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

• the invention relates to a surface-cleaning apparatus immersed in a liquid, in particular a pool-side cleaner.
• Some known pool cleaner devices include:
• a filtration chamber formed in said body and having: at least one liquid inlet in the hollow body situated at the base of said body, at least one liquid outlet out of the hollow body located at a distance from said hollow body,
• At least one hydraulic circuit adapted to ensure a flow of liquid between at least one inlet and at least one outlet through at least one filtering device, under the effect of a motorized pumping device,
• An operating handle of the hollow body allowing a user to wear it to immerse or remove the liquid.
• the operating handle is generally articulated to the body so as to allow the transport of the apparatus with the body maintained in the horizontal position which is its when it traverses the submerged surface, so to avoid in particular that the debris contained in the filtering device does not come out of the inlet (s) and / or outlet (s) of liquid when the device is extracted from the liquid (see for example
• the weight of the apparatus is the sum of the weight of the vacuum apparatus and the weight of the volume of liquid contained in the apparatus.
• This weight of the device, once emerged from the liquid is therefore in general quite important, and in any case more important than the weight of the vacuum apparatus. It is therefore common that a user who has succeeded, during the first use of the device, to wear it to the pool to be cleaned, is no longer able to subsequently extract the device from the basin of the fact additional weight generated by the presence of a volume of residual liquid in the device.
• the cleaning operations of the filter device suppose the opening of the hollow body while the latter is filled with liquid, which is particularly unpleasant and requires placing the device in a place at once able to evacuate this volume of residual liquid and debris contained in the filter device, and away from the pool cleaned by the device, to prevent the return of debris in the latter.
• the extraction of these devices out of the liquid and the cleaning of the filtering device of these known devices are tiresome operations for the users.
• the invention aims to overcome all these drawbacks by proposing a submerged surface cleaning device whose handling operations, extraction of the liquid, transport, and cleaning of the filtering device are facilitated and can be performed quickly and without difficulty by a user.
• the invention aims at simultaneously to provide such a device whose cost is reduced, and whose cleaning performance is equivalent to or even improved compared to known cleaning devices.
• the invention applies to any pool cleaner device of the type mentioned above, which can be in particular electric drive, hydraulic or mixed.
• the object of the invention is more particularly to provide such an apparatus which is of the self-propelled type and with an onboard drive motor motor (s).
• the invention relates to a submerged surface cleaning apparatus comprising:
• a device for pumping liquid a hydraulic circuit adapted to ensure, when said pumping device is active, a circulation of liquid between at least one liquid inlet and at least one liquid outlet, called the pumping outlet, through at least one filtering device,
• An operating member of the hollow body for a user to wear to immerse or remove the liquid characterized in that:
• At least one pumping outlet is disposed at a longitudinal end of the hollow body
• the operating member is connected to the hollow body so that when the hollow body is suspended by the operating member, it switches spontaneously under the effect of gravity in a drain position in which each pumping outlet is located below each liquid inlet to which it is connected by said hydraulic circuit,
• said hydraulic circuit is adapted so that emptying position of the hollow body, the latter empties the liquid contained exclusively by said (said) outlet (s) pumping.
• An apparatus thus has two different positions: a normal operating position in which it moves on the immersed surface, the base of the hollow body being parallel to this immersed surface, each liquid inlet sucking the liquid in the vicinity of the surface, the latter being discharged through each pumping outlet, in particular via one or more pumping outlets provided at a longitudinal end of the hollow body, after filtration by a filtering device; and a draining position in which the operating member is held by a user, thereby causing the apparatus to gravity tilt to a drain position in which the pump outlets are located below the liquid inlets, allowing an automatic emptying of the hollow body and simultaneous extraction of the device.
• the device when a user grasps the operating member while the device is immersed in the liquid in order to extract the liquid out of the liquid, the device is placed spontaneously in the emptying position and the liquid is extracted from the hollow body as the device is removed from the liquid. As a result, this extraction operation is particularly facilitated.
• the emptying position also corresponds to the position in which the apparatus is transported, particularly ergonomic position insofar as the hollow body extends on the side of the user.
• the cleaning of the filtering device is also convenient to perform, since the opening of the device does not induce inadvertent liquid flow.
• an apparatus according to the invention does not have dedicated outputs for emptying.
• the apparatus may comprise a single output which, when the pumping device is active, allows the discharge of the filtered liquid in the basin from which it comes, and when the pumping device is inactive and the device is lifted by the operating device, allows the emptying of the device.
• a liquid outlet of an apparatus according to the invention therefore has at least two functions, a function of rejecting the filtered liquid during normal operation of the apparatus, and a function of emptying the liquid present in the apparatus during the extraction of the apparatus from the basin by the maneuvering organ. Therefore, an apparatus according to the invention does not have any non-return device such as valves.
• the cleaning apparatus is described as arranged when in operation on a horizontal immersed surface, so that the lower parts of the apparatus are the parts of the apparatus arranged. in the vicinity of the submerged surface, the upper parts of the apparatus are the opposite parts, the front parts of the apparatus and the rear parts of the apparatus are defined with respect to a preferred direction of movement in the main direction of the apparatus. progress of the apparatus on the submerged surface.
• the hydraulic circuit supplying each pumping outlet extends between at least one liquid inlet and this pumping outlet so as to have no significant volume, called dead volume, capable of retaining liquid - in particular more than 250 ml of liquid when the hollow body is suspended by the operating member in the emptying position.
• the operating member which makes it possible to carry the apparatus for immersing or removing it from the liquid may be a member dedicated to the operation of the apparatus such as an operating handle connected to the hollow body of the apparatus, or a member further having another feature, such as the wheels of the apparatus, the liquid inlet of the apparatus or the brushing device of the apparatus.
• the operating member is an operating handle connected to the hollow body.
• Such an organ dedicated to the operation of the apparatus can thus have an ergonomic shape specially designed and adapted to grip the device.
• This form is not imposed by constraints related to other features in contrast to the variants in which the operating member is formed by the wheels of the device, the brushing device of the device, etc.
• the operating handle can be arranged on an upper part of the apparatus or on a longitudinal end of the apparatus.
• the operating handle is connected to the hollow body such that in the emptying position, the longitudinal direction is generally vertical.
• the angle between the longitudinal direction and the vertical varies during the emptying of the apparatus. Indeed, this angle varies depending on the position of the center of gravity of the device and the position of the operating handle. However, the center of gravity of the device changes depending on the amount of liquid in the device. Nevertheless, in general, the angle between the longitudinal direction and the vertical does not vary more than 10 ° between the beginning of the emptying and the end of the emptying. This allows for a quick and efficient emptying of the device.
• the operating handle is connected to the hollow body at a longitudinal end of the body opposite the (the) outlet (s) pumping.
• the maneuvering handle can be of any known type.
• an operating handle of an apparatus according to the invention can be articulated and have various degrees of freedom with respect to the hollow body to allow the tilting of the hollow body in the empty position when it is grasped by a user.
• a maneuvering handle can be fixed to the hollow body in a pivot connection axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to allow the tilting of the device.
• the operating handle is fixed rigidly to the hollow body according to a mechanical connection of embedding so that it has no degree of freedom with respect to the hollow body.
• the hydraulic circuit feeding at least one pumping outlet extends between each liquid inlet and each pumping outlet so that it is free of any return towards the longitudinal end of the opposite hollow body. at this (these) outlet (s) pumping.
• a pumping device not only allows the suction of the debris present on the submerged surface, but also the plating of the apparatus on the immersed surface during its movements on the submerged surface.
• the hollow body of an apparatus according to the invention can be made by several parts assembled to each other by all types of assembly means, or by a single piece such as a molded part.
• the hollow body is formed mainly of a generally concave casing delimiting a main enclosure, this casing having openings respectively formed at the base of the casing and at a distance from the base of the casing at a longitudinal end of the casing. these apertures respectively forming said liquid inlet (s) and said liquid pumping outlet (s).
• Such a housing is for example formed of a single piece by molding.
• this housing is made of a thermoplastic material adapted to remain in an aqueous medium for a long time.
• a material is for example an ABS plastic which by its constitution has a thermal resistance to aging, an ability to endure strokes, rigidity for mounting elements in the housing and ease of molding.
• Such a housing defines a main enclosure adapted to receive at least one filtration chamber and at least one liquid pumping device.
• Such a housing is driven in displacement by drive members.
• These drive members may be hydraulic drive members, electric drive members or hydraulic and electrical hybrid members. Nevertheless, advantageously and according to the invention, said drive members of said body on the immersed surface comprise at least one electric drive motor.
• Such an electric motor can be an electric motor powered by one or more accumulators housed in the housing of the apparatus or an electric motor powered by a domestic electrical network, such as the urban electrical network, by means of an electric cable. .
• a domestic electrical network such as the urban electrical network
• an electric motor is a very low voltage electric motor.
• each pumping device is preferably a very low voltage electric motor.
• Each electric pumping motor can also be powered, either by accumulators housed in the housing, or by means of a domestic electrical network, such as the urban electrical network, and an electrical cable connecting the apparatus to this unit. domestic electrical network.
• the electric drive motor of the cleaning apparatus and each motor of each pumping device are powered by the same source of electrical energy.
• an apparatus according to the invention comprises at least one non-directional wheel axle which extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
• These non-directional wheels are advantageously rotated via at least one electric drive motor.
• These wheels are mounted on an axle which extends in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of travel. A rotation of the wheels therefore causes the robot to move along the main direction of travel.
• this axle is arranged at the front of the apparatus.
• the drive members of said body on the immersed surface are unidirectional drive members.
• An apparatus according to the invention may further comprise a device which makes it possible to modify the direction of movement of the apparatus when it encounters a vertical wall.
• This change of direction device can be of all types known.
• an apparatus comprises a single liquid outlet forming a single pumping outlet, a single liquid inlet, and an operating handle connected to the body at a longitudinal end opposite the pumping outlet.
• the liquid inlet is arranged at the rear of the front axle, close to the front axle.
• an apparatus according to the invention is free of any non-return valve, particularly at the level of the liquid outlets.
• the invention further relates to an apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface characterized in combination by all or some of the characteristics mentioned above or below.
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view from above of a cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view from below of a cleaning apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; invention during suction of debris on a submerged surface of a basin,
• FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 extracted from the basin by an operator and being emptied;
• FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus of FIG.
• FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a housing of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.
• An apparatus comprises a hollow body 1 and rolling bodies 2, 3, 4 for guiding and driving the hollow body 1 on a surface immersed in at least one privileged direction of advancement and in a main direction of advancement, said longitudinal direction, parallel to the immersed surface.
• This hollow body 1 is formed mainly of a concave casing delimiting a main enclosure. This concave casing is for example made by molding or rotational molding.
• This housing is preferably made of a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, PMMA or any equivalent material.
• This hollow body 1 has a central chamber 35 adapted to receive a filtration chamber.
• This central chamber is delimited by a lower wall extending in a substantially horizontal plane; by side walls 36 extending generally in vertical planes; by a front wall 37 extending generally in a vertical plane, orthogonal to the planes of the vertical side walls 36; and a rear wall 38 extending generally in a vertical plane orthogonal to the planes of the vertical side walls 36.
• the lower wall has an opening extending transversely adjacent the wall 37 before such that liquid can enter the central chamber through this lower transverse opening. This opening forms an inlet 9 of liquid in the hollow body 1.
• the rear wall 38 includes a cylindrical opening forming a liquid outlet 10 out of the hollow body 1.
• This liquid outlet 10 formed in the rear wall 38 of the casing is longitudinally offset from the liquid inlet 9 formed in the bottom wall.
• this liquid outlet 10 is arranged in the upper part of the casing so that it is also vertically offset from the inlet 9 of liquid.
• this central chamber, this liquid inlet 9 and this liquid outlet 10 form a filtration chamber 8.
• This filtration chamber 8 further comprises a hydraulic circuit adapted to ensure a flow of liquid between the inlet 9 of liquid and the outlet 10 of liquid through a filtering device 11.
• the inlet 9 of liquid and the outlet 10 of liquid are centered on a same longitudinal vertical plane of the device.
• the central chamber of the hollow body 1 is adapted to receive a filtering device 11.
• the filtering device 11 is arranged between the inlet 9 of liquid and the outlet 10 of liquid.
• This filtering device 11 can be of any known type.
• the filtering device 11 comprises a rigid reinforcement and a filtering web -particularly a filtering cloth- carried by this rigid reinforcement.
• a filtering device 11 is therefore self-supporting and can be easily manipulated by a user.
• the apparatus also comprises a hatch 6 for access to this filtering device.
• This access hatch 6 forms an upper wall of the hollow body 1 and covers the latter.
• this hatch 6 is formed on the top of the device so that a user of the device can easily open the hatch 6 and extract the filter device 11.
• the access hatch 6 is articulated to the body 1 of the apparatus by hinges 23 arranged at the rear of the apparatus.
• the filtering device 11 is a device mounted in the central chamber of the casing 1 in the manner of a drawer.
• the rigid armature of the filtering device 11 has two ribs extending laterally on each side of the filtering device 11. These ribs have shapes and dimensions shaped and conjugated to the shapes and dimensions of grooves integral with the hollow body 1. These grooves integral with the hollow body 1 extend vertically along the inner faces of the vertical side walls of the hollow body 1. The ribs of the filtering device 11 are therefore adapted to cooperate with the grooves of the hollow body 1 of the apparatus
• the extraction of the filtering device 11 results from a displacement in translation of the filtering device 11 along the grooves of the hollow body 1.
• a user can easily remove the filtering device 11 from the hollow body 1 for example to clean it.
• a user can without difficulty reintroduce the filtering device 11 into the hollow body 1 by orienting the filtering device 11 so that the ribs of the filtering device 11 are facing the grooves of the hollow body and then sliding the filtering device 11 into the hollow body 1.
• the filtering device 11 further comprises a handle 28 formed on an upper portion of the filtering device 11 so as to facilitate the handling of the filtering device 11.
• a user can easily assemble / disassemble the device 1 1 filtering through the handle 28 when the device is out of the liquid and rests on a horizontal surface.
• the rolling members for guiding and driving the apparatus comprise a front axle comprising front driving wheels, one on each side, and a rear axle comprising 3 non-drive rear wheels, one on each side.
• the apparatus comprises brushes 4 arranged at the front of the apparatus. These brushes 4 are intended to ensure a brushing of the immersed surface and to move the brushed debris towards the rear of the apparatus towards the inlet 9 of liquid arranged under the apparatus.
• the apparatus further comprises at least one electric motor for driving the front 2-wheel drive wheels.
• the apparatus comprises two drive motors, one on each side, respectively for independent driving of each of the front wheels 2.
• each front wheel 2 has an internal toothing 5 cooperating with a pinion 45 driven by the corresponding drive motor.
• the apparatus comprises two coaxial front brushes 4.
• Each brush 4 is adapted to be rotated about an axis extending in a direction, said transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
• Each brush 4 comprises a plurality of fins 41 extending radially from a brush shaft forming the axis of rotation of the brush 4.
• the fins 41 are for example made of rubber made of a resistant plastic material.
• the brushes 4 are preferably also rotated from at least one electric drive motor 2 of the front wheels 2 via a gear system.
• the internal toothing of each wheel 2 before driving cooperates with a pinion 42 fixed to one end of the shaft of a brush 4 so that a rotation of the wheel 2 leads through of the toothing 5 and the pinion 42, the rotation of the shaft of the brush 4, and thus the rotation of the brush 4.
• the rolling members consist of the front wheels 2 driving, rear wheels 3 non-driving and brushes 4 which participate in driving and guiding the apparatus on the immersed surface.
• the rolling members 2, 3, 4 have areas intended to come into contact with the immersed surface which are coplanar and define a theoretical rolling plane 50.
• the longitudinal direction of advancement of the apparatus is parallel to this theoretical plane of rolling.
• the front wheels 2 preferably have a diameter of between 100 mm and 500 mm, in particular between 150 mm and 250 mm. According to the embodiment of the figures, the front wheels 2 have a diameter of the order of 200mm. In this way, these front wheels 2 facilitate the crossing of obstacles and have improved motor skills.
• their peripheral tread is formed or coated with a non-slip material.
• the front wheels 2 and the brushes 4 constitute forward driving members 2, 4 which protrude forwardly with respect to other components of the apparatus, including the hollow body, so as to form the front end portion of the apparatus and to come first in contact with an obstacle encountered during the forward movement.
• the apparatus comprises, as shown in particular in Figures 1, 6 and 7, a handle 7 maneuver connected to the hollow body so that when the hollow body 1 is suspended by the handle 7 , the apparatus switches spontaneously under the effect of gravity into a drain position in which the liquid outlet 10 is located below the inlet 9 of liquid. Therefore, in the emptying position, the liquid in the hydraulic circuit is extracted completely and spontaneously from the device.
• the circulation of liquid in the hollow body 1 of the apparatus is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5 by arrows 66.
• Liquid enters the hollow body 1 through the liquid inlet 9 arranged under the apparatus.
• This liquid passes into a liquid inlet column 15 to reach the filtering device 11.
• This filtering device 11 has porous walls adapted to let the liquid pass but to retain the solid debris 60.
• the filtered liquid then reaches the liquid outlet 10 and is ejected into the basin from where it comes from the back of the device.
• the hydraulic circuit extends between the inlet 9 of liquid and the outlet 10 of liquid so that it has no significant volume capable of retaining liquid when the hollow body 1 is suspended by the handle 7 maneuver. Such an insignificant volume corresponds for example to a quarter of a liter of liquid.
• the intake column 15 forms a non-return wall preventing debris which has reached the filtering device 11 from coming out through the inlet 9 of liquid.
• An apparatus further comprises a motorized liquid pumping device comprising an electric pumping motor 12 having a rotary motor shaft 13 coupled to a pumping propeller 14 interposed in the hydraulic circuit so as to generate a flow rate therefrom. liquid between the inlet 9 of liquid and the outlet 10 of liquid connected by this hydraulic circuit.
• the electric pump motor 12 is housed in a housing
• This sealed casing 17 waterproof.
• This sealed casing 17 has an axial opening allowing the passage of the rotating motor shaft 13. This opening is preferably sealed by an O-ring 18 arranged between the motor shaft 13 and the opening of the casing 17.
• the electric pump motor 12 is preferably powered by means of a sealed electrical cable connecting the device to a domestic electrical network.
• FIG 1 shows the input zone 19 of the electrical cable in the device.
• This power supply cable of the pump motor 12 is not shown in the figures for the sake of clarity.
• the pump motor can be of any known type. According to a preferred embodiment, the pump motor 12 is a low voltage motor.
• the displacement of the apparatus according to the invention on the submerged surface to be cleaned is achieved by means of the wheels 2 forwards motor.
• These front driving wheels are for example rotated by means of at least one electric motor. This electric motor is powered by the same power supply cable as the pump motor.
• each electric motor 20 is also arranged in the sealed casing 17 in which the pump motor 12 is arranged.
• Each electric motor is preferably a low voltage electric motor.
• Figure 5 shows the apparatus in operation on a submerged surface of a pond. Debris 60 is sucked by the apparatus. These debris 60 are housed in the filtering device 11.
• Figure 6 shows the device in the emptying position.
• a user has grasped the cleaner device by the handle 7 maneuver, which caused a spontaneous rocking of the apparatus under the effect of gravity in a position in which the liquid outlet 10 is located below of the inlet 9 of liquid.
• the liquid in the apparatus flows out of the apparatus through the liquid outlet 10.
• the debris 60 is held inside the filtering device 11.
• Figure 7 shows the appliance in the drain position when the liquid has completely drained from the appliance.
• the debris 60 have been housed in a corner of the filter device 11.
• the user can then open the hatch 6 and extract the filtering device 11 from the apparatus according to the principle described above, without the risk of encountering stagnant liquid in the apparatus.
• the user can thus clean the filtering device 1 1 and in particular remove the debris 60 collected on the latter.
• the filtering device 11 can be made of two shells assembled to one another. A user, after extracting the device 1 1 filtering in one piece can then separate the two shells and extract the debris 60 shells.
• the apparatus may comprise a plurality of liquid inlets, a plurality of liquid outlets and a plurality of hydraulic circuits.
• the design and design of the device, including its hydraulic circuit are subject to infinite variants.
• the invention applies to a bidirectional apparatus capable of retrograde movement.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
• Non-Flushing Toilets (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

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• 2007
  • 2007-12-21 FR FR0709000A patent/FR2925555B1/fr active Active
• 2008
  • 2008-12-17 EP EP08863580A patent/EP2235291B1/de active Active
  • 2008-12-17 CA CA2709857A patent/CA2709857C/en active Active
  • 2008-12-17 WO PCT/FR2008/052343 patent/WO2009081040A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2008-12-17 US US12/808,687 patent/US8393034B2/en active Active
  • 2008-12-17 AU AU2008339696A patent/AU2008339696B2/en active Active
  • 2008-12-17 AT AT08863580T patent/ATE527418T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2010
  • 2010-07-20 ZA ZA2010/05170A patent/ZA201005170B/en unknown

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