US20090229061A1 - Pool cleaners - Google Patents

Pool cleaners Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090229061A1
US20090229061A1 US12/402,516 US40251609A US2009229061A1 US 20090229061 A1 US20090229061 A1 US 20090229061A1 US 40251609 A US40251609 A US 40251609A US 2009229061 A1 US2009229061 A1 US 2009229061A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
swimming pool
pool cleaner
automatic swimming
cleaner according
cover
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/402,516
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gerhardus J. Stoltz
David A. Klimas
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US12/402,516 priority Critical patent/US20090229061A1/en
Assigned to ZODIAC POOL CARE, INC. reassignment ZODIAC POOL CARE, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KLIMAS, DAVID A., MR., STOLTZ, GERHARDUS J., MR.
Publication of US20090229061A1 publication Critical patent/US20090229061A1/en
Assigned to ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS, INC. reassignment ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS, INC. MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ZODIAC POOL CARE, INC.
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H4/00—Swimming or splash baths or pools
    • E04H4/14—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
    • E04H4/16—Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for specially adapted for cleaning
    • E04H4/1654—Self-propelled cleaners
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H7/00—Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members
    • F16H7/08—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains
    • F16H2007/0802—Actuators for final output members
    • F16H2007/0806—Compression coil springs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H7/00—Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members
    • F16H7/08—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains
    • F16H2007/0863—Finally actuated members, e.g. constructional details thereof
    • F16H2007/0874—Two or more finally actuated members
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H7/00—Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members
    • F16H7/08—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains
    • F16H2007/0889—Path of movement of the finally actuated member
    • F16H2007/0893—Circular path

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to devices for cleaning swimming pools or other vessels and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to wheeled, pressure-side automatic pool cleaners.
  • the cleaner may include a contoured external housing encasing a hydraulic drive system, which system drives multiple wheels. Also included as part of the cleaner may be a hydraulic vacuum system for drawing debris-laden fluid (e.g. pool water) through a bag to filter the debris from the fluid.
  • debris-laden fluid e.g. pool water
  • the present invention provides alternatives to the pool cleaner shown in the Wichmann patent. These cleaners too may have external housings (contoured if desired) encasing hydraulic drive systems for rotating one or more wheels. They likewise may have hydraulic vacuum systems and utilize bags or other objects as filters.
  • cleaners of the present invention include mechanisms for tensioning drive chains.
  • Such mechanisms may include one or more spring-loaded rollers for biasing the chains at selected locations.
  • a turbine or other hydraulic device may drive a wheel directly.
  • cleaners of the current design are water-management and drive systems in which most—if not all—wearing parts are accessible at the bottom of the device. As a consequence, removing merely a bottom cover of the housing renders accessible many or all of these wearing parts. (Alternatively, some or all wearing parts may be positioned so as to be accessible from the top of the device following removal of a top cover.) Better control of the center of gravity (CG) of the cleaner also may be achieved by incorporating weighting into the frame of the cleaner.
  • CG center of gravity
  • Novel cleaners of the present invention additionally may include multiple openings at or adjacent the rears of their bodies. Such multiple openings allow water flow through the bodies, reducing drag as the cleaners move forward. The holes further may permit certain-sized debris to exit the cleaners rather than potentially being trapped within the bodies.
  • cleaners of the present invention may, if desired, include turbines with multiple side walls. Surrounding both sides of each turbine blade with walls admits more efficient power transfer from the pressurized water to the blades.
  • one side wall is molded integrally with the blades to form a base assembly, while the other side wall is not. Instead, the non-integral wall preferably is snap fitted onto the base assembly, concurrently capturing a bearing between the walls.
  • the side walls and blades may be attached or connected in manners other than those expressly described and illustrated herein.
  • FIG. 1 is a right side elevational view of an exemplary cleaner of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 .
  • FIGS. 7-8 illustrate, among other things, aspects of a drive chain assembly of the cleaner of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a turbine of the cleaner of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the turbine of FIG. 9 .
  • cleaner 10 of the present invention.
  • Cleaner 10 may comprise housing 14 and one or more wheels 18 .
  • cleaner 10 preferably (although not necessarily) includes three wheels 18 A-C, with two wheels 18 A-B positioned at right side 22 of housing 14 and one wheel 18 C positioned at left side 26 of the housing 14 .
  • cleaner 10 When in use, cleaner 10 is designed to traverse floors and side walls of a fluid-containing vessel such as a swimming pool. Debris-containing water is evacuated from the pool into mouth 30 of housing 14 and thence via outlet 34 into a bag or other structure.
  • the bag or other structure preferably is porous and configured such that water may flow therethrough so as to return to the pool, whereas debris of certain size is retained therein. When the bag or other structure is partially or completely filled with debris, it may be separated from outlet 34 and emptied outside of the pool.
  • Both the drive and vacuuming systems of cleaner 10 may be hydraulically powered.
  • Preferred versions of cleaner 10 connect to a main filtration system of a swimming pool.
  • these versions of cleaner 10 connect to filtration (or booster) pump outlets via a hose attached to mast 38 of housing 14 .
  • Pressurized water exiting the pump travels through the hose into the housing 14 so as to supply power for the drive and vacuuming systems.
  • Thrust jet 42 may be positioned at or near rear 46 of housing 14 and oriented to exhaust some of the pressurized water rearward of the cleaner 10 so as to assist forward movement thereof.
  • positioned and oriented may be sweep hose fitting 50 , to which a sweep hose may be connected when cleaner 10 is in use.
  • thrust jet 42 may be configured to be reoriented (as by a user) in use to supply any or all of an upward, downward, or lateral vector to the exhausted water flow.
  • FIGS. 7-8 illustrate aspects of chain drive assembly 54 of cleaner 10 .
  • Assembly 54 is used to drive wheels 18 A-B concurrently, employing hydraulic power yielded by turbine 56 (see FIGS. 9-10 ) within housing 14 .
  • turbine 56 see FIGS. 9-10
  • FIGS. 7-8 illustrate aspects of chain drive assembly 54 of cleaner 10 .
  • Assembly 54 is used to drive wheels 18 A-B concurrently, employing hydraulic power yielded by turbine 56 (see FIGS. 9-10 ) within housing 14 .
  • turbine 56 see FIGS. 9-10
  • Coupled to the power source are drive sprockets 58 A-B, one associated with (and connected directly or indirectly to) each of wheels 18 A-B. Positioned about and engaging both sprockets 58 A-B is continuous chain 62 . Chain 62 also engages idler sprocket 66 positioned between sprockets 58 A-B.
  • tensioning mechanism 68 which includes rollers 70 and 74 , connector 78 , and (coil or other) spring 82 .
  • rollers 70 and 74 are adapted to rotate about its respective axis 86 and 90 , rollers 70 and 74 are coupled via connector 78 so they move together linearly. Stated differently, at all times the distance between axes 86 and 90 should be the same.
  • roller 74 is connected to an end of spring 82 , whose opposite end is connected to internal frame 94 .
  • Spring 82 biases roller 74 downward (in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 7 ). Because of the connection between rollers 70 and 74 , roller 70 is biased downward as well.
  • Rollers 70 and 74 may be spool shaped (see FIG. 8 ) and receive chain 62 about their central cores. By threading chain 62 about rollers 70 and 74 below their respective axes 86 and 90 , both rollers 70 and 74 push the chain 62 downward because of the biasing force of spring 82 . Should any slack occur in chain 62 , such slack will result in spring 82 expanding, forcing rollers 70 and 74 downward so as to increase slightly the travel path of chain 62 . This increase in travel path operates to remove the slack from chain 62 , hence tensioning it.
  • cleaner 10 Other features include weighting incorporated into frame 94 and buoyancy means 98 incorporated into cowling 102 . Incorporating weighting into the frame 94 allows better control over the CG of cleaner 10 . Fixing position of buoyancy means 98 (which may be a float) relative to cowling 102 allows for balancing cleaner 10 without concern about buoyancy means 98 moving in use.
  • FIG. 6 Depicted in FIG. 6 is bottom cover 106 of housing 14 .
  • Cover 106 may be attached either to internal frame 94 or to another portion of housing 14 .
  • FIG. 6 illustrates three screws 110 connecting cover 106 to frame 94 , more or fewer screws may be utilized as desired, as may fasteners other than screws.
  • cover 106 allows ready access to most—if not all—wearing components within housing 14 should any need replacement or repair.
  • Body 14 additionally may incorporate at least one, and preferably multiple, openings 112 located at or near rear 46 . Openings 112 allow water within body 14 to exit as cleaner 10 moves forward in pool water, thus reducing drag experienced by the cleaner 10 while in transit. Openings 112 also may help prevent debris from being trapped within, and possibly clogging, body 14 , by providing the debris multiple opportunities to exit the body 14 .
  • FIGS. 9-10 illustrate turbine 56 of cleaner 10 .
  • turbine 56 may comprise base assembly 114 , bearing 118 , and first side wall 122 .
  • Assembly 114 in turn may comprise second side wall 126 , boss 130 , upstanding wall 134 , and multiple curved blades 138 extending from the upstanding wall 134 .
  • Components of assembly 114 preferably are integrally formed (as by molding), although such integral formation is not absolutely necessary.
  • Boss 130 may be centrally positioned radially relative to second side wall 126 .
  • bearing 118 may be placed within boss 130 , with first side wall 122 then being snap fitted onto assembly 114 . So fitting first side wall 122 captures bearing 118 between the first and second side walls 122 and 126 . It also provides walls to both sides of each blade 138 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
US12/402,516 2008-03-12 2009-03-12 Pool cleaners Abandoned US20090229061A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/402,516 US20090229061A1 (en) 2008-03-12 2009-03-12 Pool cleaners

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3588208P 2008-03-12 2008-03-12
US12/402,516 US20090229061A1 (en) 2008-03-12 2009-03-12 Pool cleaners

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090229061A1 true US20090229061A1 (en) 2009-09-17

Family

ID=41061357

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/402,516 Abandoned US20090229061A1 (en) 2008-03-12 2009-03-12 Pool cleaners

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20090229061A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2263024A2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2009114652A2 (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9032575B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2015-05-19 Pavel Sebor Turbine-driven swimming pool cleaning apparatus and method
USD733374S1 (en) * 2011-10-03 2015-06-30 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Pool cleaner
US9611668B2 (en) 2010-06-28 2017-04-04 Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc. Automatic pool cleaners and components thereof
USD808095S1 (en) 2013-09-04 2018-01-16 Pavel Sebor Swimming pool cleaner
US9982452B2 (en) 2014-05-21 2018-05-29 Compurobot Technology Company Pool cleaner
EP3266959A3 (fr) * 2012-09-26 2018-05-30 Hayward Industries, Inc. Système de nettoyage de piscine
US10036175B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2018-07-31 Pavel Sebor Turbine-driven swimming pool cleaning apparatus and method
US11124983B2 (en) 2020-02-19 2021-09-21 Pavel Sebor Automatic pool cleaner
USD1020144S1 (en) * 2023-04-12 2024-03-26 Shenzhen Junkaida Innovation Technology Co., Ltd Underwater cleaning robot
USD1024465S1 (en) * 2022-04-19 2024-04-23 Poolelf Smart Technology Co., Ltd. Swimming pool cleaner
USD1027342S1 (en) * 2022-04-19 2024-05-14 Poolelf Smart Technology Co., Ltd. Swimming pool cleaner robot

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2923954A (en) * 1960-02-09 babcock
US4589986A (en) * 1984-01-26 1986-05-20 Alopex Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner
US20030224889A1 (en) * 2002-06-03 2003-12-04 Tai-Yang Luh Idle wheel adjustment assembly
US6665900B2 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-12-23 Polaris Pool Systems Pool cleaner
US6740233B2 (en) * 2002-05-03 2004-05-25 Polaris Pool Systems, Inc. Bag clip for a pool cleaner filter bag
US7029583B2 (en) * 2003-08-20 2006-04-18 Polaris Pool Systems Inc. Hose clasp for a pool cleaner filter bag

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4427508A1 (de) * 1994-08-03 1996-02-08 Linde Ag Zugmittelgetriebe mit einer Spannvorrichtung

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2923954A (en) * 1960-02-09 babcock
US4589986A (en) * 1984-01-26 1986-05-20 Alopex Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner
US6665900B2 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-12-23 Polaris Pool Systems Pool cleaner
US6740233B2 (en) * 2002-05-03 2004-05-25 Polaris Pool Systems, Inc. Bag clip for a pool cleaner filter bag
US20030224889A1 (en) * 2002-06-03 2003-12-04 Tai-Yang Luh Idle wheel adjustment assembly
US7029583B2 (en) * 2003-08-20 2006-04-18 Polaris Pool Systems Inc. Hose clasp for a pool cleaner filter bag

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9611668B2 (en) 2010-06-28 2017-04-04 Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc. Automatic pool cleaners and components thereof
USD733374S1 (en) * 2011-10-03 2015-06-30 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Pool cleaner
USD840621S1 (en) 2011-10-03 2019-02-12 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Pool cleaner
USD747574S1 (en) * 2011-10-03 2016-01-12 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Pool cleaner
USD747573S1 (en) * 2011-10-03 2016-01-12 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Pool cleaner
USD790787S1 (en) 2011-10-03 2017-06-27 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Pool cleaner
EP3266959A3 (fr) * 2012-09-26 2018-05-30 Hayward Industries, Inc. Système de nettoyage de piscine
US10036175B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2018-07-31 Pavel Sebor Turbine-driven swimming pool cleaning apparatus and method
US11359398B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2022-06-14 Pavel Sebor Turbine-driven swimming pool cleaning apparatus
US9032575B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2015-05-19 Pavel Sebor Turbine-driven swimming pool cleaning apparatus and method
US10145137B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2018-12-04 Pavel Sebor Turbine-driven swimming pool cleaning apparatus
US9217260B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2015-12-22 Pavel Sebor Turbine-driven swimming pool cleaning apparatus and method
US10584507B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2020-03-10 Pavel Sebor Turbine-driven swimming pool cleaning apparatus
USD808095S1 (en) 2013-09-04 2018-01-16 Pavel Sebor Swimming pool cleaner
US9982452B2 (en) 2014-05-21 2018-05-29 Compurobot Technology Company Pool cleaner
US11124983B2 (en) 2020-02-19 2021-09-21 Pavel Sebor Automatic pool cleaner
US11674325B2 (en) 2020-02-19 2023-06-13 Pavel Sebor Automatic pool cleaner
US12065856B2 (en) 2020-02-19 2024-08-20 Pavel Sebor Automatic pool cleaner
USD1024465S1 (en) * 2022-04-19 2024-04-23 Poolelf Smart Technology Co., Ltd. Swimming pool cleaner
USD1027342S1 (en) * 2022-04-19 2024-05-14 Poolelf Smart Technology Co., Ltd. Swimming pool cleaner robot
USD1020144S1 (en) * 2023-04-12 2024-03-26 Shenzhen Junkaida Innovation Technology Co., Ltd Underwater cleaning robot

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2263024A2 (fr) 2010-12-22
WO2009114652A2 (fr) 2009-09-17
WO2009114652A3 (fr) 2010-05-20

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ZODIAC POOL CARE, INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:STOLTZ, GERHARDUS J., MR.;KLIMAS, DAVID A., MR.;REEL/FRAME:022532/0775

Effective date: 20090317

AS Assignment

Owner name: ZODIAC POOL SYSTEMS, INC., CALIFORNIA

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:ZODIAC POOL CARE, INC.;REEL/FRAME:025114/0557

Effective date: 20100927

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION