US20130091641A1 - Robot for cleaning swimming pools - Google Patents

Robot for cleaning swimming pools Download PDF

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Publication number
US20130091641A1
US20130091641A1 US13/654,755 US201213654755A US2013091641A1 US 20130091641 A1 US20130091641 A1 US 20130091641A1 US 201213654755 A US201213654755 A US 201213654755A US 2013091641 A1 US2013091641 A1 US 2013091641A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
robot
wheels
drive shaft
swimming pools
cleaning
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
US13/654,755
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English (en)
Inventor
Torem BEN ZION
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.)
Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd
Original Assignee
Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd
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 Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd filed Critical Aquatron Robotic Technology Ltd
Assigned to AQUATRON ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY LTD., ALON TAVOR INDUSTRIAL ZONE reassignment AQUATRON ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY LTD., ALON TAVOR INDUSTRIAL ZONE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BEN ZION, TOREM
Publication of US20130091641A1 publication Critical patent/US20130091641A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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 present invention relates to a robot for cleaning swimming pools, which can be applied to the aquatic facility maintenance industry, and more specifically in the environment of performing automated maintenance tasks in swimming pool basins.
  • robots for cleaning swimming pools the movement means of which consist of wheels, have recently emerged on the market, such as for example the model described in U.S. design Pat. application No. UD-D599967-S.
  • This robot has a front cleaning roller or brush and a rear propulsion turbine, and consists of four wheels independent from one another and two geared motors, such that the robot has two drive wheels, which in the mentioned example are the front wheels.
  • the present invention relates to a robot for cleaning swimming pools which allows having a four-wheel drive and bidirectional robot, all with a simple arrangement, which has a lower cost than currently existing robots.
  • the robot of the invention allows a much simpler assembly and maintenance than the currently existing robots, precisely because of the simplicity in the number of necessary elements as well as their arrangement.
  • the robot proposed by the invention comprises driving means which can transmit its movement to movement means comprising two wheels arranged in line on each side of the robot, the robot having two sides.
  • the driving means consist of a single drive unit, which can consist of a geared motor which is operatively connected, with two wheels located on a first side of the robot, being able to transmit a driving force which is converted into movement.
  • the robot comprises at least one drive shaft which allows transmitting the movement originating from the drive unit from said first side to the wheels located on a second side.
  • the robot of the invention thus has the particularity that it can be considered a 4 ⁇ 4 robot, with four-wheel drive, which allows the robot to move in any direction, i.e., it can go forwards or backwards indistinctly.
  • the robot does not involve any cleaning down time during its operation, in addition to the robot being able to overcome obstacles more easily as a result of the four-wheel drive with a single traction motor.
  • the robot of the invention allows reducing the number of necessary components, and therefore the space, which in turn facilitates its maintenance and allows reducing manufacturing, maintenance and repair costs with respect to the currently existing robots, all these determining factors being especially relevant given the robot work place conditions, requiring complete water-tightness.
  • the invention thus allows reducing the total cost of the device by reducing the geared motors from two to one, with all this implies in terms of reducing components and risk when the device works under water.
  • the robot comprising at least one cleaning roller which is located around a drive shaft is contemplated; said drive shaft is thus used to be incorporated into a cleaning brush which, though optional, is very useful.
  • the drive shaft being arranged in its operating position by means of housing at least two pins in at least two holes is also contemplated, the pins being able to be located in the drive shaft and the holes in a casing which the robot comprises robot, or the other way round, which allows the drive shaft to be unlocked sequentially, first from one hole and then from another, and thus be easily removed by the user for changing the cleaning roller, without the need for a technical operator to intervene.
  • Said pins being retractable is likewise contemplated.
  • the drive shaft can be removed by the user him/herself for maintenance or replacement for allowing the interchangeability both of the shaft and of the roller is a huge advantage given that current robots require said change to be done by technical services, although in recent models the cleaning rollers can be removed by the user him/herself since they are attached to the casing by means of screws.
  • the robot of the invention has the advantage that it does not require screws for locking the drive shaft in its operating position, on it can be removed to change the rollers for maintenance or replacement with a simple key, or even with a pen or the like, sequentially pressing on the pins to unlock them.
  • the shaft and the brush can thus be removed without the need for tools such as screwdrivers, etc.
  • FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the robot for cleaning swimming pools proposed by the invention, the location of the dirt storage tanks being able to be seen.
  • FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the robot, in which the suction openings and the cleaning roller can be seen in the operating position.
  • FIG. 3 shows a schematic side perspective view of the robot, in which some elements have been depicted in a transparent and translucent manner for the purpose of allowing the transmission means for transmitting movement from the driving means to the movement means to be seen.
  • FIG. 4 shows a top schematic perspective view of the robot in which only the transmission means and the movement means, as well as a cleaning roller located in the drive shaft, have been depicted, the transmission of movement to the driving means, specifically by means of sprocket wheels fixed to the inner side of the wheels, particularly being able to be seen.
  • FIG. 5 shows a top perspective view of the robot in which the arrangement of the drive unit in the robot can be seen, for which one of the dirt storage tanks has been depicted removed.
  • FIG. 6 shows two views of the drive shaft, with and without cleaning roller.
  • FIG. 7 shows a bottom side perspective view of the robot, in which the manner in which the drive shaft can be removed by means of sequentially unlocking the pins located at the ends of the drive shaft can be seen.
  • FIG. 8 shows a bottom perspective view of the robot with the drive shaft removed, the holes which the casing has for housing the pins of the drive shaft, as well as the lower space taken up by the cleaning roller when it is in an operating position, i.e., incorporated around the drive shaft when it is placed in the robot, being able to be seen, the intermediate wheels transmitting movement to the transmission wheels which the drive shaft has at its ends can also partially be seen.
  • FIG. 9 shows a top perspective view of the robot in which the upper suspension handle has been depicted raised and one of the dirt storage tanks removed and the other raised for its removal by means of its corresponding handle, has been depicted.
  • FIG. 10 shows a view like that of the preceding figure, in which the tank which had been depicted raised is completely removed with a side collapsed for allowing its inside to be cleaned.
  • Said movement means comprise two wheels ( 2 ) arranged in line on each side ( 3 , 4 ) of the robot, the robot having two sides ( 3 , 4 ).
  • the driving means consist of a single drive unit ( 5 ), specifically a geared motor, which is operatively connected to two wheels ( 2 ) located on a first side ( 3 ) of the robot.
  • the robot also comprises at least one drive shaft ( 6 ) which allows transmitting the movement originating from the drive unit ( 5 ) from said first side ( 3 ) to the wheels ( 2 ) located on a second side ( 4 ).
  • the robot comprises a drive sprocket wheel ( 7 ) directly connected to the drive unit ( 5 ), said drive sprocket wheel ( 7 ) being operatively connected to a first intermediate sprocket wheel ( 8 ) which can transmit movement to two wheels ( 2 ) located on the first side ( 3 ) of the robot, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 .
  • Said first intermediate sprocket wheel ( 8 ) can in turn be operatively connected to a first transmission sprocket wheel ( 9 ) which is fixed at a first end of the drive shaft ( 6 ), where a second end of said drive shaft has a second transmission sprocket wheel ( 9 ′) fixed thereto which can be operatively connected to a second intermediate sprocket wheel ( 8 ′) which can transmit movement to two wheels ( 2 ) located on the second side ( 4 ) of the robot.
  • the output shaft of the drive unit ( 5 ) is preferably located perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of forward movement the robot.
  • the transmission of movement from the intermediate sprocket wheels ( 8 , 8 ′) to the wheels ( 2 ) is performed by means of sprocket wheels ( 10 ) which are fixed to the inner side of the wheels ( 2 ), said sprocket wheels ( 10 ) being operatively connected to the intermediate sprocket wheels ( 8 , 8 ′).
  • the cleaning roller ( 1 ) is located around the drive shaft ( 6 ).
  • the rotation speed of the drive shaft ( 6 ) is obviously greater than that of the wheels ( 2 ) so the cleaning roller ( 1 ) rotates at that same greater speed, thus increasing cleaning efficiency.
  • the drive shaft ( 6 ) is arranged in its operating position by means of housing two pins ( 11 ) in two holes ( 12 ) located in the casing ( 13 ) of the robot, thus allowing its sequential unlocking, as seen in FIG. 7 .
  • said casing ( 13 ) or enclosure serves as a block in which the drive unit ( 5 ), as well as electronic control modules of the robot and a pump motor like those usually incorporated in robots of this type for performing cleaning tasks, are housed.
  • the robot also comprises an upper suspension handle ( 17 ), equally collapsible during the operation of the robot, which allows lifting the robot to be transported as a whole.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Suction Cleaners (AREA)
  • Manipulator (AREA)
US13/654,755 2011-10-18 2012-10-18 Robot for cleaning swimming pools Abandoned US20130091641A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ESP201131675 2011-10-18
ES201131675A ES2374887B1 (es) 2011-10-18 2011-10-18 Robot para limpiar piscinas.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20130091641A1 true US20130091641A1 (en) 2013-04-18

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/654,755 Abandoned US20130091641A1 (en) 2011-10-18 2012-10-18 Robot for cleaning swimming pools

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US20130091641A1 (es)
EP (1) EP2584118A3 (es)
ES (1) ES2374887B1 (es)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014150506A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-25 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaning device with wheel drive assemblies
US9476216B2 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-10-25 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Two-wheel actuator steering system and method for pool cleaner
US9850672B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2017-12-26 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Alternating paddle mechanism for pool cleaner
US9874196B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2018-01-23 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Double paddle mechanism for pool cleaner
US9878739B1 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-01-30 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner modular drivetrain
US9885194B1 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-02-06 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner impeller subassembly
US9885196B2 (en) 2015-01-26 2018-02-06 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner power coupling
US9896858B1 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-02-20 Hayward Industries, Inc. Hydrocyclonic pool cleaner
US9909333B2 (en) 2015-01-26 2018-03-06 Hayward Industries, Inc. Swimming pool cleaner with hydrocyclonic particle separator and/or six-roller drive system
WO2018187445A1 (en) * 2017-04-04 2018-10-11 Nc Brands L.P. Pool cleaner with gear drive and related apparatus and methods
US10156083B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-12-18 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner power coupling
US10161153B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-12-25 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner canister handle

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102014017366A1 (de) * 2014-11-24 2016-05-25 Daiber Werbetechnik GmbH Unterwasser-Reinigungsmaschine mit einer Fahrwerkeinrichtung

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110088181A1 (en) * 2009-10-19 2011-04-21 Poolvergnuegen Convertible Pressure/Suction Swimming Pool Cleaner
US20110203060A1 (en) * 2008-08-04 2011-08-25 Philippe Pichon Rolling apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface with orientatable driving flux

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1217945B (it) * 1988-06-28 1990-03-30 Egatechnics Srl Pulitore automatico semovente per piscine
WO2003085225A1 (en) * 2002-03-29 2003-10-16 Polaris Pool Systems, Inc. Pool cleaner
US20060059637A1 (en) * 2004-09-20 2006-03-23 Igor Fridman Apparatus for improved subaqueous stability
US8117704B2 (en) * 2005-11-01 2012-02-21 Integrated Pool Products (Pty) Ltd Swimming pool cleaner
ITFI20050234A1 (it) * 2005-11-15 2007-05-16 Fabio Bernini Pulitore automatico per piscine
FR2925555B1 (fr) * 2007-12-21 2010-01-22 Zodiac Pool Care Europe Appareil nettoyeur de surface immergee a vidange aisee
US8424142B2 (en) 2009-06-04 2013-04-23 Maytronics Ltd. Pool cleaning robot

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110203060A1 (en) * 2008-08-04 2011-08-25 Philippe Pichon Rolling apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface with orientatable driving flux
US20110088181A1 (en) * 2009-10-19 2011-04-21 Poolvergnuegen Convertible Pressure/Suction Swimming Pool Cleaner

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10156082B2 (en) 2013-03-11 2018-12-18 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Two-wheel actuator steering system and method for pool cleaner
US9476216B2 (en) 2013-03-11 2016-10-25 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Two-wheel actuator steering system and method for pool cleaner
US9874196B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2018-01-23 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Double paddle mechanism for pool cleaner
US9850672B2 (en) 2013-03-13 2017-12-26 Pentair Water Pool And Spa, Inc. Alternating paddle mechanism for pool cleaner
WO2014150506A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-25 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaning device with wheel drive assemblies
US9677294B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2017-06-13 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaning device with wheel drive assemblies
US11236523B2 (en) 2015-01-26 2022-02-01 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner with cyclonic flow
US10557278B2 (en) 2015-01-26 2020-02-11 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner with cyclonic flow
US9885196B2 (en) 2015-01-26 2018-02-06 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner power coupling
US9909333B2 (en) 2015-01-26 2018-03-06 Hayward Industries, Inc. Swimming pool cleaner with hydrocyclonic particle separator and/or six-roller drive system
WO2018187445A1 (en) * 2017-04-04 2018-10-11 Nc Brands L.P. Pool cleaner with gear drive and related apparatus and methods
US10155538B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-12-18 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner modular drivetrain
US9896858B1 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-02-20 Hayward Industries, Inc. Hydrocyclonic pool cleaner
US10156083B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-12-18 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner power coupling
US10161153B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-12-25 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner canister handle
US10253517B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2019-04-09 Hayward Industries, Inc. Hydrocyclonic pool cleaner
US9885194B1 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-02-06 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner impeller subassembly
US10767382B2 (en) 2017-05-11 2020-09-08 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner impeller subassembly
US9878739B1 (en) 2017-05-11 2018-01-30 Hayward Industries, Inc. Pool cleaner modular drivetrain

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2584118A3 (en) 2015-05-27
ES2374887A1 (es) 2012-02-23
EP2584118A2 (en) 2013-04-24
ES2374887B1 (es) 2013-01-03

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AQUATRON ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY LTD., ALON TAVOR INDUS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BEN ZION, TOREM;REEL/FRAME:029595/0808

Effective date: 20121017

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

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