US3295540A

US3295540A - Pool cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3295540A
Application number: US409677A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ortega Robert
Original assignee: Anthony Pools Inc
Current assignee: Anthony Pools Inc
Priority date: 1964-11-09
Filing date: 1964-11-09
Publication date: 1967-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 19.67

Filed Nov. 9, 1964 R. ORTEGA 3,295,540

POOL CLEANING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 rroPA/EYJ.

Jan. 3, 1967 R. ORTEGA 3,295,540

POOL vCLEUAIIING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 144m EZ [f90 INI/Euro2.

, Ail/@W/M 1% rrae/ve YJ- Jan. 3, 1967 R. oRTEGA 3,295,540

POOL CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 H0552?" rxr-Gn Iv VEN roe.

rroPA/EYJ.

United States Patent O 3,295,540 POOL CLEANING APPARATUS Robert Grtega, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Anthony Pools, Inc., South Gate, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 409,677 6 Claims. (Cl. 134-167) This invention relates generally to apparatus for use Ain enclosed bodies of water such as swimming pools for cleaning the inner surfaces of pool walls and bottom, and employing one or more flexible hoses adapted to sinuously move along the inner surfaces in random mtion, dislodging dirt by the jetting action of water discharging from the hose. More particularly the invention describes a floating leader assembly for such apparatus including a novel valve construction by which to move about the perimeter of a pool, drawing behind itself a water supply conduit from which one or more flexible hoses depend.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a floating leader unit connected by a flexible conduit to a source of water under pressure, the leader unit including a pipe assembly receiving water from the source through the exible conduit and distributing such water to discharge orifices formed in the unit. The orifices are directed substantially horizontally,

-and at least two of them are angularly spaced. The pipe assembly terminates forwardly in an enlarged hollow body or head wherein those two orifices are formed. One of such orifices, referred to herein as the propulsion orifice, is directed generally rearwardly of the head, desirably at a slight horizontal angle from the axis of the pipe in one angular direction. The other orifice, referred to herein as the turning orifice, is directed transversely of the axis of the pipe, in the opposite horizontal an-gular direction from such axis. Within the head there is provided resiliently biased valve means for controlling fiow of water to the propulsion and turning orifices. In its normal position, the valve closes the path of water fiow to the turning orifice, leaving open the path of water flow to. the propulsion orifice. The valve is actuatable to a turning .position in which it closes the path of water fiow to the propulsion orifice and opens such path to the turning orifice. The leader unit includes valve actuating means abuttable against an obstruction in its path of movement, such means being adapted when abutted to move the valve from its normal position to its turning position, permitting water flow to the turning orifice. The unit may include additional orifices, particularly one for urging the unit outwardly toward the pool periphery, and a flexible hose for cleaning the side wall by jettin-g discharge of water depends from the unit. Another fiexible hose may depend from the flexible water supply conduit generally intermediate the length of the conduit, primarily to clean the floor of the V'pool by the jetting discharge of water from its randomly moving lower end.

The abuttable means may desirably take the form of a horizontally disposed rotatable disk which tracks lightly along the pool side wall somewhat below the leader unit head and valve assembly, the disk sensing the presence of an obstruction to continued straight line movement of the unit, such as an intersecting pool Wall at a corner. When such obstruction is senmd, the disk actuates the valve to move the unit sharply away from the wall toward the middle of the pool, whereupon normal motion is resumed.

- Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention 3,295,540 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 ice to provide novel improvements in pool cleaning apparatus. Additional objects are to provide such apparatus including a floating leader unit for tracking about the pool periphery; to provide such a unit including horizontally disposed angularly spaced orifices for discharge of water under pressure and valve means for controlling water flow to said orifices; to provide means for controlling such valve actuatable by abutment against an obstruction to the normal straight tracking path of the leader unit; and for other objects and purposes as will be understood from a study of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a swimming pool in which the cleaner of the present invention is mounted, the cleaner being shown in one position in solid lines and in another position in dotted outline, and t-he lea-der unit thereof being shown in dotted outline in a third position at the moment of commencing a change of direction.

FIG. 2 is a vertical lsectional View taken on line II--II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially sectionalized elevational view taken on line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on line IV-IV of FIG. 3, showing the leader valve in, respectively, propulsion and turning positions.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view lookingdown on the arrows VI-VI of FIG. 4, with a portion of the leader assembly pipe shown in dotted outline for convenience of orientation.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view looking d-own on arrows VII-VII of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale taken on arrows VIII-VIII of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views taken on the arrows IX-IX and X-X respectively of FIG. 8.

Referring now in detail to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a conventional swimming pool is defined by a tile coping indicated generally at 16, the pool including end lwalls 18 and 20 and

side walls

22 and 24.

Water for propulsion and operation of the cleaning apparatus in accordance with the present invention is supplied through pipe 30, which may be connected to a pump indicated generally at 32, or the equipment may include conventional filtration and heating apparatus for recirculating and treating water from the pool in known manner, the details of which form no part of the present invention. =Pipe 30 .terminates inwardly in a quick disconnect fitting 31, connected to a downturned elbow 34 and a horizontally disposed swivel connection 36. The pipe 30 and disconnect fitting 31 are desirably located at or slightly below the water level 38 in the pool, for convenience of removal of the present cleaner when not in use.

A exible conduit indicated generally at 40 is connected at its one end to the swivel fitting 36 and at its other end to a cross fitting 42 supported by float means indicated generally at 44. Water supplied through conduit 40 and cross fitting 42 continues in conduit 46, which supplies water to a floating leader unit indicated generally at 50 and seen in detail in FIG. 8. Thus, conduit 46 is connected through a swivel fitting 52 to the downwardly extending branch 54 of a cross fitting indicated generally at 56. From the fitting 56, a rearwardly extending branch 58 is connected to a rear pipe 60, which in turn terminates rearwardly in a horizontal arm 62 of a fitting indicated generally at 64. The latter fitting includes a downwardly extending arm 66 to which is connected (see FIG. 9) the upper end of a flexible wall cleaning hose indicated generally at 70. The rear fitting 64 and the flexible hosev70 are supported by fioat means of any suitable type, such as the spherical float 72, connected to the fitting 64.

Means are desirably provided for maintaining the rear portion of the unit close to the wall of the pool as the cleaner in accordance with the present invention moves around the periphery of the pool. Thus in FIG, 9 an opening 74 is formed through the side wall of the fitting 64 and is directed generally horizontally and transverse to the axis of the pipe 60, toward the central portion of the pool. It will accordingly be understood that the reactive force of water jetting outwardly of the fitting 64 through the opening 74 continuously urges the rear part of the leader assembly toward the pool wall into its position as seen in the drawings.

With further reference to FIG. 8, the leader unit 50 may desirably include means for continuously spraying a small jet of waterY on therwall of-the tile coping during movement of the cleaner of the present invention. Thus a pipe indicated generally at 80 extends upwardly from an upwardly directed branch 82 of fitting 56, and the pipe terminates upwardly in a plug 84 having formed therein a passageway 86 extending first upwardly and then horizontally, terminating in an orifice 88 from which a small amount of water exits, as indicated by'the arrows in FIG. l0, toV clean the wall of the coping tile 16 irn- Y rnediately above the Water level 38 in the pool.

With reference again to FIG. 8, the leader unitl there shown includes a forwardly extending pipe 90 connected at its rear end to a forwardly projecting branch 92 of fitting 56, the front end of pipe 90 being connected to branch 94 of a fitting indicated generally at 96. V A float 98 is desirably provided, similar in construction and function to float 72 previously described,'for supporting the front end of the leader unit, and is here shown connected to the fitting 96. The forwardly projecting arm 100 of the latter fitting is connected through a small pipe section 102 to a vertically oriented hollow head or valve body indicated generally at 104, whose construction will be understood by reference to the detailed showing of FIG. 3 and its accompanying sectional views.

Thus the head 104 may comprise a T-fitting, with its Y central horizontally extending branch 106 connected to pipesection 102. The interior of head 104 constitutes a Valve chamber for controlling water flow through one of two orifices, a propulsion orifice and a turning orifice. As best seen in FIG. 4, a tubular adapter member indicated generally at 110 is threadedly received .in the lower branch 112 of valve head 104 and includes at-its upperV end an annular rim 114 providing an upwardly directed annular valve seat 116. Similarly, at the upper end of head 104, a tubular fitting indicated generally at 120 is threadedly received in the upwardly extending branch 122 of the head, and the fitting 120 is provided at its lower end with a downwardly directed annular valve seat 124.

A valve closure member indicated generally at 130 within the valve head is desirably in the form of a bobbin, having an enlarged upper head 132 for seating against the seat 124 anda lower annular surfaceV 134 and seating against the kannular seat 116. As indicated in the drawing, all of the four valve seats may desirably be frustoconical in contour. Resilient means are provided for biasing the bobbin'closure member 130 upwardly as seen in FIG. 4, that is into closing or sealing relation with the upper valve seat 124, leaving the lower seat 116 open whereby water may pass from pipe section 102 downwardly as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4 into the interior of adapter member 110. In the present illustrative embodiment of the invention, the resilient means include a coil spring 136, bearing at its upper end on the enlarged head 132 of the bobbin and atits lower end being seated upon the upper face of adapter 110, outwardly of annular rim 114 and valve seat 116.

Means are provided for moving the valve closure member 130 from its position of FIG. 4 to its position of FIG. 5, whereby the lower seat 116 is closed and the upper seat 124 is open, permitting water to flow as indicated by the arrows in VFIG. 5 from pipe section 102 upwardly through the tubular fitting 120. In the present form of the invention, such valve actuating means include a plunger rod indicated generally at 140 extending through a central axial channel 142 formed in bobbin 130 and fixed at its upper end relative to the bobbin by suitable means, here illnstratively shown as including a snap fastening ring 144 received in an undercut groove in plunger '140, and bearing against the upper face of the bobbin closure member 130 through one or more washers or spacing shims 146. At its lower end, plunger rod 140` extends through a centrally apertured wall 150, closing the bottom of the tubular adapter 110 and terminates` downwardly in an enlarged head 152 which may be generally hemispherical in contour as shown. Y

Means are provided for actuating the plunger 140,

and consequently bobbin 130 fixed thereto, `from theA normal position of the parts as seen in FIG. 4 to the turning position of the parts as seen in FIG. 5.V In the,

present form of the invention, such actuating means in-l clude a downwardly extending, rockable actuator arm indicated generally at 160 and including in the present form an upper member 162 and a' tubular lower member or sleeve 164 in telescoping relation, adjustable as to f overallV height as by collar 166 provided with a set screw 168. The upper end of the member 162 is provided with a centrally apertured closure cap indicated generally at` 170, the enlarged head 152 of the plunger 140 being re-` t ceived in the upper end of the member 162 and bearing upwardly `against cap 170, desirably through a spacing washer 171.

Guide tracking means are carried at the lower end of actuator arm 160including in the present form of theY invention an `enlarged disk indicated generally at 180 number` of cut-out openings 186 therein to further de-y crease its weight.

Movement of the leader unit 50 results fromthe reac.

tive force of water passing outwardly through certain jets in the leader unit in accordance with the invention. As seen in FIG. 4, water passing downwardly through the annular space between plunger 140 and the bore of adapt-.

er 110 passes outwardly through propulsion orifice 190 formed inthe side wall of the adapter. As best seen in FIG, 6, propulsion orifice 190 is directed generally rear-V wardly ofthe leader unit, desirably slightly inclined to the axis of the pipe section 102 and thus to the longitudinal axis of the leader unit as a whole. It will thus be understood that the principal component of the reactive force of water passingoutwardly of orifice 190 will be in the forward direction, While a small component of the reactive force is directed transversely of the axis of the leader assembly, to gently urge the front end of the assembly into contact with the pool Wall.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the turning orifice 194 is formed Y in the side wall of a cap indicated generally at 200 thread- Vedly connected to tubular fitting and, when the bobbin valve is actuated to its position of FIG. 5, water jets from turning orifice 194 in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 7. As seen in plan, orifice 194 is directed generally transversely of the axis of pipe section 102in the angular direction opposite to that of the small angular inclination of orifice relative to the pipe section axis. Moreover, orifice 19.4 is preferably directed at least slightly forwardly of the perpendicular to the pipe section axis, so that the reactive force of water jetting therefrom not only moves the front end of the leader runit away from the pool Wall, but also tends to move the unit rearwardly, whereby to disengage the leader unit and more particularly disk 180 from any niche or cul-de-sac which might exist adjacent the pool side wall.

It will now be understood that leader unit 50 moves about the pool periphery generally clockwise as seen in FIG. 1, and fiexible hose 70 dangling from the rear end of the unit serves to clean the side wall and adjacent floor of the pool as its lower end moves about in random fashion by reason of water jetting therefrom. For a typical installation at least one additional fiexible hose is used for insuring that the major central area of the pool floor is similarly cleaned. Thus in the present embodiment of the invention a hose indicated generally at 210 is connected at its upper end to fitting 42 and receives water therefrom, hose 210 being sufficiently long that its lower end ranges in random movement over virtually the entire pool fioor and cleans the same by jet discharge of water from the lower end. The drag imposed on conduit 46 by float 44 tends to cause that fioat to follow a path spaced several feet inwardly from the pool periphery, further insuring that hose 210 reaches all parts of the pool oor. For a typical pool which may be from 15 to 20 feet in width and from 20 to 40 feet in length, hose 210 may be about 18 feet long, and the wall cleaning hose 70 may be about half that length. lt will be obvious that another fiexible hose might be provided along the supply conduit if desired.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a pool cleaner easily mounted in a pool and equally easily removed therefrom, particularly since the apparatus principally includes flexible conduits and hoses, avoiding the need of awkward handling of long sections of rigid tubing, as in certain pool cleaners heretofore proposed. The leader unit 50 itself weighs only a few pounds, and its overall length may be no more than two or three feet, so the complete apparatus may be conveniently stored in a space of modest size when not in use.

Modifications and changes from the illustrative form of the invention hereinabove shown and described which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

a fioating leader unit including a longitudinally extending pipe having front and rear ends and float means for supporting the unit in the water of a pool;

a flexible conduit connected through a horizontal swivel at its one end to said pipe at a point spaced forwardly from said pipe rear end and at its other end to a source of water under pressure within the pool periphery and adjacent a wall thereof;

a hollow body fixed to the front end of said pipe and receiving water therefrom and having provided therein a propulsion orifice for jet discharge of water generally rearwardly of the unit but at an angle slightly inclined to the axis of the pipe in one horizontal angular direction and a turning orifice for jet discharge of water transversely of the pipe axis in the opposite horizontal angular direction;

valve means in said body normally closing the path of water fiow to be turning orifice and actuatable to open said path and simultaneously to close the path of water flow to the propulsion orifice;

means carried by the body for actuating the Valve upon striking an obstruction as the leader unit moves through the water in a direction generally axially of the pipe;

an orifice formed in said pipe rear end for jet discharge of water substantially perpendicular to the pipe axis in said one horizontal angular direction;

and a fiexible hose connected at its upper end to said pipe and receiving water therefrom, the other end of the flexible hose providing a random-moving jet discharge of water for cleaning the inner surfaces of the pool.

2. The invention as stated in claim 1 including a fioat for supporting the conduit intermediate its ends and a second flexible hose connected at its upper end to the conduit adjacent said float intermediate the ends of the conduit and receiving water from the conduit, the lower end of the second hose being permitted random movement resulting from jetting discharge of water therefrom and thereby cleaning surfacestof the pool during such movement.

3. The invention as stated in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes an elongated member extending generally downwardly from the body and a horizontally disposed disk carried by the lower end of the member.

4. The invention as stated in claim 1 wherein said unit includes a vertical pipe extending above water level in the pool from said longitudinally extending pipe and in fluid communication therewith and provided with an orifice adjacent its upper end for jet discharge of water toward the pool side wall.

5. A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

a fioating leader unit adapted to move about the periphery of a pool in a forward direction, including a hollow body;

a fiexible conduit connected at one end to said hollow body and at its other end to a source of water under pressure;

said body being provided with a propulsion orifice for discharge of water generally rearwardly, a turning orifice for discharge of water generally laterally of the forward direction, and a third orifice directed in the opposite lateral direction;

valve means in the body normally closing the path of water flow to the turning orifice and actuatable to open said path and simultaneously to close the path of water flow to the propulsion orifice;

means for actuating said valve upon striking an obstruction to forward movement of the unit including an elongated member extending generally downwardly from said body and a horizontally disposed disk carried by the lower end of the member, the forward edge of the disk extending forwardly of said body;

and a flexible hose connected at its upper end to said unit and receiving water therefrom for jetting discharge of water from its lower end in random movement in the pool water.

6. A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

a floating leader unit including a longitudinally extending pipe having front and rear ends and float means for -supporting the unit in the water of a pool;

a flexible conduit connected at its one end to said pipe and at its other end to a source of Water under pressure;

' a hollow body fixed to the front end of said pipe and receiving water therefrom and having provided therein a propulsion orifice for jet discharge of water generally rearwardly of the unit but at an angle slightly inclined to the axis of the pipe in one horizontal angular direction and a turning orifice for jet discharge of water transversely of the pipe axis in the opposite horizontal angular direction;

valve means in said body normally closing the path of water fiow to the turning orifice and actuatable to open said path and simultaneously to close the path of water ow to the propulsion orifice;

means carried by the body for actuating the valve upon striking an obstruction as the leader unit moves through the water in a direction generally axially of the pipe, including an elongated member extending generally downwardly from the body and a horizontally disposed disk carried by the lower end of the member;

and a exible hose connected at its upper end to said pipe and receiving water therefrom, the other end of the flexible hose providing a random-moving jet discharge Vof Water for cleaning the inner surfaces ofthe pool.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS .8 Ross et al. 4-172 Pansini 15-1.7 Anthony 134-167 Winston et a1 134-167 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R. L. BLEUTGE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

5. A SWIMMING POOL CLEANER COMPRISING: A FLOATING LEADER UNIT ADAPTED TO MOVE ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF A POOL IN A FORWARD DIRECTION, INCLUDING A HOLLOW BODY; A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID HOLLOW BODY AND AT ITS OTHER END TO A SOURCE OF WATER UNDER PRESSURE; SAID BODY BEING PROVIDED WITH A PROPULSION ORIFICE FOR DISCHARGE OF WATER GENERALLY REARWARDLY, A TURNING ORIFICE FOR DISCHARGE OF WATER GENERALLY LATERALLY OF THE FORWARD DIRECTION, AND A THIRD ORIFICE DIRECTED IN THE OPPOSITE LATERAL DIRECTION; VALVE MEANS IN THE BODY NORMALLY CLOSING THE PATH OF WATER FLOW TO THE TURNING ORIFICE AND ACTUATABLE TO OPEN SAID PATH AND SIMULTANEOUSLY TO CLOSE THE PATH OF WATER FLOW TO THE PROPULSION ORIFICE; MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVE UPON STRIKING AN OBSTRUCTION TO FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE UNIT INCLUDING AN ELONGATED MEMBER EXTENDING GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BODY AND A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED DISK CARRIED BY THE LOWER END OF THE MEMBER, THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE DISK EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF SAID BODY; A FLEXIBLE HOSE CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO SAID UNIT AND RECEIVING WATER THEREFROM FOR JETTING DISCHARGE OF WATER FROM ITS LOWER END IN RANDOM MOVEMENT IN THE POOL WATER.