CA1084216A - Automatic swimming pool cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

An automatic swimming pool cleaner comprised of a car adapted to travel underwater along a random path on the pool vessel surface for dislodging debris therefrom. The car wheels are driven by a water powered turbine to propel the car in a forward direction, along the vessel surface.
In order to prevent the car from being driven into a position, as for example against a vertical wall, from which it cannot emerge, a wheel geometry is employed which, upon contact, develops a horizontal force component parallel to the vertical wall, to thus enable the car to spin off. Alternatively, or in combination, a water flow produced reaction force can produce a torque to turn the car with respect to the engaged wheel to enable the car to spin off. The car is designed with a low cen-ter of gravity and a relatively buoyant top portion so as to produce a torque which maintains the car correct side up when on the pool bottom.
Means are provided on the car for producing a water flow having a force component perpendicular to the vessel surface to provide good traction between the car wheels and the vessel surface. Further, a water flow produced suction is created adjacent to the vessel surface for collecting debris into d basket carried by the car. In addition, one or more hoses is pulled by the car and whipped by water flow to sweep dirt from the vessel surface.

Description

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This invention relates generally to an automatic swimming pool cleaner and more particularly to a cleaner comprised of a car adapted to travel underwater along a random path on the surface of a pool vessel.
This is a divisional application of Canadian Application 293,497 filed December 20, 1977 which in turn i5 a divisional of Canadian Patent 11027,311 .
Many different types of apparatus are disclosed in the prior art for cleaning swin~ning pools. An example i5 Uni~ed States Patent No.
3,291,145 which discloses a cleaner employing a floating head carrying high pressure liquid dispensing hoses which sweep the pool vessel walls so .
as to put any dirt thereon in suspension where it can b~ filtered out by ~ ~ `

the pool's standard filtration system. As further examples, United States ., Paten~s 2,923,954 and 3,108,298 disclose cleaners in which wheeled vehicles move underwater along the pool vessel surface to collec~ debris and sweep the walls.
Prior art underwater cleaners have thus far met with only limited success for several reasons. Initially, in order to develop adequate traction between the wheels and pool vessel surface, they have typically had to be very heavy and cumbersome. Moreover, those underwater cleaners 2Q which employ an electric motor have proved to be somewhat inconvenient be-cause of the potential shock hazard. That is, since it is normally recom-mended that the motor not be aperated while there are swimmers in the pool, the cleaner cannot safely be left in the pool under the control of a time clock. As a consequence, the use of such cleaners has, for the most part, been restricted to commercial applications.
Further, It is characteristic of most prior art underwater cleaners to utilize relatively complex reversing and steering mechanisms in order to achieve adequate surface co~erage. Such complex mechanisms are generally costly and relatively unreliable.
In view of the foregoing, i~ is an object of the present invention . :-Z: L~

to provide an impr~ved und~rwater swimmlng pool cleaner.
According to one aspect the invention is a swimm m g Fool cleaner ccmprisin~: a car incl~ding a fram~e supported on traction means for engaging the surface of a swimming pool vesseli water supply means carried ~y said car hav m g an inlet and an outlet; propelling means carried by said car for prnpelling said car along sald vessel surface; thrust means carried b~ said car for p~oducing a water flow haviny a ccmponent dire~t~d to produce a reaatlon force on said car a~ting to thrust sald traction means again~t said pool vessel sur~ace, said thLust means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply m~ns outlet for discharging a water flow in a direction havm g a con~onent extendLng normal to said vessel surface; and debris suction means carried by said car and including a suction entrance located on said car in close pr3ximity to said vessel surface~
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According to a second aspect, the invention is a swimming pool cleaner comprising: a car including a frame supported on traation means for ... ~.
` engaging the sur.face of a sw~m~ng pool vessel; water supply means c æried by said car having an inlet and first and second ou~letsS propelling means carried bv said car for propellLn~ said car alang said vassel surface, said ~ propellLng means includ~ng a nozzle coupled to said water supply mRans first :~ 20 outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed substantially parallel tD said vessel su~face; thrust m2ans carried by said car m cluding a nozzle coupled to said water supply means second outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed ~ormal to said vessel surface to prcduce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traation means against said vessel surface~ and debris suction means carried b~ said car ~ :
and including a suation entrance located on said car in close proxImit~
to said vessel surface. ~:
Ihe waber flow producing a force component perpendicular to the -.
vessel ~`urface is pxeferabl~ developed by diverting a low volu~.e, high velocity water flcw from the supply hose bo an orifice bo thus pull water `
int3 the lcwer end of a venturi having a directional component extending - perpendicular to the car platform which water is then discharged at the .

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~l342~i venturi's upper en~. The .~orce reaction p~eSses ffhe wheels agamst~tho p~l ~essel surface to thus develop siyniicantly greater tractaon for prcpul-sion than the weight of the car alone could provide. As a oonsequence/
the car can be constructed of relativel~ light and low cost materials and have the capability of climbiny vertioal surfaces. The suction producel adjacent the vessel surface by the water bemg pulled into the lcwer tube end dr~ws debris rom the pool surface into a collection basket carried by the car. Although a single wa~er flow is used in the prefer~ed e~bodime~t o the mvention for providing the p~Lm.ry hold dnwn force as well as suction f~r picking up dbbris, it will be readily recognized that separate flcws could be provlded for this p.urpose if desired.
; In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, means are provided within ~he collecticn basket for pulverizing leaves so that the re~ains can then be discharged and p~t in suspensicn in the p~ol water .,.
for later remDval by the main ~ilter system.
Fig~re 1 is an isometric SeCtlOnal view illustrat mg a pool cleaner in acoordance with the presen~ invention in a typical sWimming pool;
Figure 2 is a side elevaticn view of a preferred e~bodimen~ of ; ~ 20 the present inhe0ticn~
: Figure 3 is a section~l view o a pool cleanRr in accordance with ~ .

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the present invention taken substantially along the plane 3 - 3 of Pigure 2;
Figure 4 is a side view, partially broken away, of a pool cleane~ in accordance with the present învention;
Figure S is a sectional view taken substanti~lly along the plane 5 - 5 of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a sectional vi~w taken substantially along the plane 6 - 6 of Pigure 3;
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane 7 - 7 of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a plan view par~ially broken away illustrating an . :
- alternative arrangement including a linkage coupling the turbine to the third wheel to cause random steering and a means for pulverizing leaves ~, and other debris sucked mto the collection basket; ;
; Figure 9 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of the ~`
: pool cleaner of Figure 8; and Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane 10 - 10 of Figure 8.

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/\t~CIIti.lll is llol~ cll:le~l to l;i~llr~e 1 ~ icil i:LLustL~.Ites I Cllt~(Ly isomctrie vic~ of .l typieal residclltiilL o~s comnlerci.lL s-Yimmin~ pool. Tlle W.ltCI` 1O iS COnta.illCd ~iitllin a VCSSCL I ) gCllCI`aLI.y dCt':ille(l by a reinforceù
concrcte ~a~ pourcd to conforlll to the SllapC of t~n e~ccava-ted hole.
Typically, a llole :is e~cavated whicll defhles a relatively cleep end 1~ and a relatively sllallow end l8. In conforming to the shape of the e~cavation~
the wall 1~ generally defines substantially horizontal or floor portions ;~ 19 as well as substantially vertlcal or wall portions 20 whi~h r:ise above the intended level of the water 10 to decking or coping 21.
Typically, f:iltration systems employed witl1 swin~ning pools of the type illustrated in Figure l include a main pump and filter 22 for takillg water from the pool~ filtering the water~ and returning the filtered water to the pool. Such filtration systems employ water intake ports, such as a ~; . .
surface or slcimmer intake 2~ and a below water level drain intalce 26. The ~i filtration system sucks water into the intakes 24 and 26, and after fil-tration, returns the water to the pool via a return line 27 and return ports 28 e~tending through the vertical wall portion 20 close to the water ~-line.
~, Although the typical swimming pool filtration system does quite an adequate job of filtering the water to remove fine debris particles suspended therein, such systems are not effective to remove debris, such as leaves, which settle on the floor of the pool or fine particles of debris ~ whieh settle on both the floor and vertical wall portions of tlle pool vessel '-l surfaee. As a eonsequence, in order to maintain a swimmin6 pooJ clean, lt i is necessary to periodically sweep the wall surface, as with a longhandled brush, to place any fine debris in suspension. Additionally~ it is also ;~
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necessary to periodically vacuum the pool floor to remove larger debris ~ such as leaves.

- The present invention is directed to a cleaning apparatus 30 ~5~

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icl~ tril~els -Lollc, a l`~ltl~iOIII ~atll on tllc .su~acc oE` thc pool vcssc~ to botl s\~eop tllc wil`L:Is and s~lcl; del)lis into a do~ris contaillcr carr;~d thcrc~y.
/~ttcntion is no~ called -~o li`igllrcs 2-7 whicll:Ll:lustr.lte a pre-ferre(i elllbo(linlcllt of pool elcancr :in accordance ~ith the prescnt invention.
Thc pool cleaner 30 :is comprise~l of a c.-r 32 hav:ing a frame or body structure 34 supported on some type of movable traction means such as wheels 36a~ 36b, 36c. ~s shown in Figure ~ the frame structure 34 can be essentially pan shaped, consisting of a bottom plate or platform 38 and upstarlding sidewall 40 extending around the periphery thereof. ~ dome or cover member 41 is provided having depending sidewalls 42 which mate with upstanding sidewall 40.
In accordance with the present invention, a turbine mechanism is mounted within the frame structure 34 for producing rotary motion in response to a pressured water/flow supplied thereto.~The turbine 44 can be conventional in design having a water inlet port 46~ a water outlet port 48, and a power output shaft 50 which is rotated in response to water being supplied to the port 46.
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The output shaft 50 extends axially in bo~h directions from the turbine 44 and is supported for rotation in openings through wall portions ~;
51, 52. Small gears 54, 56 are secured to the shaft 50 at opposite ends thereof. The gear 54 is engaged with c~n annular racl~ So formed on the inner surface of wheel 36a as is best shown in Figures 3 and 4. The wheel 36a is mounted for rotation on axle 59 which extends parallel to, but is spaced --;.
from, shaft 50. The gear 56 is similarly engaged with annular rack 60 formed on the inner surface of wheel 36b mounted for rotation on axle 61.
Axle 61 also extends parallel to shaft 50 but is spaced therofrom in the ; ~;
direction opposite from axle 59. In contrast to the drive or traction function performed by wheels 36a and 36b5 wheel 36c is merely a support wheelj as shown in Figures 3 and 4 mounted for rotation about ~xle 71.

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~lc 71 call bc mo~ tccl f:or l~ivot;lL movcl1lellt al)out l)-in 72 to bcttcr cnal)lc tlle ~ c~l 36c to follo~ thc cont:our of tlle vcssel surface.
~ e ttlrbinc ~14 is powered by ~later sup~liecl to tile port ~6 via - cond~lit G2 couI)]ed to outlet 64 of a watcr supply manifold 6G. A pressure water/flo~Y is sul)plied to the lnlct 68 of ~llc manifolcl 66 throu~h a supply -` hosc 69 preferably from a booster pwnp 70 (~igure 1). ~s thc turbine 44 rotates to drive the shaft 50, both the wheel 36a and thc whcel 36 b will ` rotate.
~-` It will be noted from Figure 3 that although the whecls 36a and - 10 36b rotate a~out parallel axes, the axes are offset with rcspect to one another In o~her words, a line projected between the axes of wheels 36a and 36b will be skewed with respect to the planes of rotation of the wheels.
,~ As a consequence of this skew arrangement, the car will avoid getting stuck against vertical ~alls or barriers. That lS, in its random travel along the ~ pool vessel surface, even if the wheels 36a and 36b simultaneously engage `I a large obstacle such as the vertical wall of a step, the skewed relation-`~ ship of the wheels 36a~and 36b relative to the direction of travel will produce a force component extending parallel to the vertical wall to thus enable the car to spin off and thus avoid getting stuck ln a positlon from which it cannot emerge.
` It will be recalled from Figure 1 that the wall 4 of a typical pool is shaped with a relatively large radius of curvature between the substantially horlzontal or floor portlons of the pool vessel and the sub-stantially vertical or sidewall portions. In other words, for structural ;i integrity and to facilitate water flow, many modern pools are not construc- ;~
ted with sharp corners between floor and wall In order to mos~ effectively clean a pool, it is desirable of course that the car be able to traverse ~;.. ~ :
as much of the pool vessel surface as possible. In other wordsj it is - desirable that the car be able to climb the~substantially vertically 1 30 oricnted portions of the pool vessel wall. In order to accomplish this, the .; - 7 -,~:
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~ar ;' in .ICCOrd.lllCC ~ l thc l)rcse11t ;11v~ tion i~ providcd wi~ ater ~o~crc~ c;1~1s ~or l)ro~ Jcilll.7 ~ thrl1st to incIcasc traction 1)et~ecn thc wheel~
3fi a11d t11c vcsscl surfacc. ~n accorda1lcc ~it11 ~11c 1)rotcrrc(1 cm1)odi111ent of tllc invc11tio11~ tllis t11r~1st is 1)rodllccd l)y a ~atcr jct disc1~argcd fro1n a dircctionally adjust;1blc nozzLc 90 and by a water strec-lll disc11.1rgcc1 ~rom a suction o vacl1u111l11lit 91. The t~o t11rust componcnts prodl1cc a su1~st.111t;al forcc extend;11~ normal to the vesscl surface theroby incrcasing traction betwecn the w11ecls 36a; 36b; 36c and the vessel surEace and eJ1abli1lg thc car to climb vertical surfaccs.
The nozzle 90 is preferably mounted on some type of univcrsal fittin~7 such as a ball coupling 92 W]l:iC]l couples the nozzle to the supply manifold 66 for receiving a high pressure water supply from booster pump 70. ~le angle of the nozzle 90 is selected to yicld both a downward tllrust component (i.e. normal to the vessel surface) for providing traction and a forward component which aids in propellin~ the car and facilitates the car climbing vertical surfaces and working itself out of corners. Set means ; (not shown) can be provided for holding the selected angle of the noæzle and valvc means (not shown) can be provided for varying the flol~ ratc through , . -. . :- .
the nozzle 90.
In use, as the car is propelled along the vessel surface by rotation of the drive wheels 36a and 36b, the vacuum unit 91 ~ill always discharge a water flow having a component norn1al to the portion of the vessel surface on which the car then rests. The intensity of the watcr flow is selected to produce a rcaction force sufficient to enable thc car to climb vertical surfaces. ~s the car climbs, the combined effects of gravity, -~
the cars inherent flotation characteristics and the directional variations produced by the water jet (and other cffccts to be discusscd) cause a change ;`
in direction of travel sensing the car to fall off the vertical surXace and reestablish its travel along another path. In order to assure that the car ~ `
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l.IIUIS CQI`l'CCt sidc Ilp, tllC C.ll' iS dCSigllC~I to hi~vc - rcl-ltivoLy lo~ ccntcr ol gr~vity; i.c. thc ~cigllt d;.stri.but.i.n!l of tl~c car :i.s sc:l.cctclL so tllat .its cclltcr of g~lVity is c:losc to thc bottom Or it.s vcrtica:l dimcnsioll, so as to thcreby prod~lcc a ~ouylllt torque tcndLng to ~aintain it corrcct s:ide up. The ~-entirc car struc-tule is p-refcr.1bly designcd to wcigh very :Litt:lc when undcr-water~ thereby assuring that thc hold do~n forcc produced by -the water flow togetller witll the wcigllt distri~ution of thc car/ will cause the car to land correct side up whenever it falls from a wa:Ll surface.
The c r carries with it one or more sweep hoses 96 wllich are traiLed along and whip against thc vesscl surface. More particularly, a hose 96 is coupled to a tube 100 communicating with the in-terior of the supply ; manifold 66. The remote end of the hose 96 is left open via an orifice.
Water flowing from the manifold 66 and tube 100 through the hose 96 will exit through the open hose end and in so doing wi:Ll produce a reaction force on the hose whipping it in random directions. As a conseqoence, it will rub against and sweep fine debris from the vessel surface, putting it in sus-pension for removal by the pools standard filtration system. A float 102 i9 preferably mounted around the tube 100 to facilitate dynamic balanbe of the~
- car. A valve 114 is preferably incorporated in the tube 100 for controlling the flow rate to the sweep hose and thus the whipping action thereof.
In the course of moving along a random path on the pool vessel surface in a manner thus far described, it is of course the f~ction of the cleancr to clean the surface as by putting fine debris thereon in suspension for removal by the standar~ filtration system.
In addition, in accordance with the invention " arge debris such as leaves are collected by the subject cleaner by thc vacuum unit 91 which ~-produces a suction close to the pool vessel surface. ~lore particularly, a suFtion or vacuum head ltO (Figures 3 and 4) extending across substantially the full width of the car between the wheels 36a and 36b is defined in the ~9~

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plllte '~. Tlle .~;llet~ llc.l~l 110 ~Ct'illO.'~ letion OpC~lill' 11'~ at tllc bottom tllel~cot. Tlle oyc~ing ~I' llill`l`V~S do~m all~l COIIlllllU1i.C~lteS Wi.til tllC lowcr Clld 1l~ of .1 ~relltuli tubc l16. ~n ori~ice ll~ is mo-mtc-t in tlle tllroat of tllc vcllturi tube 116 for discl~arging a f:Low of ~ateY` thcretllro~gll to~arcl thc open ell~t 1~2 o~ thc vcnturi tube. 0rlfice llS recei~cs watcr f:Low via ~` conduit 1~ coupled to outlet 126 Otl the Supp].y mlnitol~ 66. As should be apprcciated~ the water d-ischarged from the orifice l18 produccs a rcduccd pressure in the throat area of the venturi tube thus producing a suction at the entrance openil~ s a consequence, water and debris are dra~Yn from the vessel surface into thc opening lL2 and through the venturi tube 116. The ~ater c~d debris are then discharged through the open venturi end 122 lnto a debris collection container. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 2-7~ the debris collection container constitutes a . ~ , :~ .
bag 124 formed of mesh material having an entrance opening sealed arolmd the open end 122 of the venturi tube 116 by a band 125. The bag 124 is of course removable from the venturi tube 116 for cleaning or disposal.

.~ , , Reference was previously made to a supply hose 69 for supplying a pressured water flolY to the manifold 66. In order to assure that the car does not get entangled with the supply hose 69, it is preferable that the hose float during operation as is represented in Figure 1. The hose of ~`
course can be caused to float by mounting suitab~le f`loats thereon ~lore particularly, the supply hose 69 can comprise a one-half inch inner diameter ~-plastic hose, for example~ having a swivel coupling 164 mounted in a first end ]60 thereof. The swivel coupling 164 is adapted to be threaded into an outlet 166 provided in the pool vessel surface adjacent to the water sur~
face. A water booster pump 70 which can divert water out of the pool~s ;~
standard filtration system, provides a high pressure flow to the outlet 166.
:, ~-, . , ; The second en~l 16~ of the hose 69 is coupled by a similar s~ivel coupling ~ ;
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~ 170 to -the previously mentioned supply manifold 66.

, ~OB4216 I'l (',ll tllC fo1~etoil1g~ :i.t ~Y.il l ke l~ceot1ni~cd tll.lt .L s~Yimmil)6 pool clc.1~1e1 l1cls occll d-iscloscd 11crcir1~ ic11 i~ colnpriscd of a car wl1ic11 tra-vcls :Lollg a ~ lom p.~tll oll thc slu~flcc of a pool vcsscl ~ropcLIe~l by tract:iol1~heels po~ercd by a ~Y.1tcr drivcl1 turbinc. As a consequcnce of employing the prcviol1~ly discusscd ~YItcr strcams to proclucc ~ significant tractiorl t`orce bet\~cer1 t11c ~Yheels and thc vesscl surfacc~ the car can bc constructed of light~ eight inexpensive ma-tcrials, such as plastic. By being ~ble to uti-liæe light weigl1t materiaLs such as plastic~ a car in accordanGe with the : ~IVCntiOII C.~l be produced ~uite ine~pensively. Moreover~ by dcsigning the car so as to assuret`ul:L coverage of the pool vessel surface ~Yithout re~
quiring complex steering and reversing mecl1anisms, cost reduction and reliability improvement is further enhanced. Although a particular embodi-mer~t of the invention has been illustrated in Figures 2-7, it should be readily apparent that many variations can be made witho-1t departing from ~;
the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus~ for example only, an alternative arrangement is shown in Figures 8-lO whereln, in lieu of utilizing a separate debris collection bsg, the car structure itself forms the debris container with the car cover member 200 being perforated to permit water flow therethrough.
Utilization of the arrangement of Figures 8-lO conten~plates that a user remove the dome 200 and then clean the debris from the pan shaped frame structure. In both the arrangement of Figures 8-10 and the arrange-ment of Figures 2-7~ the mesh size for the water permeable material should be selected to suit a particular set of conditions. For example, in pool situations where many leaves are enco-mtered, it would be desirable to utiliæe, material with relatively large holes so as to contain most of the leaves and enable the water to freely flow therethrough to suspend the rest of the debris for removal by the filter system. On the other hlmd, a pool with few leaves but a heavy silt problem would preferably use a very closely :

Z~L6 WO~'Cll COllt.li~Cl` nllterial to rclllovc ~llc sil~ ar1d rcdllcc ~llc :load on tl~c ~ fiLt~ y~t~
- r~ USil1o thc sllbJect pooL clcancr, it llas bccl1 rccoc~ i cd tl~at as thc lclvcs co:LLcct ~:ithin thc contaillcr, the hi~rh veloc:ity w.lter strealn discl1argcci from thc l~ppCI' end of the ventllri t~lbe corltir1llally bcats tlle lcavcs agl~nst the contiliner screen matcrial. As a consequence, tl1e ].eaves are plllverized into fille partic]es which pilSS throu~11 tlle scrcen material and go into suspension in the water from which they can be removed by the ~ -pools regular filtration system. ~s a result of this action~ thc frequency with ~i11ich the debris must be removed from the container is considerably reduced. In pool situations with a greater then normal leaf problem a pl~
veri3ing means 210 (Figures 8 and 9) can be incorporated in tlle container to more positively pu]veri~e the leaves. ~lore particularly~ as sho~m in Figure 8 a collar 212 carrying a plurality of radially extending blades 214 can be mounted on turbine shaft 50~. ~s the shaft 50 rotates, the blades 214 move past fiYed blade 216 shredding leaves therebetween.
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In order for the pool cleaner to function effectively, it should travel in a highly random manner so as to substantially cover the entire vessel surface. Various factors operating on the car depicted in Figures

2-7 will tend to produce this random motion. Such factors include the vessel surface terrain, the action of the whip hose 96 ~md the direction of the ;~
noz31e 90. However, lt is recognized that if necessary, for certain pool situations, means can be incorporated in the car for positively rando~ ing the car moti.on. For exc~nple, attention is called to Figures 8-10 which ;

illustrates one such means for varying the plane of rotation of the wheel 36c as the car moves. In the embodiment of Figures 8-lO, the c~le 711 of the wheel 36c is pivoted arotmd pin 72~ by a link 220 coupled betwee11 the ~le ;~ -.:, :
711 and gear 224. The gcar 224 is engaged with worm gear 226 secured to - turbille sl1aft 50'. .~s shaft 50~ rotates~ gears 224 c~d 226 rotate around , 1 . .
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108L.~Z~6 t11eir .~es t~ s n1o~ thc e~ 2S of li1~ 0 in 1l s1T1.l1L circlc. Tlli~

j .al.tC~ atcl.y ~ S atld pll:ihC.S tl~c t'l`CC cnd of` a~]c 71~ thl1s pivoting it abollt pill 7~

It sho11kl bc rcco~ni~cd tl1at other arrar1gc1ncnts can also be em-ploycd for achicvin6 the rcndom mot:ion prodl1ced by the cn1bo(aiment of l~igurcs - 8-10. For e~cmlple only~ tho dircction of` the nozz:l.c 90 carl be varied as the ``I .
cclr moves~ a movable rudder can be cmploycd and/or the flow rate through the 1 sweep hose can be varied.
From the foregoing, it will bc recogn:i~cd that an lmprovcd - lO swimmirlg pool cleaner has been disclosed herein which is capable of randomly traveling on the pool vessel surface and collecting dcbris therefrom as well :~ as dislodging debris from the surface for collection by the pools standard filtration system. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated herein, it is recogni~ed that n~unerous variations and modifi-cations can be made therein without~departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, for example only, tractions means other than the round wheels can be employed for increasing traction area or for facilitating :,, .
trayel of the car over low obstructions, such as a hose. Similarly~ means can be provide for changing drive direction in special pool situations where the car could get stuck against some obstacle. It should also be recognî~ed that a]though the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated herein j employ a booster pump 70 for optimum performance~ the booster pump could be eliminated in a low cost system and the turbine could be driven by water flow from the main pump.

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Claims (9)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A swimming pool cleaner comprising: a car including a frame supported on traction means for engaging the surface of a swimming pool vessel; water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and an outlet;
propelling means carried d by said car fox propelling said car along said vessel surface; thrust means carried by said car for producing a water flow having a component directed to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traction means against said pool vessel surface, said thrust means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means outlet for discharging a water flow in a direction having a component extending normal to said vessel surface; and debris suction means carried by said car and including a suction entrance located on said car in close proximity to said vessel surface.

2. The swimming pool cleaner of claim 1 including adjustable means for supporting said nozzle in different orientations.

3. The swimming pool cleaner of claim 1 wherein said debris suction means includes a tube having entrance and exit openings at opposite ends thereof, said tube entrance opening communicating with said suction entrance;
and wherein said thrust means nozzle is disposed in said tube for discharging a water flow from proximate to said tube entrance opening toward said tube exit opening to produce a suction at said tube entrance opening.

4. The swimming pool cleaner of claim 1 further including: debris container means carried by said car and including an entrance opening; and wherein said debris suction means includes a suction exit coupled to said debris container means entrance opening.

5. The swimming pool cleaner of claim 4 wherein said debris container is formed of water permeable material.

6. The swimming pool cleaner of claim 4 further including:
pulverizing means mounted in said container for pulverizing debris.

7. A swimming pool cleaner comprising: a car including a frame supported on traction means for engaging the surface of a swimming pool vessel; water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and first and second outlets; propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface; said propelling means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means first outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed substantially parallel to said vessel surface;
thrust means carried by said car including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means second outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed normal to said vessel surface to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traction means against said vessel surface; and debris suction means carried by said car and including a suction entrance located on said car in close proximity to said vessel surface.

8. The swimming pool cleaner of claim 7 further including: debris container means carried by said car and including an entrance opening; and wherein said debris suction means includes a suction exit coupled to said debris container means entrance opening.

9. The swimming pool cleaner of claim 7 wherein said debris suction means includes a tube having entrance and exit openings at opposite ends thereof, said tube entrance opening communicating with said suction entrance;
and wherein said thrust means nozzle is disposed in said tube for discharging a water flow from proximate to said tube entrance opening toward said tube exit opening to produce a suction at said tube entrance opening.