SKIMMER SYSTEM FOR OVERFLOW BASIN

Abstract

The invention relates to a skimming device for a basin with water overflowing on at least one side. The skimming device comprises a buffer tank (8) equipped with a solid impurity collection element, and a water collection element from the overflow basin connected to the buffer tank (8). The device is characterized in that the water collection element and the buffer tank (8) are single units. The water collection element and the buffer tank (8) share a common dimension defining the length of the skimming device's footprint on the basin. The connection zone between the water collection element and the buffer tank is provided with at least one wave-generating element (18) inducing a regular water drop between the water collection element and the buffer tank (8). The invention also relates to a basin equipped with at least one such device on one of its sides. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 7

Description

Title of the invention: SKIMMER DEVICE FOR OVERFLOW BASIN

[0001] The invention relates to a skimming device for an overflow basin. Hereafter, the English term "skimmer" will also be used to designate such a skimming device. The term "basin" includes swimming pools, regardless of their shape, size, depth, or material, ornamental ponds, water treatment ponds, rainwater collection ponds, fountains, thermal baths, outdoor baths, fish farming or aquaculture ponds, or any other basin in which water circulates by overflow. The overflow occurs on at least one side of the basin. When the overflow occurs on all sides, it is called a mirror basin or a reflecting pool.In this case, the waterline is flush with the main surface of the landscaped perimeter of the pool, for example, with coping stones, or more generally, the waterline is flush with the ground surrounding the pool, creating a mirror effect and giving the impression that there is water beyond the pool. In such infinity pools, particularly in the case of swimming pools, skimming is not done by a conventional skimmer. After overflowing, the water is collected in a surge tank and then directed to a filtration system. The water level in the surge tank varies depending on whether the filtration system is running, whether or not there are bathers in the pool, and more generally, whether the water is calm or not in the main pool. It is therefore clear that the construction of such infinity pools must be carried out carefully to ensure an optimal mirror effect at all times and under all conditions of pool use, in order to regulate the water level in the surge tank..

[0002] In all cases, impurities and solid waste present on the surface of the pool are transported to the surge tank and must be regularly removed. The surge tank is either placed near the overflow side, outside the pool and below the water level, or, in the case of a infinity pool, it is fed by overflow gutters that receive water from several sides of the pool. Consequently, more or less complex masonry work is required, increasing the footprint of such pools compared to a pool without an overflow. It is therefore advantageous to improve the skimming system of such pools in order to limit the work, and thus the costs and / or space required for installing the skimming equipment.

[0003] One of the known alternative solutions for obtaining a mirror effect from a basin without overflow is to use skimming devices or skimmers. These are called mirror skimmers. Due to their shape and / or size, these skimmers are positioned a few centimeters below the main plane of the pool's edge, which raises the waterline while preventing the pool from overflowing. However, the visual effect, especially for a swimming pool, is not the same as that of an infinity pool, and the skimming action remains conventional. To optimize skimming in infinity pools, particularly mirror pools, filtration and / or skimming solutions are known, for example, from FR-A-2 949 801, EP-A-3 216 946, EP-A-2 453 077, EP-A-3 030 729, WO-A-2017 / 125 670, EP-A-1 538 281, FR-A-2 982 894, FR-A-2 824 579, and FR-A-2 837 230. However, these solutions require relatively extensive masonry work and are not easily adaptable to existing pools.There is therefore a need for a skimming device that is easy to produce, implement and use, while also being adaptable to the constraints of various basins, in terms of dimensions and / or shapes, whether the basins are initially overflow basins or not, while optimizing production costs.

[0004] It is to these needs that the invention proposes to respond by offering a skimming device that is easy to make and set up and at a controlled cost.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a skimming device for a water overflowing basin on at least one side, the skimming device comprising a buffer tank equipped with a solid impurity collection device, a water collection device from the overflowing basin connected to the buffer tank, characterized in that the water collection device and the buffer tank are monoblocs, the water collection device and the buffer tank having in common a dimension defining the length of the skimming device's footprint on the basin and in that the connection zone between the water collection device and the buffer tank is provided with at least one wave-generating device inducing a regular water drop between the water collection device and the buffer tank.

[0006] Thus, thanks to the invention, a skimming device is easy to produce and install on any type of overflow basin, since the entire assembly is a single unit. The presence of at least one wave-generating element ensures a regular flow of water from the basin to the surge tank, as well as the removal of solid impurities present in the basin and floating on its surface. The presence of the wave allows control of the water flow velocity before it falls into the surge tank, thus avoiding or at least limiting suction and cavitation phenomena. The waterfall thus created between the water collection element and the surge tank is uniform along the entire length of the skimming device; that is to say, there are no areas of the waterfall where the flow velocity and / or water flow rate differ. Furthermore, the combined presence of the wave and the waterfall downstream The wave action facilitates the collection of solid impurities. As long as these solid impurities float, they are carried towards the buffer tank.

[0007] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a skimming device may comprise one or more of the following features:

[0008] At least one wave-generating element is formed by an inclined plane provided between a part of the water collection element and a part of the buffer tank located at a higher altitude.

[0009] At least one inclined plane constituting the wave-generating element is provided on a plate defining the lower part of the water-collecting element.

[0010] The slope of the inclined plane in active configuration, - when the wave-generating device generates waves, is between 30° and 60°.

[0011] The slope of the inclined plane is adjustable between an active configuration where it generates waves and inactive configurations where the slope is either 0° the element not generating any waves, or 90° the wave-generating element blocking the passage of water between the water collection element and the buffer tank.

[0012] Several wave-generating organs are arranged on the plate defining the lower part of the water collection organ.

[0013] A horizontality adjustment device for the connection zone between the wave-generating device and the buffer tank is mounted on the upper end of one of the walls constituting the buffer tank, said end defining said connection zone.

[0014] The adjustment element consists of at least one sliding strip that moves in translation along the wall of the buffer tank constituting said connection zone and is also movable parallel to the main plane of this wall.

[0015] The invention also relates to an overflow basin equipped at least on one side with a skimming device conforming to one of the preceding characteristics.

[0016] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] is a simplified perspective view of an overflow basin equipped on at least one side of a skimming device conforming to an embodiment of the invention,

[0018] [Fig.2] is a simplified diagram illustrating the general principle of skimming and the filtration of an overflow basin according to the prior art,

[0019] [Fig.3] is a view from a basin of the water collection organ of a device skimming according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0020] [Fig.4] is a side view, along arrow IV, at another scale, of the device of the [Fig. 3], the water in the basin being schematically illustrated,

[0021] [Fig.5] is a top view, at a different scale, of the device shown in Figures 3 and 4,

[0022] [Fig.6] is a view similar to [Fig.5], on a larger scale, of the collecting organ solid impurities are separated from the rest of the device,

[0023] [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view of the skimming device from [Fig.4], to another scale, according to section plane VII, without the impurity collection organ and without the upper part of the device and

[0024] [Fig.8] is a partial view from the buffer tank, at a larger scale of the area connection between the water collection unit and the buffer tank.

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a type of overflow pool, in this case a swimming pool 1. Hereafter, the invention will be described with reference to such a swimming pool, it being understood that the invention applies to any type of overflow pool, regardless of its shape, dimensions, or constituent material, as previously indicated. Here, the swimming pool 1 is square. Alternatively, it can be rectangular or of more complex geometric shapes. Such an overflow pool is more precisely of a particular type called a mirror pool, also known as a mirror pool. The terms and expressions "pool" or "overflow pool," "mirror pool," or "mirror pool" will be used interchangeably to refer to an overflow pool according to the invention.

[0026] In an infinity pool, the water is level with all the outer edges of the pool 1 and also occupies a small part of the perimeter of the pool or, more generally, part of the top of the pool. This creates a visual effect known as the mirror effect. With such a mirror effect, the water appears to spread beyond the initial volume of the pool and overflow on all sides. The water overflowing on all sides of the pool flows into a water collection device 2. In the prior art, such a water collection device is a gutter or channel located around the perimeter of the pool. In the device of the invention, the water collection device is a specific component. As shown in [Fig.2], which schematically illustrates the operating principle of an overflow basin, with or without a mirror effect, the water from the basin flows by gravity into a water collection device located on the periphery of the basin.This water collection unit is connected to a buffer tank that provides temporary storage of the collected water before it is sent to a chemical and mechanical filtration unit. Once filtered, the water is returned to the lower part of the basin. Solid impurities floating on the surface of the basin fall into the water collection unit and are collected from the buffer tank by a sediment collection unit. Thus, only water and liquid impurities reach the filtration unit. In [Fig. 2], the general principle illustrated is that commonly found in the prior art, where peripheral gutters direct the water to a buffer tank located away from the basin and advantageously at a lower elevation so that it is fed by gravity. Pipes then carry the water, either by gravity or by pumping, to the filtration unit. The water is then pumped back into the lower part of the basin. Thus, in the current state of the art, separate components are used for water collection and temporary storage in the surge tank. The space occupied by these components, as well as their respective positions, necessitate significant and precise masonry work that must be planned from the outset, during the construction of the basin. Consequently, infinity pools, and especially mirror pools, have higher construction costs than a conventional basin or pool and occupy more space, while being reserved for new builds.

[0027] Figure 3 is a partial view, from the basin, of the skimming device of the invention. The skimming device is advantageously made of a rigid, non-corrosive material that is inert with respect to the materials constituting the basin and the users of the basin, and insensitive to environmental conditions. The material is, for example, stainless steel or another metal or metal alloy. Alternatively, the skimming device is made of another material, for example, a composite or polymers. As can be seen in Figure 3, the water collection element 2 of the device of the invention has an opening 3 oriented towards the basin 1. This opening 3 extends over a given, predefined distance, which is a multiple of the length of one side of a basin.In this way, an opening 3 is obtained that can occupy at least one entire side of the pool 1. Indeed, the skimming device that is the subject of the invention is a single unit and manufactured in a factory, independently of the construction of the pool 1. The skimming device can be produced and / or stored prior to and / or at a distance from the location of the pool 1, while still being easily transported by known means, such as trucks. For this reason, the dimensions of the skimming device, in particular its length, are multiples of the lengths commonly found for so-called standard pools, especially square or rectangular pools 1.Typically, the length of the water collection element 2, and therefore of the device, is between 1.50 m and 3 m, although this length can be greater provided it is compatible with road transport limits as encountered for so-called normal transport, i.e., excluding oversized loads. It is thus easy to manufacture devices that can be joined end-to-end to achieve the desired length of the pool. Alternatively, it is possible to create devices that are not straight but curved to meet specific needs.

[0028] The opening 3 of the water collection device 2, therefore de facto the part receiving the water from the basin 1, is here generally rectangular in shape with a height between 2 cm and 10 cm, more precisely between 4.5 cm and 7.5 cm, advantageously close to 6.5 cm. In all cases, the height of the opening 3 is adapted to allow the passage of water and solid impurities floating at the water surface, without blocking the latter in the opening 3. The opening 3 of the water collection device 2 is positioned so that at least three-quarters of its height is located below the waterline of the pool, only at most one upper quarter, advantageously just a vertical edge 4 forming a return extending upwards of a plate 5 forming the upper wall of the water collection device 2 is located slightly above the waterline L or flush with it.

[0029] The opening 3 is delimited by an open side of a defined volume between two plates, upper 5 and lower 6, constituting the water collection element 2. These plates 5, 6 are kept parallel and spaced at a distance D corresponding to the height of the opening 3. Supporting blocks 7, advantageously made here in the form of hollow cylinders with a circular base, are arranged regularly, in a row or staggered, between the plates 5, 6. Alternatively, the supporting blocks are solid. The blocks 7 not only keep the plates 5, 6 parallel and thus ensure a constant usable height D of the opening 3 of the water collection element 2, but also reinforce the strength and rigidity of the upper plate 5 of the water collection element 2, and therefore of the skimming device.It is therefore possible to place a covering, for example, of stone, ceramic, concrete, wood, composite, or other material, on the upper plate 5, i.e., on top of the skimming device. In other words, the upper plate 5, which forms part of the skimming device, is adapted on its external face to receive a covering covering at least part of the perimeter of the pool 1, similarly to a coping. The arrangement and geometric configuration of the opening 3 of the water collection unit 2 in relation to the pool 1 allow for the visual effect of a continuous peripheral gutter, extending at least part of the length of one side of the pool 1 and located below or flush with the waterline L of the pool 1, thus preserving the mirror effect and without substantially altering the initial dimensions of the pool 1.

[0030] Figure 4 shows the skimming device in perspective from one of its lateral faces. The water in pool 1 is schematically and partially represented, as well as the waterline L and the external environment of pool 1. It is clear that the water collection unit 2 and the buffer tank 8 are single units made of the same material, for example, by bending, welding, bonding, or other known technique. In a preferred embodiment, they are metallic, for example, stainless steel. Alternatively, they are made of different materials; the buffer tank 8 could, for example, be made of polymer to reduce the weight of the skimming device. In all cases, the entire device is a single unit, which facilitates its manufacture, storage, transport, and installation. Indeed, to install the device, it is sufficient to place the water collection unit 2 on the outside of one side of pool 1 and the buffer tank 8 in an excavation or on earthworks made around pool 1.

[0031] The buffer tank 8 is provided at its upper part with an opening 9 which may be closed by a removable cover (not shown), the latter being able to be covered with various coatings for aesthetic reasons. In all cases, the principal plane P of the opening 9 of the buffer tank 8, which allows access to its internal volume, is parallel to the upper plate 5 of the water collection element 2 and located at a slightly higher altitude. In fact, this difference in altitude corresponds approximately to the thickness of a covering element that will be positioned on the upper plate 5 of the water collection element 2. In order to hold such a covering element in position, the vertical rim 4 has a height corresponding to the thickness of the element and extends upwards, as viewed in [Fig. 4], from the free end of the upper plate 5.Ultimately, once the cladding element is in place, this allows for an overall flat appearance from the water surface in pool 1 to the opening 9 of the buffer tank 8, which reinforces the mirror effect.

[0032] In [Fig. 4], the opening 9 of the buffer tank 8 is shown without a lid. It can be fitted with a lid, either solid or perforated, or with a grid. In all cases, whether a lid or a grid, this element must be easily removable, rigid, and strong enough to support the weight of at least one adult. It should also be noted that the open tops of the studs 7 lead to the upper plate 5 of the water collection unit 2. This design makes it possible to lighten the skimming device without compromising its mechanical resistance to crushing, as the hollow studs 7 act as a honeycomb structure. Alternatively, the upper plate 5 is solid.

[0033] As can be seen in [Fig. 5], the internal volume of the buffer tank 8 is adapted to the volume of water collected by the water collection device 2 and to the volume of water that a filtration device, not shown, can process, per unit of time. The bottom 11 of the buffer tank 8 is located at a lower elevation than the lower plate 6 of the water collection device 2 in order to allow the buffer tank 8 to be fed by gravity from the water collection device 2. The buffer tank 8 is equipped in its upper part, near its opening 9, with a removable solid impurity collection device 12. This device is a grid 12, made of metal or polymers, known per se. The grid 12 is made of one or more easily removable elements. Here, the grid rests on transverse spacers 13 fitted to the buffer tank 8.These spacers 13 also ensure the reinforcement and parallel maintenance of the vertical walls 14, 15 of the buffer tank 8, preventing any deformation or crushing under the effect of water or the external backfill of the excavation in which the buffer tank 8 is placed. The mesh of the grid 12 is adapted to collect the majority of the solid impurities encountered which float at the. The surface of a basin 1, particularly leaves and insects, while still allowing water to pass through easily. The fact that this solid debris collection grid 12 is removable makes it easy to clean and replace.

[0034] Figure 6 illustrates the buffer tank 8 without its impurity collection device, allowing visualization, at the bottom 11 of the buffer tank 8, of the outlet of a pipe 16 connecting the buffer tank 8 to a remote filtration device. It is understood that, alternatively, the shape, arrangement, and / or number of pipes equipping the bottom 11 of the buffer tank 8 are different from the illustration and adapted to the volume of water to be treated. Figure 6 shows a connection zone Z between the lower plate 6 of the water collection device 2 and the upper end 17 of one 14 of the vertical walls 14, 15 of the buffer tank 8. The connection zone Z extends along the entire length of the opening 9 of the buffer tank 8.

[0035] Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the skimming device, at its lower part, without cover, without grid 12 and without studs 7. It is noted that the lower plate 6 of the water collection element is provided with a wave generating element 18. As previously indicated, the vertical walls 14, 15 and the bottom 11 of the buffer tank 8 are monoblocs and advantageously obtained by folding a metal sheet. The connection zone Z between the water collection element 2 and the buffer tank 8 is provided along its entire length with an inclined plane forming the wave generating element 18. This inclined plane 18 connects the lower plate 6 of the water collection element 2 to the end 17 of the lateral and vertical wall 14 of the buffer tank 8, said end 17 being located at an altitude higher than that of the lower plate 6, typically between 1 cm and .3 cm, preferably the end 17 is located 2 cm above the plate 6 and about 4.5 cm above the upper plate 5. In other words, the height of the inclined plane 18, between its base and its top, is about 2 cm. The slope A, defined with respect to the horizontal, of the inclined plane 18 is constant over the entire length of the connection zone Z and there is no break in the slope or variation of the slope A between the lower plate 6 and the end 17 of the wall 14 of the buffer tank 8. The slope A of the inclined plane 18 is between 30° and 60°.

[0036] The direction of water flow in the skimming device is indicated by arrow F. When the water from basin 1 reaches the wave-generating element 18, a wave is created due to a slight inclination of the lower plate 6 of the water collection element 2. This is due to the rapid decrease in water level at the wave-generating element, and therefore at the inclined plane 18, caused by a rise in the bottom similar to what occurs at sea. The presence of a wave increases the water flow velocity at the connection zone Z between the buffer tank 8 and the water collection element 2. It also facilitates the creation of a waterfall in the buffer tank 8 with a constant flow rate. The presence of the waterfall and increasing the water flow rate optimizes the removal of solid impurities towards the buffer tank 8, particularly onto the grid 12.

[0037] Figure 8 is a partial view, from another angle from the buffer tank 8 and at a larger scale, of a portion of the connection zone Z. A horizontal adjustment element 19 of the connection zone Z is mounted on the upper end 17 of the wall 14, on the inner face 20 of the wall 14. Here, a strip 19 forms the horizontal adjustment element and is, in fact, pressed against the rear face of the wave-generating element 18. This strip 19 has a position relative to the end 17 of the vertical wall 14, and therefore relative to the apex of the inclined plane 18, which, according to one embodiment, is adjustable by means of a set of screws. Thus, the strip 19 is movable in translation along the wall 14, parallel to the main plane of this wall 14, along the contour F19. Alternatively, the adjustment is achieved by a rack and pinion system, compasses, jacks or controlled by an electronic control unit.

[0038] The presence of the movable strip 19 compensates for any deviations in horizontality that may be observed along the length of the wave-generating element 18 and therefore, de facto, along the length of the skimming device. Indeed, over a length of several meters, the earthworks and / or excavation supporting the device, and therefore the water collection element 2 and the buffer tank 8, may not be perfectly level. In such a case, the mirror effect will not be identical and / or constant across the entire pool 1. With a movable strip 19, a constant water level, and therefore a constant water height, is achieved along the entire length of the inclined plane 18, so that the water flow velocity due to the wave and the water falling into the buffer tank 8 are identical, controlled, and constant along the entire length of the skimming device.This results in a smooth, non-turbulent flow of water across the entire basin 1, creating an optimal mirror effect while also ensuring optimal collection of solid impurities. Furthermore, a regular and controlled waterfall allows for minimizing the noise of the cascade.

[0039] Thanks to the presence of the wave-generating element 18, and because the lower plate 6 of the water collection element 2 is located slightly below the waterline L and is slightly inclined, the water is drawn in by the effect of the wave and the waterfall. Alternatively, the lower plate 6 of the water collection element 2 is provided with positive and / or negative reliefs, promoting laminar water flow, thus minimizing turbulence. Such a plate is, for example, ribbed, with ribs and / or grooves oriented parallel to the direction of water flow. In another embodiment, it is possible to have a movable wave-generating element 18, thus adjustable in terms of its slope and / or wave shape in order to control the water flow velocity in the buffer tank 8.

[0040] Alternatively, it is possible to have a wave-generating element adjustable between an active configuration where it generates waves, if necessary with a variable slope, and inactive configurations in which the slope of the wave-generating element 18 either generates no waves with a slope of 0°, or blocks the flow of water with a slope of 90°. In these two inactive configurations, either the wave effect is eliminated or the wave-generating element 18 is brought to a vertical position, which induces a stoppage of the water flow in the buffer tank 8. In another embodiment, at least one other wave-generating element 18 is provided on the lower plate 6, for example to create a swell or successive wave effect, for example for aesthetic purposes.

[0041] The adjustment of the slope of the inclined plane 18 and / or the height of the ruler 19 are in principle made once and for all, when the entire skimming device is in position on at least one side of the pool 1. Alternatively, each of these adjustments can be adapted over time and can be controlled by a control means, for example electrical or hydraulic.

[0042] In another embodiment, the buffer tank is formed by two tanks nested one inside the other. The outer tank is integral with the water collection device. The inner tank is removable to facilitate maintenance, the grid 12 being located on the opening of either the inner tank or both tanks.

Claims

Claims

1. Skimming device for a basin (1) with water overflowing from at least one side, the skimming device comprising a buffer tank (8) equipped with a solid impurity collection member (12), a water collection member (2) from the overflowing basin (1) and connected to the buffer tank (8), the water collection member (2) and the buffer tank (8) being in one piece, the water collection member (2) and the buffer tank (8) having in common a dimension defining the length of the grip of the skimming device on the basin (1), the connection zone (Z) between the water collection member (2) and the buffer tank (8) being provided with at least one wave-generating member (18) inducing a regular fall of water between the water collection member (2) and the buffer tank (8), characterized in that at least one wave-generating member waves (18) is formed by an inclined plane arranged between a part (6) of the water collection member (2) and a part (14,17) of the buffer tank (8) located at a higher altitude.,

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one inclined plane constituting the wave-generating member (18) is provided on a plate (6) defining the lower part of the water-collecting member (2).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the slope (A) of the inclined plane, in active configuration, when the wave generating member (18) generates waves, is between 30° and 60°.

4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the slope (A) of the inclined plane is adjustable between an active configuration where it generates waves and inactive configurations where the slope (A) is either 0° the member not generating any waves, or 90° the wave generating member (18) blocking the passage of water between the water collection member (2) and the buffer tank (8).

5. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that several wave-generating members (18) are arranged on the plate (6) defining the lower part of the water-collecting member (2).

6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a member for adjusting the horizontality (19) of the connection zone (Z) between the wave-generating member (18) and the buffer tank (8) is mounted on the upper end (17) of one (14) of the walls (14, 15) constituting the buffer tank (8), said end (17) defining said connection zone (Z).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the adjustment member (19) is formed of at least one strip movable in translation (F19) along the wall (14) of the buffer tank (8) constituting said connection zone (Z) and movable parallel to the main plane of this wall (14).

8. Overflow basin (1) equipped at least on one side with a skimming device according to one of the preceding claims.

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