Floating Shutter Lateral Cover Deployment for Irregular Pools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating shutters for pools are limited in their ability to cover entire pool surfaces due to shapes with lateral extensions or irregularities, as they cannot be reached in a straight line by the unwinding device, leading to incomplete coverage.
Innovation Solution
A floating shutter design featuring additional cover parts that can be deployed laterally, articulated by pivoting means, with compensation mechanisms to maintain uniform thickness and facilitate rolling, and junction systems for easy assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the floating shutter uses a standard panel structure without additional cover parts, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the adaptability to different pool shapes is limited and complete coverage cannot be achieved for pools with lateral extensions
Solution Approach 1:
The floating shutter is divided into standard panels and additional cover parts that can be selectively added to specific panels. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different pool shapes by adding cover parts only where needed, rather than redesigning the entire shutter structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Additional cover parts are added locally to specific panels that require extended coverage for lateral extensions or irregular shapes. The standard panels remain unchanged, maintaining simplicity where needed, while local modifications provide the necessary adaptability for complex pool geometries.
2Area of moving object
If additional cover parts are added to panels to extend coverage area, then the coverage area increases and complete pool surface coverage is achieved, but the thickness uniformity is compromised and rolling up becomes constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The additional cover part is hinged to the panel, allowing it to be deployed in a second dimension (laterally perpendicular to the panel) when needed for coverage, and folded back onto the panel when not in use. This dimensional transformation allows the cover part to extend coverage area while maintaining a compact profile that preserves thickness uniformity during storage and rolling.
Solution Approach 2:
The additional cover part is designed to be mobile between a deployed position (extending laterally to cover lateral extensions) and a retracted position (folded onto the panel). This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its coverage area as needed while maintaining uniform thickness when rolled up, resolving the contradiction between extended coverage and thickness uniformity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the additional cover part is deployed laterally to cover lateral extensions, then the coverage of lateral zones is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to deployment complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The additional cover part is equipped with translation means that enable it to deploy laterally automatically or with minimal manual intervention. The self-service mechanism reduces the operational complexity that would otherwise be required to manually position and secure the extended cover part, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving comprehensive coverage of lateral zones.
4Volume of moving object
If the floating shutter is rolled up with additional cover parts folded over panels, then the compactness is improved, but the constraint at joints increases and rolling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The additional cover part is hinged to allow it to be folded back onto the panel in a controlled manner, transforming from a laterally extended position to a folded position that lies flat against the panel. This dimensional transformation enables the cover part to be included in the rolled-up configuration without creating excessive joint constraints, as the hinged connection allows smooth folding and rolling motion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables complete coverage of pool surfaces with lateral extensions or irregular shapes by allowing the additional cover parts to deploy and roll up without constraints, ensuring uniform thickness and easy handling.
Implementation Method 1
the additional cover part comprises at least one hinged panel portion
Implementation Method 2
the portion of the additional cover part is deployed laterally by translation means
Implementation Method 3
the compensation means is an extra thickness compensation wedge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The shutter (1) has two movable panels (3) articulated with respect to each other along an axis (P) perpendicular to an unrolling direction (D) of the shutter. Each of the panels includes an additional covering part (6) at panel's lateral end to be laterally deployed with respect to the panel by a translational unit. The part moves between a position at which the covering part is positioned on the panel and another position at which the additional covering part is laterally deployed with respect to the panel. A cap (15) placed at each of lateral ends of the panels includes a fixation unit.