EP1530664B1 - Underwater cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an underwater cleaner ( 1 ), particularly for a swimming pool, comprising a suction nozzle housing ( 3 ) that has a suction nozzle ( 2 ), which communicates with a suction chamber (4), and has a suction mouth ( 19 ), which defines a suction plane ( 16 ), whereby a discharge channel ( 5 ) emanates from the suction chamber ( 4 ), and a filter device ( 6 ) is connected to said outlet channel. The inventive device also comprises a water jet nozzle ( 7 ) that leads into the suction chamber ( 4 ) and via which water under pressure can be fed into the suction chamber ( 4 ) whereby, according to the principle of the water jet pump, giving rise to a vacuum inside the suction chamber ( 4 ). The aim of the invention is, in the simplest possible manner and even in difficult to reach areas, to enable an effective cleaning and, at the same time, to also efficiently remove heavy dirt particles, such as stones. To this end, the invention provides that the water jet nozzle ( 7 ) discharges into the suction chamber ( 4 ) in the area of the suction nozzle ( 2 ), whereby preferably the distance (h) between the water jet nozzle ( 7 ) and the suction plane ( 16 ) is less than the smallest inner width (b) of the discharge channel ( 5 ), and provides that a flow center line ( 7 ) of the water jet nozzle ( 7 ) forms an angle (alpha)=0, preferably >0 and =45, with the suction plane ( 16 ) in the area of the inlet into the suction chamber ( 4 ).

Description

The invention relates to an underwater cleaner, in particular for a swimming pool, with a suction nozzle housing with a suction nozzle communicating with a suction nozzle and a Sauggabe defining suction mouth, from the suction chamber emanates an outlet channel, to which a filter device is connected, with an opening into the suction water jet nozzle, via which water under pressure in the suction chamber is fed so that under the principle of the water jet pump in the suction chamber, a negative pressure, wherein the water jet nozzle opens in the suction nozzle in the suction chamber, and wherein the distance between the water jet nozzle and the Saugebene is less than that smallest inner width of the outlet channel.

It is known to use swimming pool vacuum cleaner for cleaning swimming pools. Such devices are disclosed, for example, by US 5,317,776 A, US 5,842,243 A, US 6,119,293 A or US 6,473,927 B1. The disadvantage is that these known pool vacuum cleaners are relatively bulky, require a certain lead time and / or are cumbersome to handle.

The US 5,450,644 A shows a battery-powered underwater cleaner, which sucks water via a pump through a suction nozzle and a filter. The designed as a radial pump pump is arranged between the suction nozzle and filter. The US 4,962,559 A describes a wireless swimming pool vacuum cleaner, in which sucked through a pump through the suction nozzle and a filter water and fed back to the swimming pool. The filter is arranged between the suction nozzle and the pump. Such known, suction pumps suction, wireless underwater cleaners have the disadvantage of low suction, so that massive contaminants, such as sand, soil, pebbles can be sucked only insufficient. Pool vacuum cleaners with a higher suction capacity, on the other hand, are not suitable for cleaning even hard-to-reach areas such as steps or corners of a swimming pool.

FR 2 715 960 A1 discloses an underwater cleaner for a swimming pool, wherein a water jet nozzle opens into a suction space. The mouth of the water jet nozzle is arranged relatively far from the sowing level. Massive impurities can not or only with difficulty be removed with this underwater vacuum cleaner.

DE 950 964 C describes an underwater vacuum cleaner, which has a water jet nozzle opening into a suction chamber and which includes all features of the preamble of claim 1. The water flowing through the filter is returned to the suction chamber via the water jet nozzle, the water jet nozzle being directed against the floor. Although dirt particles can be released by the water jet nozzle directed towards the bottom, there is a risk that they will be moved back into the swimming pool through the suction mouth, so that the pool can not be re-contaminated.

From US Pat. No. 6,502,269 B1, a battery-powered pool vacuum cleaner is known, in which water is drawn in together with contaminants by means of a suction nozzle and conveyed into a filter according to the principle of the water jet pump. Since the water jet nozzle opens into the suction chamber at a relatively large distance from the suction nozzle, massier dirt particles can not or only with difficulty be removed. The water jet nozzle is supplied by a submersible pump, which removes water at the highest point of the suction chamber via a sieve. This has the disadvantage that when starting the pool vacuum cleaner submersible pump relatively long promotes only air, because, the suction chamber is previously flooded manually. In any case, commissioning is difficult. The minimum depth of use is determined by the relatively large distance between the intake opening of the submersible pump and the surface to be cleaned. By sucking the water from the suction chamber there is a risk that particles clog the screen very quickly.

From the US D453.246 S further a suction nozzle for a pool vacuum cleaner is known, is sucked in the polluted water according to the principle of water jet or Venturi pump. For this purpose, a water hose of an external water pressure source can be connected to the suction nozzle. Due to the water flowing into the suction chamber via the water jet nozzle, a negative pressure is created in the suction chamber, so that polluted water is sucked in via the suction nozzle. The disadvantage is that even with this suction nozzle only relatively light and low-mass soiling can be removed.

Further, from US 4,950,393 A a swimming pool cleaner is known, which has a manifold for pressurized supplied water, from which branches off a number of Fegeschläuchen over which contaminants are fluidized. From the manifold lead further jet nozzles in the designed as Venturi chamber suction chamber of the pool cleaner, the jet nozzles are arranged distributed around the circumference of the suction nozzle. After the water jet principle, water is sucked in from the area of the bottom of the swimming pool and led to a filter. Since the jet nozzles in Lead away substantially from the sowing level at an angle of about 90 °, with this no impurities on the pool floor can be torn away. This function must be taken over by the hoses. This pool cleaner is complex, voluminous and relatively unwieldy in the application. In addition, a high water flow rate and thus a pump with high flow rate is needed.

FR 2 667 099 A1 discloses a pool vacuum cleaner, wherein two water jet nozzles open tangentially in a suction chamber and generate a swirl flow. The water jet nozzles are directed to the sowing level, wherein the fluid line of the water jet nozzles with the sow level an angle ≤0 ° span. As a result, while solid deposits on the pool floor can be removed, the flow rate through the water jet principle is relatively low due to the flow-unfavorable arrangement. By the water jet nozzles, the dirt is whirled up, so that a back pollution of the swimming pool by stray dirt particles can not be excluded. Another disadvantage is that two water jet nozzles are required, whereby a pump with a relatively high flow rate must be provided.

The object of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and to increase the cleaning performance for underwater cleaner of the type mentioned in the simplest possible way. The underwater cleaner should be as small as possible and handy to allow easy cleaning of steps or corners in a swimming pool.

According to the invention this is achieved in that the water jet nozzle is directed away from the sowing level and that a fluid line of the water jet nozzle in the region of the mouth into the suction chamber with the sowing level an angle> 0 ° and ≤45 °, includes.

Preferably, the distance between the water jet nozzle and the suction level corresponds to a maximum of two-thirds of the smallest inner width, preferably at most half the smallest inner width of the outlet channel.

In particular, it is advantageous if the distance between the water jet nozzle and the suction level is less than half the maximum height of the suction chamber. In practice, it has proved to be advantageous if the distance between the water jet nozzle and the sowing level is a maximum of 7 cm, preferably a maximum of 2.5 cm to 3 cm. As a result, for example, even small and medium-sized pebbles can be removed.

It is essential that the water jet opens as close as possible to the suction level in the suction chamber. This causes the dirt particles directly from the water jet be flowed and torn away in the direction of the outlet channel, so that even massive dirt particles, which could not be removed by the mere suction alone, can be solved from the bottom of the swimming pool and transported into the filter. The removal of impurities thus takes place by a combination of suction and pressure effect of the water jet. It is particularly advantageous if the water jet nozzle opens on a side opposite the outlet channel side into the suction chamber, wherein it is preferably provided that the water jet nozzle is directed into the outlet channel, with particular preferably the fluid line with the axis of the outlet channel an angle smaller than 180 ° , preferably between 150 ° and 170 °. A particularly good suction power can be achieved when the axis of the outlet channel to the sowing level by an angle between 0 ° and 45 °, preferably between 10 ° and 15 °, is inclined. The inner width of the suction nozzle is preferably slightly smaller than the width of the outlet channel. As a result, high flow speeds can be achieved in the area of the suction nozzle, which supports the cleaning effect.

A stirring up of the dirt should be avoided as far as possible. To achieve this and still obtain good suction and cleaning effect, it is advantageous if the angle between the fluid line of the water jet nozzle and the suction level is preferably ≦ 25 °, particularly preferably ≦ 15 °.

In a particularly simple embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a water hose connected to an external pressure source can be connected to the water jet nozzle. However, this does not always have the desired side effect that additional water is supplied to the pool and the volume of water in the pool rises. This side effect can be avoided if the underwater cleaner has an integrated, preferably battery-operated submersible pump whose discharge nozzle is fluidly connected to the water jet nozzle. In this case, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the suction opening of the submersible pump is arranged outside the suction space, preferably outside the suction nozzle housing, and is hydraulically separated from the suction space. It is particularly advantageous if the suction opening is arranged in the region of the suction level, wherein preferably the distance between the suction opening and the suction level is less than the maximum height, particularly preferably less than half the maximum height of the suction space. Due to this relatively low installation position of the suction opening of the underwater cleaner can be used even at low water levels. Since the submersible pump water not directly from the suction chamber, but outside of the suction takes directly from the pool, the commissioning of the underwater cleaner is straightforward, because on the suction side of the submersible pump air-filled spaces are avoided.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the outlet channel and the filter device is arranged on the user-facing side actuation of the suction nozzle housing. Characterized in that the filter device and the outlet channel are arranged on the actuation side, on the side opposite the actuation side, the free view of contamination obstructing projections are avoided, so that the user can perform the underwater cleaner very precisely on the dirt to be removed on the operating rod.

In the context of the invention it is further provided that the suction nozzle is at least partially framed on its suction side facing the suction-absorbing body of the suction mouth forming rubber lips or brushes. The rubber lips or the brushes compensate for unevenness in the swimming pool floor, so that the full suction effect is guaranteed even for depressions, elevations or roughness of swimming pool floors.

In a battery or battery powered embodiment, it is provided that the submersible pump is connected via a preferably designed as a spiral channel power cable with a battery case. The battery case can preferably be connected via a rubber strap releasably connected to an actuating rod.

In a particularly compact embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the submersible pump and / or the battery housing is integrated in the suction nozzle housing.

Fig. 1

den erfindungsgemäßen Unterwasserreiniger in einer ersten Ausführungsvariante in einer Vorderansicht,

Fig. 2

den Unterwasserreiniger in einem Schnitt gemäß der Figur II-II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

den Unterwasserreiniger in einer Seitenansicht gemäß dem Pfeil III in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

den erfindungsgemäßen Unterwasserreiniger in einer zweiten Ausführungsvariante,

Fig. 5

den Unterwasserreiniger in einem Schnitt gemäß der Linie V-V in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

den Unterwasserreiniger in einem Schnitt gemäß der Linie VI-VI in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7

den Unterwasserreiniger in einer dritten Ausführungsvariante in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 8

diesen Unterwasserreiniger in einer Schrägansicht; und

Fig. 9

den Unterwasserreiniger in einer weiteren Schrägansicht.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. Show it

Fig. 1

the underwater cleaner according to the invention in a first embodiment in a front view,

Fig. 2

the underwater cleaner in a section according to the figure II-II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

the underwater cleaner in a side view according to the arrow III in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

the underwater cleaner according to the invention in a second embodiment,

Fig. 5

the underwater cleaner in a section along the line VV in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

the underwater cleaner in a section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7

the underwater cleaner in a third embodiment in a plan view,

Fig. 8

this underwater cleaner in an oblique view; and

Fig. 9

the underwater cleaner in another oblique view.

Functionally identical parts are provided in the embodiment variants with the same reference numerals.

The underwater cleaner 1 has a suction nozzle housing 3 forming a suction nozzle 2, which comprises a suction chamber 4. From the suction chamber 4 assumes an outlet channel 5, to which a filter device 6 is connected.

The underwater cleaner 1 works on the water jet pump principle. In the dome-like suction chamber 4 opens in the region of the suction nozzle 2, a water jet nozzle 7, which is connected to an external or internal pressure source. In the exemplary embodiment, the pressure source is a submersible pump 10 which is integrated in the suction nozzle housing 3 and whose discharge nozzle 9 is flow-connected to the water jet nozzle 7 via a connecting line 8. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the suction opening 11 of the submersible pump 10 is located outside the suction nozzle housing 3 in the bottom area of the underwater cleaner 1 near the suction level 16 defined by the suction mouth 19, wherein a sieve 12 is provided in the area of the suction opening 11 is arranged to prevent coarse contamination. The distance between the suction port 11 and the sowing level 16 of the underwater cleaner 1 is substantially less than the maximum height H of the suction chamber 4. By the deeply arranged suction port 11 of the underwater cleaner 1 can be used even at very shallow depths.

About the supplied by a battery or a rechargeable battery 13 with DC submersible pump 10 and the water jet 7 a sharp jet of water is supplied to the suction chamber 4, which generates a negative pressure in the suction chamber 4, sucked through the suction nozzle 2 contaminated water and finally into the filter device. 6 is transported. The water passes through the filter device 6 and is then returned to the swimming pool.

It is essential that the water jet nozzle 7 is arranged as close as possible to the suction level 16. For the effect of the underwater cleaner 1, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the distance h between the mouth of the water jet nozzle 7 and the sowing level 16 is less than half the internal width b of the outlet channel 5 and, for example, less than 7 cm, preferably less than 3 cm is. This ensures that even more massive impurities, such as smaller and medium pebbles 14 can be removed from the body to be cleaned 15, for example, from the bottom of a swimming pool, since the pebbles 14 are torn away from the water jet and pressed in the direction of the outlet channel 5. The effect of the underwater cleaner 1 is thus based on a combination of suction and pressure effect according to the inflowing into the suction chamber 4 water jet, which is indicated by the arrow S in Fig. 2. The best suction effect is achieved when in operation the sowing level 16 coincides with the level of the body 15 to be cleaned.

In the mouth region in the suction chamber 4, the water jet nozzle 7 should be inclined slightly upwards in the direction of the outlet channel 5 in order to allow a particularly rapid removal of the contaminants into the filter device 6. If the angle α, in the bottom region of the Saugdüsengehäuses 3 on the other hand, spanned by the center line 7 'in the mouth region of the water jet nozzle 7 in the suction chamber 4 on the one hand and with the body 15 to be cleaned during operation of the underwater cleaner 1 approximately parallel trained Saugebene 16, at most 45 °, preferably at most 25 °, particularly preferably at most 15 °, so that the direction indicated by the arrow S in Fig. 2 water jet flows in the direction of the outlet channel 5, a rapid removal of impurities in the filter device 6 is made possible.

In order to increase the suction effect of the suction nozzle 2, the suction nozzle 2 is surrounded by the suction mouth 19 forming rubber lips or brush 17. As a result, an excellent suction effect can be achieved even with an uneven body 15.

The underwater cleaner 1 can be guided over the swimming pool floor 15 via an actuating rod 18 which is attached to the suction nozzle housing 3 at a rigid angle, for example telescopically extendable. Since the filter device 6 is arranged on the user-facing actuator side A, the user has a clear view of lying in the direction of the underwater cleaner 1 still to be cleaned body 15 and thus can quickly detect impurities to be sucked and the underwater cleaner 1, for example, in otherwise difficult to reach corners or in the area of steps of a swimming pool.

Figures 4 to 6 show a second embodiment, in which the outlet opening 11 of the submersible pump 10 is higher than that of the discharge nozzle 9 is arranged in a lateral region of the underwater cleaner 1. The submersible pump 10 is attached via mounting brackets 20 on the suction nozzle housing 3. This allows a very cost-effective production. The outlet opening 11 remote from the suction level 16 has the advantage that relatively pure water flows through the dew pump 10 and laying of the screen 12 is hardly to be expected.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the submersible pump 10 is connected to the battery housing 13 via a cable 21 designed as a spiral channel. The battery case 13 is detachably attached to the actuating rod 18 via rubber bands (not shown). The connector 22 of the cable 21 on the battery case 13 is secured against unintentional loosening.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a further embodiment of an underwater cleaner, wherein the submersible pump 10 and the battery housing 13 are integrated into the suction nozzle housing 3. Reference numeral 23 denotes a terminal for a charging connector for the battery. The electrical Anaschluss 23 is, for example, by a screwed cap over the surrounding water sealed. Reference numeral 24 denotes a sealing area in which electrical parts such as battery case 13, lines and electrical terminal 23 are sealed against water.

The underwater cleaner 1 can be switched on via switch, water sensor or magnetic switch.

Optionally, the underwater cleaner 1 may still have a special covering, for example an animal form.

The combined suction and pressure principle applied to the underwater cleaner 1 for releasing and removing the contaminants makes it possible to dimension the submersible pump 10 to be very small and to design the underwater cleaner 1 very compactly and easily.

In an alternative embodiment, the water jet nozzle 7 via the connecting line 8 instead of the submersible pump 10 with an external source of water pressure, for example, connected to a water pipe hose connected. In this way, can be dispensed with a submersible pump 10 and a power source. However, in this embodiment, additional water is introduced into the swimming pool, which is not always desirable.

Claims (17)

1. An underwater cleaner (1), especially for a swimming pool, comprising a suction nozzle housing (3) with a suction nozzle (2) communicating with a suction chamber (4) and a suction orifice (19) defining a suction plane (16), with an outlet channel (5) originating from the suction chamber (4) to which a filter unit (6) is connected, and a water jet nozzle (7) opening into the suction chamber (4) through which water can be supplied under pressure into the suction chamber (4) in such a way that according to the principle of the water jet pump a negative pressure is produced in the suction chamber (4), with the water jet nozzle (7) opening into the suction chamber (4) in the region of the suction nozzle (2), and with the distance (h) between the water jet nozzle (7) and the suction plane (16) being smaller than the smallest inner width (b) of the outlet channel (5), characterized in that the water jet nozzle (7) faces away from the suction plane (16) and that the flow center line (7') of the water jet nozzle (7) encloses with the suction plane (16) an angle (α) > 0° and ≤ 45° in the region of the opening into the suction chamber (4).
2. An underwater cleaner (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance (h) between the water jet nozzle (7) and the suction plane (16) corresponds at most to 2/3 of the smallest inner width (b), preferably a maximum of half the smallest inner width (b) of the outlet channel (5).
3. An underwater cleaner (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distance (h) between the water jet nozzle (7) and the suction plane (16) is smaller than half the maximum height (H) of the suction chamber (4).
4. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the distance (h) between the water jet nozzle (7) and the suction plane (16) is at most 7 cm, preferably at most 3 cm, and more preferably at most 2.5 cm.
5. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the angle (α) between the flow center line (7') of the water jet nozzle (7) and the suction plane (16) is preferably ≤ 25°, more preferably ≤ 15°.
6. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a hose connected to an external pressure source can be connected to the water jet nozzle (7).
7. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, comprising an integrated, preferably battery-operated submerged pump (10) whose pressure joints (9) are flow-connected via a connecting line (8) with the water jet nozzle (7), characterized in that the suction opening (11) of the submerged pump (10) is arranged outside of the suction chamber (4), preferably outside of the suction nozzle housing (3), and is hydraulically separated from the suction chamber (4).
8. An underwater cleaner (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the suction opening (11) is arranged in the region of the suction plane (16), with preferably the distance (a) between suction opening (11) and suction plane (16) being smaller than the maximum height (H), more preferably smaller than half the maximum height (h) of the suction chamber (4).
9. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 8, comprising an actuating rod (18) which is connected with the suction nozzle housing (3) and is inclined towards one actuating side (A), characterized in that the outlet channel (5) and the filter device (6) is arranged on the actuating side (A) of the suction nozzle housing (3) facing the user.
10. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the suction nozzle (2) is enclosed on its suction side facing the body (15) to be sucked off at least partly by rubber lips or brushes (17) forming the suction orifice (19).
11. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the suction nozzle (2) has an inner width (B) which is smaller than the width (b) of the outlet channel (5).
12. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the submerged pump (10) is connected with a battery housing (13) by way of a power cable preferably arranged as a spiral channel.
13. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the battery housing (13) is detachably fastened to an actuating rod (18) preferably with a rubber band.
14. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the axis (5') of the outlet channel (5) to the suction plane (16) is inclined by an angle (β) between 0° and 45°, preferably between 10° and 15°.
15. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the water jet nozzle (7) opens into the suction chamber (4) on a side opposite of the outlet channel (5).
16. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the water jet nozzle (7) is directed into the outlet channel (5), with the flow center line (7') enclosing with the axis (5') of the outlet channel (5) an angle (γ) smaller than 180°, preferably between 150° and 170°.
17. An underwater cleaner (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the submerged pump (10) and/or the battery housing (13) are integrated in the suction nozzle housing (3).

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