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Title: Aquatic exercise facility for animals
Claims: What is claimed is: 1. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, at least a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require the user to swim thereacross, and means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to both sides of said exit area toward said entry area through said deep portion and out past both sides of said entry area, whereby the user entering said pool at said entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the current to reach said exit area, thereby to exercise the user by causing the user to swim against the current flowing through said deep portion. 2. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is essentially formed of concrete. 3. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of stainless steel. 4. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said entry area and said exit area are spaced apart and in alignment, whereby the user can swim along an essentially rectilinear course from said entry area to said exit area. 5. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said entry area and said exit area include inclined ramps leading respectively into and out of said pool. 6. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said exit area includes steps at least in the portion thereof adjacent to said pool to assist the user in climbing onto said exit area. 7. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, and further including means for interrupting the current of water in said pool in the event that the user panics. 8. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for establishing a current of water is a motor-driven propeller. 9. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for establishing a current of water is two motor-driven propellers in lateral alignment and spaced apart laterally adjacent to said exit area and directing a current of water toward said entry area. 10. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for establishing a current of water is a water actuated jet pump. 11. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for establishing a current of water is two water actuated jet pumps aligned laterally and spaced apart adjacent to said exit area and directing a current of water toward said entry area. 12. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, at least a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require a user to swim thereacross, means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area through said deep portion and then laterally from said deep portion and back toward said exit area, and flow control structure adjacent to said deep portion for controlling the lateral flow of the current of water therefrom so that a minimum lateral flow is provided adjacent to said exit area and a maximum lateral flow adjacent to said entry area, said flow control structure providing a minimum current adjacent to said entry area with the current increasing in strength toward said exit area, whereby a user entering said pool at said entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the increasing current as the user approaches the exit area to reach said exit area, thereby to exercise the user by causing it to swim against the increasing current flowing through said deep portion. 13. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for establishing a current of water from said deep portion back towards said exit area is an open flume arranged along the longitudinal edges of said pool, and said flow control structure is vanes disposed respectively in openings in the side of said flume disposed toward said deep portion, said vanes being adjustable to control the flow through the associated openings. 14. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for establishing a current of water from said deep portion back towards said exit area is a closed flume arranged along the longitudinal edges of said pool, and said flow control structure is vanes disposed respectively in openings in the side of said flume disposed toward said deep portion, said vanes being adjustable to control the flow through the associated openings. 15. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require the user to swim thereacross, means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area through said deep portion, a return channel for water disposed on at least one side of said deep portion for returning water from adjacent to said entry area to adjacent to said exit area, adjustable flow control structure disposed between said deep portion and said return channel for adjusting the rate of flow of water through said deep portion, whereby a user entering said pool at said entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the current to reach said exit area, thereby to exercise the user by causing it to swim against the current flowing through said deep portion. 16. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 15, wherein said return channel is an open flume. 17. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 16, wherein a return channel is provided on both sides of said deep portion. 18. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 15, wherein said adjustable flow control structure includes adjustable vanes disposed in openings in said return channel. 19. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, at least a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require the user to swim thereacross, mechanism for pumping water having an inlet and an outlet adjacent to said exit area for establishing a current of water through said deep portion flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area, a control for said pumping mechanism controlling the amount of water pumped by said mechanism and for thus controlling the velocity of the current through said deep portion, whereby a user entering said pool at said entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the current to reach said exit area, the velocity of the current in said deep portion being adjusted to provide the optimum current for each user thereby to give each user the optimum exercise by causing it to swim against the adjusted current flowing through said deep portion. 20. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 19, wherein said mechanism for pumping water is a water actuated jet pump, and said control is a valve controlling the actuating water stream to said jet pump. 21. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 19, wherein said mechanism for pumping water is two laterally spaced apart and laterally aligned water actuated jet pumps adjacent to said exit area, and said control is a single valve controlling the amount of water fed through the actuating streams for said jet pumps whereby the output from said pumps is balanced. 22. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 19, wherein said mechanism for pumping water is a motor-driven propeller, and said control is a control for the speed of operation of the motor driving said propeller. 23. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 19, wherein said mechanism for pumping water is two laterally spaced apart and laterally aligned motor-driven propellers adjacent to said exit area, and said control is controls for the speed of operation of the motors driving said propeller. 24. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, at least a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require the user to swim thereacross, mechanism for pumping water having an inlet and an outlet adjacent to said exit area for establishing a current of water through said deep portion flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area, a control for said pumping mechanism controlling the amount of water pumped by said mechanism, a return channel for water disposed on at least one side of said deep portion for returning water from adjacent to said entry area to adjacent to said exit area, and adjustable flow control structure disposed between said deep portion and said return channel for adjusting the rate of flow of water therebetween, the velocity of the current in said deep portion being jointly adjusted by said pumping mechanism control and said adjustable flow control structure to provide the optimum current for each user thereby to give each user the optimum exercise by causing it to swim against the adjusted current flowing through said deep portion. 25. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 24, wherein said mechanism for pumping water is a water actuated jet pump, said pumping mechanism control is a valve in the supply to the high velocity actuating water stream, and said adjustable flow control structure is vanes in openings in said return channel. 26. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 24, wherein said mechanism for pumping water is a motor-driven propeller, said pumping mechanism control is a speed control for the motor driving said propeller, and said adjustable flow control structure is vanes in associated openings in said return channel. 27. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 24, wherein said mechanism for pumping water is two laterally aligned and laterally spaced apart water actuated jet pumps disposed adjacent to said animal exit area, said pumping mechanism control is a single valve controlling the high velocity water streams to said jet pumps, and a return channel for water is provided on both sides of said deep portion of said pool, said adjustable flow control structure being vanes respectively disposed in openings in said return channels. 28. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 24, wherein said mechanism for pumping water is two laterally aligned and laterally spaced apart motor-driven propellers disposed adjacent to said animal exit area, said pumping mechanism control are speed controls for the motors driving said propellers, and a return channel is provided on both sides of said deep portion of said pool, said adjustable flow control structures being vanes disposed respectively in openings in said return channels. 29. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require a user to swim thereacross, mechanism for pumping water having an inlet and an outlet adjacent to said exit area for establishing a current of water through said deep portion flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area, and flow directing mechanism at the outlet from said water pumping mechanism for directing the current of water along the sides of said deep portion to provide a higher velocity of current along the sides of said deep portion than in the middle thereof, whereby a user entering said pool at said entry area must swim across said deep portion in the middle thereof and against the current to reach said exit area, thereby to exercise the user by causing it to swim against the current flowing through said deep portion. 30. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 29, wherein said flow directing mechanism is a set of spaced-apart vanes for directing the current of water passing thereby. 31. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 29, wherein said flow directing mechanism is a set of spaced-apart vanes that are adjustable so as to adjust the direction of the current of water flowing thereby. 32. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require a user to swim thereacross, means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to both sides of said exit area toward said entry area through said deep portion and out past both sides of said entry area, whereby a user entering said pool at said entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the current to reach said exit area, and a water filtration and treatment system associated with said pool for receiving a portion of the flow of water through said pool for filtering and treatment thereof. 33. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 32, and further comprising a surge tank adjacent to said pool and receiving water from the surface of said pool thereinto, said water filtration and treatment system being connected to said surge tank for receiving water therefrom for filtering and treatment. 34. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 33, wherein water is removed from both longitudinal sides of said pool and conveyed to said surge tank. 35. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 33, wherein said water filtration and treatment system includes a sieve for straining out larger waste particles and a sand filter for filtering out small waste particles. 36. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 35, wherein said water filtration treatment system includes a heater for heating the water flowing therethrough. 37. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require a user to swim thereacross, means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area through said deep portion, a water filtration and treatment system associated with said pool for receiving a portion of the flow of water through said pool for filtering and treatment thereof, and channel structure disposed on at least one side of said deep portion and including a return channel and a treatment channel, said return channel serving to return water from said deep portion to said current establishing means and said treatment channel conveying water from said deep portion to said water filtration and treatment system. 38. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 37, wherein said return channel has a plurality of openings therein along the length thereof, and a vane is disposed in each opening for adjusting the flow of water therethrough. 39. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 37, wherein said return channel is an open flume. 40. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 37, wherein said return channel has openings therein along the length thereof disposed well below the surface of the water in said pool, and said treatment channel receives surface water from said pool. 41. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 37, wherein a channel structure is provided on both sides of said pool. 42. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 37, wherein a channel structure is provided on both sides of said pool, one of said channel structures having only a return channel therein. 43. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 37, wherein two channel structures are provided respectively disposed on opposite sides of said pool, and two water filtration and treatment systems are provided each respectively associated with one of said channel structures. 44. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a pool of water disposed in a container having a bottom wall and opposed side walls and opposed end walls, an entry area in one of said end walls and an exit area in the other of said end walls, a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require a user to swim thereacross, said bottom wall having a waste solids sump therein and sloping downwardly towards said sump, means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area through said deep portion, whereby a user entering said pool at the entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the current to reach said exit area, a water filtration and treatment system associated with said pool for receiving a portion of the flow of water through said pool for filtering and treatment thereof and having a return conduit, and a return pipe having one end connected to said conduit and having the other end extending along said bottom wall with said pool and having outlets directing streams of water along said bottom wall and toward said sump. 45. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 44, wherein an inlet pipe is disposed along each of said side walls adjacent to said bottom wall and both having the outlets therefrom directed along said bottom wall toward said sump. 46. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require a user to swim thereacross, means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area through said deep portion, whereby a user entering said pool at said entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the current to reach said exit area, a water filtration system associated with said pool for receiving a portion of the flow of water through said pool for filtering thereof, said filtration system including a bed of particulate matter through which the water is passed downwardly to remove entrained solids therefrom, a fan for generating a high volume and high velocity air stream upwardly through said bed to blow the larger particles therefrom and to a dump therefor, means for passing an oxidizing agent through said bed to assist in breaking up and oxidizing organic material filtered from the water passing therethrough, and a connection to said bed for flushing water therethrough in a direction opposite to the passage of water during the filtering activity of said bed. 47. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 46, wherein said blower and said means for passing an oxidizing agent are constructed and arranged to operate simultaneously to blow air and to feed the oxidizing agent to said bed. 48. The aquatic exercise facility set forth in claim 46, and further comprising a sieve for removing large solid particles from the portion of the water flowing to said particulate bed. 49. An aquatic exercise facility for animals comprising a container for a pool of water having an animal entry area and an animal exit area, at least a portion of said pool between said animal entry area and said animal exit area having a depth sufficient to require an animal to swim thereacross, abutments along either side of said deep portion extending inwardly from the walls of said container adjacent to the water level in said pool for engaging the bodies of the animals and thus to maintain the legs of the animals at a safe distance from the walls of said container, and means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to said animal exit area toward said animal entry area through said deep portion, whereby an animal entering said pool at said animal entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the current to reach said animal exit area, thereby to exercise the animal by causing it to swim against the current flowing through said deep portion. 50. An aquatic exercise facility comprising a container for a pool of water having an entry area and an exit area, a portion of said pool between said entry area and said exit area having a depth sufficient to require a user to swim thereacross, means for establishing a current of water flowing from adjacent to said exit area toward said entry area through said deep portion, whereby a user entering said pool at said entry area must swim across said deep portion and against the current to reach said exit area, a water filtration and treatment system associated with said pool for receiving a portion of the flow of water through said pool for filtering and treatment thereof, said water filtration and treatment system including a pH sensor and chlorine content sensor, and a supply of chlorine and a supply of acid for treating the water flowing through said water filtration and treatment system, and a surge tank adjacent to said pool and receiving water from the surface of said pool thereinto, said water filtration and treatment system being connected to said surge tank for receiving water therefrom for filtering and treatment. Other info: Inventors: Brazelton, Carl L. (Bonfield, IL, US) Application Number: 910668 Filing Date: 1978-05-30 Publication_date: 1980-04-15 Assignee: Stran Corporation (Bradley, IL) Primary Class(es): 4/492 4/491, 4/904, 119/673, 119/702 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Chamblee, Hugh R. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Vogel, Dithmar, Stotland, Stratman & Levy |
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