Exercise Pool with Circulating Flow

Abstract

A Exercise Pool is disclosed herein having a rigid frame modular in design to allow for improved delivery and assembling. As shown the system may be configured with a box like structure providing containment of the flow head and may be configured with a removable walk deck having an air gap built in. As disclosed the treadmill swimming pool system as its general configuration is safer for users as it inhibits and/or eliminates hair and body entrapment. As disclosed it has a balanced flow which better replicates or reproduces actual swimming conditions for an enhanced user experience. The propulsion system may be controlled with a variable frequency drive (VFD) to allow for improved swimming conditions and control of same.

1 . An exercise pool with circulating water flow, comprising:
 a) an exercise pool having a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, each wall having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first wall and the first end of the second wall forming a first corner of the exercise pool, the second end of the first wall and the first end of the third wall forming a second corner of the exercise pool, the first and second corners forming a head end of the exercise pool, the second end of the second wall and the first end of the fourth wall forming a third corner of the exercise pool, the second end of the third wall and the second end of the fourth wall forming a fourth corner of the exercise pool, the third and fourth corners forming the foot end of the exercise pool;   b) an exercise pool floor positioned below and connected to a bottom of the first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall;   c) a self-contained drop-in propulsion unit, the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit configured to be positioned on the exercise pool floor between the first and second corners of the exercise pool, the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit having a front side, a back side, a top side, a left end, a right end and a bottom side enclosing an interior, wherein the bottom side is configured to rest on the exercise pool floor, wherein the back side is configured to be positioned against the first wall, wherein a plenum arrangement is positioned therein, the plenum arrangement further comprising:
 i. a pair of propellers positioned in the interior of the plenum arrangement, the pair of propellers positioned adjacent each other and in a common horizontal plane, each propeller of the pair of propellers configured for rotation towards the adjacent propeller in the horizontal plane; 
 ii. a plurality of water inlets positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement to allow a circulating water flow to enter the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit for communication with the pair of propellers; 
 iii. an equalization wall positioned in the plenum arrangement, the equalization wall positioned between the plurality of water inlets and the pair of propellers, the equalization wall configured to balance the quantity of the circulating water flow to and between the pair of propellers and wherein the equalization wall is positioned below the pair of propellers positioned in the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and extends from the front side to the back side of the plenum arrangement; 
 iv. a set of curved vanes located in the interior of the plenum arrangement and positioned above the pair of propellers, the set of curved vanes configured to engage with and turn the circulating water flow from the pair of propellers in a vertical direction to a horizontal direction; 
 v. a common outlet positioned in the front side of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and in fluid communication with the set of curved vanes, the common outlet configured to allow discharge of the circulating water flow from the plenum arrangement of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit wherein the circulating water flow forms a pair of circuitous water flow paths in the exercise pool, a first water flow path flowing from the head end to the foot end of the exercise pool, the first water flow path useful for swimming, and a second water flow path from the foot end to the head end of the exercise pool for recirculation through the plenum arrangement by the pair of propellers via the plurality of water inlets in the front side of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit; 
   d) a self-contained hydraulic system positioned exterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and connected to the pair of propellers to drive the pair of 4 propellers;   e) an electric motor coupled to the self-contained hydraulic system, the electric motor configured with a variable frequency drive which allows control of the speed of the pair of propellers and volume of circulating water;   f) an inner water containment area located anterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and further defined by the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall of the exercise pool, wherein the inner water containment area has an absence of a separate return flow structure to aid in delivery of the circulating water flow to the pair of propellers via the plurality of inlets in the plenum arrangement of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein at least one air slot is positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit, the at least one air slot positioned above both the common outlet and the plurality of water inlets to limit the height of the circulating water present in the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and maintain an air gap above the circulating water flow. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein the common outlet is positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement and centered between the left end and the right end of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein the common outlet, the pair of propellers and the set of curved vanes are positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement and centered between the left end and the right end of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein the fourth wall of the exercise pool has an absence of a curved vane to aid in delivery of the circulating water flow back to the pair of propellers via the plurality of inlets for recirculation and pressurization of the circulating water flow. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein the fourth wall of the exercise pool has an absence of any flow bending structure to aid in delivery of the circulating water flow back to the pair of propellers via the plurality of inlets for recirculation and pressurization of the circulating water flow. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein the top side of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit is removable. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein the top side of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit is configured as a walkway. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein the walls are built from a plurality of modular pieces. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein the circulating water flow forms a pair of circuitous water flow paths in the exercise pool, a first water flow path flowing from the head end to the foot end of the exercise pool and in the center of the pool, the first water flow path useful for swimming, and a second water flow path flowing from the foot end to the head end of the exercise pool and along the second and the third sides of the pool for recirculation by the pair of propellers via the plurality of water inlets. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 1  wherein each propeller of the pair of propellers is powered by a hydraulic motor which is coupled to the self-contained hydraulic system positioned exterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit to drive the pair of propellers. 
     
     
         12 . A self-contained drop-in propulsion unit for use with a pool to create an exercise pool, the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit comprising:
 a) a plenum arrangement enclosing an interior as defined by a front side, a back side, a top side, a left end, a right end and a bottom side of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit;   b) a pair of propellers positioned in the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit, the pair of propellers positioned adjacent each other and in a common horizontal plane, each propeller of the pair of propellers configured for rotation towards the adjacent propeller in the horizontal plane;   c) a plurality of water inlets positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement to allow a circulating water flow to enter the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit for communication with the pair of propellers;   d) an equalization wall positioned in the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit, the equalization wall positioned between the plurality of water inlets and the pair of propellers, the equalization wall configured to balance the quantity of the circulating water flow to and between the pair of propellers;   e) a set of curved vanes located in the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and positioned above the pair of propellers, the set of curved vanes configured to engage with and turn the circulating water flow from the pair of propellers in a generally vertical direction to a generally horizontal direction;   f) a common outlet positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement and in fluid communication with the set of curved vanes, the common outlet configured to allow discharge of the circulating water flow from the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit wherein the circulating water flow forms a pair of circuitous water flow paths in the exercise pool, a first water flow path flowing from the head end to the foot end of the exercise pool, the first water flow path useful for swimming, and a second water flow path from the foot end to the head end of the exercise pool for recirculation by the pair of propellers via the plurality of water inlets;   g) a self-contained hydraulic system positioned exterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and connected to the pair of propellers to drive the pair of propellers, wherein the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit may be positioned in a pool with an inner water containment area located anterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit, wherein the inner water containment area has an absence of a separate return flow structure to aid in delivery of the circulating water flow to the pair of propellers via the plurality of inlets thereby allowing conversion of the pool into an exercise pool;   h) a self-contained hydraulic system positioned exterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and connected to the pair of propellers to drive the pair of propellers; and,   i) an electric motor coupled to the self-contained hydraulic system, the electric motor configured with a variable frequency drive which allows control of the speed of the pair of propellers and volume of circulating water.   
     
     
         13 . A self-contained drop-in propulsion unit for use with a pool to create an exercise pool according to  claim 12  wherein each propeller of the pair of propellers is powered by a hydraulic motor which is coupled to the self-contained hydraulic system positioned exterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit to drive the pair of propellers. 
     
     
         14 . An exercise pool with circulating water flow, comprising:
 a) an exercise pool having a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, each wall and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first wall and the first end of the second wall forming a first corner of the exercise pool, the second end of the first wall and the first end of the third wall forming a second corner of the exercise pool, the first and second corners forming the head end of the exercise pool, the second end of the second wall and the first end of the fourth wall forming a third corner of the exercise pool, the second end of the third wall and the second end of the fourth wall forming a fourth corner of the exercise pool, the third and fourth corners forming the foot end of the exercise pool;   b) an exercise pool floor positioned below and connected to the bottom of the first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall, wherein the exercise pool floor is generally non-sloped;   c) a self-contained drop-in propulsion unit, the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit to be positioned on the exercise pool floor between the first and second corners of the exercise pool, defined as the head end, the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit having a front side, a back side, a top side, a left end, a right end and a bottom side enclosing an interior, wherein the bottom side is configured to rest on the exercise pool floor, wherein the back side is configured to be positioned against the first wall, wherein a plenum arrangement is positioned therein, the plenum arrangement further comprising:
 i. a pair of propellers positioned in the interior of the plenum arrangement, the pair of propellers positioned adjacent each other and in a common horizontal plane, each propeller of the pair of propellers configured for rotation towards the adjacent propeller in the horizontal plane; 
 ii. a plurality of water inlets positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement to allow a circulating water flow to enter the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit for communication with the pair of propellers; 
 iii. an equalization wall positioned in the plenum arrangement, the equalization wall positioned between the plurality of water inlets and the pair of propellers, the equalization wall configured to balance the quantity of the circulating water flow to and between the pair of propellers; 
 iv. a set of curved vanes located in the interior of the plenum arrangement and positioned above the pair of propellers, the set of curved vanes configured to engage with and turn the circulating water flow from the pair of propellers in a generally vertical direction to a generally horizontal direction; 
 v. a common outlet positioned in the front side of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and in fluid communication with the set of curved vanes, the common outlet configured to allow discharge of the circulating water flow from the plenum arrangement of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit wherein the circulating water flow forms a pair of circuitous water flow paths in the exercise pool, a first water flow path flowing from the head end to the foot end of the exercise pool, the first water flow path useful for swimming, and a second water flow path from the foot end to the head end of the exercise pool for recirculation through the plenum arrangement by the pair of propellers via the plurality of water inlets in the front side of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit; 
   d) a self-contained hydraulic system positioned exterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and connected to the pair of propellers to drive the pair of propellers; and   e) an inner water containment area located anterior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and further defined by the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall of the exercise pool, wherein the inner water containment area has an absence of a separate return flow structure to aid in delivery of the circulating water flow to the pair of propellers via the plurality of inlets in the plenum arrangement of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit.   
     
     
         15 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 14  wherein at least one air slot is positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit, the at least one air slot positioned above both the common outlet and the plurality of water inlets to limit the height of the circulating water present in the interior of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit and maintain an air gap above the circulating water flow. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 14  wherein the common outlet is positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement and generally centered between the left end and the right end of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 14  wherein the common outlet, the pair of propellers and the set of curved vanes are positioned in the front side of the plenum arrangement and generally centered between the left end and the right end of the self-contained drop-in propulsion unit. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 14  wherein the fourth wall of the exercise pool has an absence of a curved vane to aid in delivery of the circulating water flow back to the pair of propellers via the plurality of inlets for recirculation and pressurization of the circulating water flow. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise pool with a circulating water flow according to  claim 14  wherein the fourth wall of the exercise pool has an absence of any flow bending structure to aid in delivery of the circulating water flow back to the pair of propellers via the plurality of inlets for recirculation and pressurization of the circulating water flow.