Split stop for automatic swimming pool covers with a hydraulic drive system

A positive stop for arresting translation of a slider captured and sliding within a "C" channel of a pool cover track anchored to a cable extending from a front corner of a beaded side edge of a pool cover at an end of the pool cover track, comprising, in combination,

• a) a top member having a mating surface with two parallel half cylinder channels with lands defining an alignment slot between the channels,
• b) a base member having a complementary mating surface to that of the top member with two parallel half cylinder channels and a central alignment rail between the channels dimensioned to fit into the alignment slot of the top member, the alignment rail extending perpendicularly from a side of the base member, and
• c) means for securing the top and base members together and at the end of the pool cover track with the alignment rail extending perpendicularly from the side of the base member inserted into a rectangular space between the "C" channel and a cable channel of the pool cover track which aligns the mating half cylinder channels of the top and base members with the corresponding cable return and "C" channels of the track, the mating surfaces of the top and base members defining:
• (i) a cylindrical cable channel;
• and
• (ii) a longitudinally slit, cylindrical, beaded cover edge channel dimensioned for stopping translation of the slider while allowing passage of the beaded edge of the cover through the stop.

An automated pool cover system for covering and uncovering a pool of liquid, comprising in combination,

• a) a flexible fabric cover winding and unwinding from a cover drum located at one end of a pool sized for floating upon the liquid in the pool and having a front edge, and parallel beaded side edges captured and sliding within "C" channels of parallel pool cover tracks secured along opposites sides of the pool,
• b) a rigid structural boom spanning the pool supported by a pair of sliders each captured and siding within a "C" channel of a pool cover track supporting the front edge of the cover above the liquid in the pool wherein each slider is anchored to a cable extending from each front corner of the beaded side edge of the cover which winds and unwinds from a cable reel,
• c) at least one hydraulic motor coupled for rotating the cover drum and cable reel for retracting and extending the cover across the pool,
• d) positive stops for arresting translation of the respective sliders sliding with in the "C" channels of the pool cover track toward the cover drum located at each end of each pool cover track proximate the cover drum, each stop including:
• (i) a top member having a mating surface with two parallel half cylinder channels with lands defining an alignment slot between the channels,
• (ii) a base member having a complementary mating surface to that of the top member with two parallel half cylinder channels and a central alignment rail between the channels dimensioned to fit into the alignment slot of the top member, the alignment rail extending perpendicularly from a side of the base member, and
• (iii) means for securing the top and base members together and at the respective ends of the parallel pool cover tracks with the alignment rail extending perpendicularly from the side of the base member inserted into a rectangular space between the "C" channel and a cable channel of the pool cover track which aligns the mating half cylinder channels of the top and base members with the corresponding cable return and "C" channels of the track, the mating surfaces of the top and base members defining:
• (iv) a cylindrical cable channel;
• and
• (v) a longitudinally slit, cylindrical, beaded cover edge channel dimensioned for stopping translation of the slider while allowing the beaded edge of the pool cover to slide through the stop.