DE20006884U1 - Buffer element for neutralizing the volume expansion when water freezes - Google Patents

Description

•ib..I &Pgr;.:··&Igr;&Pgr;! : : · ** ·

&Pgr;:·&Igr;&Pgr;!

Wolfgang Ipach 21.3.2000

Blockhausweg 13
76332 Bad Herrenalb
Tel/FAx 07083 4933

Buffer element to neutralize volume expansion when water freezes

It is a well-known phenomenon that freezing water loses specific gravity when the maximum specific gravity at + 4° is exceeded, thus causing an expansion of the volume.

The consequence of this is that water containers - bottles or, for example, the well-known garden rain barrels - are destroyed when the contents turn to a frozen state.

There is no known remedy for this problem, apart from adding antifreeze or emptying the tanks or basins as a precautionary measure; this goes so far that even outdoor pools - or other retention basins - have to be emptied regularly at the beginning of winter in order to avoid serious damage.

It is obvious that every year hundreds of thousands of cubic metres of water are wasted by emptying tens of thousands of rain barrels and countless public and private outdoor swimming pools.

The invention makes it possible to avoid this waste of a natural resource and to save considerable public funds.

The buffer elements on which the invention is based neutralize the effect of the volume expansion of freezing water, so that draining it when winter sets in is no longer necessary. In addition, they even make it possible to convert public outdoor swimming pools into ice rinks with minimal effort ; the associated extension of the season for such public facilities can in many cases reduce some of the deficits that usually arise in outdoor swimming pools.

- 3 Description

The BUFFER ELEMENT shown in Figure 1 consists of a unit (1) filled with foam or just with air and provided with an air- and water-impermeable, tear-resistant covering.

The air cushion in the element takes over the buffering effect when the water volume begins to expand during the freezing process, as shown in Figure 2, 1 +6.

To protect against the building up ice pressure, the elements on the surface facing the water surface are provided with an additional, thin and flexible protective layer - e.g. rubber, steel foil, carbon fiber or similar (Figure 1, 2).

For attachment to the container or basin edges, the BUFFER ELEMENTS are provided with variable brackets adapted to the attachment points (Figure 1, 3). These can also be attached upside down so that curved elements can be used on both sides.

The BUFFER ELEMENTS are provided in variable lengths, heights and thicknesses so that they can be used optimally and without effort depending on the task and can be exchanged with one another. Curved and corner pieces are also provided so that - in the case of a swimming pool, for example - the specified shapes can be followed. Height and thickness also depend on the local frost expectations.

-A-

-A-

To counteract the buoyancy in the water, the BUFFER ELEMENTS are held in their position by counterweights (Figure 1, 4).

Figure 2, 1-7, shows an example of use in a rain barrel (5); with the freezing already in place, the buffer effect becomes apparent: the buffer element (1) has absorbed the volume expansion of the frozen part of the water filling (6) at the top, so that the pressure cannot affect the barrel side. The rest of the BUFFER ELEMENT is still in the area of the liquid water and still has room for further freezing volume.

Figure 3, 1-12 shows an example of use in an outdoor swimming pool: the BUFFER ELEMENTS (1) are also shown here partly in the area of the frozen (6) and liquid water (7).

(B) shows the ice sheet which, once the necessary thickness is reached, will serve as a SUPPORT for the ice rink.

The holders (3) are guided over the slightly raised edge of the pool and hold the BUFFER ELEMENTS in position. (10) represents the overflow channels, which are covered for the subsequent spraying of the final ice skating surface.

(9) is the normally all-round foot wash trough, here also provided with BUFFER ELEMENTS (1) and already completely filled with ice (6).

IL ₁ .. Π U, Ol J

(11) shows an imaginary outer boundary of the ice skating rink. The drawing also shows how the final ice covering (8) for the ice skating rink was sprayed onto the supporting ice surfaces (6).

By including the surrounding foot troughs (9) and the walking areas (12), it is possible to expand the actual area of the swimming pool by double or more, depending on the layout of the facility, thus enabling it to be expanded into an ice rink.

Claims (6)

1. Buffer elements for neutralizing the surface expansion of freezing water to prevent damage to containers and basins, characterized by a construction element ( 1 ) which encloses a volume filled with air or foam and is provided with an airtight and watertight, tear-resistant covering. 2. Buffer elements for neutralising the surface expansion of freezing water to prevent damage to containers and basins, characterized by the fact that the buffer elements are available in different lengths, thicknesses and heights as well as curves and corner pieces in order to meet the different requirements of the objects. 3. Buffer elements for neutralizing the surface expansion of freezing water to prevent damage to containers and basins, characterized in that the sides of the elements facing the ice formation are provided with an additional elastic protective layer ( 2 ), e.g. rubber, steel foil, carbon fiber or similar. 4. Buffer elements for neutralising the surface expansion of freezing water to prevent damage to containers and basins, characterized in that the holders provided ( 3 ) are exchangeable and movable in order to be able to attach the elements as required. 5. Buffer elements for neutralising the surface expansion of freezing water to prevent damage to containers and basins, characterized in that the elements are held in position by weights ( 4 ) against the buoyancy of the water. 6. Buffer elements for neutralizing the surface expansion of freezing water to prevent damage to containers and basins, characterized in that the buffer elements are provided with weights ( 4 ) as described in claim 5, but with extended holders which make it possible to anchor the buffer elements to the bottom of containers and basins if a subdivision should become necessary due to excessive expansion of the ice surface.