Method of constructing caissons for wave generators

• US 6,241,422 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Makowski
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Makowski
• Inventors: Makowski, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JONG SUK
• Application Number:
  US09/065,785
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 405/79, 521/697, 522/94, 527/411.2, 527/411.3, 527/411.5, 527/451.2, 449/1, 450/6
• US Class Current: 405/79
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0006 Devices for producing waves in swimming pools generating current of water in swimming pools A63B69/125

Abstract

A set of caissons for use with wave generators for swimming pools has its vertical walls prefabricated out of stainless steel prior to installation. These vertical walls include a stainless steel end wall at each end of the caissons and a stainless steel back wall extending transverse to the back of the caissons. Partition walls extend to the floor between adjacent caissons and to the ceiling of these caissons as required by the wave generator with which they are used. Stainless steel baffle dividers can also be installed within selected caissons to inhibit the production of waves within individual caissons. Additionally, a stainless steel front wall traverses the front of the set of caissons and extends from the ceiling of the caissons to a selected distance above the floor of the caissons. At least the partition walls and the front walls are prefabricated out of a plurality of sheets of stainless steel which allow spaces there between to enable concrete to be poured between the sheets of stainless steel of each such wall. The bottoms of the stainless steel of all the walls are fastened to the floor of the caissons either by locating the bottoms below the upper floor level where concrete is poured or by connecting them to the concrete after the floor has been poured. After concrete is poured in the spaces to receive concrete between the sheets of stainless steel of the walls, a ceiling is installed over the caissons.

Claims

1. A method of constructing one or more caissons used for generating waves in a pool of water, each caisson having a floor and a ceiling, comprising the acts of:

a) receiving walls of caissons which are prefabricated out of stainless steel, the caissons having a side wall at each end extending from the ceiling to the floor, a back wall extending transverse the back of the caissons from the ceiling to the floor between the two sidewalls, partition walls extending to the floor between adjacent caissons and a front wall transverse the front of the caissons extending from the ceiling to a selected distance above the floor of the caissons, with at least the front wall and the partition walls prefabricated out of a plurality of sheets of stainless steel which allow spaces there between to enable concrete to be poured between the sheets of stainless steel of each such wall;

b) assembling the prefabricated stainless steel walls at the location of the pool where the walls are to be installed so that the bottoms of the stainless steel of all walls which extend to the floor of the caissons are located below the upper level of the floor before any concrete is poured for the floor;

c) pouring concrete for the floor of the caissons and pouring concrete to a selected level within those stainless steel walls extending to the floor which are constructed with spaces between sheets of stainless steel so as to cause concrete to be on both sides of the bottoms of the stainless steel of all walls which extend to the floor of the caissons;

d) pouring concrete once again between the sheets of stainless steel of those walls with spaces there between; and

e) installing a metal ceiling over the caissons and pouring concrete on the metal ceiling.

2. The method according to claim 1 in which the sidewalls and the back wall are prefabricated out of stainless steel, and the method includes constructing a buttress to support the back wall.

3. The method according to claim 2 which includes installing rebars in the front wall before concrete is poured in the spaces between sheets of stainless steel.

4. A method of constructing a plurality of caissons used for generating waves in a pool of water, each caisson having a floor, a ceiling, a back wall extending transverse the back of each of the caissons from the ceiling to the floor of each caisson, a front wall extending transverse the front of said caissons from the ceiling to a selected distance above the floor of the caissons, each caisson having at least one partition wall extending from the ceiling to the floor, comprising:

a) having selected walls of the caissons prefabricated out of stainless steel, with at least the front wall and the at least one partition wall prefabricated out of a plurality of sheets of stainless steel which allow spaces there between to enable concrete to be poured between the sheets of stainless steel;

b) receiving the walls of the caissons which are prefabricated out of stainless steel;

c) assembling the walls prefabricated out of stainless steel at the location of the pool where the walls are to be installed so that bottoms of the stainless steel walls which extend to the floor of the caissons can be secured to the floor;

d) pouring concrete within the spaces between sheets of stainless steel; and

e) constructing a ceiling across the caissons out of materials including concrete.

5. The method according to claim 4 which includes having the sidewalls and the back wall of the caissons prefabricated out of stainless steel.

6. The method according to claim 4 which includes having the stainless steel walls prefabricated so that the bottoms of these walls which extend to the floor can be secured to the floor with fasteners, and using the fasteners to secure to the floor the bottoms of stainless steel walls which extend to the floor.

7. The method according to claim 4 which includes installing stainless steel walls which extend to the floor so that the bottoms of the stainless steel are located below the upper level of the floor.

8. The method according to claim 7 which includes pouring concrete for the floor of the caissons and pouring concrete to a selected level within those stainless steel walls extending to the floor which are constructed with spaces between sheets of stainless steel so as to cause concrete to be on both sides of the bottoms of the stainless steel of the walls which are below the level of to the floor of the caissons to secure the bottoms to the floor.

9. The method according to claim 8 which includes installing a metal ceiling over the caissons and pouring concrete on the metal ceiling.

10. The method according to claim 8 which includes having the back wall and the sidewalls prefabricated out of stainless steel.

11. The method according to claim 4 which includes installing a stainless steel baffle within at least one of the caissons.

12. The method according to claim 4 which includes having the back wall and the sidewalls prefabricated out of stainless steel and supporting the back wall with a buttress.

13. The method according to claim 4 in which the plurality of caissons includes a first set of caissons and a second set of caissons, and the method includes assembling the first set of caissons on one side of a portion of the pool and assembling the second set of caissons on a second side of the portion of the pool.