Skimmer Box Assembly with Segmented Weirs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional skimmer box designs require a significant water level below the pool's top edge due to the presence of a rotatable weir door, reducing the pool's water-holding capacity and making it difficult to maintain water levels near the top edge.
Innovation Solution
A skimmer box assembly featuring a first weir, a second weir downstream with a hinged door that rotates 90°, an entry well between the weirs, a collection box, and an outlet, allowing for a low-profile design that maintains water levels closer to the pool's top edge by positioning the second weir below the water level and using a float to adjust the weir door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotatable weir door is used in the skimmer box, then water can be effectively skimmed from the surface, but the entry must have significant depth from top to bottom, reducing the pool's water-holding capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The skimmer box is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber with first weir, second chamber with second weir, third chamber) that process water in stages. This segmentation allows each weir to operate at optimal depths while maintaining overall compactness, resolving the contradiction between effective skimming and water-holding capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-depth weir door arrangement to a multi-chamber system with weirs at different vertical levels. By distributing the skimming function across multiple dimensions (vertical levels and horizontal chambers), the design achieves effective water removal without requiring excessive depth in a single location, thereby preserving pool water-holding capacity.
2Volume of stationary object
If the weir door is positioned to maintain water level near the top edge, then water-holding capacity increases, but the weir door cannot effectively perform its skimming function
Solution Approach 1:
The skimmer box is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber with first weir, second chamber with second weir, third chamber) that process water in stages. This segmentation allows each weir to operate at optimal depths while maintaining overall compactness, resolving the contradiction between effective skimming and water-holding capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-depth weir door arrangement to a multi-chamber system with weirs at different vertical levels. By distributing the skimming function across multiple dimensions (vertical levels and horizontal chambers), the design achieves effective water removal without requiring excessive depth in a single location, thereby preserving pool water-holding capacity.
3Volume of stationary object
If the skimmer box entry is made shallow to maintain water level near the top edge, then water-holding capacity increases, but the traditional rotatable weir door design becomes difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The skimmer box is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber with first weir, second chamber with second weir, third chamber) that process water in stages. This segmentation allows each weir to operate at optimal depths while maintaining overall compactness, resolving the contradiction between effective skimming and water-holding capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-depth weir door arrangement to a multi-chamber system with weirs at different vertical levels. By distributing the skimming function across multiple dimensions (vertical levels and horizontal chambers), the design achieves effective water removal without requiring excessive depth in a single location, thereby preserving pool water-holding capacity.
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 pool to be filled closer to its top edge while maintaining a low profile, increasing the water-holding capacity and allowing for effective water skimming from the surface without compromising the coping material's profile.
Implementation Method 1
The weir door preferably includes a float to facilitate movement of the weir door in correspondence with the water level inside the skimmer box assembly
Implementation Method 2
an entry well between the first weir and the second weir to allow passage of water from the main body of the swimming pool
Data Source
AI summary
A skimmer box assembly for a swimming pool includes a first weir adjacent a main body of the swimming pool, and a second weir is positioned downstream of the first weir. An entry well is provided between the first weir and the second weir to allow passage of water from the main body of the swimming pool, and a collection box is provided downstream of the second weir and in fluid communication with the first and second weirs. An outlet from the collection box allows outflows of water, and a weir door may be positioned in the second weir with the weir door hinged to permit rotation with an arc of 90° or thereabouts. The weir door is preferably located opposite the entry well and preferably includes a float to facilitate movement of the weir door in correspondence with the water level inside the skimmer box assembly.