US3922732A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and system for heating swimming pools
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-13
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract Within a large body of water, such as a lake, an area to be used as a swimming pool is confined by a floating heat barrier reaching down from the water surface to a depth of a few meters but terminating above the lake bottom. A heat pump abstracts heat from the water in a region beyond the pool area and raises the temperature of water circulating through it from that area. Only a narrow access, which may be thermally insulated against the water, connects the swimming pool with the land in order to minimize heat losses.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfgang Friedel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:07
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/0012; E04H4/12; E04H4/129; F; F25; F25B; F25B29/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of providing a heated swimming pool in a colder environment, comprising the steps of thermally insulating a limited water volume within a larger body of water against the surrounding water along a substantially closed boundary terminating short of the bottom of said body of water to delimit a downwardly open enclosure, circulating a first flow from said surrounding water through a heat pump for abstracting heat therefrom, and circulating a second flow from said limited water volume through said heat pump for elevating the temperature thereof by the heat abstracted from said first flow, with direct contact between the heated water within said boundary and an underlying mass of colder water from said larger body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of providing a heated swimming pool in a colder environment, comprising the steps of thermally insulating a limited water volume within a larger body of water against the surrounding water along a substantially closed boundary terminating short of the bottom of said body of water to delimit a downwardly open enclosure, circulating a first flow from said surrounding water through a heat pump for abstracting heat therefrom, and circulating a second flow from said limited water volume through said heat pump for elevating the temperature thereof by the heat abstracted from said first flow, with direct contact between the heated water within said boundary and an underlying mass of colder water from said larger body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said boundary is formed by a floating heat barrier extending from above into the water to a depth on the order of several meters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
An installation for providing a heated swimming pool in a limited area of a larger body of water, comprising: a heat barrier extending along a substantially closed boundary within said body of water but terminating at a distance from the bottom thereof to delimit a downwardly open enclosure; first conduit means having an inlet and an outlet communicating with said body of water outside said boundary; second conduit means having an inlet and an outlet communicating with a restricted water volume supported within said boundary on an underlying mass of water in direct communication with the surrounding body; and a heat pump connected to said first and second conduit means for abstracting heat from water circulating through said second conduit means and raising the temperature of water circulating through said first conduit means, thereby heating said water volume to a temperature higher than that of the underlying mass of water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
150 words
An installation for providing a heated swimming pool in a limited area of a larger body of water, comprising: a heat barrier extending along a substantially closed boundary within said body of water but terminating at a distance from the bottom thereof to delimit a downwardly open enclosure; first conduit means having an inlet and an outlet communicating with said body of water outside said boundary; second conduit means having an inlet and an outlet communicating with a restricted water volume supported within said boundary on an underlying mass of water in direct communication with the surrounding body; and a heat pump connected to said first and second conduit means for abstracting heat from water circulating through said second conduit means and raising the temperature of water circulating through said first conduit means, thereby heating said water volume to a temperature higher than that of the underlying mass of water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
An installation as defined in claim 3 wherein said barrier comprises a plurality of generally vertical shields of thermally insulating material floatingly supported on said body of water and extending downwardly to a depth on the order of several meters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An installation as defined in claim 4 wherein said shields are anchored to said bottom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An installation as defined in claim 4 wherein said shields comprise pairs of substantially parallel, transversely spaced sheets provided with common floating support means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An installation as defined in claim 6 wherein one of the sheets of each pair is anchored to said bottom, the other sheet of each pair having a weighted lower edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An installation as defined in claim 7 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart floats, a cable extending between said floats, and a harness riding on said cable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An installation as defined in claim 3 wherein said area is separated by water from surrounding land along the entire length of said boundary except for a limited access path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An installation as defined in claim 9, further comprising thermally insulating means interposed between the land and said area at said access path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2979733A
Cited
US3456265A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |