Traveling cover bench system with hydraulic fluid actuator

Abstract

A traveling swimming pool cover drum enclosure comprising a cover drum enclosure for containing a pool cover wound onto a central drive shaft, the cover drum enclosure having a plurality of wheels oriented for moving the cover drum enclosure to a position adjacent an edge of a swimming pool as desired, and an actuator coupled to the wheels of the cover drum enclosure for wheels are rotated, thereby causing the cover drum enclosure to travel to a position adjacent the edge of the swimming pool as desired.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A traveling swimming pool cover drum enclosure comprising: 
 a cover drum enclosure for containing a pool cover wound onto a central drive shaft, the cover drum enclosure having a plurality of wheels oriented for moving the cover drum enclosure to a position overhanging or away from an edge of a swimming pool as desired; and    an actuator coupled to the wheels of the cover drum enclosure for rotating the wheels, thereby causing the cover drum enclosure to travel to a position overhanging or away from the edge of the swimming pool as desired.    
     
     
         2 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic fluid actuator which causes rotation of the wheels of the cover drum enclosure.  
     
     
         3 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum enclosure of  claim 1. , wherein the actuator is a pneumatic fluid actuator which causes rotation of the wheels of the cover drum enclosure.  
     
     
         4 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an electric motor which causes rotation of the wheels of the cover drum enclosure.  
     
     
         5 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the wheels of the cover drum enclosure with a drive cable.  
     
     
         6 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum enclosure of  claim 1 , in which the actuator is also connected to the central drive shaft of the pool cover drum enclosure, wherein upon actuation, the central drive shaft is caused to rotate, thereby causing the cover drum to roll or unroll the pool cover as desired.  
     
     
         7 . A traveling swimming pool cover drum support comprising: 
 a swimming pool cover drum having a set of wheels oriented for moving the cover drum to a position adjacent or away from an edge of a swimming pool as desired;    a drive cable connected between the set of wheels; and    a hydraulic fluid cylinder coupled to the drive cable, wherein upon actuation, the cylinder drives the drive cable and the wheels are rotated.    
     
     
         8 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 7 , further comprising a hydraulic pump for operating the hydraulic fluid cylinder and actuator.  
     
     
         9 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 7 , further comprising an actuator for the central drive shaft, wherein upon actuation, the central drive shaft is caused to rotate, thereby causing the cover drum to roll or unroll the pool cover as desired.  
     
     
         10 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 9  in which the actuator is operated by a hydraulic pump.  
     
     
         11 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 10  in which the hydraulic pump is also used for operating the hydraulic fluid cylinder and actuator.  
     
     
         12 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 8  in which the hydraulic pump is contained within a physically remote power pack pump and connected to the hydraulic fluid cylinder via hydraulic lines.  
     
     
         13 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 12  in which the hydraulic lines include supply and return lines.  
     
     
         13 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 7  in which the hydraulic fluid cylinder further comprises: 
 at least one cylinder port which communicates hydraulic pressure to the cylinder; and  
 a cylinder piston rod, coupled to the drive cable, that extends from and retracts into the hydraulic fluid cylinder in response to change in hydraulic pressure.  
 
     
     
         14 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 13  in which the cylinder piston rod is coupled directly to the drive cable.  
     
     
         15 . The traveling swimming pool cover drum support of  claim 13  in which the cylinder piston rod is coupled to the drive cable via gear assembly.  
     
     
         16 . A swimming pool cover drum which can be moved away from the side of the swimming pool when the cover is not in use, the cover drum comprising: 
 a central shaft for supporting a pool cover wound thereon;    a set of wheels which moves the swimming pool cover drum away from the side of the swimming pool; and    a fluid actuator coupled to the set of wheels via mechanical linkage.    
     
     
         17 . The swimming pool cover drum of  claim 16  in which the actuator is controlled via remote power pack such that the swimming pool cover drum is electrically isolated.  
     
     
         18 . A method for moving a swimming pool cover drum on which a swimming pool cover has been wound away from the edge of a swimming pool, the method comprising the following steps: 
 obtaining a swimming pool cover drum having a set of wheels and a fluid actuator such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, in which the fluid actuator is coupled to the set of wheels via mechanical linkage; and    actuating the fluid actuator such that the set of wheels are rotated in a direction which moves the swimming pool cover drum away from the side of the swimming pool.