Basin with cleaning by means of improved flow

The invention relates to a basin device comprising at least one feed channel for supplying water to the basin, which feed channel debouches with feed openings into the basin, and a discharge channel connected to the basin for discharging water from the swimming pool, wherein outflow openings debouching in the basin are each connected to the feed channel by means of an outflow channel.

Such a basin device is known from EP-A-O 210 853.

Water circulation takes place in such basins, wherein water is removed from the basin, cleaned in a water preparation device and fed back again to the basin. A continuous water flow is created here in the basin, which is usually not very noticeable due to large outflow openings and associated low rate of flow, but which is sometimes carried into the basin in the manner of a whirlpool by means of nozzles with a small passage. In none of the prior art circulation systems does circulation take place over the bottom of the basin, so that the bottom quickly becomes dirty and must be cleaned. Although a part of the flow does extend along the bottom in EP-A-O 210 853, no flow takes place along a significant part of the bottom, so that debris is able to collect there.

In order to avoid this, the present invention proposes that the outflow openings in the side wall of the basin are arranged connecting to the bottom of the basin and that the outflow channels connecting to the outflow openings extend horizontally.

When the width of the basin is not too great, a water flow is hereby created over the whole width of the bottom of the basin so that possible debris is entrained with the flow.

Although in many cases the surface of the outflow opening will coincide with the inner surface of the basin wall, it may be attractive - in order to control the water flow - for at least one of the feed channels to extend over some distance into the basin.

It is also possible for the wall of the basin to be provided with an indentation connecting to the bottom, for instance for the purpose of placing light fittings. The presence of such an indentation can then advantageously be used for debouching of the outflow openings.

A further preferred embodiment provides for this purpose the measure that the outflow openings debouch in an indentation formed connecting to the bottom of the basin. This is particularly, though not exclusively, the case when the outflow channel extends beyond the basin wall; this extending part can then be integrally accommodated in the indentation.

In order to guide the water flow leaving the outflow openings as well as possible in horizontal direction along the bottom, a further embodiment provides the measure that the height of the outflow openings is at least a factor ten smaller than the length of the outflow channels.

In order to create a flow with a sufficiently high speed, the passage of the outflow opening must not exceed a certain size. In order to achieve this effect in the case of a great width, the outflow openings preferably have a height of about 2 mm.

According to a specific embodiment, the outflow openings extend over a substantial part of the length of the wall in which the outflow openings are arranged. This has the advantage that the whole bottom is within range of the water flow leaving the outflow openings. The result hereof is that inaccessible corners are avoided as much as possible and that the whole volume of the basin is included in the water flow so that it is certain that all the water in the basin is processed in the replacement system. Now there is this certainty possible, when the basin is a swimming pool basin, for the concentration of cleaning and disinfecting agents such as chlorine to be reduced or even for these agents to be dispensed with, which makes the time spent in and close to the basin much more pleasant. Another advantage is that the rate of flow can be reduced due to the wide range of the flow and the associated greater volume. This provides the option of increasing the flow rate and thereby the circulation speed, which is in turn also cause for reducing the concentration of cleaning agents or dispensing therewith altogether, without creating rates of flow in the basin which are perceived as being unpleasant. It is assumed here that a cycle time of about one hour can be applied.

An optimal coverage of the surface of the basin is achieved when at least one outflow opening extends over the whole length of a basin.

In order to reduce the construction time, it is attractive to construct a basin from prefabricated segments which are assembled at the site of the basin. It is then structurally attractive when the basin is assembled from segments, wherein at least a part of the number of segments comprises a side wall part and wherein at least one outflow opening is arranged in these segments. The outflow channels can already be arranged during manufacture of the segments.

For the proper effect of the measures according to the invention it is important that the speed of the water flows leaving each of the outflow openings is as far as possible the same. According to a specific preferred embodiment, this is achieved in that the surface of the outflow openings is smaller than the passage of the feed conduit.

According to another preferred embodiment, the basin has a greater length than width and the outflow openings are arranged in the two opposite long walls of the basin. This by no means precludes outflow openings likewise being arranged in the short walls of the basin and, as in the case of the long walls, a feed channel extending along the short walls which is connected to the outflow openings by means of outflow channels.

In order to prevent flows coming from opposite walls disrupting each other in the middle of the basin it is attractive when the openings in the mutually opposite long walls of the basin are placed offset relative to each other.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the outflow openings arranged in a first wall are each connected to a first feed channel by means of an outflow channel, the outflow openings arranged in a second wall are each connected to a second feed channel by means of an outflow channel, and both feed channels are adapted for connection to a water supply device. This configuration provides the option of allowing the water to exit at different pressures on either side of the basin, which may be particularly, though not exclusively, important in asymmetrically formed basin shapes, since the flow patterns can hereby be adjusted to the shape.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the first and the second feed channel are each connected to a separate water supply device and each of the water supply devices is adapted to alternately generate a higher pressure than the other water supply

device. The water supply devices can for instance each be formed by a controllable pump, although they may also each be formed by a pump with a controllable valve. The simplest configuration is however that of a shared pump which is connected to each of the feed channels, each by means of a controllable valve. The flow pattern can hereby be changed over time, for instance for the purpose of generating flow patterns such that the area located in the middle of the bottom of the basin is alternately struck by water flows coming from the one and the other side of the basin, whereby the cleaning can be improved and inaccessible corners can be precluded.

Although the above stated solution is usually suitable for cleaning the bottom of wide basins, it is possible to envisage wide basins in which these measures are no longer effective either. For this purpose a specific embodiment for wide basins provides the measure that at least one elongate elevation extending parallel to the long walls of the basin is arranged in the bottom of the basin, which elevation is provided on its side walls with outflow openings connecting to the bottom of the basin, that outflow channels connecting to the outflow openings extend horizontally, and that the outflow channels are connected to the feed channel.

The above stated configuration can be realized in structurally simple manner when the elevation is formed by the cap of a toadstool-like profile, the stem of which is fixed to the base of a recess arranged in the bottom.

Although a good cleaning is obtained with the thus resulting flow pattern, it is less effective for removing heavy particles from the basin because the flow pattern comprises an upward-directed path in which heavy particles are less readily entrained. In order to also remove the heavy particles from the basin, means are present according to a further embodiment for performing a cleaning function, and during performing of the cleaning function the first feed channel is connected to the suction side of a cleaning pump and the second feed channel is connected to the pressure side of the cleaning pump. A cleaning flow can hereby be created which extends only over the bottom and which is thus highly suitable for entraining and removing heavy particles from the basin. It will be apparent here that the cleaning pump is provided with a filter for removing the heavy particles from the water flow.

It is further noted that this cleaning function can also be used in configurations with an outflow channel arranged in the bottom of the basin. This feed channel is then for instance connected to the suction side of the cleaning pump, and the two other feed channels received in the long side walls of the basin are then connected to the pressure side of the cleaning pump. Use can also be made during the cleaning function of outflow openings arranged in short walls of a rectangular basin.

In order to achieve an attractive flow pattern which is effective for cleaning the basin it is important that the water is removed from the basin at the top edge of the basin. Use is preferably made for this purpose of an overflow gutter to which the discharge channel is connected. The advantages of the attractive appearance of an overflow edge are hereby combined with those of an effective flow pattern.

Swimming pool basins are usually provided with a so-called overflow tank which is adapted to collect the swimming water when the level in the swimming pool rises, for instance when a number of people jump into a small swimming pool. By adapting the overflow gutter to collect this quantity of water, the installation of such an overflow tank can be dispensed with. For this purpose an embodiment provides the measure that the passage of the overflow gutter is at least twice as large as that of the feed channel.

In order to prevent debris accumulating in the overflow gutter, the overflow gutter is preferably arched on its underside. That is, it has a rounded cross-section. Another advantage of this configuration is that the overflow gutters can be flushed in order to prevent accumulation of debris. This flushing can be carried out during use of the basin, although is also possible to perform the flushing process only during a specific cleaning cycle.

For the purpose of performing the flushing function, which otherwise may or may not coincide with cleaning of the bottom of the basin, it is recommended that the overflow gutter is connected at least at a first position to the suction side of a cleaning pump and is connected at least at a second position lying at a distance from the first position to the pressure side of the cleaning pump. A good configuration for performing the cleaning process is hereby obtained.

According to a more specific embodiment, the overflow gutter is divided into two parts and each of the parts is connected at a first position to the suction side of the cleaning pump and is connected at a second position lying at a distance from the first position to the pressure side of the cleaning pump, whereby a configuration is obtained which can be easily connected to the cleaning pump with a minimum of connecting lines. The two pieces of overflow gutter are here as it were connected in parallel.

Although the measures of the invention can be applied to basins of diverse type, such as manure basins, ponds, whirlpools, spas and water treatment plants, the advantages of the invention are particularly manifest when it is applied in a swimming pool. A preferred embodiment therefore provides the measure that the basin is a swimming pool basin.

The present invention will now be elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a swimming pool basin according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail view of the outflow openings of the basin shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail view of a variant of the outflow opening shown in figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail view of another variant of the outflow opening shown in figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a wall of a basin according to the invention provided with an overflow edge and an outflow opening;

Figure 6 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the basin according to figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a schematic perspective detail view of another embodiment;

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective detail view of yet another embodiment;

Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a basin according to figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a schematic view of the position of two pieces of overflow gutter relative to the basin.

Figure 1 shows a swimming pool basin 1, of which only the inner surfaces of side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 and bottom surface 6 are shown. This is because the image serves particularly to elucidate the flow patterns of the water. Although not essential for the

application of the present invention, basin 1 is assembled here from separate elements which are combined on site. Arranged in each of the long side walls 2, 3 are a number of outflow openings 8 which are each adapted to produce a water flow extending at least initially over bottom surface 6. The relevant water flows are indicated with arrows 1OA, 1 OB. The outflow openings are arranged for this purpose connecting to bottom surface 6 in side walls 2, 3. As shown in figure 1, the water flows initially extend according to the invention directly over bottom surface 6 as according to arrows 10, after which they make contact with each other in the middle of basin 1 and are deflected upward . Having arrived at the top, the flows return to the side of their original wall 2, 3 respectively, after which they are discharged on the top side of the relevant wall 2, 3, for instance via an overflow edge. It will otherwise be apparent that the arrows form only a simple indication for the most important movements of the whole water flow.

It is pointed out that, when a basin 1 only has a small width, it is possible to suffice with outflow openings arranged only on a single long wall 2, whereby only the arrow system 1OA of one of the halves of basin 1 shown in figure 1 is implemented.

Figure 1 further shows that in short walls 4, 5 there is arranged a single nozzle which causes a water flow as indicated with arrows 1 IA, 1 IB respectively, which serves in wide basins for cleaning the middle part of the bottom not reached by the arrows designated 1OA and 1OB.

The above described embodiment relates to a rectangular basin. Although a rectangular basin is highly suitable for application of the invention it is by no means limited thereto; it can also be applied in basins with other shapes, such as round or oval basin shapes, or shapes provided with rounded sides.

Figure 2 shows how outflow openings 12 are arranged in side walls 2 of an element 13 of basin 1. These are outflow openings 12 of rectangular cross-section arranged in flat wall 2. The outflow channel leading to the outflow opening is only shown here to the extent that it extends through wall 2.

Figure 3 shows a similar situation, in which an indentation 15 is arranged in side wall 2 of the basin. Arranged in indentation 15 is a channel 40 of rectangular cross-section.

Horizontally extending outflow openings 42 are arranged in the wall 41 directed toward basin 1. Outflow openings 42 cover the greater part of the length of basin wall 2 in which indentation 15 is arranged, which means that the parts 43 between the openings are relatively small so that the water jet leaving the outflow openings strikes the whole, or almost the whole bottom.

The channel 40 manufactured from plastic, glass or metal can be used as a feed channel, but can also be divided into shorter parts which are each individually connected by a short outflow channel to a feed channel extending outside the wall of the swimming pool basin.

The channel is preferably manufactured from transparent plastic or glass so that it can be used as light source. Light sources such as LEDs can for this purpose be arranged at regular distances in the channel, although it is also possible for the light sources to be placed outside of the basin and to be connected to the plastic or glass channel by means of a light conductor.

Figure 4 once again shows such a situation, in which the outflow openings are arranged in parts of the outflow channels extending into the basin. Use is made for this purpose of attachments 20 comprising a flange 21, with which they are fixed against the indented part of the wall of the basin, and a nozzle 22 which forms the outer part of the outflow channel. In the present case the nozzle 22 has a flat, horizontally oriented outflow opening 23. A water flow extending closely to the bottom surface of the basin is hereby created. The direction of the outgoing water flow can be well defined by nozzles 22. Because the nozzles are placed in indentation 15, they do not form an obstacle in the basin on which swimmers could injure themselves.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section of a wall of a basin in which an outflow opening is arranged. Extending parallel to the wall as shown in the figure is a feed channel 25 to which are connected a number of outflow channels 9, of which only one is visible and which each debouch in an outflow opening 8.

The water supplied via the outflow openings must be discharged from the basin, for which purpose use is made of a per se known overflow gutter 30. Other forms of discharge channels are however not precluded. Arranged in the bottom 31 of overflow gutter 30 are a number of gratings 32 which each debouch via a funnel 33 into a channel 34 extending parallel to the basin wall. The presence is noted here of support elements 35 which serve to support the overflow gutter. These are individual support elements, placed at intervals, which keep the space below the gutter accessible, whereby this space is particularly suitable for placing of channels and conduits.

Finally, figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the basin 1 shown in figure 1, at the position of the outflow channels. Shown here is that outflow channels 9, which each debouch into an outflow opening 8 and which are connected to feed channels 25, are arranged at regular mutual distances in the long walls 2,3 of basin 1. Feed channels 25 are both connected to a water preparation device 36. Although this is not shown in the drawing because such a measure already forms part of the prior art, channels are present for feeding contaminated water from the basin to water preparation device 36. An outflow channel 9 is also arranged in each of the short walls 4, 5. The drawing shows that feed channels 25 have a considerably larger passage, for instance 10 or 20 times larger, than outflow channels 9 in order to prevent increasing loss of pressure, and the associated difference in flow rate, in the feed channels as the distance from water preparation device 36 increases. The same effect can otherwise also be achieved by decreasing the passage of feed channels 25 as the distance from the water preparation device increases.

Water flows as elucidated above are applied in normal use of the swimming pool basin. It may however be attractive during cleaning cycles of the swimming pool basin to make use of other flows geared to cleaning of the basin. It is thus possible to cause the flow to take place over only a segment, for instance a third of the length, of a wall at a higher rate of flow, thereby increasing the cleaning capacity. Another option is to create a flow extending over only the bottom of the basin, which leaves the outflow openings on a first side of the bottom and which leaves the bottom on the opposite side through the outflow openings. The debris does not hereby have to be moved upward, so that heavy particles can also be carried away.

Figure 7 shows a view corresponding with figure 3 in which, in contrast to the embodiment shown in figure 3, outflow opening 42 is continuous over the whole length of the wall 2 in which outflow opening 43 is arranged. This outflow opening 42 can extend here over a plurality of elements forming the basin. The figure also shows that the length of outflow channel 9 as seen in the direction of flow is long compared to the height, which is important in obtaining as laminar a flow as possible. The figure also shows that the upper side of feed channel 40 is arched and that the covering 50 of the basin is placed such that no join, or the smallest possible join, is arranged in the bottom at the position of outflow opening 42, so that the flow pattern leaving the outflow opening is disrupted as little as possible.

Figure 8 shows an additional feed channel 53 extending in a groove 52 arranged in bottom 6 of the basin. This embodiment can be applied particularly in wide basins, wherein the flow leaving outflow openings in the side walls does not extend over at least half the width of the basin. The remaining part of bottom 6 is then within range of the flow? from the outflow openings of feed channel 53 arranged in bottom 6. Arranged in groove 52 is a T-profile 56, which is preferably formed thereon during forming of basin bottom 6. T-profile 56 comprises a wall 57 and a horizontal plate 58. The length of outflow channel 54 is here also more than ten times greater than the height of outflow opening 55, which preferably amounts to about 2 mm. The thickness of cover plate 58 is also as small as possible so as to be as inconspicuous as possible and to reduce the chance of injury as much as possible.

Figure 9 shows the flow pattern obtained in the basin when it is provided with an outflow configuration as according to figure 9. This shows that the flow pattern greatly resembles the flow pattern shown in figure 1. Also shown is that inaccessible corners do not occur either, so that the danger of debris is minimal.

Finally, figure 10 shows the position of two parallel extending overflow gutter parts 30A and 30B relative to basin 1. At one end the two overflow gutter parts 30A, 30B extending hi parallel for the purpose of flow are connected via a filter 61 to the suction side of a cleaning pump 60. The pressure side of cleaning pump 60 is connected to the

other end of the two overflow gutter parts. A self-cleaning configuration is hereby obtained. The cleaning pump here has the same function as the above stated water preparation device 36.

It will be apparent that diverse variations can be made to the exemplary embodiments shown here and that the examples shown in the various embodiments can be combined with each other.