Intake Shield Assembly With Flexible Pipe And Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pool skimmers often get clogged by objects entering their intake, which can lead to reduced water flow and potential damage to the skimmer's fluid pump.
Innovation Solution
A shield device comprising a pipe with arms and an elbow is extended into the skimmer's intake, preventing objects from entering and ensuring a constant fluid flow by using a permeable screen and strategically positioned arms and elbow to prevent full insertion and blockage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pipe is extended into the skimmer intake to prevent clogging, then objects are blocked from entering, but the pipe may be fully drawn into the intake causing blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible pipe made of elastomeric material that can bend and deform. The pipe includes a bent section that allows it to flex within the skimmer intake without being fully drawn in, preventing blockage while maintaining clogging prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move and flex in response to water flow and external forces. The bent section and flexible material enable the pipe to adapt its position dynamically, preventing full insertion into the intake while still blocking debris.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pipe is made rigid to maintain structure, then manufacturing is easier, but the pipe cannot flex to prevent full insertion into intake
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe is constructed from flexible elastomeric material rather than rigid materials, enabling it to bend and flex while maintaining structural integrity. This flexibility allows the pipe to adapt to the skimmer intake environment without full insertion, solving both manufacturing and adaptability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe incorporates a bent section with specific curvature that provides structural guidance while maintaining flexibility. This curved geometry helps the pipe navigate the skimmer intake opening and prevents straight-line insertion that would cause blockage.
3Ease of operation
If arms are added to inhibit pipe insertion, then device complexity increases, but insertion control improves
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex mechanical arms or restraint mechanisms, the patent uses a simple bent section in the pipe that provides partial insertion control. The bend itself creates natural resistance to full insertion without requiring additional components, achieving insertion control with minimal added complexity.
4Reliability
If a screen is used to filter objects, then clogging prevention improves, but water flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a mesh screen with porous structure that allows water to pass through while blocking solid debris. The mesh configuration provides adequate filtration without creating excessive flow resistance, balancing clogging prevention with water flow maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen is positioned specifically at the pipe opening where debris entry is most likely, rather than throughout the entire pipe system. This localized filtration approach provides effective clogging prevention at the critical entry point while minimizing impact on overall water flow through the system.
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
The device effectively prevents clogging of the skimmer's intake, maintaining a constant water flow and protecting the skimmer's pump from damage by blocking objects and ensuring fluid permeability.
Implementation Method 1
A screen is coupled to the second end of the pipe to inhibit objects from entering the pipe. The screen is comprised of a fluid permeable material to pass fluid into the pipe.
Implementation Method 2
Each of the arms abuts a wall of the pool when the pipe is extended into the intake thereby inhibiting the pipe from being drawn fully into the intake.
Data Source
AI summary
An intake shield assembly for inhibiting a pool skimmer from being plugged includes a pipe that is extended into an intake of a pool skimmer thereby inhibiting objects from entering the intake. A pair of arms is provided and each of the arms is coupled to the pipe. Each of the arms abuts a wall of the pool when the pipe is extended into the intake thereby inhibiting the pipe from being drawn fully into the intake. An elbow is provided and the elbow is positioned in the intake of the pool skimmer. The elbow is fluidly coupled to the pipe when the pipe is extended into the intake. In this way the elbow inhibits objects from plugging the intake.