SWIMMING POOL CLEANING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS

Abstract: A swimming pool cleaning arrangement in which water sprayers (3) or equivalent devices induce surface water movement towards a weir device (4) at one end of the pool. Water cascading over the weir has a locally increased water velocity which conducts leaves and other detritus over the weir (4) and into a strainer box (7). Submerged jets (12) can also be used to stir the water of the swimming pool and thereby place in suspension debris that would otherwise sink to the bottom. Such suspended debris is then able to pass over the weir (4) and into the strainer box (7).

Description: "SWIMMING POOL CLEANING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS" This invention relates to the cleaning of swimming pools, and is principally designed for use in relation to swimming pools installed adjacent private homes although larger pools, such as Council and Olympic type pools are also susceptible to treatment and installation according t this invention. BACKGROUND ART Most existing pool cleaning systems consist of either submerged mobile units connected to the filter pump suctio and/or discharge and rely on water flow into the unit to remove sediment from the pool floor, or a series of hoses supplied from the filtration pump discharge which move abou in the water with the object of either sweeping sediment towards a bottom outlet in the pool or attempting to maintain sediment in suspension for progressive removal int the normal filtration system. The most obvious deficiency in such systems is their inability to quickly remove floating and semi-floating matter, in particular leaves, loose grass and pieces of bark, which are not only themselves the cause of much of th contamination of the pool by dust but more importantly must be largely removed manually. Less common in modern pools is a system which by allowing a small overflow from the pool surface aims to cause leaves to float into a receptacle from which they are then removed by hand. Such a system has proved in practica application to be of very limited use mainly because any =ai movement in a direction other than towards the leaf receptacles results in floating matter drifting to other parts of the pool and finally becoming saturated and sinkin to the bottom. The sediment problem remains and consequently continuous manual cleaning of the pool is necessary. In addition such leaves as do reach the receptacles tend tc float or be washed back into the pool a soon as the filtration pum is shut down. These systems ar as a result not often seen in present cay pools. It is an object of this invention to ameliorate disadvantages of conventional pool cleaning .systems. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION This invention is based on the observation that when leaves fall or are blown into a swimming pool they will float for some time before becoming saturated and sinking. The time involved will vary from leaf to leaf, dependant upon species, age, dust load and other factors. This invention is principally concerned with providing a system which has the capacity to remove from a pool leaves and other floating debris before they with their associated dust particles or the like can sink to the pool floor. The invention, in a preferred form, also provides means for lifting leaves and other debris including fine material from the pool floor to be removed by the principal system of this invention. Accordingly this invention in one broad form comprises means disposed at or adjacent one end of a swimming pool • adapted to induce surface water movement towards one or more weir devices disposed at the opposite end of said pool, said weir or weirs being adapted to cause a localised increase in water velocity, said water being channelled over said weir (s) to a strainer box adapted to collect and remove foreign bodies from said water, and means to return said water, after treatment in said strainer box, to said pool. In a preferred form the strainer box will incorporate a filter element arranged so that with the system running normally some fifty to eighty percent of the water will be filtered. The man skilled in the art will appreciate that appropriate surface water movement can be provided by use of one or more water jets or throwers adapted to spray water onto the pool surface and/or inject it at a suitable point or points just below the surface level. Such surface water movement will ensure that floating matter will be carried to the end of the pool where the weir(s) is or are located, before such matter becomes saturated and sinks. Each said weir is preferably arranged in the form of a lip, or a series of adjacent lips at pool - - j - water surface level arranged so as to cause a cascade-like effect in water arriving at the weir entrance (s) , causing floating matter to be directed to a large bore pipe or channel which conducts, the same to a strainer tank containing coarse and fine strainers which arrest solid matter but allows water to flow freely through the tank an associated piping and filter element to the inlet side of the conventional pool pump. The jets or water throwers which cause surface water movement in the pool may conveniently be supplied from the discharge of this pump either via a filter or directly. Best results from a system and apparatus according t this invention are arrived at if the level of the pool wat is maintained at a predetermined constant height and it is thus preferred that apparatus be provided to achieve this ' end. One embodiment of such apparatus comprises two elements the first can be in the form of an inverted U-tube fitted at the appropriate height relative to the desired pool water surface level and arranged so that excess water is directed to waste. The second element can be arranged s that any loss of water from the pool is automatically made up, and can comprise a device in the nature of a float valv and cistern or other means such as a probe controlled valve or a pilot operated valve. Excess water in the pool can result from rain or from manual topping up of the water level. It is further preferred that the strainer tank be arranged so that all matter therein can be removed simply for disposal. Further the strainer tank is preferably fitted at such a level that it contains a free surface at the same level as that of the pool water and therefore does not require a watertight cover or lid, and facilitates removal of rubbish and servicing of the filter element. If desired, and dependent upon pool size and shape, one or more jets or hose outlets may be arranged on or adjacent the pool floor in such a manner as to, at selected intervals, stir into suspension sediment deposited on the pool floor, this sediment then being removed over said -- -χ weir(s) by the movement of surface water. BPIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example only one embodiment of a system according to this invention will now be described with reference. to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic section of a swimming pool together with associated apparatus for practice of the system of this invention; Fig. 2 is a detailed section of the strainer box of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detailed section of the pool water surfac level control device of Fig. 1. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT TEE INVENTION In the drawings, pool 1 is filled with water to surface line 2. Water throwers (or sprayers) 3 are provide at one end of pool 1 just above and/or below pool surface level line 2 to inject water causing a movement of said poo surface water towards the opposite end of pool 1 wherein is accommodated weir 4 comprising lip 5 which is shaped and located so as to occasion an increase in the flow rate of surface water in the vicinity of weir 4. As this water exits pool 1 it cascades into pipe 6 and thence t into strainer box 7, the water level 16 of strainer box 7 being the same as that of pool 1 so that lid 15 of strainer box 7 need not be of any specially fitted manufacture. It will be appreciated that leaves and other detritus located at or adjacent surface 2 of the pool water will be conducted in the fast moving surface water into strainer bo 7. Box 7 is provided with a coarse strainer 13 which will arrest leaves, bark and similarly sized material, and fine strainer, e.g. 20-200 mesh, 14 which will arrest finer material. Water passing through strainers 13 and 14 will be returned via pipe 8 to the conventional pool pump 9 and filter 10. In a further embodiment of this invention use of a simple filter element in the tank 7 will eliminate use of a conventional filter 10, and permit quick and easy removal for periodic cleaninα Water is returned to pool 1 from pump 9 and filter 1 via pipe 11 and water throwers 3. Pool 1 is also provided with water level maintenance device 17 which comprises an overflow device in the form o an inverted U-tube 18 arranged so that excess pool water will exit to waste thereby. In an alternative arrangement the overflow device can be incorporated in an automatic topping up device as described above. In the event that some detritus sinks to or towards the pool floor, submerged jets or hose connections 12 are provided therein. When water is forced to enter the pool through these jets or hose connections detritus in the poo other than on the water surface is stirred into suspension to be conducted from the pool over weir 4 by operation of sprayers 3. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY It is contemplated that the system of this invention when used in conjunction with a conventional or special filter mentioned above will clean the average pool on the basis of a one to two hour operation each morning and each ■ evening. If desired, operation of the system can be implemented to cater for unusual conditions such as abnorma winds causing deposition of leaves and other debris on the pool surface. On the other hand, the embodiment of this invention whether used in conjunction with a conventional filter or not will require a sufficient daily operation to turn over pool water say one and a half times daily for cleansing purposes, especially when an automatic chlorination system is used. Not only does the system greatly simplify the disposa of rubbish from the pool by collecting it at a single point but the rapid elimination of leaves also results in a significant reduction in the amount of dust trapped in the pool. This combined with agitation of the pool water to keep sediment in suspension simplifies removal of what remains through the normal filtration system, and greatly reduces the need for manual "vaccuumin "*. .■. ■ .. AD ORIGI ^G " -- Ξ* It is considered also that spraying water onto the pool surface combined with the general agitation will enhance aeration and thus assist in maintaining a healthy water condition which will tend to retard or inhibit algae growth.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus comprising: means disposed at or adjacent one end of a swimming pool adapted to induce surface water movement towards one or more weir devices disposed at the opposite end of said pool, said weir or weirs being adapted to cause a localised increase in water velocity, said water being channelled over said weir(s) to strainer box adapted to collect and remove foreign bodies from said water, and means to re"turn said water, after treatment in said strainer box, to said pool. 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said surface water inducement means consists of one or more wate jets or throwers disposed above the surface level of water in said pool adapted to spray water under pressure on to th surface of said pool water and/or one or more water jets or throwers located below the surface of said pool water adapted to inject pressurised water to said pool surface. 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 or cla.im 2 wherei said strainer box incorporates a filter element adapted to filter from fifty to eighty per cent of the pool water during normal operation of said apparatus. 4. Apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein said strainer box contains a plurality of graded coarse and fine strainers adapted to arrest solid matter carried into said strainer box. 5. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said strainer tank is filtered such that water therein has a free surface level with the pool water surface level. ■ 6. Apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein each said weir is arranged in the form of a lip or a series of lips at pool water surface level arranged to cause a cascade-like effect in water arriving at said weir entrance, and a large bore pipe through which water and foreign material is directed from said weir to said strainer tank. 7. Apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a plurality of jets or hose means ' U-*- * arranged on or adjacent the pool floor so as, when actuated, to stir into suspension sediment deposited on the pool floor, said sediment then being transported to and removed over said weir by movement of said surface water. 8. A swimming pool incorporating apparatus as defined in any one of the preceding claims further including means to maintain pool water at a predetermined constant level. 9. A swimming pool as defined in claim 5 wherein said pool water level maintaining means comprises a first element adapted to direct excess water to waste and a second element adapted to automatically add water to replace water lost from said pool. 10. A swimming pool as defined in claim 6 wherein said first element is an inverted U-tube fixed adjacent said pool and wherein said second element is a float valve and cistern. 11. A swimming pool as defined in claim 6 wherein said first element is an inverted U-tube fixed adjacent said pool and said second element is a valve which is either float operated or probe controlled.

Inventors: CANT PETER REID
Applicants: CANT PETER REID, PG NOMINEES PTY LTD, P G NOMINEES PTY LTD
Application year: 1982
Main classification: E04H3
IPC codes: E04H4