Swim-exercise apparatus and water propulsion system therefor

Abstract

A swim-exercise apparatus includes a water containment vessel having a first area defining a swimming/bathing compartment for enabling a user to swim-in-place within the apparatus and a water propulsion system for generating a directed flow of water in the swimming/bathing compartment of the water containment vessel. The water propulsion system includes a water pump having a scroll-shaped blower housing and a centrifugal blower impeller rotatively disposed within the blower housing. The centrifugal blower impeller includes a plurality of arcuate-shaped blades positioned about a central axis of the centrifugal blower impeller, each of the blades having a convex-shaped water pressure surface. The water propulsion system further includes a motor for rotatively driving the centrifugal blower impeller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water propulsion system for generating a directed flow of water in a swim-exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a water pump including:
 a scroll-shaped blower housing; and 
 a centrifugal blower impeller rotatively disposed within the blower housing; and 
   a motor for rotatively driving the centrifugal blower impeller;   wherein the centrifugal blower impeller includes a plurality of arcuate-shaped blades positioned about a central axis of the centrifugal blower impeller, each of the blades having a convex-shaped water pressure surface.   
     
     
         2 . The water propulsion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump impeller drive arrangement including:
 a first pulley;   a driveshaft; and   a drive belt;   wherein a first portion of the driveshaft is coupled to the first pulley and a second portion of the driveshaft is coupled to centrifugal blower impeller;   wherein the electric motor includes a second pulley; and   wherein the drive belt rotatively couples the second pulley of the electric motor to the first pulley coupled to the first portion of the driveshaft of the pump impeller drive arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . The water propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the blower housing has a scroll-shape and includes a central, axial water inlet and a tangential water discharge outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The water propulsion system of  claim 3 , wherein a distance between an inner surface of the blower housing and an outer periphery of the centrifugal blower impeller increases moving in a direction toward the water discharged outlet of the blower housing. 
     
     
         5 . The water propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the centrifugal blower impeller further includes a ring-shaped outer member and a disc-shaped outer member, and wherein the plurality of arcuate-shaped blades extend between the outer ring-shaped member and the disc-shaped outer member. 
     
     
         6 . The water propulsion system of  claim 1 , wherein the centrifugal blower impeller further includes first and second ring-shaped outer members and a disc-shaped inner member positioned between the first and second ring-shaped outer members, and wherein the plurality of arcuate-shaped blades includes a first blade element extending between the first ring-shaped outer member and the disc-shaped inner member and a second blade element extending between the second ring-shaped outer member and the disc-shaped inner member. 
     
     
         7 . A swim-exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a water containment vessel having a first area defining a swimming/bathing compartment for enabling a user to swim-in-place within the apparatus; and   a water propulsion system for generating a directed flow of water in the swimming/bathing compartment of the water containment vessel, the water propulsion system comprising:
 a water pump including:
 a scroll-shaped blower housing; and 
 a centrifugal blower impeller rotatively disposed within the blower housing; and 
 
 a motor for rotatively driving the centrifugal blower impeller; 
   wherein the centrifugal blower impeller of the water pump of the water propulsion system includes a plurality of arcuate-shaped blades positioned about a central axis of the centrifugal blower impeller, each of the blades having a convex-shaped water pressure surface.   
     
     
         8 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the water pump is disposed in a pump compartment defined in a second area of the water containment vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the pump compartment is formed by at least one wall of the water containment vessel and a false wall that separates the pump compartment from the swimming/bathing compartment of the water containment vessel, wherein the false wall includes a water outlet opening and at least one water inlet opening, and wherein the water outlet opening is aligned with a water discharged outlet of the blower housing of the water pump. 
     
     
         10 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a top deck for covering the pump compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the top deck is a tray-shaped member having a ribbed cover wall that slopes downward toward the swimming/bathing compartment of the water containment vessel. 
     
     
         12 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one wall of the water containment vessel is fluted to increase the structural integrity of the pump compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a screen-like element is attached to a back side of the false wall to cover the at least one water inlet opening. 
     
     
         14 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a grate disposed in the water outlet opening of the false wall, the grate for straightening the turbulent flow of water discharged from the water discharge outlet of the blower housing, thereby increasing a laminar flow of water directed at the user in the swimming/bathing compartment of the water containment vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a grate angle-adjustment mechanism that includes a knob disposed on a front side of the false wall for enabling the user to adjust the angle of the grate relative to the water discharge outlet of the blower housing to change a direction of water discharged through water outlet of the blower housing. 
     
     
         16 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a pump impeller drive arrangement including:
 a first pulley;   a driveshaft; and   a drive belt;   wherein a first portion of the driveshaft is coupled to the first pulley and a second portion of the driveshaft is coupled to centrifugal blower impeller;   wherein the electric motor includes a second pulley; and   wherein the drive belt rotatively couples the second pulley of the electric motor to the first pulley coupled to the first portion of the driveshaft of the pump impeller drive arrangement.   
     
     
         17 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first pulley, the first portion of the driveshaft, the drivebelt, and the electric motor are disposed outside of the water containment vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a frame for supporting the water containment vessel, and a cabinet to enclose the frame, the first pulley, the first portion of the driveshaft, the drivebelt, and the electric motor. 
     
     
         19 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the blower housing has a scroll-shape and includes a central, axial water inlet and a tangential water discharge outlet. 
     
     
         20 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein a distance between an inner surface of the blower housing and an outer periphery of the centrifugal blower impeller increases moving in a direction toward the water discharged outlet of the blower housing.  21  The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the centrifugal blower impeller further includes a ring-shaped outer member and a disc-shaped outer member, and wherein the plurality of arcuate-shaped blades extend between the outer ring-shaped member and the disc-shaped outer member. 
     
     
         22 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the centrifugal blower impeller further includes first and second ring-shaped outer members and a disc-shaped inner member positioned between the first and second ring-shaped outer members, and wherein the plurality of arcuate-shaped blades includes a first blade element extending between the first ring-shaped outer member and the disc-shaped inner member and a second blade element extending between the second ring-shaped outer member and the disc-shaped inner member. 
     
     
         23 . The swim-exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the swim-exercise apparatus is a swim spa and the water containment vessel is a spa shell. 
     
     
         24 . A method of propelling water against a swimmer in a swim-exercise apparatus so that the swimmer can swim in a generally stationary position, against the force of the water, thereby simulating swimming forward in the water of the swim-exercise apparatus, the method comprising:
 providing a water propulsion system in a section of a water containment vessel of the swim-exercise apparatus; and   generating, with the water propulsion system, a directed flow of water in a swimming/bathing compartment of the water containment vessel of the swim-exercise apparatus;   wherein the water propulsion system comprises
 a water pump including:
 a scroll-shaped blower housing; and 
 a centrifugal blower impeller rotatively disposed within the blower housing; and 
 
 a motor for rotatively driving the centrifugal blower impeller; 
   wherein the centrifugal blower impeller of the water pump of the water propulsion system includes a plurality of arcuate-shaped blades positioned about a central axis of the centrifugal blower impeller, each of the blades having a convex-shaped water pressure surface.