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

Definitions

• Motorized swimming pool cleaner comprising rotary freewheeling means
• robots include motorized brush rollers intended to allow the movement of the robot on the surfaces to be cleaned, by adhesion and / or sliding induced by the weight of the robot on the horizontal surfaces, helped by a depression caused by the aspiration of the water in particular for vertical surfaces, and generally a float handle intended essentially to allow the adhesion of the robot on the vertical parts.
• robots are known comprising four support brush rollers, the two rollers of which on the same side of the robot are driven by a first motor, and the other two rollers of which on the other side of the robot are driven by a second motor, said first and second motors being controlled by electronics capable of desynchronizing the motors allowing different speeds of rotation of the latter in order to authorize changes of direction of the robot.
• Such robots have the disadvantage of having bulky propulsion organs, in particular by the use of several motors, taking up a lot of space for a device of limited size, to the detriment of more essential organs directly linked to the functionality of robot suction for example.
• the projected surface on the ground of a swimming pool robot is limited due to the loss of depression in the curved wall induced by a distance to the wall which is all the greater as the robot has an extended ground surface and the curve of the pool wall is of course small radius.
• the use of several motors and their associated electronics increases the cost of the robot unnecessarily.
• Document GB 2 153 661 which relates to a pool cleaner comprising a body supported by a base carried by drive tracks, which are driven by a mechanism comprising a swash plate and drive rods, the swash plate being set in motion by the passage of water through the casing on command of the swimming pool filter pump which is connected to the cleaner.
• the cleaner comprises two shafts, situated at the front and at the rear of the cleaner, driven in rotation by means of drive wheels which are themselves rotary under the effect of the swash plate and of a transmission by belt and tracks.
• the two shafts also carry respectively two aligned rotating rollers each consisting of blades flexible whose outside diameter extends beyond the diameter of the tracks, forming sealing means preventing water entry under the front and rear of the cleaner.
• the wheels of the same shaft are coupled by a lost motion coupling making it possible to drive, during a fraction of a turn, only the wheel (track) connected by means of motor during a reversal of the rotational movement, in view to cause a rotation of the cleaner on itself by the rotation of only one of its tracks.
• the front paddle rollers also perform a wiping function on the surface to be cleaned and send the wiping waste under the cleaner.
• the lost motion coupling necessarily involves the robot, during a reverse rotation, in a new direction predetermined by construction parameters of the robot, such as the diameter of the wheels / rollers and the transmission in particular and the value of the angle. of rotation lost by the coupling. Such a structure thus limits the freedom of operation of the cleaner, and its directional possibilities of movement.
• Document US 2002/129839 is also known which relates to a robot or basin cleaner of the robot type, supported by wheels mounted on fixed or movable axes forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the body of the cleaner when this the latter moves in one or the other of two opposite directions thus providing a variable trajectory by advancing or retreating on the bottom of the basin or the reservoir by cleaning it.
• the cleaner has a single motor for removing debris and propelling the robot in combination with direction control means.
• the direction change control means of the cleaner are either linked to the mobility of the axle (s) carrying the wheels or linked to the change of direction of a hydraulic propulsion jet.
• the change of direction of the robot according to this document can also be done by pressing a mobile stand on the surface to be cleaned.
• the means for changing the direction of such a basin cleaner are all specific, relatively complex, and also limiting relative to the freedom of operation of the cleaner, and to its directional possibilities of movement.
• the present invention overcomes these drawbacks and offers other advantages. More specifically, it consists of a motorized pool cleaner device comprising:
• said rotary means for moving the device defining at least one of said first and second load-bearing axes comprise first and second rotary rollers whose respective axes of rotation are aligned with said at least one of said first and second load-bearing axes, and in that - said first and second rotary rollers are linked by a freewheeling connection.
• the freewheeling connection between two aligned rollers with a load-bearing axle allows to simultaneously drive the two rotary rollers in a given direction of rotation which corresponds to the forward operation of the device, which can be described as a swimming pool robot when its operation is automated, by motorizing only one of the rollers.
• the apparatus comprises a single geared motor, first means for driving in rotation one of said first or second rotary roller by said single geared motor.
• a single motor or gear motor also makes it possible to house a centrifugal suction pump in the device for example, more efficient but more bulky than traditional propeller pumps, while retaining reduced external dimensions.
• said rotary means for moving said device defining the other of said first and second carrying axes comprise a third and a fourth rotary roller whose respective axes of rotation are aligned with said other of said first and second carrying axes, said third and fourth rotary rollers being linked by a freewheeling connection.
• the apparatus according to the invention further comprises second means for driving in rotation one of said third or fourth rotary roller by said single geared motor.
• the apparatus according to the invention comprises a support on which said single gear motor is fixed, first and second lateral track means to said support on either side of the latter, first and second drive means for said first and second track means respectively, associated with at least one of said first or second load-bearing axes, said first and second drive means being connected to said support by means of a one-degree connection of freedom in rotation.
• the track means allow the device according to the invention to cross obstacles which cannot be crossed with the only rotating rollers, for example steps.
• said support comprises a first U-shaped part on which is fixed said single gear motor, a first and a second lateral casings closing the open lateral ends of the U, respectively fixed releasably on said first part of the support and carrying said rotary means for moving the device.
• said first and second lateral casings further carry respectively the first and second drive means of said first and second track means, and said first and second rotary rollers, and said third and fourth rotary rollers are placed in overhang on the side of said first and second lateral casings respectively facing the first U-shaped part of the support, said first and second drive means of said first and second track means being respectively cantilevered on the opposite side of said lateral casings.
• said freewheel connection (s) comprises, respectively, a helical elastic washer and at least one lug capable of abutting on one end of said helical washer in a first direction of rotation, and of sliding thereon in the second opposite direction of rotation.
• said suction means comprise a pump of the centrifugal type.
• said first and second drive means of said first and second track means respectively comprise four driving wheels connected in groups of two by means of a first and a second transmission belts.
• the device according to the invention comprises two fixed grips arranged below an upper level which is defined by the highest surface of said device.
• said two fixed gripping handles are parallel to said first and second load-bearing axes and arranged above the latter.
• said first and second means for driving in rotation one of said first or second rotary roller, and one said third or fourth rotary roller includes said first and second transmission belts.
• Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view from above a detail of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view from below an enlarged detail of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 shows a perspective view from above the example of Figure 1 partially assembled.
• Figure 5 shows an enlarged assembly detail of the apparatus of Figure 1.
• Figure 6 shows a perspective view from above of the example of Figure 1 with an additional partial exploded member.
• Figure 7 shows in perspective view from above the complete example of Figure 1.
• Figure 8 shows an enlarged detail of assembly of the apparatus of Figure 5.
• Figures 9 and 10 show in perspective and in section ( Figure 9) an enlarged detail of FIG. 7.
• - suction means 30, - rotary means 4 for moving the apparatus defining first 2 and second 3 load-bearing axes, comprising respectively a first 5 and a second 6 rotary rollers whose respective axes of rotation 7, 8 are aligned on the first 2 axis ( carrier, and advantageously a third 10 and a fourth 11 rotary rollers whose axes respective rotations 12, 13 are aligned on the second 3 carrier axis, - the first 5 and second 6 rotary rollers being linked by a freewheeling connection 9, and - the third 10 and fourth 11 rotary rollers being linked by a connection 14 with freewheel - preferably a single geared motor 15, the first 16 means for driving in rotation one of the first 5 or second 6 rotary roller by the single geared motor, in this case the first 5 on the example shown, and second means 17 for driving in rotation one of the third 10 or fourth 11 rotary roller by the single gear motor 15, in this case the third 10 in the example shown in FIG.
• the suction means 30 advantageously comprise a centrifugal type pump 31, more efficient than a propeller pump and also more bulky, but can be accommodated in the support 18 advantageously in the shape of a U as shown in FIG. 1, thanks to the use of a single gear motor.
• the gear motor 15 and the centrifugal pump 31 are positioned centrally in the axis of the U and preferably aligned along the longitudinal axis of the U, in order to leave a space for the filters (not shown for reasons of clarity of the figure) on either side of the gear motor 15 and pump 31 assembly, in front and behind of the latter.
• the water is drawn into the device 1 through orifices 32 made in the lower part of the U forming the support 18, as shown in FIG. 1 or 4, then passes through the filters placed above, then enters the inlet opening 33 of the centrifugal suction pump 31, to be discharged through the outlet opening 34 of this pump opening onto the upper surface of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 7.
• the rotary rollers 5, 6, 10, and 11 are advantageously identical and each consisting of two half-shells 35 and 36 screwed one on the other to form a cylinder of circular section as shown in FIG. 5 which illustrates in exploded view two rotary rollers forming one of the two carrying axes 2, 3.
• One end of the half-shells comprises at least one lug which has the function of driving the free wheel 9 placed between two rollers and connecting the latter by a one-way rotating connection.
• said end of the half-shells has an additional lug 37 for immobilizing the freewheel in rotation on one of the two aligned rollers so that the drive roller drives the other roller aligned in a direction of rotation and does not causes more in the opposite direction of rotation. It should be noted that in FIG.
• the freewheeling links 9, 14 comprise a helical elastic washer 38 linked in rotation to one of the rollers of the carrying axle 2, 3, respectively, and at least one lug 37 integral with the other roller of the carrying axle considered, suitable for abutting on the washer 38 in a first direction of rotation, more particularly for abutting on the radial edge 39 projecting axially from the helical washer, as shown in FIG. 8, and for sliding thereon in the second direction opposite of rotation under the effect of its elasticity.
• the elastic washer 38 is linked in rotation to one of the rollers of the carrier axis, for example by means of a lug 37 penetrating into a housing 60 of the helical washer 38.
• each rotary roller 5, 6, 10 , and 11 comprises two diametrically opposite lugs 37
• each washer comprises two corresponding diametrically opposite housings 60, in which the two pins 37 of a roller.
• One of the housings 60 produced on the elastic washer 38 preferably intercepts the radial stop 39 as shown in FIG. 8, so that the lug 37 of the roller which is not rotationally linked with the washer 38 can bear against a stop 39 profiled in a cylindrical shape complementary to that of the lug in order to ensure a better distribution of the forces.
• FIG. 5 represents, unlike FIG. 8, another exemplary embodiment of the elastic washer 38 in which the housing 60 produced on this washer does not intercept the radial stop 39. As shown in FIG.
• the helical elastic washer 38 may comprise an axis 40 projecting axially on either side of the washer allowing a guiding in rotation in the ends of the aligned rollers between which it is arranged.
• the support 18 advantageously comprises a first 24 U-shaped part on which the single geared motor 15 is fixed, a first 25 and a second 26 lateral casings closing the open lateral ends of the U, respectively fixed releasably, for example by screw on the first part 24 of the support 18 and carrying respectively the rotary rollers 5, 6, and 10, 11.
• the transmission of the motor movement of the gear motor 15 to the rotary rollers 5 and 10 integral with the first side casing 25 is advantageously as follows via the first 16 and second 17 rotational drive means: the motor axis of the gear motor is provided with a drive pinion 41 engaged on two transmission pinions 42, 43 integral with the side casing 25 by a connection to a degree of freedom in rotation.
• the rotational movement of the transmission pinions is then transmitted to the rollers 5 and 10 via a first 27 and a second 28 synchronous transmission belts, respectively, engaged on two pulleys 44, 45 rigidly connected to the two transmission pinions 42, 43 and on two pulleys 46, 47 rigidly connected to the two rotary rollers 5, 10, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2 or 3.
• the bearing axes 2 and 3 the axes of rotation of the transmission pinions 42, 43 and of the motor pinion 41 , as well as the axes of rotation of the pulleys 44, 45, 46, 47 are advantageously horizontal and parallel.
• the first 25 and second 26 lateral casings further carry respectively the first 22 and second 23 drive means of the first 19 and second 20 track means, and the first 5, second 6, third 10, and fourth 11 rotary rollers are cantilevered on the side of the first 25 and second 26 lateral casings respectively facing the first 24 U-shaped part of the support 18, the first 22 and second 23 means for driving the first 19 and second 20 track means being respectively cantilevered on the opposite side of the lateral casings 25, 26.
• the first 22 and second 23 means for driving the first 19 and second 20 track means respectively comprise four driving wheels 48, 49, 50, 51 connected in groups of two advantageously by means of the first 27 and second 28 transmission belts.
• the four drive wheels 48, 49, 50, 51 each advantageously adopt a loose shape with lateral edges as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 or 3, on which the track means is placed and adheres by friction.
• These rims 48, 49, 50, 51 each have a central groove capable of accommodating the corresponding belt 27, 28 so that the outside diameter of the belt is less than the diameter of the rim on which the track rests.
• FIG. 3 shows a lateral transmission assembly composed of two rotary wheels 5 and 10, of the four driving wheels 48, 49, 50, and 51 for driving the caterpillar linked in pairs by a belt 27, 28, and the casing lateral 25 connecting these members
• FIG. 2 shows the two lateral transmission assemblies, which are advantageously identical, the rotary wheels 5, 6 and 10, 11 of which are respectively linked by the freewheel links 9 and 14.
• the two lateral transmission assemblies comprise transmission pinions 42 and 43, making these assemblies perfectly identical, whereas only one of these assemblies would require the presence of such pinions, namely the assembly the transmission gears of which are engaged on the pinion of the geared motor 15.
• the advantage of having two identical transmission assemblies is of course evident from the point of view of reduced manufacturing costs.
• the end wheels 48, 51 of the tracks 19, 20 are advantageously aligned on the carrying axes 2 and 3 defined respectively by the axes of rotation of the rotary rollers 5, 6, 10, and 11, in particular in order to improve the guidance of the caterpillars.
• the end wheels 48 and 51 are rigidly and demountably associated with the corresponding rotary roller by means of an axis passing through the lateral casing in a bearing provided for this purpose, and penetrating into an appropriate bore of the roller.
• the four drive wheels 48, 49, 50, and 51 for driving the track have axes of rotation situated in the same horizontal plane, which makes it possible to propose a very flat device. It should be noted that a track has not been shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 in order to show the driving wheels for driving the latter as well as the transmission belts.
• the outer diameter of the drive wheels 48, 49, 50, 51 is made so that the track does not hinder the motorization of the device by the rotary wheels 5, 6, 10 and 11 which must have a larger diameter with their brush.
• Figure 6 shows the representation of Figure 1 by adding an upper cover
• the cover advantageously screwed onto the support 18, comprises an opening intended to allow the water to be pumped back by the pump and also advantageously comprises access hatches 53 and 54 to these filters for their maintenance.
• the access hatches 53 and 54 are advantageously devoid of locking to simplify handling, and make access to the filters very easy.
• the access hatches are kept pressed by the suction depression.
• the access hatches advantageously articulated on one of their sides and on the upper cover, act as drain valves, opening freely when the robot is removed from the pool. This configuration offers an advantageous passage section for water and limits the number of discharge orifices in the robot.
• the filters will preferably consist of a rigid cassette containing the filtration fabric. Note the extreme simplicity of the structure of the device according to the invention which is reduced to:
• Two fixed handles 57 will advantageously be added to allow the user to grasp the device for transport to the place of use.
• Such fixed handles 57 can, for example, take the form of two bars 58, advantageously parallel respectively to the carrying axes 2 and 3 and placed substantially above the latter, as shown in FIG. 7.
• handles 57 can be made integral with the cover upper 52 or of any other structural member of the apparatus and participate in the resistant structure of the latter, but should preferably not extend above the uppermost upper surface of the apparatus, namely in the 'example shown, do not extend above the upper cover 52, so as not to increase the height of the device and not to impede the movement of the electric cable 61, as will be explained in more detail below.
• the centrifugal pump is advantageously composed of two separate parts, the motor with its turbine on the one hand and the guide 55 for the fluid flow on the other hand, individually screwed to the bottom of the support 18, the flow guide having its outlet in upper part of the device at the opening 34 shown in FIG. 1.
• the flow guide advantageously serves as a fastener, for example at a point 56 near the outlet 34, for an electrical connector 62, preferably rotary, of the cable power supply 61 of the gear motor 15 and of the suction pump 31.
• the flow guide is able to withstand this constraint without transmitting it either to the sealing casing of the pump motor or to the top cover 52 of the device.
• the fluid enters the device with the exception of the electric motors which must be placed in watertight protective casings by any known means, of the electrical connector 62 which must be sealed as explained below in using Figures 9 and 10, and more generally with the exception of all electrical components.
• the electrical cable 61 for supplying the device is equipped at one end with the electrical connector 62, preferably rotary, and at the other end, with a standard connector (not shown) for an electrical connection to a supply cabinet.
• the electric cable 61 is for example composed of a flexible PVC sheath 63 normally equipped with five electric wires 64 inside the latter, the submerged end 65 of the cable being preferably closed to ensure the presence of air inside the sheath 63, if necessary for the cable to float.
• the rotary connector 62 advantageously acts as an attachment flange for the cable, directly or indirectly, and avoids its spin.
• the rotating part 67 of the connector comprises a turret 80 advantageously adopting a generally substantially cylindrical shape, of circular section, the axis of symmetry of which is intended to be vertical, and comprises a sealed radial inlet 69 for the electric cable 61.
• a connection tube 70 fixed to the latter by means of a connection 79 at least in rotation, and inside which the electrical wires 64 of said electrical cable 61 are disposed and respectively connected to tracks conductive 71 vertically stepped, respectively forming cylindrical conductive rings of circular section on the outer surface ure of the connection tube, so that each electrical wire is capable of ensuring an electrical connection via its circular track.
• the fixed part 68 of the connector 62 comprises a circular section guide tube 72 surrounding the connection tube 70 and connected to the rotating part 67 by a connection with a degree of freedom in rotation.
• the tube 72 is preferably intended to be fixed in a connector flange 73, as shown in FIG. 9, itself fixed to the device via for example the guide 55 for the flow.
• the rotating part 67 of the connector 62 is advantageously linked to the connector flange 73 by means of the turret 80 by a link 74 having a degree of freedom in rotation, intended to transmit the mechanical forces between the electric cable 61 and the device in order to avoid stressing the electrical connection. As shown in FIG.
• the guide tube 72 has an inner surface provided with a number of transverse transverse conductive blades 75 corresponding to the number of circular tracks 71 of the connection tube 70, each blade 75 being able to come into contact by friction with the corresponding conductive track 71 so as to ensure an electrical connection over 360 ° when the electric cable 61 performs a complete revolution, that is to say when the rotating part 67, and more specifically the connection tube 70, performs a complete rotation in the guide tube 72.
• the electrical wires 76 intended to supply the appropriate electrical members in the apparatus and connected respectively to the blades 75 exit from the guide tube 72 through the lower part thereof.
• FIG. 10 shows the rotating part 67 provided with the guide tube 72 and the electric cable 61, isolated from the connector flange 73.
• connection tube 70 may be provided with a sealed resin plug in order to prevent liquid entering the turret 80 from entering the interior of the tube 70 where the connections of the wires are made. power supply on conductive circular tracks.
• the turret 80, as well as the flange 73 will advantageously be made in the form of two half-shells screwed one on the other, thus proposing a simple means for making the connection 74 with a degree of freedom in rotation, and the connection 79 in rotation, for example of the one-piece key type, lug, or splines, and an effective means for making the sealed connection of the electric cable 61 on the turret 80 by pressing the two half-shells on the outer sheath 63 of the cable 61.
• the device according to the invention can be provided with any known means making it possible to automate its operation, for example of the timing and inverter type gear motor running.
• the device according to the invention makes it possible to avoid the use of a traditional float handle due to a low center of gravity which allows optimization of the grip of the robot on the vertical part.
• the elimination of the second geared motor also makes it possible to free up space for placing an internal float (not shown) advantageously replacing the float handle, this internal float, made for example of polystyrene, having a volume that is all the more reduced that the robot is lighter.
• the internal float will preferably be housed below and above the gear motor, taking the form of a plate for example.
• the internal float can advantageously adopt any appropriate shape molded into the free spaces inside the U-shaped support.

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• 2004
  • 2004-05-12 FR FR0405107A patent/FR2870282B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-05-10 US US11/579,321 patent/US20080244842A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-05-10 WO PCT/FR2005/001156 patent/WO2005116370A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-05-10 EP EP05770992A patent/EP1751376A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-05-10 CA CA002566029A patent/CA2566029A1/en not_active Abandoned

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