a cylindrical portion of diameter D1, being elongated so that the inlet hole continues with a cylindrical hole 202b of the same diameter D1 with the large base of the cone, said cylindrical hole (202b) being threaded inwards (female threaded) corresponding to the recirculation of the water recirculated in the pool, if it is provided with external thread, and which ensures connection to the recirculation circuit of water.

[0045] The body 200a or 200b of the pool aerator, with the exception of the vents of the Venturi tube 209-211 and the cylindrical hole 203, may be solid (made of homogeneous material) or may have a honeycomb structure with the provision of continuous surfaces for the aerator body (outer surface), for the Venturi 209-211 tube and for the cylindrical hole 203.

[0046] In a concrete/preferred embodiment, the body of the sprayer 200a is made of plastic, honeycomb structure and has inside the frustoconical hole 209 with approximate dimensions: the diameter D1 of the inlet 209a of 40 mm and the diameter of the neck D2 of 18 mm, the frustoconical hole 211 having a diameter D3 of the outlet 211a of approximately 28 mm, the cylindrical hole 203 having a diameter slightly larger than 11 mm. The entire spray body of the aerator has a total length of about 90 mm and the diameter D of the middle portion of 80 mm.

[0047] In the concrete/preferred embodiment of the invention, the air intake tube 201 consists of a cylindrical plastic pipe having an outer diameter of less than or equal to 11 mm and a length of about 350 mm, which makes an end rise at least 50 mm above the water level of the pool water (the recommended elevations for mounting the nozzles/discharge holes when constructing a pool are 300 mm below the water level).

[0048] The spray body 200a or 200b is mounted by screwing the threads 202a and 202b into an existing pool discharge nozzle, the air intake pipe 201 is slid into the spray body so that the air intake hole 205 remains at the surface of the water and the water jet pushed by the pump of the circuit coming out of the discharge nozzle sucks the air through the intake pipe 201. Air and water are mixed in the body of the sprayer and evacuated with pressure over a length of about 2 m, resulting in a curtain of air bubbles 140 (illustrated in FIG. 4).

[0049] FIG. 4 shows the top view and cross-section of a swimming pool (provided with a water recirculation circuit, which includes, among others, water filtration and treatment elements, a pump that absorbs water from the pool and discharges it back through some holes/discharge nozzles) in which two aerators according to the invention are mounted.

[0050] Use of other known materials for making the spray body 100, 200a or 200b and/or intake pipe 101 or 201, and use of other known profiles (polygon, ellipse, oval) for making the spray tube body 100, 200a or 200b and/or intake pipe 101 or 201, are obvious to a person skilled in the field and fall within the scope of the claims set out below.