Patent Application
20130139369
The present invention relates generally to repairing surfaces that are submerged in a liquid at all times and need repair from time to time, such as floors or sides of swimming pools, outer surface of ships, inside surface of oil tanker etc. and more particularly to an innovative system of creating a workable space around the surface that needs repair and performing such repair without completely draining the entire body of liquid.
Swimming pools, both in-ground and above ground varieties, abound in homes, clubs, and community centers across several countries. Pool water require weekly or daily maintenance to maintain the right circulation of water through a filtration system to remove dust particles/leaves etc., maintain the right PH level, and introduce the right level of chemicals to prevent growth of algae. However, the introduction of chemicals as well as natural elements such as earthquakes, exposure of surfaces to sun or algae growth over long periods of time can cause wear and tear on the submerged surfaces of the pool such as cracks in the floor or side wall of the pool, peeling of paint or discoloration. Repairing the pool, when the pool is filled, however, is cumbersome due to the body of water covering the surface to be repaired. Conducting such repairs typically requires one to drain the water and empty the pool, if the repair needs to be done on the floor of the pool. For instance, even repairing a minor damage such as repairing a minor crack of few inches wide in the floor of the pool will require draining tens of thousands of gallons of water depending on pool size. Further, several cities have regulations around draining of pool water and thus the pool owner has to incur significant expenses of draining and then re-filling the pool and then bringing the pool water up to its original chemical composition by adding chemicals as the pool gets refilled.
A similar situation can arise in a ship, in transit, whose outer surface needs urgent repair in an area that is submerged under the water surface or an oil tanker that develops a leak that requires a surface submerged under the oil to be repaired without draining the entire quantity of oil in the container. In each case, it is tough to conduct the repair since the surface is submerged in a fluid during operation.
As such, what is needed is a repair device that allows one to conduct repairs at the damaged surface, by creating a workable space within the liquid in which the damaged surface is submerged, without having to empty the entire body of liquid it is submerged in.
This invention discloses an apparatus and method for performing repair on the floor or side wall of a swimming pool or a surface submerged in a large body of liquid by creating a workable space without fully draining the water or liquid. A sturdy solid tube whose height exceeds the maximum depth of the pool is introduced into the pool to create a separation between the areas enclosed within the tube and body of liquid outside. Liquid tight seals are mounted at the end of the tube immersed in liquid to prevent leakage between the inside and outside of the tube. A guiding lid with multiple openings is mounted at the other end of the tube above the level of liquid. Each opening in the guiding lid allows one specific tool to be guided into the tube for conducting repairs. A draining assembly comprising a suction pump at one end and an extensible tube at the other end is inserted into one of the openings in the guiding lid to drain the liquid enclosed within the tube. The liquid enclosed within the tube and drained by the draining assembly is stored in a liquid storage container. A drier assembly comprising an air blower at one end and an extensible tube at the other end that is inserted into one of the openings in the guiding lid to create a dry workable space within the tube, A repair assembly comprising a feeder for introducing materials used in repair including paint, cement, caulking compound at one end and an extensible tube at the other end is inserted into one of the openings in the guiding lid. The repair assembly comprises one or more attachments to conduct a specific repair operation including spray painting, filling up holes, filling in caulking to cover up cracks, sanding within the workable space. An inspection assembly comprising a display-monitor at one end and an extensible tube containing a camera or an imaging device at the other end is inserted into one of the openings in the guiding lid to inspect the surface before, after and during repair. Once the repair and inspection are completed to satisfaction, the pool or large body of liquid is re-filled with the drained water/liquid stored in the storage container.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
a and 2b illustrate the top and side views respectively of the apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention where the repair is needed on the floor of the pool.
a and 3b illustrate the top and side views respectively of the apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention where the repair is needed on one of the inside walls of the pool.
a and 4b illustrate the front and side views respectively of the apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention where the repair is needed on one of the outside walls of a sailing vessel.
The invention claimed here enables performing repair on the floor or sides of a swimming pool or a surface submerged in a large body of liquid without fully draining the liquid, by creating a workable space within the liquid.
a and 2b illustrate the top and side views respectively of the apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention where the repair is needed at the floor of the pool. In this embodiment, a circular cross-section is used for the tube to create the workable space 200 within the body of water 201. The size of the tube can be altered depending on the area to be repaired. In one embodiment the size of the tube is such that only remote repair and inspection is possible. In another embodiment, the size of the tube is such that a technician can manually perform repairs on the surface of the pool.
a and 3b illustrate the top and side views respectively of the apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention where the repair is needed on one of the inside walls of the pool. In such case, the cross-section of the tube is altered as shown in
a and 4b illustrate the top and side views respectively of the apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention where the repair is on one of the outside walls of a sailing vessel. In such case, the cross-section of the tube is altered as shown in
The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.
