U.S. patent application number 11/326857 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for submersible motor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Automatic Pool Covers, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael R. Jaensson, Michael J. Shebek.
Application Number | 20060143817 11/326857 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36638683 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060143817 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shebek; Michael J. ; et
al. |
July 6, 2006 |
Submersible motor
Abstract
A pool cover driving system for rolling up and unrolling a pool
cover encased in a protective sealed case but easily attached and
detached from a power controller without breaking the seal. A
method of installing the pool cover driving system wherein pool
cover driving system remains in a sealed state throughout
installation process. A method of replacing the pool cover driving
system wherein multiple pool cover driving systems each remain in a
sealed state throughout process of removal of one pool cover
driving system and replacement with another pool cover driving
system. A method of operating the pool cover driving system where,
in addition to connection to an electrical power controller,
electrical input to pool cover driving system is controlled. A
method of assembling the pool cover driving system wherein potting
compound provides a sealed case by substantially occupying all of
interior of case besides electrical motor.
Inventors: |
Shebek; Michael J.; (Carmel,
IN) ; Jaensson; Michael R.; (Noblesville,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS LLP
300 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET
SUITE 2700
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Assignee: |
Automatic Pool Covers, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36638683 |
Appl. No.: |
11/326857 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60641799 |
Jan 6, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/502 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/101 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/502 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/00 20060101
E04H004/00 |
Claims
1. A pool cover driving system for driving a cover drum, said pool
cover driving system comprising: a case, said case having at least
one wall, said wall enclosing and sealing a motor and electrical
components of said motor; a drive shaft operably coupled to the
cover drum, said drive shaft extending outside of the cover drum
and configured to operably couple to said motor; and at least one
electrical coupler associated with said case and configured to
attach to a source of electricity for said motor while maintaining
said case in a sealed state.
2. The pool cover driving system of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of electrical conductors, wherein at least one of said
plurality of electrical conductors is at least partially enclosed
within said case.
3. The pool cover driving system of claim 2, in which one of said
plurality of said electrical conductors couples said motor to said
electrical coupler.
4. The pool cover driving system of claim 2, wherein said
electrical coupler operably couples to one of said plurality of
said electrical conductors, one of said plurality of said
electrical conductors coupling said electrical coupler to a power
controller.
5. The pool cover driving system of claim 2, wherein all electrical
connections made between interior of said case and exterior of said
case are made by coupling at least one of said plurality of
electrical conductors to at least one electrical coupler.
6. The pool cover driving system of claim 2, wherein one of said
plurality of electrical conductors is exterior to said case and
wherein one of said plurality of electrical conductors is interior
to said case and wherein said one of said plurality of electrical
conductors exterior to said case is separate from said one of said
plurality of electrical conductors interior to said case.
7. The pool cover driving system of claim 1, wherein said at least
one electrical coupler includes a quick disconnect coupler.
8. The pool cover driving system of claim 1, further comprising a
potting compound at least partially disposed within said wall and
occupying substantially all interior of said wall besides said
motor and electrical components of said motor.
9. The pool cover driving system of claim 8, wherein said potting
compound substantially encases said motor and electrical components
of said motor.
10. The pool cover driving system of claim 9, wherein said potting
compound is a polymeric resin.
11. The pool cover driving system of claim 9, wherein said potting
compound is cement based.
12. The pool cover driving system of claim 9, further comprising a
first side of an electrical coupler abutting said potting compound
and a second side of said electrical coupler extending through said
potting compound.
13. The pool cover driving system of claim 12, wherein said
electrical coupler is sized and shaped to receive a plug.
14. A pool cover driving system for driving a cover drum, said pool
cover driving system comprising: a motor including associated
electrical components; a case, said case having at least one wall;
said wall defining an interior enclosing said motor and said
electrical components of said motor; and a potting compound at
least partially disposed within said wall and occupying
substantially all interior of said wall besides said motor and
electrical components of said motor.
15. The pool cover driving system of claim 14, wherein said potting
compound substantially encases said motor and electrical components
of said motor.
16. The pool cover driving system of claim 14, wherein said potting
compound is a polymeric resin.
17. The pool cover driving system of claim 14, wherein said potting
compound is cement based.
18. The pool cover driving system of claim 14, further comprising a
plurality of electrical conductors, wherein at least one said
electrical conductor is at least partially enclosed within said
case.
19. The pool cover driving system of claim 18, in which one of said
plurality of said electrical conductors couples said motor to at
least one electrical coupler.
20. The pool cover driving system of claim 18, wherein said at
least one of said electrical couplers operably couples to one of
said plurality of said electrical conductors, said one of said
plurality of said electrical conductors coupling said at least one
of said electrical coupler to a power controller.
21. The pool cover driving system of claim 19, wherein all
electrical connections made between interior of said case and
exterior of said case are made by coupling at least one of said
plurality of said electrical conductors to at least one said
electrical couplers.
22. A method of installing a pool cover driving system including
the steps of: providing a motor and electrical components of said
motor sealingly enclosed within a wall of a case; and electrically
coupling said motor to a power controller, wherein enclosure of the
pool cover driving system is maintained in a sealed state
throughout coupling step.
23. The method of claim 22 including the steps of: detaching a
drive mechanism before providing said motor and electrical
components of said motor sealingly enclosed within said wall of
said case.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein providing said motor and
electrical components of said motor includes at least one
electrical coupler associated with said case and configured to
selectively couple said motor to said power controller while
maintaining said case in a sealed state.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein providing said motor and
electrical components of said motor includes at least one
electrical conductor at least partially enclosed within said
case.
26. A method of assembling a pool cover driving system including
the steps of: providing a case; said case having at least one wall
defining a housing; applying potting compound to said case; and
sealing said case by placing a motor and electrical components of
said motor inside said housing wherein said potting compound
occupies substantially all said housing besides said motor and
electrical components of said motor.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein said potting compound is
allowed to at least partially solidify around said motor and
electrical components of said motor.
Description
BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to swimming pools and more
particularly to the pool cover driving system.
[0002] Swimming pool covers are used to prevent debris from
entering the pool, and to maintain water temperature of a heated
pool. An automatic pool cover system allows the pool cover to be
easily extended over the pool when the pool is closed, or retracted
when the pool is open. A typical automatic pool cover system
usually includes a pool cover made of a synthetic material such as
a durable plastic, and a reel positioned at one end of the pool for
winding the pool cover on a cover drum, a pool cover driving system
for driving the reel and cover drum, and a power controller for
supplying electricity to the pool cover driving system. Further
included in the automatic pool cover system may be a pair of tracks
extending along each sidewall of the pool and coping, which is a
formed material disposed along the periphery of the pool and above
the water level. The tracks may be top-mounted to the surface deck
or under-mounted to the coping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides an electrical motor for
driving a pool cover where the electrical motor is enclosed by a
sealed case which allows easy connection or disconnection to a
power controller while maintaining the protective seal. With the
present invention, the case is sealed by application of potting
compound which substantially occupies the outside of the case
besides the motor.
[0004] The present invention may be used in conjunction with
electrical couplers and wires enclosed with the sealed case. By
using such a sealed case, installation or replacement of the pool
cover driving system will not expose the electrical motor to the
outside environment. In addition, the seal can be configured to
short out the electronic components before the motor, saving the
consumer the cost of replacing a more expensive motor instead of a
relatively inexpensive electrical component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this
invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more
apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by
reference to the following description of an embodiment of the
invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a pool cover
assembly;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a motor and cover drum of
the cover assembly of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the motor of FIG. 2 with
potting material and connectors;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of the unpotted assembled motor of
FIG. 3; and
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the casting used for potting
the motor and connectors of FIG. 3.
[0011] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out
herein illustrate embodiments of the invention. Such
exemplifications are not intended to be construed as limiting the
scope of the invention in any manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be
exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in
the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are
chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize
its teachings.
[0013] As illustrated in the diagram of FIG. 1, pool cover system
10 for use with a swimming pool generally includes pool cover
assembly 11. System 10 may also include power controller 40
connected to pool cover assembly 11 for controlling the operation
of pool cover assembly 1. Power controller 40 may be set to "on"
position or "off" position, and it is also possible in alternative
embodiments (not shown) to include other positions representing
alternative modes of operation (for example, a stand-by mode or an
error mode for internal errors or external blockage) Co-Pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/884,897, filed on Jul. 6, 2004,
entitled SELF MONITORING POOL COVER SYSTEM, assigned to the
assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference, discloses some possible alterative
modes. When a pool operator desires to activate the operation of
pool cover assembly 11, or open or close the pool cover, power
controller 40 may be set to "on" position, when the pool operator
desires to terminate the operation of pool cover assembly 11, power
controller 40 may be set to "off" position.
[0014] Pool cover assembly 11 includes pool cover 21, cover drum 22
connected to pool cover 21, and pool cover driving system 23
operably connected to rope reel or cover drum 22 (collectively
refered to as cover drum 22). Power controller 40 is coupled to
pool cover driving system 23 for supplying electricity to operate
pool cover driving system 23 by power source 25. Pool cover driving
system 23 drives cover drum 22 to extend or retract pool cover 21.
Cover drum 22 unwinds cover 21 to extend cover 21 over the pool
when the pool is being closed. Other components of pool cover
assembly 11 may include a pair of tracks 27 and coping 28, the
function of which are well known in the art.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the exemplary embodiment has pool
cover driving system 23 which includes an electrical motor 30, a
circuit board 32, housing 34 and two electrical interfaces 36, 38.
Motor 30 is a conventional motor (as shown in FIG. 4) capable of
receiving electrical power and providing a rotating shaft 42 in
response thereto. As a conventional motor, all motor functions are
contained within the motor housing. Circuit board 32 receives input
from power controller 40 and in response thereto provides
electrical input to motor 30 to control the rotation of shaft 42.
As shown in FIG. 5, housing 34 includes two substantially similar
halves 50, 52. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the halves
are not similar. The halves 50, 52 of the present embodiment each
include a wall 44 and are coupled together, via bolts in the
present embodiment, to define motor bay 45. Other non-pictured
embodiments are envisioned including housing or potting material
that is transparent or translucent. Wall 44 on half 50 includes two
apertures 46, 48 sized and shaped to receive electrical interfaces
36, 38 therein, respectively. Electrical interfaces 36, 38 may each
have a different electrical socket interface such that only mating
plugs can be received thereby. Other non-pictured embodiments are
envisioned including electrical coupling or electrical inductive
coupling.
[0016] As also shown in FIG. 5, half 50 further defines threaded
apertures 53, 54 therein. To attach housing 34 to motor block 60,
half 50 is first placed to align threaded apertures 53, 54 with
apertures 56, 58, respectively, defined in motor block 60 (shown in
FIG. 3). Bolts 62 (shown in FIG. 2) are inserted into apertures 56,
58 then extend therefrom and threadably engage aligned threaded
apertures 53, 54, respectively. Such engagement of threaded
apertures 53, 54 secures half 50 to motor block 60. Half 52 of
housing 34 is then secured to half 50 via bolts 55 to define motor
bay 45. Accordingly, housing 34 attaches to motor block 60.
[0017] Housing 34 also seals to motor block 60. Sealing is provided
through the use of a waterproof potting compound/encapsulant 35.
Encapsulants and potting compounds suitable may include resins or
adhesives used to encapsulate circuit boards and semiconductor
devices, fill a container of electronic components, or infiltrate
electrical coils, in order to provide environmental protection and
electrical insulation. Encapsulants and potting compounds have
further useful properties of impact absorption, shock absorption,
and protection from chemicals, such as chorine used in most pools.
Encapsulants and potting compounds also have the useful property of
being a flame retardant. Depending on the particular circumstances
of the pool cover, these various properties may have some or no
usefulness.
[0018] Most potting compounds are based on polymeric resins or
adhesives, although ceramic or inorganic cement based potting
compounds are available for high temperature applications. Some
potting compounds or encapsulant materials are designed to form a
thermally conductive layer on between components or within a
finished product. Thermally conductive resins, thermoplastics,
adhesives and greases are often used between a heat-generating
electrical device and a heat sink to improve heat dissipation, and
may be used in the present invention to assist in dissipating heat
from motor 30.
[0019] Once placed within housing 34, potting compound 35 fills
open space therein and is allowed to at least partially solidify
around electrical components to form a contiguous solid barrier to
moisture penetration and thereby seal out water. FIG. 3 also shows
potting compound 35 solidified and housing 34 removed. FIG. 3 also
shows potting compound 35 encapsulating outside of motor 30. The
sealing of housing 34 to block 60 along with the sealing of
electrical interfaces 36, 38 within apertures 46, 48 create
watertight motor bay 45 in which motor 30 resides. Such a
watertight configuration provides only electrical interfaces 36, 38
as exposed electrical conductors. An alternative mode, not shown
here, involves placing potting compound 35 both outside of housing
34 and at least partially disposed within housing 34 to form a
contiguous solid barrier to moisture penetration and thereby seal
out water.
[0020] Accordingly, once power controller 40 and power source 25
are routed to an installation site and cover drum 22 is in place,
pool cover driving system 23 is easily attached to power controller
40 and to cover drum 22. As shown in FIG. 2, pool cover driving
system 23 is coupled to cover drum 22 via rotating shaft 42.
Rotating shaft 42 is inserted through aperture 65 of frame 64 in
order to operably couple rotating shaft 42 to cover drum 22.
Furthermore, motor block 60 is coupled to frame 64 of cover drum 22
via bolts 66 (See FIG. 2) although other types of coupling, e.g.,
welding or interference fit, may alternatively be used. Wire leads
from power controller 40 are terminated in plugs configured to mate
with electrical interfaces 36, 38. Thus, cover system 10 provides a
physical and electrical quick disconnect for pool cover driving
system 23.
[0021] The present invention further provides a method for
replacing faulty pool cover driving systems 23. The physical and
electrical quick disconnect properties of pool cover driving system
23 allow easy and fast replacement thereof. To replace pool cover
driving system 23, a technician unplugs the leads from power
controller 40 at electrical interfaces 36, 38 and loosens bolts 66.
The technician then lifts out faulty pool cover driving system 23
and attaches a new and working pool cover driving system 23.
Furthermore, the design of the leads from power controller 40 that
have plug terminations allow the pool cover driving system 23
replacement to be performed without having to shut off electricity
thereto and without having to reset an electrical breaker
thereafter because bare wires are not exposed during the
replacement. Thus, installation time is reduced.
[0022] While this invention has been described as having an
exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified
within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is
therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of
the invention using its general principles. Further, this
application is intended to cover such departures from the present
disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to
which this invention pertains.
* * * * *