Safety device for swimming pools and operating procedure for said device

Abstract

The invention describes a safety device (1) for swimming pools comprising: a safety button (2); an audible (3a) and / or visual (3b) alarm; a first means of communication (4a) with emergency services (200); a GPS device (5); and a processing means (6) comprising an output (61) connected to a switch (20) of the filtration pump and an input (62) connected to an obstruction detector (30). Thus, when the processing means (6) detects the pressing of the safety button (2) or an obstruction, it performs the following tasks: it modifies the state of the output (61) to stop the filtration pump (100); it activates the audible and / or visual alarm (3); and it communicates the emergency and the location to the emergency services (200). Furthermore, the device (1) has means for receiving, storing, and transmitting data from the swimming pool.

Description

Safety device for swimming pools and operating procedure for said device OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention belongs to the field of safety in swimming pools, whether public or private. A first object of the invention is a device designed to automatically facilitate the necessary maneuvers and warnings in case of an emergency in a swimming pool. A second object of the invention is a procedure for operating the described safety device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the biggest problems in the world of swimming pools is safety. According to the RFESS (Royal Spanish Lifesaving and Rescue Federation), 391 people died from drowning in 2022, a number that increased by 8% in 2023 to 422 deaths. A high percentage of these drownings occur due to suction entrapment in a pool's suction inlet. As is well known, pool suction inlets are usually located at the bottom, so in the event of suction entrapment, it is extremely important to stop the filtration pump as quickly as possible to free the trapped person. Naturally, it may also be necessary to report the emergency, both locally to alert other pool users and to the emergency services (ambulance and / or fire department) to ensure the person receives appropriate medical attention. Currently, when a blockage occurs in the suction intake of a swimming pool, the filtration pump is switched off manually, as is the local notification and the notifications to the emergency services. Another common problem in many swimming pools is the lack of automation in recording the results of the mandatory daily water tests. Currently, these results are manually recorded in logbooks that are periodically reviewed by the relevant authority. Because the recording is manual, it sometimes allows the person responsible to enter fabricated data to fill in past days when, for some reason, the mandatory test was not performed. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by means of a safety device intended for installation in swimming pools. In response to the simple push of a button, or when it automatically detects entrapment in the suction inlet, this device automatically performs all the necessary tasks to prevent drowning, specifically stopping the suction pump and sending an alarm requesting assistance. Furthermore, this safety device may include a means for recording daily pool data, preventing subsequent manipulation, and making this data available to the competent authority in various ways. The two aspects of the invention relating respectively to the safety device and the operating procedure of said device are described below. First aspect: safety device A first aspect of the invention relates to a safety device intended for use in swimming pools that have a suction inlet connected to a filtration pump. The suction inlet may be located at the bottom of the pool or on a side wall. The filtration pump, connected to the suction inlet via a conduit, may be located in any suitable place, such as a pump house or room that houses the pool equipment. The security device essentially comprises the following elements: a security button, an audible and / or visual alarm, a primary means of communication, a GPS device, and a processing unit. Each of these elements is described in more detail below. a. Safety push button This is a safety push button to stop the filtration pump in case of emergency. The push button can be of any type as long as it is clearly visible and easy to activate. For example, the common mushroom-shaped push button can be used. b. Audible and / or visual alarm The audible and / or visual alarm will serve to locally signal that an emergency has occurred in the pool area. Any type of alarm that can be heard throughout the pool area may be used, such as sirens, horns, or similar devices for the audible alarm, and flashing, rotating, or strobe lights or similar devices for the visual alarm. c. First means of communication The primary means of communication is used to report an emergency to emergency services. These services might include, for example, firefighters, ambulances, police, or similar organizations. This primary means of communication can involve making calls, sending messages via the internet or mobile network, or generally sending any type of alert to the emergency services. d. GPS device The GPS device allows emergency services to be notified of the location of the pool where the emergency occurred. While the GPS system is explicitly mentioned, this location device can also be based on any other known satellite constellation, such as GLONASS or Galileo. e. Processing medium The processing unit is the element that controls all the device's functions. To this end, the processing unit is connected to the safety button, the audible and / or visual alarm, the primary communication device, and the GPS unit. These connections can be of any type, including wireless connections, although wired connections are preferred, as all the components are typically housed in a compact enclosure. In principle, the processing medium can be of any type as long as it has sufficient capacity and connectivity to perform the functions described in this document. For example, the processing medium could be a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), or any other similar device. The processing unit also includes an output configured for connection to a filter pump deactivation switch. The switch can be of any type, either normally open or normally closed, provided that a change in its state results in the filter pump stopping. When this switch is connected via a suitable electrical line to the aforementioned output of the processing unit, the processing unit not only knows the state of the filter pump at all times but also has the ability to send the stop and start commands to the pump. Note that although the term "switch" is used here, this element could be any other suitable type, such as a relay or similar device. The processing device further comprises an inlet configured for connection to a suction inlet obstruction detector. The obstruction detector can, in principle, be of any type, provided it is capable of detecting suction inlet obstructions of the type caused by entrapment. For example, in a particularly preferred embodiment, it is a low-pressure sensor located downstream of the filtration pump. The processing system is configured to perform the following tasks when an obstruction is detected in the suction inlet by the obstruction detector while the filtration pump is running, or when the safety button is pressed: - Modify the outlet's state to stop the filtration pump. This automatically stops the water intake through the suction port when the button is pressed, freeing anyone who might be trapped. - Activate the audible and / or visual alarm, thus alerting everyone in the area that an emergency has occurred. - Order the first media outlet to report the emergency to the emergency services along with the location of the pool obtained from the device. Thanks to this configuration, this device greatly improves pool safety, as it automatically stops the filtration pump when it detects a blockage in the suction inlet. Indeed, a blockage in the suction inlet inevitably causes a decrease in the water flow reaching the filtration pump and, consequently, a sharp drop in pressure downstream of the pump. This pressure drop is detected by the blockage detector, triggering the emergency procedure described. This is the same procedure that occurs when someone manually presses the safety button. In this way, the necessary tasks in an emergency are automated, unified, and centralized. In principle, emergency services can be notified in any way, including by phone, internet, text or voice messages, or even by simply activating a dedicated alarm at the emergency services. The device itself can also automatically trigger the alarm, without human intervention, by sending predetermined information, such as "Alarm: Possible drowning in a swimming pool located at X Street, number Y." However, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the alert is made by means of a conventional telephone call in which the lifeguard or pool security personnel verbally inform the emergency services. In this case, the device comprises a speaker and a microphone connected to the processing unit, and the first communication unit is configured to manually place telephone calls to the emergency services using said speaker and microphone. The first communication unit, therefore, will have a SIM card and an antenna for making telephone calls. In a further preferred embodiment, the device of the invention has suitable means for receiving pool data that must be recorded, such as water temperature, chlorine concentration, or other relevant information. Specifically, in this embodiment, the device comprises a data input screen connected to the processing unit for inputting pool data. In another preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a storage medium connected to the processing unit for storing the pool data entered by the screen. The storage medium can be any type of memory, such as ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, or any other. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a second communication medium connected to the processing medium and configured to communicate the pool data entered by the display to a web server for consultation by the competent authorities. In this case, the second communication medium may be a dedicated communication medium, such as a router or any web access system. Alternatively, the second communication medium and the first communication medium may be a single device capable of making telephone calls and, via technologies such as 3G, 4G, 5G, or similar, also having internet access. Alternatively, or in combination with sending the information to a web server, the device also includes a third, short-range communication medium connected to the processing unit to transmit the pool data displayed on the screen to a smartphone. This third communication medium could be, for example, a Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or any other device capable of sending the data to a nearby smartphone. In this way, an inspector from the competent authorities could receive this data on their mobile phone, for example, via a dedicated app, during an inspection. In a particularly useful preferred embodiment, the processing device is configured to prevent modification of data entered via the screen after a predetermined time interval has elapsed since its entry. Thus, once information is entered, it becomes impossible to modify it subsequently to falsify the data. It would also be possible to prevent the entry of data corresponding to a specific day after that day, for example, the following day or subsequent days. Finally, as mentioned, all the aforementioned components are preferably housed in a weatherproof outer casing. The device can then be installed in any highly visible location, for example, near the lifeguard's station at the pool. The present invention is also directed to a safety system for swimming pools comprising the following elements: - A device according to any of the preceding claims. - A filter pump deactivation switch connected to the processing medium outlet. - A suction inlet blockage detector connected to the processing medium inlet. The blockage detector is preferably a low-pressure detector installed downstream of the filtration pump. Second aspect: device operating procedure A second aspect of the present invention relates to a procedure for operating a safety device as described in the preceding paragraphs, comprising the following steps: - When an obstruction is detected in the suction inlet at the same time as the filtration pump is running, or when the safety button is pressed, modify the outlet state to cause the filtration pump to stop. - Activate the audible and / or visual alarm. - Order the first media outlet to report the emergency to the emergency services along with the location of the pool obtained from the GPS device. These steps do not necessarily have to be carried out in the order described in the text, but can be carried out in any other order, or simultaneously. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of activating the speaker and microphone to enable communication with emergency services by telephone call. In another preferred embodiment, the procedure includes the step of activating the screen to receive manually entered pool data. Preferably, this data is stored on the storage medium. In another preferred embodiment, the pool data entered via the screen is sent to a web server for consultation by the competent authorities. Alternatively or additionally, the data is sent to a smartphone via a third short-range communication medium, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Finally, in a particularly useful embodiment, the procedure also includes the step of preventing the modification of the data entered by the screen once a predetermined time interval has elapsed since its entry. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figures 1a and 1b show perspective views of an example of a safety device according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the example safety device according to the present invention. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION An example of a pool safety device (1) according to the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures. The safety device (1) consists of an outer casing (11) made of any weather-resistant material, such as plastic, treated metal, or any other suitable material. All the electronic components of the device (1) of the invention are housed in the casing (11) or attached to it, so that the device (1) is a single unit that can be installed in any visible location in a swimming pool. The main element of the device (1) is a processing medium (6), which is housed inside the casing (11), and which is connected to the other elements to control their operation. The processing medium (6) can be, for example, a microcontroller or similar. The processing device (6) has at least one output (61) connected to a deactivation switch (20) for the pool's filtration pump, i.e., the pump that creates suction through a suction inlet in the pool. In this way, the activation and deactivation of the filtration pump can be controlled from the processing device (6). The processing medium (6) also has an inlet (62) connected to a blockage detector (30) at the suction inlet. This blockage detector (30) can simply be a low-pressure sensor located downstream of the filtration pump, i.e., on the discharge side. Thus, when a blockage occurs at the suction inlet, it will cause a decrease in the water flow rate to the pump and, consequently, a pressure drop on its discharge side, which will be detected by the blockage detector (30). A safety push button (2) is connected to the processing unit (6) to allow users, for example, the pool lifeguard, to raise an alarm. For this purpose, the safety push button (2) is attached to the outside of the housing (11) of the device (1), in this example on a front face, and is connected to the processing unit (6) via wiring. An audible (3a) and visual (3b) alarm is also connected to the processing unit (6) to emit lights and sounds that alert people in the vicinity of the pool. In this example, the audible (3a) and visual (3b) alarms are integrated into a siren equipped with a horn and rotating lights, which is installed on the top of the housing (11) of the device (1) and connected to the processing unit (6) via wiring. A GPS device (5) is connected to the processing medium (6) to determine the precise location of the pool where the safety device (1) of the invention is installed. The connection between the two elements is also wired. The device (1) also has a display (9) through which the user can enter daily data about the pool's condition. The display (9) can be a touchscreen or can include a keypad for data entry. A storage medium (10), also connected to the processing medium (6), allows this data to be stored for later communication to the competent authorities in various ways described below. The device (1) of the invention has three communication means (4a, 4b, 4c), each with its specific function. Note that this number could be reduced if a single communication means were capable of performing the different types of communication described herein. For example, a communication means with telephone, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi capabilities might be sufficient to perform all the necessary tasks. In any case, three distinct communication means (4a, 4b, 4c) are described here, each with its specific function. The first means of communication (4a) is a device capable of making telephone calls to the emergency services (200) to report a possible drowning. In this example, the call will be requested by a pool user or a lifeguard, so the device (1) also has a speaker (7) and a microphone (8) located on one side through which the user can speak to the emergency services. The second means of communication (4b) is a device capable of connecting to the internet, for example, a 3G, 4G, or 5G device, or a Wi-Fi device for connecting to a nearby network, or similar. This second means of communication (4b) will send the data about the pool's status entered by the user to a web server (300), which will be accessible to the relevant authorities. The third means of communication (4c) is a device for short-range wireless communication with a smartphone (400), for example, a Bluetooth device. This third means of communication (4c) will be used to send data about the pool to the smartphone (400) of the person located near the pool who requires it, for example, an inspector from the relevant authorities conducting an inspection. Thanks to this configuration, the safety device operates as follows. When a drowning alarm is triggered, any user, or the pool lifeguard, presses the safety button (2) on the device (1). In response to this press, the processing unit (6) automatically sends a stop command to the filtration pump via output (61). Simultaneously, the audible (3a) and visual (3b) alarms are activated, alerting the pool area to the emergency. The device (1) can also simultaneously place a telephone call to the emergency services (200) via the first communication channel (4a). This call can be automatic or initiated by a pool user, who can speak to the emergency services (200) to explain the situation using the speaker (7) and microphone (8).In addition, the processing medium (6) automatically sends the exact location of the pool obtained from the GPS device (5) to the emergency services (200). All these actions also occur automatically when the obstruction detector (30) on the suction inlet detects a pressure drop on the pump's discharge side while the pump is running. This automated operating mode prevents human error that can occur when the lifeguard or responsible person is not sufficiently attentive to what is happening in the pool. All of this allows for extremely rapid management of the most urgent aspects in the event of an emergency. In addition, the device (1) of the invention has means for receiving, storing, and transmitting the data that must be collected daily at all public swimming pools. In this case, the user can enter the data in question each day via the screen (9), and this data is stored on the storage medium (10). Furthermore, the processing medium (6) is configured to allow the entry of data for a given day only during that day. It can also be configured to prevent the overwriting of data already entered after a certain time interval following its entry, for example, half an hour, one hour, two hours, or similar. These measures prevent the data from being falsified or fabricated subsequently. The data entered is accessible to the competent authorities in two different ways. First, the second means of communication (4b) is configured to send this data to a web server (300) hosted in the cloud, which the authorities can access. This eliminates the need for physical visits to each pool. Furthermore, in the event of a visit from an authority technician, the device (1) has a third means of communication (4c) which, via Bluetooth, can send the relevant data directly to the technician's mobile phone (400). In short, this device facilitates the management of drowning emergencies, as well as the collection and transmission of data about the pool's condition. As a result, not only is emergency response time greatly improved, but the work of the relevant authorities is also facilitated, and the possibility of data falsification is reduced.

Claims

1. A safety device (1) for swimming pools, where the pool has a suction inlet connected to a filtration pump, characterized in that it comprises: - a safety button (2) to stop the filtration pump in case of emergency; - an audible (3a) and / or visual (3b) alarm to locally signal that an emergency has occurred in the pool; - a first means of communication (4a) to communicate the emergency to emergency services (200); - a GPS device (5) to send the location of the pool where the emergency has occurred to the emergency services; - a processing means (6) connected to the safety button (2), the audible and / or visual alarm (3), the first means of communication (4a) and the GPS device (5),wherein the processing means (6) further comprises an output (61) configured for connection to a deactivation switch (20) of the filtration pump and an input (62) configured for connection to a suction inlet obstruction detector (30), the processing means (6) being configured so that, when an obstruction in the suction inlet is detected by the obstruction detector (30) at the same time as the filtration pump is operating, or when the activation of the safety button (2) is detected, it performs the following tasks: - modifying the state of the output (61) to cause the filtration pump to stop; - activating the audible and / or visual alarm (3); and - instructing the first communication means (4a) to communicate the emergency to the emergency services (200) together with the location of the pool obtained from the GPS device (5).

2. Pool safety device (1) according to claim 1,wherein the obstruction detector (30) in the suction inlet is a low-pressure sensor located downstream of the filtration pump.

3. A pool safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a speaker (7) and a microphone (8) connected to the processing means (6), and wherein the first communication means (4a) is configured to allow manual telephone calls to the emergency services (200) using said speaker (7) and said microphone (8).

4. A pool safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a data input screen (9) connected to the processing means (6) for inputting pool data.

5. A pool safety device (1) according to claim 4,further comprising a second communication means (4b) connected to the processing means (6) and configured to communicate the pool data entered by the display (9) to a web server (300) for consultation by the competent authorities.

6. Pool safety device (1) according to any of claims 4-5, further comprising a third short-range communication means (4c) connected to the processing means (6) for transmitting the pool data entered by the display (9) to a smartphone (400).

7. Pool safety device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the third communication means (4c) is a Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy device.

8. Pool safety device (1) according to any of claims 4-7,further comprising a storage means (10) connected to the processing means (6) for storing the pool data entered by the display (9).

9. Pool safety device (1) according to any of claims 4-8, wherein the processing means (6) is configured to prevent modification of the data entered by the display (9) after a predetermined time interval has elapsed since its entry.

10. Pool safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the safety button (2) is of the mushroom type.

11. Pool safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims,further comprising a weatherproof outer casing (11).

12. A safety system for swimming pools characterized in that it comprises: - a device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; - a filter pump deactivation switch (20) connected to the outlet (61) of the processing medium (6); and - a blockage detector (30) in the suction inlet connected to the inlet (62) of the processing medium (6).

13. A safety system according to claim 12, wherein the blockage detector (30) in the suction inlet is a low-pressure sensor located downstream of the filter pump.

14. A method of operating a safety device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - when a blockage is detected in the suction inlet at the same time as the filter pump is operating,or when the safety button (2) is pressed, modify the state of the output (61) to stop the filtration pump; activate the audible (3a) and / or visual (3b) alarm; and instruct the first means of communication (4a) to report the emergency to the emergency services (200) along with the pool's location obtained from the GPS device (5).

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of activating the speaker (7) and microphone (8) to allow communication with the emergency services (200) by telephone call.

16. A method according to any of claims 14-15, further comprising the step of activating the display (9) to receive manually entered pool data.

17. A method according to claim 16,further comprising the step of sending the pool data entered via the screen (9) to a web server (300) for consultation by the competent authorities.

18. A method according to any of claims 16-17, further comprising the step of sending, via the third means of communication (4c), the pool data entered via the screen (9) to a smartphone (400).

19. A method according to any of claims 16-18, further comprising the step of storing the pool data entered via the screen (9) in the storage medium (10).

20. A method according to any of claims 16-19, further comprising the step of preventing modification of the data entered via the screen (9) after a predetermined time interval has elapsed since its entry.

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