FR2567552A1 - APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC CLEANING OF AN UNDERWATER SURFACE - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Automatic cleaning apparatus for an under-water surface, comprising a hollow body (5), devices for driving said body on the surface to be cleaned (21), a reversible electric motor (12) provided within the body with a view to transmitting a rotary motion to said driving devices, means for feeding electric current to said motor comprising means for sequentially reversing the direction of the electric current, a filtration chamber (5a) situated within the body, an inlet (6a) for liquid leading into the filtration chamber situated at the bottom of the body, a pump (14) driven by an electric motor (11) so as to cause the liquid to circulate within the filtration chamber, and an outlet (7) for the liquid delivered by the pump, situated opposite the base of the body, said cleaning apparatus being characterised in that the electric motor of the pump (11) is associated with means for electric feeding (33) comprising means for sequential interruption, capable of giving rise to a predetermined or random cut-out frequency of said electric feed for the duration of predetermined or random cut-out periods.

Description

AUTOMATIC CLEANING APPARATUS

FROM A SUBMERSIBLE SURFACE

  The invention relates to an apparatus for automatically cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid,

  in particular the walls and bottom of a swimming pool. It aims to

  similar type comprising an electric motor to drive the device along the submerged surface and a chamber

  filtration combined with an electric pump integrated in the ap-

  similar to generate a circulation of liquid in said

filtration chamber.

  A device of this type is in part

  culier described in US Patent No. 4,168,557; to try to

  complete a sweep of the bottom and walls of the pool, the electric drive motor is reversible and controlled

  by a random pulse generator which generates

  random sequence of reversals of the direction of the supply current

tion of this electric motor.

  Such a device has several qua-

  lites, in particular that of having its own filter

  which can be easily removed and cleaned (which prevents clogging

  filter the technical installation of the swimming pool). Any-

  times it has been found that the random reversals of the direction of progression of the device were unable to allow a complete scan of the submerged surface. During the sequences where the duration between two inversions is long compared to the travel time of the length or the width of the swimming pool, the device tends to remain at the level of the water line or to stop in angles and its effectiveness is significantly affected; on the contrary during the sequences or

  this time between two inversions is reduced, the device does not

  does not complete full length or wide runs

  the pool and tends to stay at the bottom of the pool in a limited area. It should be noted that the random program

  can if necessary be designed to reduce the influence of

  faults mentioned above in the case of a swimming pool of given dimensions and shape but the device is then ill-suited to others

  types of swimming pools, for which these defects persist and may

  may even be accentuated. In addition, a random generator is

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  a relatively expensive organ which strikes the cost price of the device. It should be noted, moreover, that in this type of device, the user has no possibility of acting on the trajectory of the device and> in practical users try to bring the devices to the uncleaned areas. by pulls on the power cable which is

very inconvenient and very imprecise.

  The present invention proposes to remedy the above-mentioned faults of the apparatuses for cleaning the

  previously mentioned type comprising an electric motor of

  onboard train and electric pump.

  An objective of the invention is in par-

  particular to provide an improved cleaning apparatus which is capable of sweeping almost uniformly and over all their surfaces. the walls and the bottom of a swimming pool in order to ensure

a complete cleaning of it.

  Another object of the invention is

  to allow the user to make adjustments in function

  tion of the targeted pool in order to obtain the optimal cleaning

  mum desired; the invention aims in particular to provide an app-

  similar giving great flexibility or to be adapted to

  dimensions of a swimming pool for uniform cleaning

  form, or to be temporarily specialized to carry out a cleaning according to the need (cleaning of the water line

or cleaning the bottom of the pit).

  Another objective is to authorize, if necessary, precise and easy control of the trajectory.

followed by the device.

  Another objective of the invention is to eliminate the need to provide a random generator, in order to reduce the cost of the electronic circuits equipping the device. To this end, the automatic cleaning device targeted by the invention comprises a hollow body, members for driving said body on the surface to be cleaned,

  a reversible electric motor arranged in the body for trans-

  putting a rotary movement to said drive members, means for supplying power to said motor comprising

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  means for sequential reversal of the direction of the electric current

  tion / que, a filter chamber / located inside the body, a liquid inlet to the filtration chamber located at the base of the body, a pump driven by an electric motor to bring the liquid to circulate in the filtration,

  and an outlet for the liquid discharged by the pump, arranged in op-

  posed from the base of the body; according to the present invention, the mo-

  electric tor of the pump is associated with supply means

  electrical supply comprising sequential interruption means

  tial, capable of generating at a predetermined or random frequency cuts in said electrical supply for durations

  predetermined or random cutoffs.

  Preferably, the means of interrupting

  aforementioned sequential tion are time delay means

  adjustable to generate a pre-cutoff frequency

  determined, in particular in a range from 10

  360 cuts / hour, and a predetermined duration for each cut

  pure, in particular in a range from 1 to 60

seconds.

  Similarly, the means of reversing

  drive motor are preferably adapted to generate a predetermined inversion frequency of said motor,

  adjustable in particular between 5 and 360 inversions / hour.

  The combination of periodic stops

  of the pump and periodic reversals of the drive motor

  This allows, as will be better understood below, to suppress

  take precedence over the presence of a random generator: setting the pump cut-off frequencies and setting the frequencies

  of the drive motor give each user

  the ability to adapt the trajectory of the device to the dimensions and shape of its pool to obtain either a roughly uniform cleaning of the pool, or specialized work such as

  than cleaning the water line or cleaning the bottom.

  Furthermore, according to another characteristic,

  ristic of the invention, the apparatus comprises at least one movable finger arranged on one side of the body to be able to present two

  positions, a passive position where said finger is in re-

  line relative to the contact plane. of the drive members with the submerged surface, and an active position or said finger

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  comes to or exceeds this plane, said finger

  being associated with remote control means adapted to generate

  to move from one position to another.

  Preferably two movable fingers

  are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axial plane longi-

  tudinal of the body; these independently controlled fingers allow the user to rotate the device in one direction or the other, acting, when they come in the active position, as a pivoting and braking member around which

  the device turns naturally due to the effect of its

ment.

  According to a particular embodiment

  link, the remote control means of each finger comprise: 15. an electromagnet provided with a core

  constituted by said finger, which is arranged so as to be

  worm in its active position when said electromagnet is energized, means for electrically energizing said electromagnet, and means for returning the finger

  towards its passive position in the absence of excitation.

Other characteristics, purposes and

  advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which

  follows with reference to the accompanying drawings which show

  by way of nonlimiting example, a device in accordance with the invention

  tion and illustrate its operation; on these drawings which

  are an integral part of this description:

  - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus, - Figure 2 is a section through a longitudinal axial plane AA ', - Figure 3 is a section through a transverse plane BB',

  - Figure 4 is a block diagram

  cipe of the electrical connections of the device, - Figure 5 is a block diagram of the electrical supply means of the pump motor and the drive motor,

  - Figure 6 is a perpetual diagram

  pective illustrating the device in operation in a pis-

  cine, - Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the apparatus in the case of two swimming pools of different dimensions, - Figures 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating two different types of work corresponding to two

  different device settings.

  The device shown as an example

  in the figures is composed of two parts, one 1 immersed, cons-

  tituant the device itself, (Figures 1, 2, 3) the other formed by means of electrical supply of said device which are housed in a box 3 located outside the liquid at the edge of the pool (Figures 4, 5 and The apparatus 1 and its supply means are connected by sheathed electrical conductors which form a waterproof cable which can be seen at 4 in FIGS. 1 and 6; cable 4 has an appropriate length to allow device 1 to access all areas of

the immersed surface of the pool.

  The device 1 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) consists of a body 5 open at its base, the latter being

  equipped with a blanking plate 6 provided with vacuum inlet 6a

  ration of the liquid in the vicinity of the surface to be cleaned; these

  Inlets are preferably fitted with valves preventing the outflow

  tie of impurities or residues, when the device is no longer

under suction.

  The body 5 has at its upper part

  of a discharge outlet 7, located opposite the

  base of said body so as to discharge the liquid in a di-

section orthogonal to it.

  The body 5 is internally equipped with a sealed casing 8 which is housed therein along its

  transverse axis as shown in the figures. This housing

  takes externally, on its transverse walls and under its

bottom, ribs such as 9.

The body 5 forms around the casing 8

  a filtration chamber 5a equipped with a flexible pocket of thread

  tration 10 which is fixed to the base of the body around the perimeter of

  plate 6. This pocket is formed by a membrane in a ma-

  flexible mesh or knitted material of known type in soil; under the ef-

  fet of the suction it rests against the ribs 9 of the car-

  ter 8 which keep it away from the latter, so that filtration takes place through almost all of the

pocket surface 10.

  Furthermore, the casing 8 contains, on the one hand, an electric pump motor 11 arranged in a

  central area of it, on the other hand, a driving motor

  reversible 12 arranged in transverse eccentric position-

  relative to this central area.

  The pump motor drives it by a

  shaft 13 a propeller or axial turbine wheel 14, which is

  placed in a flow guide sleeve 15-inserted in the

exit 7.

  The drive motor 12 drives by a shaft 16 a transmission wheel 17 which is connected by

  two-wheeled rubber belts 18 such as 19,

  placed at the two longitudinal ends of the body. Each of

  these wheels drive a transverse cylindrical roller 20 capable of

  lé by a flexible sleeve in cellular polyurethane foam 21. The two sleeves 21 are arranged to come into contact

  with the submerged surface and fulfill the double function of

  sisting to generate a progression of the device in one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 12, and

  ensure a brushing of the surface tending to take off the impurities

  deposits or deposits thereof, which are then sucked into

the filtration chamber 5a.

  The windings of the pump motor II and those of the drive motor 12 are supplied at low

  voltage (in particular 12 or 24 volts) by two pairs of con-

  ducting ducts grouped in the waterproof cable 4 already mentioned.

  In addition, a float 22 formed by a hollow cylinder is articulated above the body 5 on the sides of the latter in a transverse plane. This float which can contain a moving weight such as a lead ball, cooperates with

  off-center of motor 12 to unbalance the device during

  that it is at the level of the water line; it thus conditions a lateral movement of the device along this line. The float 22 also serves to grip the apparatus when

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manipulations.

  In addition, the body 5 carries apart

  and on the other two electromagnets 23 and 24 which are fixed externally.

  laughing in the vicinity of the base thereof; these electromagnets are arranged in the transverse plane of symmetry so that the one which is located on the side of the transmission means (17, 18, 19), is housed below the transmission wheel 17. Flanges such that 25 are fixed on either side of the body to protect these electromagnets

and the means of transmission.

  Each electromagnet 23 or 24, the winding of which is sealed in a block of resin, is provided with a magnetic core which is in the form of a vertical direction finger 26 provided at the top

  an enlarged head 26a and in the lower part of an anti-derail heel

  pant 26b; a spring 27 biases the finger 26 upwards and, in the absence of excitation, maintains it in a high passive position, in which its heel 26b is located set back relative to the plane passing through the generatrices

  lower sleeves 21 (contact plane with the immersed surface

  ). Each electromagnet is arranged

  so that, when its winding is excited, the finger undergoes

  there is a downward movement which brings it into an active low position in which its lower heel 26b is located projecting from the abovementioned contact plane. Thus, in this position, the device pivots around the finger and the user can cause said device to turn at an angle.

  precise determined by adjusting the excitation time of the elect

tro-magnet considered.

  The windings of the electromagnets 23 and 24 are electrically. supplied with low voltage by four sheathed conductors which are either integrated in cable 4 (device originally comprising said electromagnets), nes / or combined in another cable attached to the first by / means

  conventional fasteners (optional guide, added later).

  Figure 4 is a block diagram of the electrical connections of the device. This figure shows at 28 the two conductors through which the pump motor 11 is supplied, at 29 the two conductors through which

  the drive motor 12 is supplied, at 30 the two

  conductors by which the electromagnet 23 is excited and at 31 the two conductors by which the electromagnet 24 is excited. These four pairs of conductors are

  connected to the box 3 already mentioned, located on the edge of the pis-

  cinema; this waterproof box is connected by ar-

  shore 32 to a low voltage electrical source.

  Conductors 28 and 29 supply

  the pump motor 11 and the drive motor 12 are connected

  strung to a power supply 33 which receives the low voltage

  and an example of which will be described later with reference to FIG.

  gure 5. The conductors 30 and 31 of excitation of the electromagnets

  are connected to the low voltage through, on the one hand, an adap-

  voltage tester 34 of conventional type, on the other hand, a mobile control box 35 that the user can take in hand to guide the device by appropriately exciting said electromagnets. This control box 35 is connected

  to box 3 by a cable 36 which, in addition to the conductors of

  excitation signal, contains manual reversing conductors

  the direction of the drive motor 12; these conductors are

  connected to the power supply 33 and, as will be seen below

  after, the action of the manual reversing button of the box 35

  is validated when block 33 is placed in the corresponding state

dependent on manual operation.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the block 33 mentioned above comprises: 30. a MANUAL / AUTOMATIC switch 37 allowing either manual or automatic operation of the device, a potentiometer 38 for adjusting the cut-off frequency of the pump, 35. a potentiometer 39 for adjusting the pump cut-off time, and a potentiometer for adjusting the

  the frequency of reversals of the drive motor 12.

  The supply circuit attached to the

  pump motor 11 comprises two comparators 41 and 42 which represent

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  receive, on the one hand, different reference voltages between

  generated by a voltage divider 43, on the other hand, the

  adjustable voltages from potentiometers 38 and 39. These po-

  tentiometers allow the charging and discharging of a capaci-

  polarized tee 44 and are themselves polarized by diodes 45.

  The negative tension from the potentio-

  meter 39 and coming from the discharge of the capacitor 44 is compared in the comparator 42 to the reference voltage and rocked a flip-flop 46 when it reaches this

reference voltage.

  From this moment the pump motor which was stopped during the discharge of the capacitor 44

  is powered by the effect of the control signal from the low

  cule 46: this signal is amplified in an output stage 47 and is delivered to a voltage adaptation interface 48 when the switch 37 is in the automatic position; interface 48 delivers a control signal adapted to the power stage

  49 (relay or other) which powers pump 11.

  From the moment of switching of the flip-flop 46, the capacitor 44 is recharged through the potentiometer 38; when the charging voltage becomes equal to the reference voltage of comparator 41, the flip-flop is again switched and delivers a signal causing the stop of the pump /

  motor / p and e cycle can reproduce.

  The parameters of the components are adjusted so as to obtain the following adjustment ranges:

  - duration of a pump cut-out

  taken between 1 "and 60", - cutoff frequency between

and 360 cuts / hour.

  The supply circuit attached to the

  drive motor 12 is similar to the previous one, with different

  following references: It only includes a potentiometer

  setting 40, the other being replaced by a predeter resistance-

  mined 50 which has the function of producing at each inversion a

  short delay for energizing opposite sign.

  In addition at the exit of the upper floor

  fold 51, the signal is divided by 2 in a divider 52 and is sent with the initial signal in logic gates

  53 and 54 which operate alternately, with a rest time

  late between two opposite alternations. When the switch 37 is in the automatic position, these alternations generate

  positive or negative supply to the motor 12.

  The resistance 50 can be adjusted according to the parameters of the other components so that the successive edges of two successive opposite half-waves are offset by a time of the order of 3 "; this delay allows the motor to stop naturally at each inversion and

  leave in the opposite direction without risk of deterioration.

  The potentiometer 40 can be chosen as a function of the parameters of the other components to obtain a range of adjustment of the inversion frequency of between and 360 inversionslhours. Of course the circuits mentioned above

  are just an example of implementation and other types of

may be provided.

The operation of the device is

  explained below in Figures 7, 8 and 9.

When the pump motor 11 is

  cut, the device is no longer applied against the immersed surface

  managed by reaction of the outgoing flow through the outlet 7; if it is on a flat surface (bottom of swimming pool), the slightest external action modifies its trajectory and in particular the slight traction of cable 4 causes it to deviate (this cut with deviation of trajectory is shown diagrammatically in P1 in the figure

  7). If, on the other hand, the device is on a green surface

  vertical or very inclined (pool walls)} it slides along it until it comes into contact with the bottom (point P2

in Figure 7).

  Thus the combination of cuts cuts

  pump sequentials and sequential reversals not if-

  multi-year drive engine leads to a trajectory, having a random character at the level of each modification,

  but which globally can be adapted to a given job.

  For example 11 it is possible to adapt this trajectory so as to achieve a uniform sweep

  of a given swimming pool. To illustrate this faculty we have schema-

  in Figure 7 two swimming pools of different dimensions

* superimposed one on the other.

  It is assumed in both cases that the vi-

  The progression rate of the device is 0.2 mis. Parameter settings are as follows: Small size swimming pool Cutoff frequency: 120 / hour ^ Pump motor Pump motor IDuration of each cutoff: 6 "to 35 Drive motor Reversing frequency: 60 / hour Large swimming pool dimensions I Cutoff frequency: 80 / hour! 5 Pump motor Pump motor IDuration of each cutoff: 10 "to 3 Drive motor | Reversal frequency: 40 / hour The pump cut-off time is

  longer in the case of a large pool

  to give the device time to slide completely

  along the vertical walls if it is at the water line (this-

  the pool being supposed to be deeper than the pool of small

  The setting of the cut-off time determines the ampli

  study of the angular deviation carried out at each cut.

  In each of the swimming pools, the inversion frequency is expected to be low enough so that the device has time to cover the greatest length without retreating from its

  not. The pump cut-off frequency is expected to be higher.

  aunt so that the device slides along the vertical walls shortly after reaching the water line. If the device

  runs lengthwise along the pool, a short break

  intermediate (P1) causes a deviation of its trajectory. Com-

  allows me to understand it the diagram of figure 7, of the

  The appropriate parameters mentioned above make it possible to obtain, in both cases of swimming pools, a uniform scanning of the latter without premature return of the device during the journeys and without the latter remaining too long along the line d 'water (in the figures, P is' the symbol of a cut in the

  pump and I that of a reversal of the direction of progression).

  In addition, we have schematically shown

  gure 8 the trajectory of a device set to clean the Fonû

  of a swimming pool pit. Reversals are set to a frequency

  quence such as the path of the device between two inversions

  or about the length of the pit. The frequency of

  pure pump is set to a higher value so as to cause frequent trajectory deviations; in addition

  the duration of the cuts is also expected to be of higher value.

  designed to generate larger deviations.

  Figure 9 illustrates the opposite case where the user wishes to clean the walls more specifically

  verticals and the water line. The inversion frequency is pre-

  seen at a very low value (5 to 10 / hour), the inversion being

  essentially intended to avoid possible jamming of the device

  the same in a corner. The pump cut-off frequency is

  on the contrary adjusted to a much higher value depends

  from the height of the vertical walls to be cleaned, in order to

  due to a trajectory of the type of that of FIG. 9. After the device has fallen, it goes up along the wall, arrives at the water line, moves transversely under the effect of the imbalance already mentioned, until a new cut

pump causes it to drop.

  Experiments in basins

  of different shapes have shown that it is easy after-

  try to find the optimal values of the parameters

  depending on the desired cleaning job.

  We understand the flexibility of use that allows such a device in the absence of any random generator.

Claims (10)

  1 / - Apparatus for automatically cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid, comprising a hollow body (5), members for driving said body on the surface to be cleaned (21), a reversible electric motor (12) arranged   in the body to transmit a rotational movement to the   so-called drive bodies, electrical supply means   that said motor comprising sequential reversing means   direction of the electric current, a filtration chamber (5a) if-   killed inside the body, an inlet (6a) of liquid to the filtration chamber located at the base of the body; a pump (14) driven by an electric motor (11) to bring the   liquid to circulate in the filtration chamber, and an outlet   tie (7) of the liquid discharged by the pump, arranged opposite the base of the body, said cleaning device being characterized in that the electric motor of the pump (11) is associated with means of electrical supply ( 33) including means   sequential interrupt, capable of generating at pre-frequency   cuts / determined or random of / said power supply for   predetermined or random cut-off times. 2 / - Cleaning device according to   claim 1, characterized in that the means for interrupting   sequential tion are adapted to generate a predetermined cutoff frequency between 10 and 360 cuts / hour and a predetermined duration for each cut between 1 and 60 seconds. 3 / - Cleaning device according to the   claim 2, characterized in that the means for interrupting   Sequential controls are adjustable to adjust the cutoff frequency and duration. of each cut in the above-mentioned ranges.   4 / - Cleaning device according to one   claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the means   sequence switches are adjustable and suitable for engen-   with an inverting frequency of the adjustable drive motor   ble between 5 and 360 inversions / hour.   / - Cleaning device according to one   claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises   takes at least one movable finger (26) arranged on one side of the body to be able to present two positions, a passive position where said finger is set back with respect to the plane of contact of the drive members with the submerged surface, and a positipn active o said finger comes to or exceeds this plane, said finger being associated with means   remote control (23, 24, 35) adapted to generate its displacement cement from one position to another.   6 / - Cleaning device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises two movable fingers (26) arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axial plane of the body, each finger being associated with means   remote control (23, 24, 35) for controlling it independently hanging from the other finger.   7 / - Cleaning device according to one   claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the means   remote control of each finger include: an electromagnet (23, 24) provided   a core formed by said finger, which is associated in a   to find himself in his active postion when said electro-   magnet is excited, means for electrically exciting said electromagnet, and means (27) for returning the   finger towards its passive position in the absence of excitation.   8 / - Cleaning device according to one   claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, characterized in   the electric drive motor (12), and the   the pump (11) are connected to their electrical supply means   stick (33) by electrical conductors (28, 29) forming   a waterproof cable (4), of suitable length to arrange the   said means of supply with their means of separate interruption   quential or their means of sequential inversion in a   box (3) located outside the liquid.   9 / - Cleaning device according to   claims 7 and 8 taken together, characterized in that   the electromagnet (s) (23, 24) are connected to their electrical excitation means (34, 35) by sheathed conductors   (30., 31) linked to the aforementioned cable (4). 10 / - Cleaning device according to   one of the preceding claims, comprising a float   (22) articulated on the body (5) in a transverse plane, the mo-   tor of the pump (11) being disposed in the body in a central zone thereof, while the storage motor (12) is disposed in an eccentric position transversely to to this central area. 11 / - Cleaning device according to   one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it   includes two drive members consisting of two wheels   transverse cylindrical waters (20) arranged at the two ends   mites of the body, each dressed by a flexible honeycomb sleeve (21). 12 / Cleaning device according to   one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   the pump motor (11) and the drive motor (12) are housed in a sealed casing (8) externally provided with ribs (9) against which a pocket of bearing comes to bear   filtration (10) arranged in the filtration chamber (Sa).