GB2626951A - Pool covers and enclosures - Google Patents
Pool covers and enclosures Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2626951A GB2626951A GB2301754.4A GB202301754A GB2626951A GB 2626951 A GB2626951 A GB 2626951A GB 202301754 A GB202301754 A GB 202301754A GB 2626951 A GB2626951 A GB 2626951A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- panels
- cover
- pool
- solar cells
- pool cover
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000003973 paint Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims abstract 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000009182 swimming Effects 0.000 description 4
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/08—Coverings consisting of rigid elements, e.g. coverings composed of separate or connected elements
- E04H4/082—Coverings consisting of rigid elements, e.g. coverings composed of separate or connected elements composed of flexibly or hingedly-connected slat-like elements, which may or may not be wound-up on a fixed axis
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/08—Coverings consisting of rigid elements, e.g. coverings composed of separate or connected elements
- E04H4/086—Sliding covers
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/10—Coverings of flexible material
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
- E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
- E04H4/06—Safety devices; Coverings for baths
- E04H4/10—Coverings of flexible material
- E04H4/101—Coverings of flexible material wound-up on a fixed axis
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Hybrid Cells (AREA)
Abstract
A pool cover or enclosure 10 with at least part of the area of the cover comprising at least one solar cell 12. The panels may be stiff with flexible hinges 14 joining the panels together. The cells may be adhered to the panels or be formed by coating the panels with a photovoltaic paint and provided with electrodes. The output of the panels may be connected together with flexible connectors that stow away with the cover. The cover may be constructed with slats (22, fig 2) that roll away to stow.
Description
Pool Covers and Enclosures
Field of the invention
The present invention related to covers and enclosures for swimming pools.
Background of the invention
It is known to provide covers for swimming pools and several varieties are known.
fo One known type of cover comprises a flexible sheet of a fabric or a plastics material that is stretched across the pool and anchored in its place by straps when it is deployed. The sheet may in some cases be formed of different panels that are joined to one another by flexible hinges to allow the cover to be folded away neatly for stowage.
zs In alternative designs, the cover may be a buoyant sheet that is wrapped around a roller at one end of the pool. Covers designed to be stowed on a roller may be formed by stiff slat-like panels joined to one another by flexible hinges.
It is also known to cover pools using rigid enclosures, These may be formed, for example, of separate telescoping rigid sections having an inverted U-shape, that slide or roll on parallel tracks alongside opposite sides of the pool, and when extended form a rigid enclosure that stands proud of the pool surface.
Such covers and enclosures serve multiple purposes, amongst them safety, by preventing people or animals from falling into the pool, keeping the pool clean, by preventing debris from falling into the water, and retaining heat in the pool at night, by reducing evaporation.
Summary of the invention
According to the present invention, there is provided a pool cover or enclosure wherein at least part of the area of the cover, when deployed, comprises at least one solar cell.
Swimming pools have a demand for electrical power, be it to operate lighting or a recirculation pump or to heat the water. The present invention is based on the realisation that the large surface area of a swimming pool allows recovery of a substantial amount of -2 -solar energy which can either be used at the time that it is generated or stored in batteries for use when the cover is stowed away.
Where the cover is formed of relatively stiff panels joined to one another by flexible hinges, at least some of the panels may act as solar cells.
Panels may either have separately formed solar cells adhered to them or they may be coated with a photovoltaic paint so that the panel itself acts as a solar cell.
fo Outputs from different panels may be connected to one, in series and/or parallel, by means of flexible connectors designed to stow away with the remainder of the cover.
Brief description of the drawings
is The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a pool cover, and Figure 2 shows a second embodiment.
Detailed description of the drawinos
The pool cover 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises stiff panels 12 joined to one another by flexible hinges 14. Straps around 16 around the perimeter of the cover allow it to be anchored to the pool surround, out of the contact with the water. In this embodiment of the invention, at least some, and preferably all, of the panels 12 function as solar cells.
The pool cover 20 in Figure 2 is constructed in the same way a roller blind with stiff panels or slats 22 connected to one another by flexible hinges 24. In this case, the slats 22 may be buoyant and may float on the water when the cover is deployed. Once again, in accordance with invention, at least some, and preferably all, of the panels 22 function as solar cells.
The panels of each of the above embodiments may be formed either by adhering separately formed solar cells to the panels or by spraying the panels with a photovoltaic paint and providing suitable contact electrodes. Where multiple solar cells are present in the cover, their outputs may be combined in series and/or parallel. -3 -
Wiring (not shown) is provided on the covers to connect the different solar cells to one another. Where the cover is to make direct contact with the water when deployed, it is important that the connections to the solar cells should be water resistant, both to prevent the electrical output from be short circuited by the water, and to prevent corrosion of the wiring.
In some embodiments, the connections may formed by flexible printed circuits either bonded to, or formed directly on the cover.
io The output of the solar cells, when the cover is deployed, may be used at the time that it is generated, or it may be stored in batteries for later use. Thus, the electricity may be used at the time that it is generated to power a heater or a water recirculation pump. Alternatively, a battery charged by the solar generated electricity may be used to operate pool lighting or even equipment unconnected with the pool. is
While the invention has been described above by reference to foldable covers, it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable to enclosures made up as telescoping rigid sections. Each section in this case presents a large surface area that can be used to generate electricity when the enclosure is deployed. In this case, the largest of the sections, which 2C is always exposed, may be used to generate electricity even at times when the enclosure is retracted.
Claims (6)
- -4 -CLAIMS 1. A pool cover or enclosure wherein at least part of the area of the cover, when deployed, comprises at least one solar cell.
- 2. A pool cover as claimed in claim I, wherein the cover is formed of relatively stiff panels joined to one another by flexible hinges.
- 3. A pool cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least some of the panels act is as solar cells.
- 4. A pool cover as claimed in claim 3, wherein panels acting as solar cells are formed by adhering separately formed solar cells to the panels.zs
- 5. A pool cover as claimed in claim 3, wherein panels acting as solar cells are formed by coating the panels with a photovoltaic paint and providing suitable electrodes.
- 6. A pool cover as claimed in any preceding multiple panels acting as solar cells, wherein outputs from different panels are connected to one, in series and/or parallel, by means of flexible connectors designed to stow away with the remainder of the cover.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2301754.4A GB2626951A (en) | 2023-02-08 | 2023-02-08 | Pool covers and enclosures |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2301754.4A GB2626951A (en) | 2023-02-08 | 2023-02-08 | Pool covers and enclosures |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2626951A true GB2626951A (en) | 2024-08-14 |
Family
ID=91951571
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB2301754.4A Pending GB2626951A (en) | 2023-02-08 | 2023-02-08 | Pool covers and enclosures |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2626951A (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2859313A1 (en) * | 2003-08-28 | 2005-03-04 | Jacques Lambey | Retractable photoelectric structure, such as swimming pool cover, etc, consists in series of parallel rigid slats having concave surfaces glued to supporting film, and convex surfaces covered by solar cells including semiconductor polymer |
| AU2009101216A4 (en) * | 2009-11-26 | 2010-01-14 | Hill, Warwick R | System for evaporation control and electricity generation |
| US20140166076A1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2014-06-19 | Masimo Semiconductor, Inc | Pool solar power generator |
| US20150101116A1 (en) * | 2013-10-13 | 2015-04-16 | Maytronics Ltd | Pool cover leading edge rake |
| CN217760291U (en) * | 2022-03-29 | 2022-11-08 | 光点绿色建筑科技(广东)有限公司 | Photovoltaic power generation swimming pool apron |
-
2023
- 2023-02-08 GB GB2301754.4A patent/GB2626951A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2859313A1 (en) * | 2003-08-28 | 2005-03-04 | Jacques Lambey | Retractable photoelectric structure, such as swimming pool cover, etc, consists in series of parallel rigid slats having concave surfaces glued to supporting film, and convex surfaces covered by solar cells including semiconductor polymer |
| AU2009101216A4 (en) * | 2009-11-26 | 2010-01-14 | Hill, Warwick R | System for evaporation control and electricity generation |
| US20140166076A1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2014-06-19 | Masimo Semiconductor, Inc | Pool solar power generator |
| US20150101116A1 (en) * | 2013-10-13 | 2015-04-16 | Maytronics Ltd | Pool cover leading edge rake |
| CN217760291U (en) * | 2022-03-29 | 2022-11-08 | 光点绿色建筑科技(广东)有限公司 | Photovoltaic power generation swimming pool apron |
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