Patent Description:
Maintaining the pool water at the quality parameters recommended by the rules in force is an essential factor for a public or private pool, and is achieved by recirculating, filtering, aerating and adding specialized chemical agents.

Water recirculation is an essential process that helps keep a pool clean and within quality parameters. Recirculation is performed in a circuit with the help of a pump, the circuit being provided with water filtration means (a sand filter or filtering paper) and after the water is filtered of the impurities, it is sent back to the pool.

In parallel with water filtration, several chemical agents dissolved in the pool water are used, such as: slow chlorine, shock chlorine, flocculant, anti-algae, pH minus, pH plus and others, all with different specialized functions in terms of water cleaning and maintaining it in optimal parameter conditions.

The advantages of water aeration are multiple, known and verified for many years, being use in obtaining of a very clear water, like spring running water compared to the stagnant water of a lake, with a fresh and airy smell. Aeratios improve pool water circulation, substantial reduction of chlorine odor, obtaining an uniform distribution of chlorine in the water mass, which leads to an increase in its efficiency while reducing the amount needed to be used and, at the same time, prevents the production of algae in water or on the walls and bottom of the pool; Aeration also helps to get a faster cleaning of the water surface of floating impurities that reach the surface collector (skimmer). At the same time, by aerating the water with small diameter air bubbles, a high transfer of oxygen dissolved in the water is obtained, which improves the appearance and quality of the water by: maintaining some species of aerobic bacteria that consume organic matter in water; destruction of anaerobic bacteria that produce CO2 and hydrogen sulfide (responsible for the unpleasant smell of stagnant water); oxidation of Mg and Fe particles responsible for water opacification; bonding the microparticles (like limestone) into larger particles, which can then be easily retained by the filter; increasing the pH of the water without changing the alkalinity (due to the elimination of CO2 from the water at an accelerated rate). In addition, aeration helps to heat or cool the water depending on the temperature of the aspirated air (the air is hot during the day and cold at night) by lowering its temperature in the water mass. In the end, the aeration ensures an extremely appreciated visual effect which is the air bubbles passing through the pool water.

The present invention relates to an improved swimming pool aerating device, that is working even at low water jet pressures, and it can be easily installed by simply screwing in the discharge nozzles of any type of existing swimming pool made out of concrete, metal or plastic, either above or underground, in order to mix the water coming from the filtration system, with the air captured from the water surface, mixture coming out in the swimming pool water in the form of a jet of high efficiency small air bubbles, which contributes to obtaining a high degree of oxygen dissolved in water, in the purpose of its aeration. Aerating the water of a swimming pool brings many benefits, its effects can be easily found in nature, just comparing the crystalline water of a running water, to the cloudy, dark and full of algae water of a stagnant water. The aerator comprising a plastic hemispherical or frustoconical spray body made in the form of a Venturi tube and an atmospheric air intake pipe. The air is attracted inside the aerator by the negative pressure generated by the moving water of the existing pool filtration circuit (the Venturi effect).

The technical problem solved by the invention is the aeration of water from a swimming pool provided with a recirculation-filtration circuit, using a simple and efficient device, which can be mounted very easily to already built swimming pools.

The aerator for swimming pools provided with a water recirculation circuit, according to the invention, is defined by its characteristics which are highlighted in claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

From physics - fluid dynamics, we know about the Venturi effect (application of Bernoulli's principle), according to which an increase in the velocity of a laminar flow fluid flowing going through a tube, when passing through a narrow portion of a tube, occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure.

Since <NUM>, when Giovanni Venturi discovered the effect that bears his name, many applications have been built based on his principle, some of them that are successfully applied in the most diverse fields of technology, of which, perhaps the best known is the airbrush or sprayer, but also in the aeration of ponds and pools waters, wich shows there is a continuing need for improvement.

Typical devices used for water aeration are shown, for example, in the following United States of America patents:.

In addition, <CIT> discloses a swimming pool aerator comprising a spray body with a Venturi tube channel and an atmospheric air intake pipe for intake of air from above the pool, whereby said spray body consists of a frustoconical tube, provided at the smaller diameter end with a connecting means 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, said spray body being provided with a cylindrical branch also acting as guide, in which the lower end of the air intake pipe has been inserted by sliding.

Furthermore, <CIT> discloses a hemispherical pool aerator comprising comprising a spray body made in the form of a Venturi tube and an atmospheric air intake pipe, whereby the body of the aerator comprises a rounded plastic object, having in the middle area a cylindrical portion, which continues at the end from the pool wall with a connecting means corresponding to the outlet of the water recirculated in the pool, the middle portion of the aerator body continuing with an area in the form of a hemispherical cap.

In relation to the state of the art, the pool aerator according to the invention has the following advantages:.

Some embodiments of the invention is given below in connection to <FIG> which represents:.

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.

With reference to <FIG>, the pool aerator with water recirculation circuit includes a spray body <NUM> and a intake pipe <NUM> of the atmospheric air. The spray body <NUM> consists of a frustoconical plastic tube, being provided at the smaller diameter end with a connecting means <NUM> 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.

With reference to <FIG>, cross-section through the aerator of <FIG>, the longitudinal axis of the frustoconical plastic tube of the spray body <NUM> is inclined at an angle (α) between <NUM> - <NUM> degrees from the horizontal (perpendicular to the basic plane of the connecting means <NUM>, 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 <NUM>, it is provided with a branch having also the role of cylindrical guide <NUM>, in which it is inserted by sliding, until reaching the inner wall of the tube, the lower end of intake pipe <NUM>. The axis of the cylindrical guide <NUM> is vertical, so that between this and the longitudinal axis of the spray body there is an angle (α) between <NUM> - <NUM> degrees, an optimal angle and position to produce the maximum efficiency of the density of air bubbles dispersed in water.

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

In a first concrete embodiment, the spray body <NUM> has the approximate dimensions: the outer diameter of <NUM> at the narrow end, the outer diameter of <NUM> at the opposite end, and a total length of about <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the aerator has, at the narrow end, cast, a cylindrical flange threaded on the outside, acting as a connecting means <NUM>, 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 <NUM>. With the help of this flange the body of the spray <NUM> 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 <NUM>, there is a cylindrical guide <NUM>, cast, with an inner diameter of about <NUM>, a height of about <NUM>, vertically oriented, a guide in which the pipe is inserted by sliding air intake <NUM>.

The air intake pipe <NUM> consists of a cylindrical plastic pipe with an outer diameter of about <NUM> and a length of about <NUM>, which makes one end of it stand out of the water, the recommended dimensions for mounting the discharge nozzles being <NUM> below the water level. This pipe is closed at one end by a plug <NUM> and also provided, also at this end, with an air slot <NUM> of approximate dimensions: <NUM>,<NUM> width and <NUM> length. This slot ensures a low level of noise during the operation of the aerator according to the invention.

The spray body <NUM> is mounted by screwing the threaded flange <NUM> into an existing pool discharge nozzle, the air intake pipe <NUM> is slid into the spray body <NUM> so that the air slot <NUM> 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 <NUM>, sucks the air through the intake pipe <NUM>; air and water are mixed in the spray body and then evacuated with pressure over a length of about <NUM> resulting in a curtain of air bubbles <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>).

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, 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 (<NUM>), which continues at the end from the pool wall with a connecting means (<NUM>), corresponding to the outlet of the water recirculated in the pool, the middle portion (<NUM>) of the aerator body (200a) continuing with an area in the form of a hemispherical cap/dom (<NUM>), 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 (<NUM>) and the other (<NUM>) for mixing and discharging water mixed with air. The axes (A-A') and (B-B') of the two frustoconical trunks form an angle (α) between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees. The frustoconical mixing hole (<NUM>) communicates in the first third from the common base with a cylindrical hole (<NUM>) having a vertical axis, in which the lower end of the intake pipe (<NUM>) is inserted by sliding, until the inner wall of the frustoconical mixing and discharge hole (<NUM>) is reached.

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 <NUM> 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>, as shown schematically in <FIG>, 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 <NUM> 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 <NUM> that sucks air from the atmosphere from the water surface, is attached to the spray body in a cylindrical hole <NUM> which communicates with said Venturi tube. The pipe <NUM> has an upper end closed with a cylindrical plug/lid <NUM>, with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the intake pipe <NUM>, below which is provided an atmospheric air intake hole <NUM>, hidden/masked by plug <NUM>.

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 <NUM> 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 <NUM>, 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 <NUM>. The connecting means <NUM> 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 <NUM> of the aerator body 200a is continued with a hemisphere-shaped portion (spherical caps) <NUM>.

The Venturi tube inside the body 200a of the aerator is made in the form of two frustoconical holes <NUM> and <NUM> having the small common base (neck) of diameter D2. The frustoconical inlet hole <NUM> is located mostly in the connecting means <NUM>, has the horizontal axis A-A', and the inlet port 209a of the diameter D1. The frustoconical conical hole <NUM> 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 the frustoconical inlet hole <NUM>, with an angle α around <NUM> - <NUM>° (sexagesimal degrees), and the outlet 211a of diameter D3. The frustoconical hole <NUM> communicates in the first third from the common base, with a cylindrical hole <NUM> having the vertical axis (perpendicular to the axis A-A' of the frustoconical inlet hole <NUM>). In the cylindrical hole <NUM> is inserted by sliding, until the inner wall of the frustoconical mixing and discharge hole <NUM> is reached, the lower end of the intake pipe <NUM>, thus automatically reaching the maximum yield position and angle.

With reference to <FIG>, the air intake tube <NUM> consists of a cylindrical pipe preferably made of plastic having an outer diameter that allows sliding through the cylindrical hole <NUM>, and a length that makes its upper end stand above the water. This pipe is closed at the upper end by a plug <NUM>, being also provided, also at this end, with an air absorption hole <NUM>, 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.

<FIG> shows, in section, the way in which the pool aerator 200a and the air intake pipe <NUM> are mounted in the existing nozzle in the wall of a swimming pool with reinforced concrete walls, according to the invention.

With reference to <FIG>, in an alternative of the preferred embodiment, the body 200b of the pool aerator has the connecting means <NUM> 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.

The body 200a or 200b of the pool aerator, with the exception of the vents of the Venturi tube <NUM>-<NUM> and the cylindrical hole <NUM>, 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 <NUM>-<NUM> tube and for the cylindrical hole <NUM>.

In a concrete/preferred embodiment, the body of the sprayer 200a is made of plastic, honeycomb structure and has inside the frustoconical hole <NUM> with approximate dimensions: the diameter D1 of the inlet 209a of <NUM> and the diameter of the neck D2 of <NUM>, the frustoconical hole <NUM> having a diameter D3 of the outlet 211a of approximately <NUM>, the cylindrical hole <NUM> having a diameter slightly larger than <NUM>. The entire spray body of the aerator has a total length of about <NUM> and the diameter D of the middle portion of <NUM>.

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

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 <NUM> is slid into the spray body so that the air intake hole <NUM> 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 <NUM>. Air and water are mixed in the body of the sprayer and evacuated with pressure over a length of about <NUM>, resulting in a curtain of air bubbles <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>).

<FIG> 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.

Claim 1:
Swimming pool aerator being intended for use in swimming pools equipped with a water recirculation circuit, said swimming pool aerator comprising a spray body with a Venturi tube channel and an atmospheric air intake pipe for intake of air from above the pool, whereby said spray body consists of a frustoconical plastic tube (<NUM>), provided at the smaller diameter end with a connecting means (<NUM>) 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 (<NUM>) being inclined at an angle (a) between <NUM> - <NUM> degrees to the perpendicular to the base plane of the connecting means (<NUM>), and in the first third of the length of the spray body (<NUM>) from the end with the connecting means (<NUM>), said spray body (<NUM>) being provided with a cylindrical branch (<NUM>) also acting as guide, in which the lower end of the air intake pipe (<NUM>) has been inserted by sliding until it reaches the inner wall of the tube.