Reverse Thrust Impeller System for Laminar Swim Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swim-in-place systems, such as tether and current generator systems, compromise the swimming experience due to unnatural water flow, turbulence, leg drop, breathing difficulties, and the need for excessive kicking, leading to suboptimal exercise and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A reverse thrust swim system with impellers positioned under the shoulders and legs provides laminar current flow, allowing swimmers to maintain proper technique and exertion levels, while avoiding uncomfortable water pressure on the face and nose, and enabling forward progress in a small pool to simulate a longer pool experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a tether system is used to hold the swimmer in place, then the swimmer can remain stationary in a small pool, but the water flow becomes unnatural and causes leg drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tether constraint entirely and replaces it with a current generation system that creates water flow. This extracts the harmful tether mechanism from the system while maintaining the core function of enabling stationary swimming in small pools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a hydraulic current generation system with pumps and hoses to create controlled water flow. The system circulates pool water through underground hoses that discharge currents at the pool bottom, providing natural-looking water movement that supports proper swimming technique.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a current generator emits current horizontally along the water surface, then the swimmer can counteract the current to stay in position, but turbulence and waves are created around the swimmer's head causing breathing difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimension of current generation from horizontal surface-level flow to vertical bottom-level flow. Currents are generated at the pool bottom and rise upward, creating a vertical flow pattern that passes under the swimmer rather than creating turbulence at the surface where the swimmer's head is located.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces underground hoses as intermediary elements that transport and discharge water at the pool bottom. These hoses act as mediators between the pump system and the swimmer, creating controlled current patterns that avoid direct interaction with the swimmer's breathing zone.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the swimmer kicks more frequently to maintain horizontal leg position in current generator systems, then the legs can stay elevated, but the kick frequency must outpace the arm stroke frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic current system creates continuous upward flow at the pool bottom that provides constant lift to the swimmer's legs. This hydraulic support reduces the need for excessive kicking, allowing the swimmer to maintain proper leg position with kick frequency that matches natural arm stroke rhythm.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a tether is attached to a belt worn by the swimmer to provide reverse thrust, then the swimmer can be held in place, but substantial pressure is created by the belt causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tether-and-belt mechanical restraint system entirely, extracting the source of belt pressure discomfort. Instead, it implements a water-based current generation system that provides stationary holding force without physical contact with the swimmer's body.
5Adaptability or versatility
If a swim-in-place system is implemented in a small residential pool, then the swimmer can exercise at home, but the pool length is insufficient for meaningful workouts
Solution Approach 1:
The current generation system enables continuous swimming exercise in place without requiring the swimmer to reach the end of the pool. The system creates continuous resistance and water flow that allows unlimited repetitions of swimming motions, effectively extending the usable swimming distance beyond the physical pool length.
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 system enhances swimming technique, reduces turbulence, improves breathing, and allows for a more natural and effective workout by providing consistent resistance, enabling swimmers to maintain proper form and complete laps without the need for excessive kicking or self-discipline.
Implementation Method 1
A swim system may include an impeller system mounted to a swimmer. The impeller system may include a first impeller mounted proximate a first shoulder socket of the swimmer and a second impeller mounted proximate a second shoulder socket of the swimmer.
Implementation Method 2
The impeller system provides substantially laminar flow under the legs of the user, under the user's torso and under and around the user's head
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a swim system may include a reverse thrust system worn by a swimmer proximate the frontal upper torso. The system provides a variable amount of reverse thrust such that the user can swim-in-place or make gradual forward progress. Importantly, this may enable a user to effectively “extend” a small residential pool to serve the same function as a twenty-five meter pool typically found at commercial or government facilities. The system also provides laminar current under the user while swimming, which solves the problems of “leg drop,” the need to “out-kick” the arm stroke, and turbulence and wave action around the head associated with conventional swim-in-place devices. Still further, in certain embodiments the system provides a relatively strong current in the region of the arm stroke moving away from the swimmer which provides enhanced “resistance” for proficient swimmers.