US2919027A

US2919027A - Swimming pool cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2919027A
Application number: US727912A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles M Blumenfeld
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-04-11
Filing date: 1958-04-11
Publication date: 1959-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-29

Description

Dec. 29, 1959 c. M. BLUMENFELD 2,919,027

SWIMMING POOL CLEANING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. CHARLES M. BLUMENFELD M,7Mce M AT TORNEYS Dec. 29, 1959 c. M. BLUMENFELD 2,919,027

SWIMMING POOL CLEANING APPARATUS Filed April ll, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES M. BLUMENFELD ATTORNEYS Dec. 29, 1959 I c. M. BLUMENFELD 2,919,027

SWIMMING POOL CLEANING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1958 FIGA 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. CHARLES M. BLUMENFELD MMLGW ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 2,919,027 Patented Dec. 29, 1959 2,919,027 SWIMMING POOL CLEANING APPARATUS Charles M. Blumenfeld, Sarcamento, Calif. Application April 11, 1958, Serial No. 727,912 6 Claims. (Cl. 210169) This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning swimming pools.

The cleaning of sediment from the bottom of swimming pools is required at regular intervals, and at the present time, represents a considerable maintenance cost. The present method involves the use of a manually operated suction head to pick up sediment off the bottom of the pool. This method is efiectiv'e, but it requires one or two men several hours to do a thorough job on the average size residential swimming pool. Since the cleaning operation must be done approximately once a month, it is an appreciable expense in pool maintenance.

This invention provides an automatic cleaning device for removing sediment from the swimming pools without requiring supervision of an operator. The device of this invention can be set to start the cleaning operation, and left for any length of period required to complete the job. Thus, one man can set a plurality of the devices in pools located considerable distances apart and leave the devices running without any supervision. The same man can later pick up the devices after the pools are clean. In this way a one man crew can service many pools almost simultaneously, which is not possible with the presently available techniques.

Briefly, this invention contemplates swimming pool cleaning apparatus which includes a water filtering system, and an elongated conduit which is free at one end. The other end of the conduit is connected to a source of water under pressure, and means are provided for disposing the free end of the conduit adjacent the swimming pool bottom so that sediment on the bottom of the pool is stirred up as water flows out the free end of the conduit. The apparatus also includes means for circulating the water with stirred up sediment through the filtering system as water flows through the conduit.

In the preferred form of the invention, the conduit is a flexible hose and includes a jet or nozzle on its free end so the free end of the conduit is randomly displaced over the bottom of the pool due to the reaction of the water squirting from the jet. An elongated arm with one end disposed over the central portion of the swimming pool supports the hose or conduit. The other end of the arm is connected to a mechanical oscillator mounted on one of the swimming pool banks. The oscillator gently sweeps the arm and conduit over the pool area. The support arm is extendable and retractable, and means are provided for automatically extending and retracting the arm as it is swept back and forth by the oscillator, so the end of the arm over the pool follows a substantially rectilinear path.

One form of the invention uses a suction line with one end connected to travel with the free end of the jetting hose and with the other end connected to the filtering system so that water fed to the filter is picked up in the vicinity of the jet where a maximum of sediment is stirred up in the water.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the cleaning device mounted on the bank of a swimming pool;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the cleaning device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modification of the cleaning device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified nozzle used in the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the cleaning apparatus 10 of this invention is mounted on the side bank 11 of a swimming pool 12, which includes the usual diving board .13, ladders 14, and sump drain 15. The sump drain is connected through a sump pipe 16 and three-Way valve 16A to the inlet of a filter pump 17, which has its outlet connected by a pipe 18 to the inlet of a filter 20. The outlet of the filter 20 is connected by a pipe 21 through a first valve 22 to a clean water discharge 24 at the deep end of the pool. A line 25, which terminates at a point X is connected through a second valve 26 to line 21 between the first valve and the filter pump. A line 25A, which terminates at a point Y is adapted to be connected to the filter pump inlet when the three-way valve is turned in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the swimming pool is filled with water 27.

Referring to Figs. 3 and includes a cart 28 made up of a horizontal and rectangular frame 30 at one end of which is mounted a pair of wheels 32. An upwardly extending handle 34 is rigidly attached to the end of the cart on which the wheels are mounted, and a separate downwardly extending leg 36 is mounted at each of the corners at the other end of the frame 30 to provide a level support when the cart is positioned as shown in Fig. 4. The handle 34 is reinforced by a separate diagonal brace 37 connected at one end to the handle and its other end to an intermediate portion of the frame edge. The cart is readily portable by simply tilting the frame about the axis of the wheels to lift the legs off the ground.

A horizontal base plate 38 is rigidly attached to the frame and supports an electric motor 39, a water jetting pump 40 having an inlet 41 and an outlet 42, and a gear box 44. The electric motor drives the water pump through a shaft 46, and also drives a horizontal input shaft 48 of the gear box.

The pump inlet is connected to one end of a water intake hose 50, the other end of which extends down into the water of the pool. Power is supplied to the electric motor through electric lead 51. A 90 swivel joint 52 is connected to the pump outlet. The swivel joint is of conventional make, such as that supplied by the Barco Manufacturing Company, and is free to rotate 360 about a vertical axis (as viewed in Fig. 4). The discharge end of the swivel joint is connected to the inlet end of an elongated horizontal hollow support arm 54,. which includes a relatively small diameter section 55 connected directly to the swivel joint, and a larger diameter section 56 which makes a sliding fit over the smaller section. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the outer end of the smaller diameter section includes an enlarged annular boss 58 which makes a sliding seal inside the inner end of the larger diameter section of the support arm. An annular O-ring 60 around the boss seals the annular space between the boss and the interior of the larger section of the support arm.

A collar 62 on the inner end of the larger section of 4, the cleaning apparatus the support arm makes a sliding fit around the interme-.

diate portion of the smaller section. A downwardly extending pin 64 is rigidly attached at its upper end to the collar 62, and has its lower end disposed in a curved groove 66 formed in the upper surface of a horizontal guide plate 68 supported by vertical posts 69 welded to the frame of the cart. A horizontal circular rotatable table 70 is attached to the upper end of a vertical output shaft 72 of the gear box 44 under the guide plate, and is adapated to rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3. A vertical drive pin 74 is attached at its lower end to the rotary table, and extends up through a first longitudinal slot 76 formed in one end of an elongated lever arm 78 attached at that end by a pivot 80 to the frame of the cart. A vertical bolt 82 is disposed through a second longitudinal slot 84 at the other end of the lever arm, and is threaded into a nut 86 welded to the underside of the smaller section of the support arm.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the outer end of the support arm is bent at a 90 angle to extend vertically down through an annular buoy 88 secured to the downwardly extending part of the support arm at water level. The lower end of the support arm extends a substantial distance below the buoy into the water to provide additional stability for the arm. The upper end of a flexible hose 90 is attached to the end of the support arm below the buoy, and a nozzle 92 is attached to the free end of the hose.

The operation of the cleaning device of this invention is as follows:

The cleaning unit is set up on the side of the pool as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The intake hose 50 is placed in the water, and the jetting pump motor 39 on the cart is turned on. The recirculation pump for the filtering system is also turned on, first valve 22 opened, and second valve 26 closed. Water jetting out of the nozzle causes it to trace a random path over the bottom of the pool as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.

The motor 39 on the cart also actuates the gear box so the rotary table is turned in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3. The drive pin 74 on the rotary table travels in the first longitudinal slot 76 of the lever arm 78, causing the lever arm to oscillate back and forth through an angle of about 90. The movement of the unpivoted end of the lever arm causes the bolt 82 on the smaller section of the support arm to travel longitudinally in the second slot 84 of the lever arm and in turn oscillates the support arm about the swivel joint 52 through an angle of about 90. This movement of the 'support arm causes the traveling pin 64 on the collar of the larger section of the support arm to travel in groove 66 of the horizontal guide plate. As the support arm swings from the extreme left position shown in Fig. 3 to the extreme right position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 3, the length of the support arm is telescoped to a minimum when the support arm is over the center of the pool, and extended to a maximum when the arm is in either of the extreme right or left positions. Thus, the outer end of the support arm traces a substantially rectilinear path for the length of the pool insuring uniform coverage of the pool by the nozzle.

The water jetting from the nozzle stirs up sediment on the bottom of the pool, and the water containing the stirred up sediment is taken off at the drain 15, circulated through the recirculation pump 17, the filter 20, and returned to the pool through discharge 24. The device can be left running unattended for an unlimited period of time, and the sediment will be picked up and deposited in the pool filter.

If desired, the electric motor on the cart as shown in Fig. 4 can be replaced by a water turbine 100 as shown in Fig. 5, and the pump replaced by a stand pipe 102 having an inlet 104 connected to pipe 25 at point X (see Fig. 1). First valve 22 is closed, and second valve 26 is opened. A primary outlet 110 of the stand pipe is connected to the swivel joint 52, and a secondary outlet 112 of the stand pipe is connected to an inlet 114 of the water turbine. Water is discharged from the turbine through an outlet 116. The water turbine has a drive shaft 118 which powers the input shaft 48 of the gear box 44. The remainder of the elements of the cleaning device are identical with those described with respect to Figs. 1 through 4, and the operation of the unit shown in Fig. 5 is identical with that previously described, except that the jetting pump and electric motor are replaced by the water turbine. The arrangement of Fig. 5 has the advantage of economy, provided that the filter pump for the swimming pool is capable of delivering suflicient water to operate both the nozzle and the water turbine.

in another embodiment of the invention, the pump inlet hose 50 of the apparatus of Figs. 1 through 4 is connected to point X (see Fig. 1) of line 25. Second valve 26 is opened, and first valve 22 is closed, so that the discharge from the filter is circulated back through the pump on the cart, thereby increasing the jet action from the nozzle, or permitting the use of a smaller jetting pump and motor on the cart.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a modified arrangement of the nozzle for stirring and picking up sediment off of the pool bottom. The free end of the jetting hose is connected through a swivel 120 to a downwardly projecting nozzle 122. A generally concave and fiat bottom scoop 124 is spaced from and attached to the nozzle and swivel by three elongated rods 126 (see Fig. 7) so the larger portion of the scoop opens toward the nozzle. A central intake 128 in the scoop is connected through a swivel 130 to one end of an elongated and flexible pickup hose 132, the other end of which (not shown) is connected to point Y of line 25A and to the inlet of a filter pump 17 through the three-way valve (see Fig. 1), which is turned at 90 in a clockwise'direction from the position shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of the nozzle arrangement of Figs. 6 and 7, the three-way valve is set so that the filter pump picks up water through the scoop. Water jetting from the nozzle lifts sediment off the pool bottom and directs it toward the scoop. The swivels on the nozzle and the scoop permit the hose 90 and the pick-up hose 122 to move about freely even though the scoop and nozzle maintain the position shown in Fig. 7, i.e., the flat edge of the scoop being on the pool bottom. The arrangement of Figs. 6 and 7 provides a more efiicient removal of sediment, because the water passed through the filter is selected from the immediate vicinity 'of the nozzle where turbidity due to sediment is at a maximum. Also, preferably,

valves

22 and 26 are set so the discharge from the filter is fed into the jetting pump on the cart.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for cleaning sediment out of a swimming pool, the apparatus comprising a filter pump having an inlet and outlet, a filter connected in series with the filter pump, an elongated support arm disposed over the pool, a mechanical oscillator, means connecting the arm to the oscillator, a water turbine having a drive shaft and a water inlet and outlet, means connecting the filter pump outlet to the water turbine inlet, means coupling the turbine drive shaft to the oscillator so the arm is swept back and forth over the pool as the turbine is driven, an elongated flexible hose free at one end and for a substantial distance adjacent its free end and supported by the arm over the water, means connecting the other end of the hose to the filter pump outlet, means for supporting the hose a substantial distance from the free end with the free end of the hose adjacent the swimming pool bottom so that sediment on the bottom of the pool is stirred up as water flows out the free end of the hose and so the free end of the hose is moved by the reaction of water flowing from it, and means for circulating the water with stirred up sive to oscillations of the arm to extend and retract the arm, and means for circulating the water with stirred up sediment through the filter as Water flows through the hose.

3. Apparatus for cleaning sediment out of a pool of liquid, the apparatus comprising a movable buoyant sup- 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the conduit is pivotable about an upright axis.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 which includes means for extending and retracting the conduit as it is moved laterally.

6. Apparatus for cleaning sediment out of a pool of liquid, the apparatus comprising a movable buoyant support adapted to float in the pool, an elongated laterally References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 14,234 Otterson Dec. 19, 1916 396,112 Rice Jan. 15, 1889 494,728 Bailey Apr. 4, 1893 1,244,178 Davis Oct. 23, 1917 1,908,179 Pray May 9, 1933 2,330,164 Wiedenhoefer Sept. 21, 1943 2,647,639 Grein Aug. 4, 1953 2,667,270 Cady etal Jan. 26, 1954 2,758,967 Minish Aug. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,834 Great Britain of 1879 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0u 2 9l9 O27 December 29 1959 Charles M Blumenfeld It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

Column 6 line 16, for conduit of read conduit and Signed and sealed this 26th day of July 1960c (SEAL) Lttest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON ittesting Ofiicer Commissioner of Patents