Nozzle Mounting Assembly for Pool Shell Alignment and Transport
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional nozzle connectors attached to an elbow joint in fiberglass swimming pool shells are difficult to align perpendicular to the pool surface, leading to inefficiencies in cleaning and potential water leaks, and the plumbing extensions limit the number of shells that can be transported and increase damage risk during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle mounting assembly using a plurality of mounting rings and nozzle retainer bodies made of heat-resistant materials, with trim rings for alignment and sealing, allowing for easier manufacturing and installation, improved alignment, and reduced leakage, while the low profile of the mounting rings enables more efficient stacking and transportation of pool shells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional nozzle connectors with elbow joints are molded into fiberglass pool shells, then the plumbing components are integrated into the shell, but the plumbing extensions extend six or more inches from the bottom surface, limiting the number of shells that can be stacked and increasing damage risk during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The plumbing system is divided into separate components: mounting rings embedded in the pool shell bottom and nozzle connectors that attach separately to these rings. This segmentation allows the pool shells to be stacked without long plumbing extensions protruding, while still providing integrated plumbing functionality through the mounting rings that are molded into the shell.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional nozzle connectors are attached to elbow joints in fiberglass pool shells, then the plumbing structure is formed, but the nozzles are difficult to align perpendicular to the pool surface, leading to cleaning inefficiencies and potential water leaks
Solution Approach 1:
Mounting rings serve as intermediary components between the pool shell and the nozzle connectors. These rings are molded into the pool shell bottom with precisely positioned openings that guide and constrain the nozzle connectors, ensuring they emerge perpendicular to the pool surface. This intermediary structure eliminates alignment difficulties while maintaining ease of manufacturing.
3Reliability
If spacers are placed between fiberglass shells to protect plumbing extensions, then damage risk is reduced, but the plumbing extensions still extend six or more inches, limiting stacking efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic long plumbing extensions are extracted from the pool shell design. Instead, short mounting rings are embedded in the shell bottom, and the actual nozzle connectors are installed separately at the pool site. This extraction eliminates the need for long extensions that interfere with stacking, while spacers can still protect the short mounting rings during transportation.
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle mounting assembly for an in-ground swimming pool cleaning system may comprise a plurality of mounting rings that are formed within the shell of a prefabricated swimming pool. The plurality of mounting rings may couple at a first end with a corresponding plurality of trim rings. The plurality of trim rings forms a flanged ring around each of the openings in the pool surface for cleaning nozzle mechanisms. The plurality of mounting rings may further couple with a corresponding plurality of nozzle retainer bodies, where the nozzle retainer bodies provide an interface for standard cleaning system fittings. Nozzle mounting assemblies may be adapted to a variety of pool types and surfaces, and may be sized for the floor surface, the steps or the walls of a swimming pool.