Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a swimming pool construction
particularly but not exclusively designed for an excavated or inground
pool construction of a type used as a commercial pool.
Various different designs and construction techniques
have been used for manufacture of excavated or inground pool
constructions. One technique uses cast concrete reinforced by
reinforcing steel for constructing the base and walls of the pool. The
inside surface of the concrete is then suitably coated or lined with
tiles. This form of construction has been widely usad in commercial
pools which tend to be significantly larger and require much stronger
construction to accommodate relatively large amounts of people and
water involved in such largèr pools. However the concrete
construction is relatively expensive and in some soil conditions has
significant problems of cracking due to soil movement. Relatively
large costs can therefore be expected in renovation work after the
initial cost of installation.
A common technique for constructing pools for backyard
or home use involves the installation of walls formed from metal
panels which are then reinforced by inclined braces. After
installation, the space between the excavated soil and the outside
surface of the metal panel is then filled with suitable filling material so
~hat tho forces from the watcr on one side of the metal panel are to
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some extent balanced by inward forces from ~he soil and filling
material on the outside of the metal panel. A covering layer is then
applied to the excavated pool base and a liner of a suitable plastics
material is applied over the covering layer and over the metal walls to
contain the water.
Pools of this type are generally satisfactory for
Iightweight home use in which the dimensions of the pool are
relatively small but it is generally accepted that pools of this
construction are not acceptable for large scale commercial size pools
due to the instability of the structure. In addition pools of this type
generally cannot be emptied due to the necessity to maintain a
balance between the outward pressure of the water and the inward
pressure from the soil. If the water is removed therefore there is a
significant danger of collapse.
However it is also well known that the metal fabricated
structure is significantly cheaper than the concrete formation and
does not suffer from the very heavy costs of renovation or repair
which can become necessary with the concrete structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention, therefore, to
provide an improved swimming pool construction which enables the
advantages of the metal fabricated structure to be used in the large
scale commercial size swimming pool.
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According to the invention, therefore, there is providedan excavated swimming pool construc~ion comprising an excavated
pool base having a covering layer thereon, a pool wall construction
surrounding the pool base having a vertical inner wall surface defining
with the pool base a volume to be filled with water, and a liner
applied over the pool base and inner wall surface for containing the
water, the pool wall construction comprising a plurality of first sheet
metal panels each having a height defining a height of the pool wall
construction, the first panels being connected together vertical edge
to vertical edge to define said vertical inner wall surface, a plurality of
second sheet metal panels each having a height defining a height of
the pool wall construction, the second panels being connected
vertical edge to vertical edge to define a second vertical wall surface
spaced horizontally outwardly of the inner wall surface so as to define
therebetween an empty space, the second surface being in
engagement with fill material for providing a support for surrounding
excavated walls, a plurality of interconnecting braces extending from
the first panels to the second panels, a cover member defining a
substantially horizontal surface extending between top edges of the
first panels and top edges of the second panels and a base member
defining a substantially horizontal base supporting bottom edges of
the first panels and bottom edges of the second panels.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS ~ i Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view longitudinally
of a swimming pool construction according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the same
plane as Figure 1 showing one end only of the pool construction and
in particular showing the wall construction on an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a similar vertical cross section on the same
plane as Figure 1 showing the opposed end of the pool again on an
enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 4- -
4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of one panel.
Figure 6 is a vertical cross sectional view through one
brace.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through a modified
arrangement of the pool construction including a drainage gutter -
system.
Figure 8 is a similar cross-sectional view on an enlarged
scale showing the detail of the gutter.
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the inner and outer walls of
the pool construction in which there is shown a modified arrangement - -
for supporting the walls.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures. : -
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The swimming pool is generally indicated at 10 in Figure
and is formed by excavation of a suitable shape in surrounding
ground 11, the excavation including an excavation base 12 and an
excavation wall 13 (Figure 2).
The pool construction further includes a wall
construction 15 which is constructed to surround the base 12 within
the excavated wall 13. The wall construction defines an inner wall
surface 16 on which is provided a liner 17 which extends over the
inner surface of the wall and over a covering layer 18 on the pool
base 12. The covering layer 18 is of a conventional material which
provides a stiff or rigid surface supporting the liner as a smooth flat
surface.
The wall construction of the pool of the present
invention is of a unique structure and comprises a plurality of first
panels 20 and a piurality of second panels 21. The panels 20 are
connected together at vertical edges 22 to define the inner wall of the
pool on which the liner 17 sits. The second panel 21 lie parallel to
the panels 20 and again interconnected at vertical side edges to form
a second wall structure surrounding the inner wall and defining a
space 23 therebetween.
Each of the panels is formed from sheet metal which is
folded at side edges to define inturned flanges 24 and 25 at the
interconnecting edges 22. In vertical cross section as shown in
2 1 2 ~ 7 4 8
Figure 5, each of the panels includes the panel wall 26 together with
a top flange 27 and a bottom flange 28 each of which has a
downturned inner edge 29 to provide structural strength. The main
bodies of the panels thus connect together to form the continuous
wall structure. Welded to the surface of each panel facing inwardly
towards the space 23 is provided a plurality of vertical braces 30
which are of channel shaped cross section. At the vertical edges 27,
28 are provided L shaped flange members 31 which connect between
the adjacent flanges of the edges of the panel and include a vertical
edge flange parallel to the main body of the panel. The edge flange
31 and the edges of the panels are bolted together.
The height of the panels varies depending upon the
desired height of the wall at the particular location on the periphery of
the pool. Thus at the right hand end illustrated at Figure 3 the panels
are of reiatively shallow height for example of the order of three feet
to provide a shallow end at the pool. At the left hand end of the pool
the panels are increased height, for example of the order of six feet to
provide an increased depth of the pool at the deep end. In addition to
the height of the wall panels, the pool is also excavated at the base
to provide an increase depth including an inclined wall 32 as
illustrated in Figure 2. The panels are of substantially constant width
around the pool and in one example the width may be 3.5 feet.
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The first and second panels are parallel and aligned so
that the side edge 22 between two adjacent first panels lies in the
vertical plane as the side edge between two of the second panels. ~ -
The wall panels are mounted on and embedded in a cast
concrete base member 33. The cast concrete base member is formed
at the top of two substantially vertical piles 34 and 35 extending
downwardly into the ground surface at spaced positions around the
periphery. Thus there are a plurality of such piles 34 and 35 with the
piles being shown in Figure 1 only at two such peripheral locations.
The piles are arranged in pairs so that each peripheral position there
are two such piles spaced transversely of the wall structure. As
shown, the piles are inclined so that they extend downwardly and
slightly outwardly so they diverge toward the base of the pile, the
angle being relatively shallow of the order of 1/4 inch per foot. At
the top of each pile, the conventional reinforcing bar is bent at right
angles such to lie substantiaily horizontal and to be formed into the
structure of the cast base member 33.
In addition to the reinforcing bar from the pile, the base
member 33 is formed with additional reinforcing bars. These include
longitudinal reinforcing bars 36 and transverse reinforcing bars 37, 38
and 39. The transverse reinforcing bars are formed into loops with a
horizontal section, to downturned ends and a horizontal return section
underneath the lowermost longitudinal reinforcing bar 36. ~ Thus the
transverse bar 37 forms a lowermost bar which engages underneath
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the lowermost longitudinal bar and over intermediate longitudinal
bars. The second transverse bar 38 loops over the intermediate
longitudinal bars. The third transverse bar 39 is of narrower width
and the bars 37 and 38 and thus extends upwardly into the space
between the panels so that a portion of the cast base member 33 lies
between the panels and a portion lies underneath the lower end of the
panels. Thus the panels are to some extent embedded within the
base member the side of the base member being substantially located
coextensive with the outside surfaces of the wall structure.
Underneath the cast concrete base member 33 is
provided a void form 40 which is positioned between the piles and
underneath the base member. This allows the soil between the piles
to lift or heave without causing heaving of the base member while the
void form coltapses. ~
In order to maintain the bottom edges of the first and
second panel at the required spacing, a transverse spacer element 41
is connected across the bottom edges before the cast concrete base
member is formed. The spacer member 41 is of L shaped cross
section. Across the top of the panels is provided a plurality of
Iongitudinally spaced transverse braces 42 connected to the flanges
31 and 30 so that there are for each panel 3 transverse top braces
42. Each transverse top brace 42 is of the cross section shown in
Figure 6 including a top web 43, two depending sides 44 and 45
together with an inturned flange portion 46. The top braces 42 are
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bolted to the flanges 31, 30, 30. The top surface 43 is spaced
slightly downwardly from the top edge of the adjacent panel and also
the top surface 42 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 is inclined slightly
outwardly so that it is slightly lower at the second panel and at the
first panel. On top of the braces 42 is applied a cover panel 47
preferably of plywood and on top of the plywood cover panel is cast
a top cover member 48 again of cast concrete with reinforcing bars
49. The thickness of the cover member is substantially constant so
that its top surface is inclined slightly outwardly away from the inner
wall of the pool to shed water away from the pool wall toward a floor
surface 50 surrounding the pool construction.
In addition to the braces 41 and 42 there are also
included inclined braces 52 and 53. The inclined braces 52 extend
from the bottom of the panels 20 at a position just above the base
member to the top of the panels 21 that is at a position just
underneath the top braces 42. The inclined braces 52 are arranged
only at the panel joints that is at the side edges 22. In addition to the
inclined braces 52, the inclined braces 53 form a second set and
these are located at the intermediate flanges 30 of the panels. The
inclined braces 53 are employed only in connection with the wall
panels of greater height since they are not required with a relatively
shallow panels as shown in Figure 3.
In addition in the greater height panels there are also
provided interconnecting braces which extend between the panels at
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the joints and these are again horizontal-as indicated at 54. These
are positioned part way down each of the panels. Yet further the
panels are interconnected by a cast concrete pad 55 beneath the
transverse brace 54 and above a sand filler material 56 which extends
from the top of the base pad 33 to the underside of the transverse
pad 55.
The space between the excavated wall 13 and the
outside surface of the panels 21 is filled with a suitable fill material so
as to communicate forces between the wall 13 and the outside
surface of the panel.
However the space 23 inside the wall construction that
is between the panels is left open above the base member 33 or
above the transverse pad 55 to provide a rectangular crawl space
area underneath the cover member. Access to this crawl space is
provided by one or more access openings formed in the cast cover
member which allow a repair person ~o enter into the crawl space to
access water supply ducts 60 and water return ducts 61 which form
part of the recirculation system. The duct~ connect with skimmers
63 and with return nozzles 64 provided at spaced positions around
the wall. Thus the skimmers and the duct work can be readily
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accessed for repair or modification.
In the construction shown in Figure 1, the water supply
and circulation system includes a plurality of jets and a plurality of
separate skimmers. Alternative types of water recirculation system
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are known including gutter type collection systems. This system can
be incorporated into the present invention by forming the gutter inside
the space 23 and providing a number of openings through the series
of panels 20.
The pool construction utilizes the relatively inexpensive
and stable structure formed by metal fabrication and a plastics liner
but provides using the wall construction defined by the inner and
outer panels, the base member and the piles a stable structure
suitable for large swimming pools.
In Figure 1 it will be noted that, at the deeper end of the
pool, the concrete pad which is located part way down the side walls
indicated at 200 extends from the deepest part gradualiy upwardly
along a inclined surface indicated at 201. When the depth of the pool
is sufficiently decreased so that there is no longer any necessity for
the center pad 200 above the footing 40, the footing 40 joins
smoothly with the pad 200 to define a base of the crawl space
indicated at 203 through which the operator can pass and within
which the water lines are located.
As the base on which the water lines are supported, that
is the footing 40 at the shallow end and then the pad 200 extending
from the commencement thereof toward the shallow end through to
the deeper end, is inclined from the shallow end to the deeper end,
the water lines resting against this surface are themselves gradually
inclined down to a lowermost end at the deqpest end of the pool
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The pool lines can therefore be drained by plugging the lines at the
upper end and by simply allowing the water to run out of the lines
toward the lower end. The lines are therefore self-draining and are
easier to maintain when the pool is allowed to freeze during cold
weather.
Turning now to Figure 9, there is shown a plan view of
the inner and outer walls in a modified arrangement which uses
concrete posts to support the walls as opposed to the previous
arrangement in which there are transverse braces. Thus the inner
wall is indicated at 205 and comprises a wall panel with an inwardly
turned flange 206 at each end of the panel. In this embodiment there
is provided a single vertical stiffener 207 between the ends of the
panel. Each panel abuts with a next adjacent panel so that the ends
206, 206A lie with the end surfaces of those flanges in contact and
bolted together.
The outer wall 208 is of similar construction including
ends 209, 209A which are again in contact and bolted together. The
outer wall includes stiffeners 210 in between the ends. The outer
wall is offset relative to the inner wall such that the stiffener 210 is
aligned with the junction between the ends 206 and 206A. Similarly
the stiffener 207 is aligned with the ends 209, 209A.
The inner and outer walls are supported in vertical
position by a plurality of concrete posts 211. Each post includes an
outer metal frame 212 having a first portion 213, 214 extending at
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right angles from the panel on either side of the joint 206, 206A.
From the outer ends of the inner portions, the metal wall 212 extends
outwardly away from the panel as indicated at 215, 216 and also
converges towards an apex 217. At the inner end of the inner
portions 213, 214 there is provided a flange 218 which lies along the
inside surface of the panel and is attached thereto by fasteners. Thus
the metal wall 212 surrounds the joint 206, 206A and the adjacent
portions of the panels. Concrete is then poured into the metal wall to
form a vertical post encasing the joint 206, 206A. The concrete
includes vertical reinforcing bar elements 219 which are connected
with the footing so as to hold the post 211 in the vertical position and
thus to maintain the joint in the vertical position.
This construction of the wall using vertical concrete
posts cast within the metal sleeves supports the inner and outer walls
without the necessity for transverse braces so that the space
between the posts is essentially clear for the passage of an operator
and the necessary plumping lines.
In the construction of the pool, the concrete top cover is
cast onto a plurality of horizontal panels 220. The panels 220 each
arq generally rectangular with a small triangular portion cut out from
one corner to accommodate the metal sleeve 212. Thus each of the
panels 220 constitutes 1/4 of the area between one concrete post and
the next adjacent concrete post that is between the two stiffeners
210 on the outer wall. Each of the panels 220 includes downturned
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flanges for attachment of the panels to the walis and to each other at
a junction line bridging the space between the stiffener 210 and the
apex 217. With the panels bolted into place, the concrete cover can ~ ~
simply be cast over the panels and across the concrete posts to ~ ;
communicate horizontal forces between the posts in the finished
structure.
Turning now to Figures 7 and 8, a modified arrangement
is shown which incorporates a gutter system for the water return in
place of the conventional skimmer system used in the previous
embodiment and not shown as this is of conventional type.
It is well known that the gutter system is used in pools
for competition in order to reduce wave action in the pool caused by
the aggressive swimming of competitors. The system set forth in
Figures 7 and 8 is therefore a modified construction of that shown in
the previous embodiment in which the inner wall panels are modified
to carry a gutter system into which the water from the pool can flow -
for recycling. ~ -
The system therefore shown in Figures 7 and 8
comprises an inner wall construction 60 including a plurality of
interconnected panels as previously described and an outer wall
construction 61 again including a plurality of interconnected panels as
previously described. The panels are mounted on the footing 33 as
previously shown again mounted on piles 34 and 35. In this
arrangement, the front wall 16 is reduced in height relative to the rear
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wall 61 and on top of the front wall 60 is mounted a gutter system
generally indicated at 62. The gutter system provides a return gutter
63 into which water from the pool can pass with a depth of the pool
being arranged so that the water just passes over a top edge 64 of
the gutter system into the gutter track. The water is then collected in
a pipe 65 by a plurality of drain pipes 66 from the gutter. The water ;
from the pipe 65 is connected to the inlet of a pump 66 which has an
outlet communicating with a return pipe 67. The return side pipe 67
is connected to a plurality of outlet return pipes 68 which extend
under a base 69 of the pool. Each pipe 68 has a plurality of return
outlets 70 some of which are shown, for convenience of illustration,
only schematically. The return outlets are provided in the base of the
pool and are arranged to direct water from the return outlet pipe 68 in
an upward direction as indicated àt 71.
- The construction of the gutter system is shown in more
detail in Figure B. One panel 60A forming the front wall 60. The
front panel 60A includes a front wall 60B and a side flange 60C
defining a top face 60D. At the rear end of the side flange 60C is
formed an inturned flange 60E.
The gutter system includes an elongate formed metal
element manufactured from stainless steel and generally indicated at
72. The elongate metal element includes a front box section 73
having a rear wall 74 and a front wall 75. On top of the box section
includes an upper wall 76 and the box is closed by a bottom wall 77.
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Behind the rear wall 74 is provided a base wall 78 of the gutter 63
and a vertical rear wall 79 of the gutter which extends upwardly
parallel to the rear wall of the box to a height above the top edge 76
of the box. At a top edge of the vertical rear wall 79 is provided a
horizontal top wall 80 with a downturned rear flange 81. Within the
gutter 63 defined by the outside of the rear wall 74 of the box and
the inside of the vertical rear wall 79 is provided a pair of support
flanges 82 and 83 running along the gutter just below the top surface
76. On top of these flanges is supported a grid element 84 formed
by side rails 85 and a plurality of parallel spaced cross ribs between
which the water can flow into the gutter 63. The stainless steel
element forming the gutter is completed by an inclined brace wall 86
and a vertical support wall 87 defining with the bottom 78 of the
gutter a triangular section for transferring forces from the gutter to
the top of the front wall 60. The support wall 87 includes a top
portion 88 extending over the top of the panel 60A. In addition an
angle piece 89 is attached to the underside of the bottom wall 77 of
the box at the front edge thereof for engaging over and downwardly
of the front of the panel 60A.
The gutter section 72 therefore is attached into the pool
structure by mounting of the support wall 87 and bracket 89 over the
top of the front panel. The flange 80is supported relative to the rear
wall 61 by ~he concrete top cover panel 48A which is applied across
the top of the rear wall 61 and is supported by a plurality of spaced
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posts 90 extending upwardly from the footing 33 at a position outside
of the gutter section 72.
As previously described, the front surface of the front
wall 60 and the base 69 of the pool is covered by a liner 91 formed
of a suitable plastics material. The liner is attached to the box section
73 at the front wall 75 thereof by a recess 92 formed in the front
wall, the recess extending continuously along the front wall and being
generally rectangular in cross section. Into the recess is inserted an
elongate bar 93 so as to pinch an upper edge portion of the liner 91
into the recess. The bar 93 has chamfered rear corners 94 and is
fastened by a plurality of screws 95 which pass through a bore in the
elongate bar with the screws threadably engaging a threaded hole 95
in the base wall of the recess 92.
In order to hold the liner in place prior to insertion of the
bar 93 into the recess 92, there is provided an attachment plate 97
screw fastened onto the front of the box section just below the
recess 92. The plate 97 carries on its outer surface a layer 98 of a
plastics material compatible with the plastics material of the liner so
that the liner can be heat welded to the layer 98. In assembly,
therefore, the liner is pulled up the wall to the required height and is
then tacked or welded to the strip 97 by a heat actuating tool so as
to hold the liner in place temporarily around the box section 73. The
upper most edge of the liner is then cut so that it extends upwardly
-from the strip 97 to a distance such that the uppermost edge 99 of
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the liner can be received within the recess after the bar 93 is inserted
in place in the recess. It is a simple matter, therefore, to push the bar
into the recess and to squeeze the upper part of the liner
therebetween and then to insert the screws 95 into the holes 96 to
hold the bar in place. At this time the strip 97 is no longer of
structural relevance but of course it remains in place behind the liner.
The liner is thus effectively sealed to the front face of
the box so that water level can be raised above the top of the liner
while remaining contained by the stainless steel walls of the box 73.
The water level is then brought up to or approximately to the level of
the top wall 76 of the box as previously described to act in the
conventional system of the gutter return. Any water which passes
around the bar and through the screw holes 96 into the interior of the
box is retained within the closed box but can be released by a plug
100 should it become necessary to drain the system.
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The front face of the bar 93 is exposed above the liner
and accordingly it is highly desirable to cover the bar and the upper
part of the box with a cover strip 101 preferably formed of plastics
material. The cover strip 101 may have a domed or convex outer
surface 102 to provide an attractive appearance. The height of the
cover strip 101 is such that its top edge 103 is substantially
coextensive with the top edge of the box. The bottom edge 104 of
the cover strip extends downwardly. beyond the recess 92 and
preferably beyond the strip 97 to cover all of the attachment system
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to provide one clean line underneath the attachment system at the
bottom edge 104 which forms a junction with the liner on the front
face of the box. The cover strip is attached to the bar 93 by screws
105 which can be relatively infrequent in comparison with the screws
95 since the cover strip is merely decorative rather than structural.
As shown in Figure 7, the return line 65 is received
within the triangular area above the brace wall 86 where it is
conveniently housed. The line 67 from the pump is placed at the
bottom of the front wall and the lines 68 extend outwardly therefrom
through the footing 33.
Each return 70 positioned in the base 69 of the pool
includes a housing 106 within which is mounted a receptacle 107
connected to the line 68 by a line portion 108. On top of the
receptacle 107 is a cover plate 109 with a plurality of holes 1 10
through which the water can escape relatively slowly in view of the
large area of the plate 110 relative to the diameter of the pipe 108.
The return of water through the base 69 and through the relatively
large cover plate 109 ensures that the water is effectively circulated
since the water which is furthest from the gutter return is pushed
upwardly toward the gutter return by the injected water 71. At the
same the injected water does not generate currents in the body of
water which could interfere with the competitive swimming.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention
as herein above described, and many apparently widely different
21257~8
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims .
without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all
matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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