Swimming pool with adjustable pool floor system

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable swimming pool floor system (40). In addition, the invention relates to a swimming pool (5) comprising such an adjustable pool floor system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for installing the hydraulic system (1) in a swimming pool. The invention also relates to a hydraulic system for use in an adjustable swimming pool floor system.

Claims

1. Adjustable swimming pool floor system, comprising: a buoyant pool floor adjustable in a height direction relative to a pool bottom of a swimming pool: a hydraulic system comprising: a hydraulic cylinder, comprising a cylinder barrel having a cylinder head and a cylinder cap, a piston slideably arranged within the cylinder barrel and a piston rod carried by the piston, whereby a first part of the piston rod extends at an outside of the cylinder barrel beyond the cylinder head; and a sealing arrangement slideably enclosing the first part of the piston rod remote from the cylinder head, whereby the sealing arrangement is connectable with an opening extending through a peripheral pool wall enclosing the swimming pool, from an exterior side to an interior side of the pool wall for extending the first part of the piston rod into an interior of the swimming pool adjacent the interior side of the pool wall, the sealing arrangement preventing leakage of liquid from the swimming pool to the exterior side of the pool wall and comprising a bush slideably enclosing the first part of the piston rod and extending in an axial direction over a length corresponding to a distance between the exterior side and the interior side of the pool wall, wherein the bush comprises an outer sleeve of polymer material slideably enclosing an inner sleeve of polymer material with the first part of the piston rod slideably enclosed by the inner sleeve, and the polymer material of the outer sleeve being a harder polymer material than the polymer material of the inner sleeve; the adjustable floor system further comprising: a movement transfer arrangement connectable at a first end to the first part of the piston rod extendable into the interior of the swimming pool and at a second end to the buoyant pool floor, such that in use movement of the piston rod is transferred to the pool floor and adjustment of the pool floor in the height direction is achieved.

2. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 1, wherein the movement transfer arrangement comprises a pulley system connected between the first end of the piston rod and the pool floor, whereby the pulley system applies tension to the piston rod in a direction aligned with the piston rod movement and converts a horizontal movement of the piston rod into a movement of the pool floor in the height direction.

3. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve comprises high density polyethylene (HDPE), and the outer sleeve comprises polyvinylchloride (PVC).

4. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 1, wherein a wiping element is provided at an end of the bush adjacent the interior side of the pool wall, the wiping element being arranged for wiping the first part of the piston rod as it enters the swimming pool.

5. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 1, comprising a detector for detecting a position of the piston rod with respect to the cylinder.

6. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 5, wherein the detector measures a distance from the detector to the piston and the detector is provided at the cylinder cap.

7. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 1, further comprising a processor controlled hydraulic circuit for causing movement of the piston within the cylinder barrel and a user interface for selecting a height of the pool floor relative to the pool bottom.

8. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 7, wherein the piston divides an interior of the cylinder barrel into a first part between the piston and the cylinder head and a second part between the piston and the cylinder cap and the hydraulic circuit comprises a fluid connection between the first and the second part of the interior of the cylinder barrel, whereby the fluid connection is provided at an exterior of the cylinder barrel.

9. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 8, wherein the cylinder barrel is provided with a non-return valve arranged to maintain pressure in the interior of the cylinder barrel in the event of failure of the hydraulic circuit.

10. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a radially extending first flange connectable to the exterior side of the pool wall.

11. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 10, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a second flange connectable to the interior side of the pool wall, opposite the first flange at the exterior side of the pool wall.

12. Adjustable swimming pool floor system according to claim 11, wherein a wiping element is provided at the cylinder head, such that in use, hydraulic fluid is wiped off the piston rod upon exiting the cylinder barrel and prior to entering the sealing element.

13. Swimming pool comprising a pool bottom, a peripheral upstanding pool wall having an interior side and an exterior side, the pool wall having at least one opening from the exterior side to the interior side of the pool wall, and an adjustable swimming pool floor system, comprising a buoyant pool floor adjustable in a height direction relative to the pool bottom of the swimming pool, at least one hydraulic system, comprising a hydraulic cylinder, comprising a cylinder barrel located at the exterior side of the pool wall and a piston rod, extending from the cylinder barrel, through the opening and into an interior of the swimming pool, and a sealing arrangement, connected to the pool wall, comprising a bush structurally engaged within the opening and extending through the pool wall, wherein the bush comprises an inner sleeve of a polymer material and an outer sleeve of a polymer material which is a harder polymer material than the polymer material of the inner sleeve, wherein the sealing arrangement slideably encloses a first part of the piston rod, to prevent leakage of liquid from the swimming pool to the exterior side of the pool wall, wherein the cylinder barrel is connected to the sealing arrangement, thereby mounting the cylinder barrel to the pool wall; the adjustable swimming pool floor system further comprising a movement transfer arrangement provided at the interior of the swimming pool and connected at a first end to the first part of the piston rod extending into the interior of the swimming pool and at a second end to the buoyant pool floor, such that movement of the piston rod is transferred to the pool floor and adjustment of the pool floor in the height direction is achieved.

14. Swimming pool according to claim 13, wherein the adjustable swimming pool floor system comprises a system according to claim 7.

15. Swimming pool according to claim 13, wherein at least one opening through the pool wall is provided near the pool bottom.

16. Swimming pool according to claim 13, wherein the movement transfer arrangement converts a small movement of the piston rod into a large movement of the pool floor.

17. Swimming pool according to claim 13, wherein the bush comprises an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve sealingly engaged with each other and the outer sleeve is structurally engaged within the opening, such the hydraulic system can be dismounted by withdrawing the inner sleeve from the outer sleeve, whereby the outer sleeve remains in the opening.

18. Swimming pool according to claim 13, wherein the pool wall comprises a concrete wall.

19. Swimming pool according to claim 13, wherein the sealing arrangement comprise a first flange at the exterior side of the pool wall and a second flange at the interior side of the pool wall.

20. Swimming pool according to claim 13, wherein the bush comprises a profiled outer surface and a volume of casting compound is provided between the bush and the pool wall to structurally engage the bush within the opening.

21. Swimming pool according to claim 20, wherein the bush comprises a first radially extending flange at the exterior side of the pool wall and wherein the layer of casting compound extends from the interior side of the pool wall to the exterior side of the pool wall and further extends over at least the part of the exterior side of the pool wall covered by the first flange.

22. Method for installing a hydraulic system for an adjustable pool floor in a swimming pool comprising a pool bottom and a circumferential upstanding pool wall, the method comprising: providing a buoyant pool floor and a hydraulic system for adjusting the buoyant pool floor in a height direction relative to the pool bottom, the hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic cylinder, comprising a cylinder barrel and a piston rod, whereby a first part of the piston rod extends out of the cylinder barrel, and a sealing arrangement slideably enclosing the first part of the piston rod, the method further comprising providing an opening from an exterior side to an interior side of the pool wall, sealingly connecting the sealing arrangement to the pool wall, whereby the sealing arrangement prevents liquid from leaking from the swimming pool, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a first radially extending flange and the method comprises connecting the first flange to the exterior side of the pool wall at the location of the opening, thereby covering part of the exterior side of the pool wall and mounting the cylinder barrel to the pool wall across the first flange; and connecting the first part of the piston rod to the adjustable pool floor such that movement of the piston rod causes the pool floor to be adjusted in height, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a bush, slideably enclosing the first part of the piston rod and extending through the opening in the pool wall, wherein the bush comprises an inner sleeve of polymer material and an outer sleeve of polymer material with the polymer material of the outer sleeve being harder than the polymer material of the inner sleeve.

23. Method according to claim 22, comprising providing a layer of casting compound from the interior side of the pool wall to the exterior side of the pool wall and over at least a part of the exterior side of the pool wall covered by the first flange.

24. Method according to claim 22, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises a second flange, the method comprising connecting the second flange to the interior side of the pool wall opposite the first flange at the exterior side of the pool wall.

25. Method according to claim 22, comprising providing a layer of casting compound between the bush and a circumferential inner surface of the opening to structurally engage the bush within the opening.

26. Method according to claim 25, comprising connecting the outer sleeve and the circumferential inner surface of the opening with the layer of casting compound, whereby the hydraulic system can be removed by withdrawing the inner sleeve from the outer sleeve which remains within the opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of a swimming pool with an adjustable pool floor system according to an embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a detailed cross-section of a hydraulic system according to FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the hydraulic system of FIG. 2 removed for maintenance or replacement.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a detailed cross-section of a hydraulic system according a second embodiment installed in a swimming pool.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of a swimming pool 5 with an adjustable pool floor system 40 installed. The swimming pool 40 has a pool bottom 8 and a peripheral upstanding pool wall 2 with an interior side 3 facing the interior of the swimming pool 5 and an exterior side 4 facing at least partly a space for installing the adjustable pool floor system 40.

(6) The adjustable pool floor system comprises a buoyant pool floor 9 that is connected to a pulley system 41 for adjusting the height of the pool floor 9 with respect of the pool bottom 8, i.e. adjusting the depth of the swimming pool water. The pulley system 41 comprises a number of pulleys 42 and cables 43 for a steady movement of the pool floor 9 upon adjusting the depth of the swimming pool. The cable 43 is connected to a piston rod 12 of a hydraulic cylinder 10. The hydraulic cylinder 10 is part of a hydraulic system 1 described in more detail in FIG. 2. The piston rod 12 extends through an opening 6 in the pool wall 2 from the exterior side 4 to the interior side 3. The piston rod 12 is moved by actuating of the hydraulic cylinder by the pump 44. The pump 44 is connected to a control panel 45 for controlling the adjustment in height of the pool floor 9. The control panel 45 can be an electronic panel with push buttons or a computerized touch screen. The control panel 45 is connected to a detector 18 for detecting the movement of the piston rod 12 and the resulting height of the pool floor 9 relative to the pool bottom 8. The detector 18 is provided at the hydraulic cylinder and the control panel 45 is located in the vicinity of the swimming pool. The control panel 45 controls multiple hydraulic systems 1 connected to the pool floor 9, such that the pool floor is gradually adjusted in height.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a hydraulic system 1 installed in a swimming pool 5. The hydraulic system comprises a hydraulic cylinder 10 and sealing means 20. The swimming pool 5 comprises a pool bottom 8 and a peripheral pool wall 2. In the pool wall 2 an opening 6 that extends from the interior side 3 to the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2.

(8) The hydraulic cylinder 10 comprises a cylinder barrel 11 extending from the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2 and a piston rod 12 of which a first part 13 extends through the opening 6 in the pool wall 2. In addition, the hydraulic cylinder 10 comprises a cylinder head 15 closing off the opening in the cylinder barrel 11 facing the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2, and a cylinder cap 17 closing off the opening of the cylinder barrel 11 facing away from the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2. A piston 16 provided at the piston rod 12 is movable within the cylinder barrel 11 between the cylinder cap 17 and the cylinder head 15 and vice versa.

(9) The sealing means 20 comprise a bush 21 that slideably encloses the first part 13 of the piston rod 12. The length of the bush 21 is relatively larger than the length of the opening 6 in the pool wall 2, defined by the distance between the interior side 3 and the exterior side 4 of the pool wall. The bush 21 comprises a first sleeve 23 slideably enclosing the first part of the piston rod 12. A second sleeve 22 encloses the first sleeve 23. In addition, a layer of potting material 24 that encloses the second sleeve 22 for sealing the space between the bush 21 and the pool wall 2 and connects the second sleeve 22 with the circumferential inner surface 9 of the opening 6 is provided. The potting material 24 may be a two-component epoxy resin, or a liquid ceramic compound, such as a cement, or a combination of the two.

(10) The second sleeve 22 is connected to the inner surface 9 of the opening 6 by the potting material 24. The second sleeve 22 has circumferential grooves 34 for anchoring within the potting material 24. In addition, a first flange 27 is provided at the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2. The first flange 27 extends in a radial direction from the piston rod 12 and covers a part of the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2. Between the first flange 27 and the pool wall 2 a radially extending gasket 26 is provided adjacent the first flange 27. Furthermore, the potting material 24 is provided between the gasket 26 and the pool wall 2. The gasket 26 and the potting material 24 seal the space between the first flange 27 and the pool wall 2.

(11) In order to avoid hydraulic fluid being transferred to the interior of the swimming pool 5, a wiping gasket 25 may be provided at the end of the first sleeve 23 facing the first end 14 of the piston rod 12, such that the hydraulic fluid is wiped off the piston rod 12 upon exiting the bush 21 and before entering the swimming pool 5.

(12) The first part of the piston rod that extends through the opening 6 in the pool wall 2 has a first end 14. The buoyant pool floor 9 is connected to this first end 14 by means of a pulley system 41, as shown in FIG. 1. The buoyant pool floor 9 is adjustable in a height direction with respect to the pool bottom 8 by moving the piston 16 connected to the piston rod 17 within the cylinder barrel 11. The pump 44 actuates transport of the hydraulic fluid through the fluid connection tube 30 between a first part 31 and a second part 32 of the cylinder barrel separated by the piston 16, such that the hydraulic fluid pressure in the separate parts 31, 32 is varied for the piston to move within the cylinder barrel under the influence of the pressure change. The fluid connection tube 30 is provided at an exterior of the cylinder barrel 11. A non-return valve 19 is connected to the fluid connection tube 30 at the first part of the cylinder barrel for maintaining the pressure in the cylinder barrel 11 in the unlikely event of failure of the pump 4 or a leakage of hydraulic fluid elsewhere in the hydraulic system.

(13) The height of the pool floor 9 with respect to the pool bottom 8 (and therefore the depth of the swimming pool) is detected by a detector 18 that communicates with the control panel 45. The detector is provided at the cylinder cap 17 and extends from the interior of the cylinder barrel adjacent the cylinder cap to an exterior beyond the cylinder cap 17 in a direction parallel to the piston rod 12. The detector 18 is a linear detector and measures the distance between the piston 16 and the cylinder cap 17. This distance has a linear relationship with the height of the pool floor 9 with respect to the pool bottom 8 or the depth of the pool floor 9 with respect to an upper edge of the pool wall 2.

(14) The hydraulic barrel 11 is connected to the pool wall 2 by a connection with the first flange 27. This connection is possible if the pool wall is a concrete pool wall with sufficient thickness. The first flange 27 is provided with a cylindrical connection element 28 that extends over and is connected to the cylinder head 15. The connection between the first flange 27 and the cylinder head 15 is a strong connection, such that support of the cylinder barrel 11 provided on a base floor 33 (shown in FIG. 4) is not necessary.

(15) FIG. 3 shows the hydraulic system of FIG. 2 removed for maintenance or replacement. The nuts that fix the first flange 27 to the pool wall are removed. The first flange 27 is then slid over the bolts and the piston rod 12 with the first sleeve 23 is simultaneously slid from the opening 6. The piston rod 12 with the first sleeve 23 is then taken out from the opening 6. The second sleeve 22 is connected to the opening 6 by the potting material 24 and remains in the opening 6. The resulting opening between the interior side 3 and the exterior side 4 of the pool wall is then closed with a plug or the like (not shown). The gasket 26 and the potting material 24 at the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2 remain connected to the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a detailed cross-section of a second embodiment of the hydraulic system 1 of the adjustable floor system 40 installed in a swimming pool 5. The swimming pool 5 is constructed from plate material, for instance a metal plate. The pool wall 2 is therefore relatively thin and does not have sufficient strength to support the cylinder barrel 11. The piston rod 12 extends through the opening 6 from an exterior side 4 to an interior side 3 of the pool wall 2. The first flange 27 encloses the piston rod 12 and extends in a radial direction from the piston rod 12. The first flange 27 is connected to the exterior side 4 of the pool wall 2. Between the pool wall 2 and the first flange 27 a gasket 26 is provided. At the interior side 3 of the pool wall 2 a second flange 29 is provided and connected to the pool wall 2. Between the pool wall 2 and the second flange 29 a further gasket 26 is provided. The first and second flanges are thus located at the opening 6 but at opposite sides, i.e. the second flange 29 is a counterflange of the first flange 27. The opening 6 is sealed by tightly connecting the first and second flanges 27, 29 to the pool wall 2 such that the gaskets 26 seal off the opening 6.

(17) Furthermore, the cylinder barrel 11 is connected to a base floor 33. The cylinder barrel 11 is therefore provided with flanges that can be connected to bolts 46 provided in the base floor. The base floor 33 and the cylinder barrel 11 are fixed together by tightening nuts 47 corresponding to the bolts 46. The hydraulic cylinder 10 is then supported by the base floor 33. The cylinder head 15 is positioned remote from the first and second flanges 27, 29, such that the piston rod 12 runs freely and uncovered between the first flange 27 and the cylinder head 15 at the exterior side 4 of the swimming pool 5. In order to avoid hydraulic fluid being transferred to the interior of the swimming pool 5, a wiping gasket 25 may be provided at the cylinder head 15, such that the hydraulic fluid is wiped off the piston rod 12 upon exiting the cylinder barrel 11 and before entering the first flange 27.

(18) TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF PARTS 1. Hydraulic system 2. Pool wall 3. Interior side pool wall 4. Exterior side pool wall 5. Swimming pool 6. Opening 7. 8. Pool bottom 9. Pool floor 10. Hydraulic cylinder 11. Cylinder barrel 12. Piston rod 13. First part of piston rod 14. First end of piston rod 15. Cylinder head 16. Piston 17. Cylinder cap 18. Detector 19. Non-return valve 20. Sealing arrangement 21. Bush 22. Second sleeve 23. First sleeve 24. Potting material 25. Wiping gasket 26. Gasket 27. First flange 28. Cylinder head connection flange 29. Second flange 30. Fluid connection tube 31. First part of cylinder barrel 32. Second part of cylinder barrel 33. Base floor 34. Circumferential groove 40. Adjustable pool floor system 41. Pulley system 42. Pulley 43. Cable 44. Pump 45. Control panel 46. Connecting bolts 47. Connecting nuts