Swimming Pool Cover Insulation Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swimming pool cover devices face a conflict between achieving good thermal insulation properties and being able to fold or roll up for space-saving configurations, as most solutions either compromise on insulation due to steam-tightness or lack flexibility for compact storage.
Innovation Solution
A cover device comprising a flexible carrier layer and insulation layer with parallel, orthogonal cross-slots that allow for a compact configuration while maintaining thermal insulation, where the insulation layer segments are designed to be tense at higher temperatures for enhanced insulation and flexible at lower temperatures for easy rolling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the cover device is made thick to improve thermal insulation, then insulation performance is improved, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation layer is divided into multiple insulation segments separated by transverse slots. When rolled up, these segments can compact closely together, significantly reducing storage volume. When deployed flat, the segments form a continuous insulating barrier with effective thickness for thermal insulation.
2Ease of operation
If the cover device is made flexible to enable easy rolling and storage, then ease of operation is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse slots are positioned specifically within the insulation layer rather than through the entire cover structure. This localized design maintains flexibility where needed (in the insulation layer) while preserving thermal insulation performance (in the carrier layer and overall structure).
3Ease of operation
If transverse slots are made deep to increase flexibility for rolling, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength deteriorates due to notch stress
Solution Approach 1:
The depth of transverse slots is optimized to balance flexibility and strength requirements. Slots extend sufficiently deep into the insulation layer to provide the necessary bending flexibility for rolling, but are controlled not to compromise the structural integrity of the carrier layer or create excessive stress concentration points.
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 provides effective thermal insulation when in use and allows for easy, space-saving storage by reducing bending stiffness and increasing flexibility, with the cross-slots ensuring minimal effort is required for configuration changes and avoiding design-critical notch tensions.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of transverse slits which, in the flat state, extend essentially parallel to one another and orthogonal to the main extension plane... good thermal insulation properties
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2~3a
Figure 3b~3d
AI summary
The invention relates to a cover device (1) for liquid containers, in particular for swimming pools, comprising a backing layer (2) and an insulating layer (3), wherein the cover device (1) is flexible and can be brought from a rolled-up state to a flat state for covering the liquid container, wherein the backing layer (2) and the insulating layer (3), in the flat state, extend along a main extension plane (7) of the cover device (1), and wherein the insulating layer (3) has a plurality of transverse slits (4), which, in the flat state, run substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main extension plane (7) so that the insulating layer (3) is divided by the transverse slits (4) into a plurality of preferably substantially similarly-sized insulating layer segments (8).