Mobile deck for pond, equipped to monitor pond water characteristics

Abstract

A mobile basin cover device configured to assume a closed position in which a surface of the basin is covered by the device and an open position in which the surface of the basin is not covered by the device, the device comprising movement means (200, 205) configured to move said device from one of the open and closed positions to the other of the open and closed positions, control means (210) for at least one water characteristic contained in the basin, and transfer means (215, 225) configured to transfer water between the basin and the control means when the device is in the closed position. Figure for the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Mobile terrace for a pond, equipped to monitor the characteristics of the pond water. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the management of basins such as swimming pools and in particular the control of water characteristics of a basin. Previous techniques

[0002] Climate change is leading to a significant decrease in the availability of freshwater, creating competition between different freshwater needs, for example, between the needs of agriculture, industry, and people. This competition is amplified at certain times, particularly during periods of drought, when certain uses are limited or even prohibited. Thus, for example, the use of water may be prohibited, in certain circumstances, for watering green spaces, washing vehicles, or managing swimming pool water. Indeed, not only can such uses be considered non-essential, but also, the volume of water wasted is often particularly significant.

[0003] It has been observed that the water consumption of a swimming pool is essentially linked to the following factors: - evaporation, which accounts for approximately 60% of a swimming pool's water consumption, - leaks due to the lack of waterproofing in the swimming pool, - leaks related to the pipes between the pool and the disinfection and / or filtration systems and - cleaning the filtration system following water pollution from environmental conditions and / or bathers.

[0004] Although solutions exist to address these problems, none of them provides complete satisfaction.

[0005] There is therefore a need to manage effectively basins such as swimming pools and in particular to control characteristics of swimming pool water, for example its level and its pollution. Description of the invention

[0006] The object of the invention is to propose a pool cover device, making it possible to limit water consumption by evaporation and contributing to the control of the characteristics of pool water.

[0007] According to one aspect, the invention relates to a mobile pond cover device, said device being configured to assume a closed position in which a surface of said pond is covered by said device and an open position in which said surface of said pond is not covered by said device, the device comprising

[0008] - means of movement configured to move said device from one of said open and closed positions to the other of said open and closed positions,

[0009] - means for controlling at least one water characteristic contained in said basin, and

[0010] - transfer means configured to transfer water between said basin and said control means when said device is in said closed position.

[0011] The device according to the invention thus makes it possible to cover the basin and prevent water loss through evaporation, to simplify the sealing of the basins and the piping networks arranged around the basins, to simplify the use of cleaning, treatment and, more generally, control systems for the water parameters of the basin, etc. The control means may include means of interaction for interacting directly or indirectly with the water contained in said basin, for example, to control its level and, where necessary, adjust it, to filter the water, to measure chemical parameters and, where necessary, initiate treatment, etc.

[0012] According to one feature, said transfer means include means for transferring water from said basin to said control means.

[0013] According to another feature, said control means comprise at least one filtration element.

[0014] According to another feature, said means for transferring water from said basin to said control means are configured to draw water from the surface of said basin or from the bottom of said basin.

[0015] According to another feature, said control means include a movable cleaning element, said cleaning element being configured to deploy in said basin when said device is in said closed position.

[0016] According to another feature, said control means include a reservoir allowing the adjustment of a water level of said basin.

[0017] According to another feature, said control means include means for measuring said water level of said basin, said transfer means being configured to transfer water from said basin to said reservoir or from said reservoir to said basin according to said measured water level.

[0018] According to another feature, said device further comprises a rainwater collection element, the collected rainwater being stored in said reservoir. It can be used to top up the water level of a pond or for watering, washing, etc.

[0019] According to another feature, said at least one filtration element is configured to filter the water of said reservoir.

[0020] According to another feature, said device further includes at least one solar panel to provide electrical power to at least said control means. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig. 1] schematically represents a first example of an environment in which of the embodiments of the invention can be implemented;

[0023] [Fig.2] illustrates a cross-sectional view, along a vertical plane, of an example of mobile terrace according to particular embodiments of the invention;

[0024] [Fig.3] illustrates a cross-sectional view, along a horizontal plane, of an example of a terrace mobile according to particular embodiments of the invention;

[0025] [Fig.4] schematically represents a second example of an environment in which embodiment of the invention can be implemented; and

[0026] [Fig. 5] illustrates an example of a data processing unit that can be used to control certain elements of a mobile terrace according to particular embodiments of the invention. Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0027] A detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention will be given below, with reference to the drawings in which the same references identify the same structural elements in each of the figures.

[0028] According to particular embodiments, a mobile basin cover device, also called a mobile basin cover deck, for example for a swimming pool, capable of assuming a closed position in which a surface of the basin is covered by the deck (i.e., the deck is positioned above the surface of the basin along a vertical axis) and an open position in which said surface of the basin is not covered by the deck, includes elements for controlling characteristics of the basin water, for example, water level management elements, elements for measuring certain water characteristics (e.g., pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, etc.) and / or filtration, disinfection and / or treatment elements. The mobile deck also includes transfer means for transferring water from the basin. to terrace elements and / or vice versa. Such transfer means may include one or more pipes, a pump to transfer water from the basin to terrace elements, a valve to transfer water from terrace elements to the basin, etc.

[0029] The implementation, within the movable deck, of elements for controlling the characteristics of the pool water makes it possible to avoid creating openings in the pool structure (or to limit their number) and to avoid the need for a hydraulic network between the pool and a technical room. According to specific embodiments, the pool water is drawn directly from elements of the deck, for example, to be treated (e.g., filtered or disinfected), heated, and / or removed if the pool water level is too high. Similarly, the water is directly pumped from the deck back into the pool, for example, after being treated and / or to top up the pool water level. Alternatively, the water can be stored in a tank, which may be integrated into the movable deck or separate, for example, using a preferably bidirectional pipe.

[0030] In particular embodiments, the mobile deck includes one or more sensors to measure the water level of the pool and adjust it according to the measurements obtained. It may also include photovoltaic, solar, and / or hybrid panels to heat water circulating in the deck and / or produce electricity that can be used to power electronic control circuits implemented in the deck, to heat water circulating in the deck, and / or to charge batteries.

[0031] In particular embodiments, the mobile terrace may include rainwater harvesting elements to collect rainwater falling on the terrace and store it in a tank integrated into the terrace and / or in a separate tank. The water contained in this or these tanks can be used to top up the pool level, for example by gravity, or for any other purpose, for example for washing around the pool.

[0032] By way of further illustration, the mobile deck may include a storage and control space for a mobile cleaning system that can descend into the pool when the deck is in a closed position to clean the pool. Regarding the cleaning itself, the mobile cleaning system may be entirely independent or may include fixed elements rigidly attached to the mobile deck, for example, a suction pump.

[0033] Thus, by way of illustration, the mobile terrace may include - a technical room including one or more systems for filtering, disinfecting and / or heating the pool water, - photovoltaic, solar or hybrid panels, placed on its surface, to heat the pool water or produce electricity, - a water storage tank, for example for rainwater or water from the pond when the water level is excessive - a mobile cleaning system that can descend into the pool when the terrace is in a closed position to clean the pool, and - a surface usable by users such as sunbathing, garden furniture, etc.

[0034] Fig. 1 schematically represents a first example of an environment 100 in which embodiments of the invention can be implemented.

[0035] As illustrated, the environment 100 here comprises a swimming pool 105 surrounded by a rim 110 and a movable deck 115. The movable deck 115 is, for example, equipped with wheels (not shown), motorized or not, configured to roll on the rim 110 of the swimming pool, on one or more rails or directly on the ground, in order to cover or uncover the swimming pool. It is shown here in an open position.

[0036] According to the illustrated example, the mobile deck moves along a transverse axis of the pool. According to other embodiments, the mobile deck moves along a longitudinal axis of the pool.

[0037] According to particular embodiments, the upper surface of the mobile terrace, referenced 120, can be used, for example, as a sunbathing area or garden lounge.

[0038] As described previously, the movable deck 115 includes elements (not shown) for controlling characteristics of the pool water, for example, water level control elements and filtration and / or disinfection elements, which eliminate the need for openings in the pool 105 to draw in and discharge water. It is noted that since these elements can interact with the pool from below the movable deck, particularly for drawing in and / or discharging water from the pool, when the movable deck is in the closed position, their presence does not alter the aesthetics of the movable deck.

[0039] Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view, along a vertical plane, of an example of a mobile terrace according to particular embodiments of the invention, for example the mobile terrace 115 illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0040] As illustrated, the mobile deck 115 is here equipped with wheels, generically referenced 200, arranged to roll on the edge 110 of the pool or on the ground. Each wheel is controlled by an independent motor unit, generically referenced 205, which is itself remotely controlled by a user to move the deck in one direction or the other. In other embodiments, the wheels are free-spinning, and the user applies force to move the deck.

[0041] Monitoring elements, using for example ultrasonic modules, can be used to block the movement of the terrace if there is a risk of collision with an object or a person. According to specific embodiments (and in accordance with applicable legislation), the movement of the terrace can be automatic, for example, to place it in a closed position at a given time or if no movement has been detected within a given time interval.

[0042] Still according to the illustrated example, the mobile terrace includes a treatment and / or filtration system 210, a suction pipe 215 whose end is here provided with a float 220 to suck up the water on the surface and, thus, suck up the dirt placed on the surface, and a pipe 225 to discharge the water after treatment and / or filtration.

[0043] According to this example, the mobile deck includes a reservoir 230. This reservoir is connected to the treatment and / or filtration system 210 by means of a suction pipe 235 and a discharge pipe 240. A pipe 245 also allows some of the water contained in the reservoir 230 to be transferred into the pool. Solenoid valves (not shown) can be used to control the circulation of water between the pool 10, the treatment and / or filtration system 210, and / or the reservoir 230. Also according to the illustrated example, the shape of the upper surface of the mobile deck allows for the collection of rainwater and its transfer to the reservoir 115. The latter can be equipped with an overflow (not shown) to discharge excess water back into the pool or into an external tank.

[0044] The treatment and / or filtration system 210 is, for example, a conventional treatment and / or filtration system, operating on battery power or a household electrical circuit. It may include a treatment and / or filtration element and a pump for drawing water from the pool or a tank, treating and / or filtering it, and returning it to the pool or tank. It may also include a set of solenoid valves to control the water source to be treated and / or filtered and the destination of the treated or filtered water. The control logic for the treatment and / or filtration system may be integrated into the system itself or implemented remotely.

[0045] The terrace 115 includes, for example, a metal structure. It can be clad with wood panels or any other material. Its dimensions are, for example, 8 meters by 4 meters. Generally, the dimensions of the terrace are determined by the size of the pool. The terrace is larger than the pool and extends beyond it by approximately 20 cm to 1 m on each of the four sides. Its height is, for example, between 15 and 60 cm (the height may vary depending on the location).

[0046] Tank 230 is, for example, a flexible tank or a rigid container, for example of the IBC (intermediate bulk container) type, made of plastic. The dimensions of tank 230, in a horizontal plane, represent, for example, between 20 and 60% of the terrace area. Its height can be between 15 and 40 cm.

[0047] The pipe 215 is, for example, made of a flexible hose whose free end includes a weight and / or a float (as illustrated). The end can thus follow the ground and adapt to its deformations and come into contact with the pool water when the end connected to the movable deck, for example to the treatment and / or filtration system 210, is above the surface of the pool. The pipe 215 can be retractable or partially retractable, automatically or partially automatically, to descend into the pool water in a controlled manner, for example depending on the position of the movable deck and / or depending on a task to be performed, for example treating or filtering the pool water.

[0048] Water level management in the basin can, for example, be carried out using three or more levels: a low level triggering the filling of the basin if the water level is below the low level, a high level triggering the removal of water from the basin if the water level is above the high level, and one or more intermediate levels to stop filling or removing water. Water level detection can, for example, be carried out using switch-type sensors controlled by a water level or by a water height measurement from a reference point (for example, the location of the water height measurement system).

[0049] Fig. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view, along a horizontal plane, of an example of a mobile terrace according to particular embodiments of the invention, for example the mobile terrace 115 illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0050] As illustrated, the mobile deck 115 here comprises four wheels 200 arranged in the corners of the deck, each controlled by a motor unit 205, allowing movement of the mobile deck 115 along the longitudinal axis of the pool. It is noted that the number of wheels and their position can be determined, in particular, according to the mass of the mobile deck, taking into account all factors (e.g., a water-filled tank, the presence of users on the deck, etc.). Similarly, the direction of movement of the deck is advantageously determined according to the pool and its surroundings.

[0051] As described previously, the illustrated example includes a treatment and / or filtration system 210 and water suction and discharge pipes, for example from and to the swimming pool and from and to the tank 230 installed in the movable deck 115. It also includes pipes 300 and 305 allowing to pump water from the pool or water from tank 230 to an external tank (for example the external tank 400 on [Fig.4]), and to draw water from this external tank, for example using external flexible hoses (not shown).

[0052] According to the illustrated example, the mobile deck comprises a battery pack 310, a data processing unit 315, which notably controls the various electrical and electronic components of the mobile deck, and a mobile cleaning system 320 that can descend into the pool when the deck is in a closed position to clean the pool. The mobile cleaning system 320 is, for example, operated by means of a winch (not shown) itself controlled by the data processing unit 315. In particular embodiments, the mobile cleaning system 320 is connected to the treatment and / or filtration system 210. It can, for example, move along the walls of the pool and across the bottom to clean these surfaces.

[0053] Figure 4 schematically represents a second example of an environment in which embodiments of the invention can be implemented. The environment here is similar to the environment 100 illustrated in Figure 1, but further includes an external reservoir 400, separate from the movable platform 105 and connected to elements thereof via a pipeline comprising a flexible water suction hose 405 and a flexible water discharge hose 410.

[0054] The external tank 400 can in particular be used to store excess water from the swimming pool or rainwater collected by the mobile terrace 105. The water stored in the external tank 400 can be used to top up the water level in the swimming pool if it is below the recommended minimum or for other purposes, for example to water plants, clean the edge of the swimming pool, etc.

[0055] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a data processing unit that can be used to control certain elements of a movable terrace according to particular embodiments of the invention. The data processing unit or computer 500 is, for example, an embedded PC (personal computer).

[0056] As illustrated, the computer 500 includes a power supply 525, for example a battery, providing the electrical energy required by the computer 500 components. It further includes one or more communication buses, shared or not, to which the following are connected:

[0057] - a central processing unit or microprocessor 505 (CPU, abbreviation for central A processing unit (in Anglo-Saxon terminology) may also include one or more coprocessors, for example of the GPU type (graphical processing unit in Anglo-Saxon terminology), allowing for faster calculations (for example by...) parallelizing), including calculations of a learning model that can be used to automate certain tasks;

[0058] - a random access memory or cache memory 510 (RAM, acronym for random access memory (in Anglo-Saxon terminology) comprising registers adapted to store variables and parameters created and modified during the execution of programs implementing the steps described above;

[0059] - a read-only memory 515 (ROM, acronym for read-only memory in terminology) Anglo-Saxon) which may include an operating system and programs implementing the steps described above;

[0060] - a 520 storage support, fixed or removable;

[0061] - an input interface 530 for receiving data from sensors; and

[0062] - a 535 output interface for controlling one or more actuators, for example to control the movement of the mobile platform in which the computer is mounted. The input and output interfaces may or may not be separate. It could be, for example, a standard input / output interface.

[0063] The computer 500 further preferably includes a communication interface 540 connected to a communication network, for example a wireless communication network and / or a local communication network, the interface being capable of transmitting and receiving data, in particular to or from another server, computers, tablets and / or smartphones. The communication interface 540 is, for example, compliant with one of the Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G, etc. standards.

[0064] Optionally, the computer 500 may also have a display 545, in particular a touch display enabling a user to interact with programs implemented by the computer 500, and input means such as a keyboard and / or a mouse enabling a user to interact with programs implemented by the computer 500.

[0065] The communication bus enables communication and interoperability between the various elements included in or connected to the computer 500. The bus representation is not limiting and, in particular, the central processing unit is capable of communicating instructions to any element of the computer 500 directly or via another element of the computer 500.

[0066] The executable code of the programs enabling the computer 500 to implement, in whole or in part, the method according to the invention, can be stored, for example, in the read-only memory 515. According to an alternative, the executable code of the programs can be received via the communication network, through interface 540, to be stored in the same manner as described above. More generally, the program(s) can be loaded into one of the storage means of the computer 500 before being executed.

[0067] The central processing unit 505 will command and direct the execution of the instructions or portions of software code of the program(s) according to the invention, instructions which are stored, for example, in the read-only memory 515 or in the other aforementioned storage elements. Upon power-up, the program(s) stored in non-volatile memory, for example the read-only memory 515, are transferred to the random access memory 510, which then contains the executable code of the program(s), as well as registers for storing the variables and parameters necessary for implementing the method according to the invention.

[0068] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example. It extends to other variants.

[0069] Depending on the embodiment chosen, certain acts, actions, events, or functions of each of the methods described in this document may be performed or occur in a different order than described, or may be added, merged, or not performed or occur, as the case may be. Furthermore, in some embodiments, certain acts, actions, or events are performed or occur concurrently rather than sequentially.

[0070] Although described through a number of detailed embodiments, the proposed device, system, and method include various variants, modifications, and improvements that will be obvious to those skilled in the art, it being understood that these various variants, modifications, and improvements form part of the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims. Furthermore, different aspects and features described above may be implemented together, separately, or substituted for one another, and all the different combinations and subcombinations of aspects and features form part of the scope of the invention. In addition, it is possible that some systems and equipment described above may not incorporate all the modules and functions described for the preferred embodiments.

Claims

Demands

1. Mobile basin cover device (115), said device being configured to assume a closed position in which a surface of said basin is covered by said device and an open position in which said surface of said basin is not covered by said device, the device comprising - movement means (200, 205) configured to move said device from one of said open and closed positions to the other of said open and closed positions, - control means (210) of at least one water feature contained in said basin, and - transfer means (215, 225) configured to transfer water between said basin and said control means when said device is in said closed position.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means comprise means for transferring water from said basin to said control means.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said control means comprise at least one filtration element.

4. Device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said means for transferring water from said basin to said control means are configured to draw water from the surface of said basin or from the bottom of said basin.

5. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said control means comprise a movable cleaning element, said cleaning element being configured to deploy in said basin when said device is in said closed position.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said control means comprise a reservoir (230) allowing adjustment of a water level of said basin.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein said control means comprise means for measuring said water level of said basin, said transfer means being configured to transfer water from said basin to said reservoir or from said reservoir to said basin according to said measured water level.

8. Device according to claim 6 or claim 7, said device further comprising a rainwater collection element, the collected rainwater being stored in said reservoir.

9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, directly or indirectly dependent on claim 3, said at least one filtration element being configured to filter water from said reservoir.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said device further comprising at least one solar panel for supplying electrical power to at least said control means.

Images