Capstone Design Conceptual Designs September 7, 2006

Team Drop-Top  Kaleena Peters  Jose Caban  Brandon The  David Halbach  Matt Stegman  Ronald Tsai

Pull-Out Cover  A simple system using a projector cover, or similar, to pull on and off the top of the Jacuzzi

Pull-Out Cover  Description of use: –The overhead cover will be located on one side of the Jacuzzi with a flexible location. –Covering the Jacuzzi will be achieved by pulling the cover to the two locking stubs –Whether the user wishes to cover it half-way or all-the-way can be altered by stopping half-way or fully covering/uncovering the Jacuzzi.

Pull-Out Cover  Configuration 1: Uncovered Stubs for Hooks Overhead Projector Screen w/ Hooks Jacuzzi

Pull-Out Cover  Configuration 2: Half-Way Open Stubs for Hooks Overhead Projector Screen w/ Hooks

Pull-Out Cover  Configuration 3: Covered Stubs for Hooks Overhead Projector Screen w/ Hooks

Pull-Out Cover  Pluses: –Fast Operation –Ease of Use – even for little kids!  Minuses: –Thermal Insulation –Requires Human Intervention for placing hooks  Interesting: –Simplicity

Single-Hinge Side-Folding  This system pivots about a single corner on the Jacuzzi to allow little modification to the existing hot tub. By hinging perpendicular to the cover’s existing hinge, this design is able to store flat against the hot tub with little protrusion. Power for movement will be provided by electrical motors encased in water resistant housings.

Single-Hinge Side-Folding  Configuration 1: Covered Hot Tub Hinges Cover

Single-Hinge Side-Folding  Uncovering the Jacuzzi Hot Tub Hinges Cover

Single-Hinge Side-Folding  Configuration 3: Uncovered

Single-Hinge Side-Folding  Pluses –Single hinge requires minimal support structure and minimal modification to the existing hot tub exterior. –Fits flush against the tub requiring minimal storage room  Minuses –Complex mono-hinge must pivot in multiple directions –Requires large vertical clearance for the cover to fold up  Interesting –Only design that folds perpendicular to the cover’s existing hinge

Dual-Hinge  This system consists of a floor mounted bracket and a 2-piece cover. The cover is mounted to the bracket in a perpendicular orientation. There is a hinge located at the bottom of the bracket. A second hinge bisects the cover. Initially, the entire assembly pivots around the bracket’s hinge. Then the cover folds in half around its hinge.

Dual-Hinge  Configuration 1: Covered Hot tub Hinges Cover Bracket

Dual-Hinge  Uncovering, Step 1: Side bracket and cover pivot together Hot tub Hinges Cover Bracket

Dual-Hinge  Step 1 (Cont..):

Dual-Hinge  Step 2: Cover Folds in Half

Dual-Hinge  Step 2 (Cont…)

Dual-Hinge  Configuration 2: Uncovered

Dual-Hinge  Plus –Simplistic design increases durability. –No modification to hot tub required.  Minus –Requires large vertical clearance for operation. –Requires substantial room for storage on the side.  Interesting –Entire system operates around 2 hinges.

Gears and Belts  The system is based on the use of gears and belts to retract the hot tub cover. The components consist of a lift arm, belts, gears, and sliding track. During operation, the cover folds in half then turns vertically and slide down a track into a container.

Gears and Belts  Configuration 1: Covered Belt Lift Arm Cover Hot Tub Gear Container

Gears and Belts  Uncovering

Gears and Belts  Uncovering (Cont…)

Gears and Belts  Configuration 2: Uncovered

Gears and Belts  Pluses –The entire assembly is contained within a cover, therefore aesthetically pleasing –Can be attached to existing cover  Minuses –Assembly could be bulking and heavy due to the gear and belt size –Noisy operation as gears and belts turn  Interesting –Gearing will allow easier moving of heavy cover, hence less costly motors

Fold and Tuck  A powered system that folds the cover and then stores in a box. The system should be powered by a motor and belt.

Fold and Tuck  Configuration: Covered

Fold and Tuck  Uncovering

Fold and Tuck  Configuration 2: Uncovered

Fold and Tuck  Inner Assembly

Fold and Tuck  Pluses –Easier to design with the use of 1 motor than the other designs. –Can still be useful for people that only want their cover at a halfway position. –Requires minimal belts and external hardware. Thus, it would be more aesthetically pleasing than other designs. –Requires no actual changes to existing covers, which means that this can be sold to individuals without having to damage their existing Jacuzzi cover. –Collapses adjacent to Jacuzzi, and also stores in a small space. Therefore not much additional room is required to store the cover. –Can be designed to be safe for children, since there only needs to be one moving belt/chain on the exterior of the cover which only extends half the length of the cover. With sufficient casing, this belt could be contained and therefore inaccessible to interference from children/animals/etc. –Will require less torque from the motor and also less stiffness of the materials required (i.e. could be designed with plastics) than other designs with a greater moment arm required (such as the mono-hinge design)  Minuses –Will require a control system to operate with one motor or a single gearbox. –A gearbox may be required at the top left joint in order to have the system powered by one motor. –An electric motor will have to be encased in order to protect it from the elements. –There will have to be external hardware to accomplish the task, which means that the framing system will be less aesthetically pleasing than a manually powered cover.  Interesting –Can store the cover in a small space immediately adjacent to the Jacuzzi. –This is nearly identical to the space that is currently used to manually store a Jacuzzi cover. –Can be used in a half-open position.

Questions?