Patent Application
20200370319
The present invention relates to swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, swim spas, and the like, and, more particularly, to automatic cover assemblies for such containers.
Swimming pools and hot tubs, for example, are commonly covered with covers. Covers have many uses, including: slowing down or stopping evaporation; cutting down on chemical use; retention of heat in the swimming pool or the hot tub; keeping out leaves, twigs and other yard debris; reducing the amount of maintenance such as vacuuming less often; saving money by cutting down on energy costs associated with refilling with water, heating the water and cleaning the water; increasing safety by preventing someone from falling in; and conserving water. An automatic cover provides convenience for a user by allowing the cover to be easily extended over the pool or the hut tub during periods of non-use and retracted during periods of use. Typically, a pool cover box is placed in or on the decking surrounding the swimming pool at a location opposite from the walk-in steps (i.e., usually located at the deep end of the pool). The pool cover box extends across the width of the swimming pool and within the box is mounted a tube or drum to store the pool cover on. Located at one end of the drum is a reel or reels lines connecting to the pool cover, an electric motor and a drive mechanism. The motor is used to turn the drive mechanism which drives the reel or reels to deploy and retract the pool cover.
Drive mechanisms or engagement devices for driving an extension and a retraction of the pool cover are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,353,539 discloses a cover assembly for covering a swimming pool. The cover assembly includes a drive shaft having a drive pin and an engagement device configured for moving axially on the drive shaft when the drive pin engages the engagement device. The engagement device can be a spiral jaw clutch system having a double drive member with a diagonal cam slot, an end member associated with a cover drum and an end member associated with a reel.
One problem with such engagement devices is that the double drive member must be mounted to a drive shaft in a specific orientation depending upon whether a motor-left or a motor-right orientation is used.
Another problem with such engagement devices is the amount of space required to operate the cover assembly. The motors, drive mechanism and the reels used to extend and retract the pool cover are located at one end of the drum used to store the pool cover on. Having the motors, drive mechanism and reels in this configuration requires a space much greater than the width of the pool cover. In other words, less space in or on the decking surrounding the pool is available for use.
The invention in one form is directed to a cover assembly for covering a pool or a hot tub. The cover assembly includes a tube, a plurality of mounting brackets, a flexible cover, a pair of lines, a plurality of line guides and a drive arrangement. The tube has a first end, a second end and an internal opening having an inside diameter. The flexible cover has a leading edge and a trailing edge that is connected to the tube. The flexible cover is movable between an extended position and a retracted position over the pool or the hot tub. Each of the lines have a first end and a second end where the first end is connected to the leading edge of the flexible cover. The plurality of line guides are configured to guide the pair of lines. The drive arrangement moves the cover between the extended position and the retracted position. The drive arrangement includes at least one reel configured for winding of the pair of lines. Each reel is connected to a second end of a corresponding one of the lines. A first motor is positioned at least partially within the internal opening of the tube. The first motor has a fixed end and a rotatable end. The fixed end is attached to a corresponding one of the mounting brackets and the rotatable end engages the inside diameter of the tube. The first motor is configured to retract the cover. A second motor is positioned at least partially within the internal opening of the tube. The second motor has a second fixed end and a second rotatable end. The second fixed end is attached to a corresponding one of the mounting brackets and the second rotatable end engages the at least one reel. The second motor is configured to retract the pair of lines.
The invention in another form is directed to a drive arrangement for moving a pool cover between an extended position and a retracted position. The drive arrangement includes a tube, at least one reel, a first motor and a second motor. The tube has a first end, a second end and an internal opening with an inside diameter. Each reel is connected to a second end of a corresponding one of the lines. Each reel is also configured for winding of a pair of lines. The first motor is positioned at least partially within the internal opening of the tube. The first motor engages the inside diameter of the tube and is configured to retract the cover. A second motor is positioned at least partially within the internal opening of the tube. The second motor engages the at least one reel and is configured to retract the pair of lines.
An advantage of the present invention is the elimination of components used in cover assemblies such as shifting dogs and clutches.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Deck 112 is generally horizontal and is preferably constructed from concrete. Coping 114 connects to deck 112 in a substantially coplanar fashion along the edge of deck 112 facing the interior of swimming pool 100.
Coping 114 is connected to deck 112 and provides a track allowing leading edge bar 118 to slide therein. The general shape of the exposed portion of coping 114 is generally curved such that there are no exposed sharp corners.
Cover 22 is attached to leading edge bar 118 which pulls cover 22 from pool cover box 120, through an opening existing between pool cover box 120 and a top edge of swimming pool 100, and across the length of swimming pool 100. To prepare swimming pool 100 for use, cover 22 retracts into pool cover box 120 pulling leading edge bar 118 to the previously described opening.
Leading edge bar 118 is connected to cover 22 and provides support along the leading edge of cover 22. Each end of the leading edge bar 118 is connected to at least one cable, rope, or cord (rope being the term used herein but representing any such cable, rope, cord, or the like) and is slidably connected to a track in coping 114. Leading edge bar 118 is shaped in a manner to be unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing when located at either end of swimming pool 100. Although coping 114 is shown as including an integral track for leading edge bar 118 and cover 22, it is also possible that a pair of top mounted tracks may be mounted to deck 112 along either side of swimming pool 100.
Referring now to
The drive arrangement 36 is configured for moving the flexible cover 22 between an extended position and a retracted position. The drive arrangement 36 includes at least one reel 38 configured for winding of the pair of lines 28. Each reel 38 is connected to a second end 32 of a corresponding one of the lines 28. The drive arrangement 36 further includes a first motor 40 and a second motor 46. The first motor 40 is positioned at least partially within the internal opening 16 of the tube 10. The first motor 40 has a fixed end 42 (
Referring now to
Operation of the cover assembly 5 may be accomplished with the motor controller 54 or any other device(s) suited for driving the first motor 40 and the second motor 46. A key or keypad entry into the motor controller 54 allows a user to move the flexible cover 22. For example, selecting ‘uncover’ or any other term or figure or symbol defined to move the flexible cover 22 off of the pool or hot tub on the motor controller 54, causes the first motor 40 to rotate the tube 10 such that the flexible cover 22 is wound onto the tube 10. The second motor 46 may be off when the first motor 40 is on. This allows the second motor 46 and the at least one reel 28 having the pair of lines 28 wound upon it to freewheel, i.e., move relative to the first motor 40 motion. Freewheeling of the second motor 46 and the at least one reel 28 having the pair of lines 28 wound upon it allow the lines 28 to unwind as the cover leading edge 24 of the flexible cover 22 moves towards the tube 10. The second motor 46 may also provide a resistance when the first motor 40 is winding the flexible cover 22 onto the tube 10. This resistance advantageously provides a force at the flexible cover leading edge 24, thereby smoothing out wrinkles in the cover that may otherwise be wound onto the tube 10. Preventing wrinkles from being wound onto the tube 10 extends the useful life of the flexible cover 22 as wrinkles in a cover with a load applied may result in cracking of the cover or delamination of materials used in construction of the cover. Providing the resistance during winding of the flexible cover 22 onto the tube 10 may be accomplished by providing the second motor 46 with a voltage or current lower than a voltage supplied to the first motor 40 if the first motor 40 and the second motor 46 are equivalent in size, e.g., both motors are ¾ HP. In other words, the force applied the flexible cover leading edge 24 by the second motor 46 is less than the force applied to the flexible cover 22 by the first motor.
Selecting ‘cover’ or any other term or figure or symbol defined to move the flexible cover 22 onto the pool or hot tub on the motor controller 54, causes the second motor 46 to rotate the at least one reel 38 such that the flexible cover 22 is wound off of the tube 10 as the at least one reel 38 winds up the pair of lines 28. The first motor 40 may be off when the second motor 46 is on. This allows the first motor 40 and the tube 10 having the flexible cover 22 wound upon it to freewheel. Freewheeling of the first motor 40 and the tube 10 having the flexible cover 22 wound upon it allows the flexible cover 22 to unwind as the at least one reel 38 winds up the pair of lines 28. The first motor 40 may also provide a resistance during the time when the second motor 40 is winding the pair of lines 28 onto the at least one reel 38. This resistance advantageously provides a force at the flexible cover leading edge 24 thereby smoothing out kinks in the pair of lines 28 that may otherwise be wound onto the at least one reel 38. Preventing kinks from being wound onto the at least one reel 38 extends the useful life of the pair of lines 28 as kinks in a line wound onto a reel may cause premature wear of the line. The resistance may also prevent a condition where the cover assembly 5 is bound by the kink in the line. Providing the resistance during winding of the pair of lines 28 onto the at least one reel 38 may be accomplished by providing the first motor 40 with a voltage lower than a voltage supplied to the second motor 46 if the first motor 40 and the second motor 46 are equivalent in size, e.g. both motors are ¾ HP. In other words, the force applied the flexible cover leading edge 24 by the second motor 46 is more than the force applied to the flexible cover 22 by the first motor 40.
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
