Rotatable Housing for Telescopic Pool Cover Retraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telescopic swimming pool enclosures without automatic opening devices are difficult to convert into automatically opened systems due to space constraints and the risk of the automatic opening device blocking the opening mechanism, leading to partial or incomplete opening.
Innovation Solution
A retracting device with a rotatable housing and motor-driven wheel system that adjusts its horizontal and vertical bulk to minimize visibility and prevent obstruction, allowing for a full opening stroke without being excessively visible or limiting the retraction travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the automatic opening device is fixed inside the shelter to make it invisible, then the visibility of the device is reduced, but the device may come into abutment against another module and block the opening mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is made rotatable relative to the fixing element, allowing it to dynamically change its position between a first position (when the telescopic structure is retracted) and a second position (when the telescopic structure is extended). This dynamic adjustment prevents the housing from blocking the opening mechanism while maintaining aesthetic visibility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the housing from a fixed two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional space by enabling rotation. The housing can pivot between different angular positions, allowing it to clear the path of the telescopic structure during extension while still being able to assume a visible position when retracted.
2Ease of manufacture
If the housing is made elongated to reduce horizontal bulk for better visibility, then the visibility is improved, but the vertical bulk increases which may limit the retraction travel
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable housing allows the system to dynamically adjust its spatial footprint. When the housing is elongated vertically, rotation can reposition it to clear the retraction path, effectively converting vertical bulk into horizontal clearance through angular adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transforms the problem from a two-dimensional space conflict to a three-dimensional solution by utilizing rotational movement. The housing's elongated vertical dimension is compensated by angular repositioning, allowing it to clear the retraction path without requiring reduction in vertical bulk.
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
Enables the conversion of manually opened telescopic structures into automatically opened systems while maintaining a sleek appearance and ensuring unobstructed full opening, addressing the visibility and obstruction issues of previous solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a wheel rotatably mounted on the fixing element and able to rest on the ground when the fixing element is fixed to the telescopic structure, a motor for driving the wheel in rotation relative to the fixing element when the fixing element is fixed to the telescopic structure, so as to translate the fixing element relative to the ground
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Device (1) for retracting a telescopic structure (2), comprising a fixing element (18) attachable to the structure, a wheel (30) mounted for rotation on the fixing element (18) adapted to rest on a ground when the fixing element (18) is attached to the structure, a motor (54) for driving the wheel (30) in rotation so as to translate the fixing element (18) relative to the ground in a translational direction (X), and thus cause a retraction of the structure, a housing containing the motor, elongated along a longitudinal axis, and movable in rotation relative to the fixing element.