Articulated Pool Cover with Side-Mounted Lifting Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing whirlpool covers are complex, protrude beyond the pool edge when open, require manual operation, and necessitate additional structural modifications for storage, limiting design flexibility and convenience.
Innovation Solution
The cover is designed with side-mounted lifting arms featuring slide rails, allowing a rotatable and linearly displaceable bolt to convert the cover from a closed to open position behind the pool, eliminating the need for manual operation and additional structural modifications, with self-locking drives and adjustable stops ensuring secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover is lifted off the pool manually and placed in a vertical position behind the pool, then the pool can be opened, but the cover protrudes beyond the upper edge of the pool in a disturbing manner and requires additional structural measures for storage
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is moved from a vertical position behind the pool to a horizontal folded position below the upper edge of the pool. This dimensional change allows the cover to be stored in the space between the pool edge and the water surface, eliminating the need for additional storage structures and preventing the cover from protruding beyond the pool edge.
2Extent of automation
If a mechanism is used to roll the cover part on the edge of the pool, then the cover can be moved automatically, but changes must be made to the whirlpool that allow or facilitate the rolling of the cover part on the edge of the pool
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting and folding mechanism is extracted from the pool structure itself and implemented as separate lifting arms that can be mounted on the pool deck. This allows automatic movement of the cover without requiring modifications to the whirlpool structure, as the mechanism operates independently on the deck level.
3Shape
If the cover is folded horizontally behind the pool below the upper edge, then the cover disappears into a cabinet that can be used as a lying surface, but the mechanism requires precise control of the lifting/folding movement
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting arms are equipped with self-locking drives that automatically maintain the cover in its desired position without requiring continuous control input. The adjustable stops provide mechanical limits that prevent over-travel, and the self-locking mechanism inherently maintains positioning against wind and other external influences, eliminating the need for complex active control systems.
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 solution enables a seamless, automatic, and space-efficient cover movement, allowing the cover to lie folded behind the pool, enhancing design possibilities without modifying the pool structure, and providing secure positioning against wind and other influences.
Implementation Method 1
If the at least one drive of the lifting arms is designed to be self-locking, the parts of the cover are held firmly in position. A further fixation of the cover on the pool against wind and other influences is no longer necessary.
Implementation Method 2
a slide rail is provided, in which slide rail a bolt firmly connected to the front part of the cover can be rotatably and linearly displaceably mounted, so that when the lifting arms rotate, the cover can be converted from the closed condition to an open condition lying behind the basin
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for moving coverings for insulating pools (6), which covering is composed of two parts (1, 2) connected to each other in an articulated manner, which parts (1, 2) of the covering lie flat on an upper edge (5) of the pool (6) in a closed state. In order to enable a comfortable motoric movement of such a covering into a preferably horizontal position behind the pool (6) and back without modifying the pool (6), the rear part (2) of the covering is connected to the pool (6) by means of a hinge (4), and the front part (1) of the covering is connected to two lifting arms (3), which are arranged at the sides of the pool (6) and which are driven by at least one drive (7), such that when the lifting arms (3) rotate, the covering can be transferred from the closed state to an open state in which the covering lies behind the pool (6) and back by means of a lifting/folding motion.