EP0543387A2 - Nettoyeur de bassin automatique - Google Patents

Nettoyeur de bassin automatique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0543387A2
EP0543387A2 EP92119752A EP92119752A EP0543387A2 EP 0543387 A2 EP0543387 A2 EP 0543387A2 EP 92119752 A EP92119752 A EP 92119752A EP 92119752 A EP92119752 A EP 92119752A EP 0543387 A2 EP0543387 A2 EP 0543387A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pair
liquid
defining
valve
exits
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92119752A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0543387B1 (fr
EP0543387A3 (en
Inventor
Terry Roy Jackson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
KREEPY KRAULY Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
KREEPY KRAULY Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by KREEPY KRAULY Pty Ltd filed Critical KREEPY KRAULY Pty Ltd
Priority to EP96105686A priority Critical patent/EP0721033B1/fr
Publication of EP0543387A2 publication Critical patent/EP0543387A2/fr
Publication of EP0543387A3 publication Critical patent/EP0543387A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0543387B1 publication Critical patent/EP0543387B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
    • E04H4/14—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
    • E04H4/16—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning
    • E04H4/1654—Self-propelled cleaners
    • E04H4/1663—Self-propelled cleaners the propulsion resulting from an intermittent interruption of the waterflow through the cleaner

Definitions

  • THIS invention relates to cleaners for submerged surfaces. More particularly it relates to suction operable automatic swimming pool cleaners.
  • Suction operable automatic swimming pool cleaners are known in the art. These machines comprise a body having a planar peripheral region defining an inlet and which region is releasably engageable with a surface to be cleaned. In use, the body is connected via an outlet to an inlet of a pump and filtration system of a swimming pool. In the body there is mounted means for intermittently varying the flow of water through the body, thereby to impart kinetic energy to the body causing the body to move automatically over the surface to be cleaned. As the body moves over the surface, debris is sucked up from the surface through said inlet.
  • One such a cleaner in which the means for intermittently varying the flow of water through the body comprises a pivotal hammer valve is disclosed in US patent 4,023,227.
  • Another cleaner of the kind described is disclosed in US Patent 4,642,833. In this case the means for intermittently varying the flow of water through the body comprises a pinch valve arrangement.
  • apparatus for cleaning a surface submerged in a liquid comprising a body defining a flow passage therethrough, the flow passage extending between a main inlet to the body defined in a peripheral region of the body and an outlet from the body, the peripheral region, in use, being releasably engageable with a surface to be cleaned and the outlet being connectable to a suction source; means located in the body for intermittently varying the flow of liquid through the body; and means for imparting whirling motion to liquid flowing through at least part of the body.
  • the means for intermittently varying the flow of liquid through the body is preferably located downstream of the means for imparting whirling motion to liquid flowing through at least part of the body.
  • the means for imparting whirling motion to liquid flowing through at least part of the body may comprise a plurality of curvilinear projections provided in said peripheral region of the body and defining a plurality of curvilinear channels between them.
  • the plurality of curvilinear projections are preferably provided on a face of a footpad, which is removably mountable on the body in the peripheral region thereof.
  • the means for imparting whirling motion to liquid flowing through at least part of the body may alternatively or in addition comprise two further inlets defined in asymmetric regions in opposed sidewalls of the body between said main inlet and said outlet.
  • the two further inlets may be offset relative to one another on a line which is substantially parallel to a general plane of the peripheral region.
  • the two further inlets may have different sizes.
  • the body comprises a head defining a chamber communicating with said main inlet and first and second exits from the head; first and second elongate drive tubes communicating with the first and second exits; and a coupling arrangement connected to said first and second tubes and which coupling arrangement defines said outlet from the body; and the means for intermittently varying the flow of liquid through the body comprises a pivotal valve located in the chamber and which valve, in use, pivots between a first position wherein it obstructs said first exit and a second position wherein it obstructs said second exit.
  • At least one of said first and second elongate drive tubes may comprise at least one axially extending internal strake.
  • a footpad for a cleaner for a surface submerged in a liquid comprising a disc-like body defining an opening for communicating with a main inlet of the cleaner; a plurality of curvilinear projections provided on one face of the disc-like body defining a plurality of curvilinear channels between them, the channels extending from a peripheral outer region of the body to the opening. At least one of the projections may be made of a resilient porous material.
  • an elongate drive tube for a cleaner for a surface submerged in a liquid comprising at least one internal axially extending strake.
  • the invention also includes within its scope apparatus for cleaning a surface submerged in a liquid and which apparatus comprises a body defining a flow passage therethrough extending between a main inlet and an outlet from the body; the body comprising a head defining the main inlet, a chamber and a pair of exits from the chamber, the body further comprising a pair of elongate drive tubes communicating with the pair of exits, and a coupling arrangement connected to the pair of drive tubes and defining the outlet from the body; the apparatus further comprising a pivotal valve having a pair of opposed sealing faces for cooperating with a pair of seats at said pair of exits, in use, alternately and repeatedly to obstruct said exits; at least one pair of said pair of exits, said pair of elongate drive tubes, said pair of sealing fares and said pair of valve seats being asymmetrical.
  • a suction operable automatic swimming pool cleaner according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in figure 1.
  • the cleaner comprises a body 12 comprising a head 14, first and second elongate drive tubes 16,18 extending from the head 14 and a coupling arrangement 20.
  • the body defines a flow passage for water therethrough extending between a main inlet 26 to the body and an outlet 41 from the body.
  • the head 14 has a planar peripheral region 22 provided by a flange 24.
  • the main inlet 26 is defined in the peripheral region.
  • Main inlet 26 communicates with a lower chamber 28 which is bounded by a baffle plate 29 defining a port 30 communicating with chamber 32, for pivotal hammer valve 34.
  • Chamber 32 has first and second exits 36 and 38 communicating with the elongate drive tubes 16 and 18 respectively.
  • Coupling arrangement 20 comprises a swivel coupling 40 defining outlet 41 and which coupling, in use, is connectable via a flexible hose (not shown), to an inlet of a pump and filtration system (also not shown) of a swimming pool.
  • valve 34 having opposed sealing faces 34.1 is mounted off-centre in chamber 32 and, in use, pivots under the influence of water flow through chamber 32, between a first position wherein it obstructs exit 35 and a second position wherein it obstructs exit 38.
  • a footpad 42 is removably mountable on flange 24.
  • the footpad 42 comprises a circular body 43 defining a central hole 44, which, in use, communicates with main inlet 26.
  • a plurality of curvilinear projections 46 defining a plurality of curvilinear channels 48 extending inwardly towards the hole 44 from the outer periphery of the footpad. At least some of the projections are made of a porous resilient material.
  • the apparatus assumes the attitude illustrated in figure 1 on a submerged horizontal surface to be cleaned.
  • suction is applied to the apparatus 10 by the said pump, water entraining debris enters the body via curvilinear channels 48, hole 44 and main inlet 26.
  • the curvilinear channels impart a whirling motion to the water entering the body.
  • Water is also admitted through offset further inlets 50 and 52, which also impart whirling motion to the water admitted.
  • the projections 46 made of a resilient foam material act like suction pads and serve to improve traction of the footpad 42 on the surface being cleaned.
  • each drive tube 16, 18 comprises a plurality of axially and radially inwardly extending internal strakes 53. These strakes serve to straighten the flow of water as it passes through the drive tubes 16, 18.
  • a clearance 53 between swivel coupling 40 and a bearing 54 which is a friction fit in the body of coupling arrangement 20.
  • a washer 56 is supported on an inwardly directed flange 58 on the body below the lower end of the coupling 40 and is so shaped that water drawn into the coupling arrangement through the clearance 53 is directed along the inside wall of the coupling 40 in the same direction as the main water flow.
  • This arrangement not only reduces vortices in flow in the region of the coupling arrangement 20, but also increases the flow towards the pump by as much as 5%.
  • the bumper arrangement 60 shown in figure 1 is made of a material having a specific gravity greater than that of water. This increased weight together with the leverage effect of being applied at a distance from the body 12, improves the ability of the cleaner 10 to turn off a sidewall (not shown) of a swimming pool (also not shown).
  • the external fins 62 on the head 14 are slightly inclined relative to the plane of the peripheral region 22. These fins act like airfoils to press the cleaner 10 into closer contact with the surface being cleaned.
  • the operation of the cleaner described hereinbefore may be improved by introducing asymmetry between two corresponding parts of the cleaner.
  • the two drive tubes 16, 18 and/or exits 36 and 38 may have slightly different diameters.
  • the sealing of the hammer valve 34 on seats 36.1 and 38.1 respectively may be different. This may be achieved by mounting a symmetrical valve 34 off centre in chamber 32. It may also be achieved by providing the valve 34 with asymmetrically curved sealing faces as shown at C in the broken lines in figure 7.
  • Another or additional way to achieve asymmetry is to provide asymmetrically positioned holes 64.1 and 64.2 in valve 34, one of which 64.2 straddles one edge of the corresponding valve seat 38.1, in chamber 32.
  • a plurality of holes may be provided in the hammer. It has been found that such holes reduce noise emitted by the cleaner during operation.
  • Asymmetry may also be achieved by offsetting port 30.
  • the cleaner operates with reduced noise, the frequency of oscillation is reduced, debris or the like is maintained in suspension and are more readily picked up and there is an increase in the flow of water through the cleaner.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Cleaning And De-Greasing Of Metallic Materials By Chemical Methods (AREA)
EP92119752A 1991-11-20 1992-11-19 Nettoyeur de bassin automatique Expired - Lifetime EP0543387B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96105686A EP0721033B1 (fr) 1991-11-20 1992-11-19 Nettoyeur automatique de bassin

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU88025/91A AU8802591A (en) 1991-11-20 1991-11-20 Improvements in automatic pool cleaners
AU88025/91 1991-11-20

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96105686A Division EP0721033B1 (fr) 1991-11-20 1992-11-19 Nettoyeur automatique de bassin
EP96105686.8 Division-Into 1996-04-11

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0543387A2 true EP0543387A2 (fr) 1993-05-26
EP0543387A3 EP0543387A3 (en) 1993-09-01
EP0543387B1 EP0543387B1 (fr) 1997-06-04

Family

ID=3763275

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92119752A Expired - Lifetime EP0543387B1 (fr) 1991-11-20 1992-11-19 Nettoyeur de bassin automatique
EP96105686A Expired - Lifetime EP0721033B1 (fr) 1991-11-20 1992-11-19 Nettoyeur automatique de bassin

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96105686A Expired - Lifetime EP0721033B1 (fr) 1991-11-20 1992-11-19 Nettoyeur automatique de bassin

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (2) EP0543387B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU8802591A (fr)
DE (2) DE69229187T2 (fr)
ES (2) ES2131889T3 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA928984B (fr)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0633371A2 (fr) * 1993-07-09 1995-01-11 Sweepy International S.A. Tête de commande pour nettoyeur de piscine
WO1996013644A1 (fr) * 1994-10-28 1996-05-09 Sweepy International S.A. Appareils de nettoyage automatique pour piscines et composants associes
WO1997032096A1 (fr) * 1996-02-29 1997-09-04 Baracuda International Corporation Disques a cannelures pour nettoyeurs de piscines
GB2322539A (en) * 1997-02-26 1998-09-02 Michael Chandler Pool cleaning apparatus
US5882512A (en) * 1997-11-05 1999-03-16 Baracuda International Corporation Automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated components and systems
US5930856A (en) * 1997-04-08 1999-08-03 Baracuda International Corp. Automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated components
US6423217B1 (en) 2000-09-15 2002-07-23 Letro Products, Inc. Pool cleaner having vortex drive tube
US6662394B2 (en) * 2001-03-07 2003-12-16 Zoltans Pool Products Pty Ltd. Automatic cleaners for cleaning swimming pools
EP1387918A1 (fr) * 2001-05-15 2004-02-11 Polaris Pool Systems, Inc. Vanne a commande magnetique destinee a un appareil de nettoyage de piscine fonctionnant par aspiration
EP1752599A1 (fr) * 2005-08-12 2007-02-14 Huaiping Wang Semelle pour un appareil automatique de nettoyage
US8082617B2 (en) * 2005-09-13 2011-12-27 Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc. Automatic swimming pool cleaners
CN107041714A (zh) * 2014-09-24 2017-08-15 Lg电子株式会社 机器人吸尘器

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU721028B2 (en) * 1995-07-06 2000-06-22 Kreepy Krauly Australia Pty Ltd Automatic cleaners for sweeping and cleaning swimming pools
US6049933A (en) * 1997-08-12 2000-04-18 Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. Bumper assemblies for swimming pool cleaners
US6226826B1 (en) 1999-02-05 2001-05-08 Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. Bumper assemblies for swimming pool cleaners
FR2812015B1 (fr) 2000-07-24 2003-01-24 Jacques Alexandre Habif Robot nettoyeur de piscine a depression alimente en pression , et procede
US6436720B1 (en) 2000-09-15 2002-08-20 Cellular Process Chemistry, Inc. Residence time providing module/apparatus
US6625833B1 (en) * 2000-09-15 2003-09-30 Pentair Pool Products, Inc. Pool cleaning apparatus with adjustable bumper assembly
AU2002234433B8 (en) * 2001-03-07 2002-09-19 Zoltans Pool Products Pty Ltd Automatic pool cleaner with flip flop valve
AUPR382301A0 (en) * 2001-03-20 2001-04-12 K.K. Australia Pty Ltd An improved valve arrangement for an automatic pool cleaner
FR2830559B1 (fr) * 2001-10-04 2003-12-19 Alain Habif Aspirateur de bassin mu par la force hydraulique
AU2007346281B2 (en) * 2007-02-06 2013-07-04 Zodiac Pool Care South Africa (Pty) Limited Swimming pool cleaner

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1889603A (en) * 1931-03-20 1932-11-29 Jordie J Johnston Device and apparatus for cleaning tanks and the like
US3046583A (en) * 1960-02-08 1962-07-31 Emil J Drennan Swimming pool cleaner
DE1684604A1 (de) * 1966-01-19 1971-03-18 Robert Conrad Absaugegeraet fuer Schwimmbecken
US3753496A (en) * 1971-12-20 1973-08-21 E Boyd Converging vortex apparatus for separating oil from water
US4023227A (en) * 1975-02-25 1977-05-17 Chauvier Fernand L O J Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces
US4193156A (en) * 1976-08-19 1980-03-18 Daniel Jean Velere Denis Chauvier Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces
EP0088381A2 (fr) * 1982-03-09 1983-09-14 Daniel Jean Valere Denis Chauvier Parechocs pour un dispositif automatique de nettoyage de piscine
US4642833A (en) * 1985-03-14 1987-02-17 Coxwold (Proprietary) Limited Valve assembly
FR2604351A1 (fr) * 1986-09-30 1988-04-01 Dentraygues Michel Mecanisme de propulsion d'un aspirateur de bassin
FR2635282A1 (fr) * 1988-08-15 1990-02-16 Bph Patent Holding Ag Appareil pour le nettoyage de piscines

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4208752A (en) * 1976-08-23 1980-06-24 Hofmann Helmut J Cleaning apparatus for submerged surfaces

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1889603A (en) * 1931-03-20 1932-11-29 Jordie J Johnston Device and apparatus for cleaning tanks and the like
US3046583A (en) * 1960-02-08 1962-07-31 Emil J Drennan Swimming pool cleaner
DE1684604A1 (de) * 1966-01-19 1971-03-18 Robert Conrad Absaugegeraet fuer Schwimmbecken
US3753496A (en) * 1971-12-20 1973-08-21 E Boyd Converging vortex apparatus for separating oil from water
US4023227A (en) * 1975-02-25 1977-05-17 Chauvier Fernand L O J Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces
US4193156A (en) * 1976-08-19 1980-03-18 Daniel Jean Velere Denis Chauvier Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces
EP0088381A2 (fr) * 1982-03-09 1983-09-14 Daniel Jean Valere Denis Chauvier Parechocs pour un dispositif automatique de nettoyage de piscine
US4642833A (en) * 1985-03-14 1987-02-17 Coxwold (Proprietary) Limited Valve assembly
FR2604351A1 (fr) * 1986-09-30 1988-04-01 Dentraygues Michel Mecanisme de propulsion d'un aspirateur de bassin
FR2635282A1 (fr) * 1988-08-15 1990-02-16 Bph Patent Holding Ag Appareil pour le nettoyage de piscines

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0633371A3 (fr) * 1993-07-09 1995-06-14 Zarina Holdings Cv Tête de commande pour nettoyeur de piscine.
EP0633371A2 (fr) * 1993-07-09 1995-01-11 Sweepy International S.A. Tête de commande pour nettoyeur de piscine
WO1996013644A1 (fr) * 1994-10-28 1996-05-09 Sweepy International S.A. Appareils de nettoyage automatique pour piscines et composants associes
US5546982A (en) * 1994-10-28 1996-08-20 Baracuda International Corp. Automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated components
US5720068A (en) * 1994-10-28 1998-02-24 Baracuda International Corporation Automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated components
AU691053B2 (en) * 1994-10-28 1998-05-07 Zodiac Pool Care Europe Sa Automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated components
WO1997032096A1 (fr) * 1996-02-29 1997-09-04 Baracuda International Corporation Disques a cannelures pour nettoyeurs de piscines
AU714168B2 (en) * 1996-02-29 1999-12-23 Zodiac Pool Care Europe Sa Fluted swimming pool cleaner discs
GB2322539B (en) * 1997-02-26 2000-06-28 Michael Chandler Pool cleaning apparatus
GB2322539A (en) * 1997-02-26 1998-09-02 Michael Chandler Pool cleaning apparatus
US5930856A (en) * 1997-04-08 1999-08-03 Baracuda International Corp. Automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated components
US5882512A (en) * 1997-11-05 1999-03-16 Baracuda International Corporation Automatic swimming pool cleaners and associated components and systems
US6423217B1 (en) 2000-09-15 2002-07-23 Letro Products, Inc. Pool cleaner having vortex drive tube
US6662394B2 (en) * 2001-03-07 2003-12-16 Zoltans Pool Products Pty Ltd. Automatic cleaners for cleaning swimming pools
EP1387918A1 (fr) * 2001-05-15 2004-02-11 Polaris Pool Systems, Inc. Vanne a commande magnetique destinee a un appareil de nettoyage de piscine fonctionnant par aspiration
EP1387918A4 (fr) * 2001-05-15 2004-09-15 Polaris Pool Sys Inc Vanne a commande magnetique destinee a un appareil de nettoyage de piscine fonctionnant par aspiration
EP1752599A1 (fr) * 2005-08-12 2007-02-14 Huaiping Wang Semelle pour un appareil automatique de nettoyage
US8082617B2 (en) * 2005-09-13 2011-12-27 Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc. Automatic swimming pool cleaners
CN107041714A (zh) * 2014-09-24 2017-08-15 Lg电子株式会社 机器人吸尘器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2131889T3 (es) 1999-08-01
DE69229187D1 (de) 1999-06-17
EP0543387B1 (fr) 1997-06-04
ES2103869T3 (es) 1997-10-01
ZA928984B (en) 1994-05-20
EP0721033B1 (fr) 1999-05-12
DE69229187T2 (de) 1999-10-28
EP0543387A3 (en) 1993-09-01
DE69220187T2 (de) 1997-10-02
EP0721033A3 (fr) 1996-10-16
EP0721033A2 (fr) 1996-07-10
AU8802591A (en) 1993-06-17
DE69220187D1 (de) 1997-07-10

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