WO2009103141A1 - Vacuum head for a pool cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The vacuum head for a pool cleaner consists of rows of parallel brushes (2, 7) arranged in an interposed way on the frontal part of the vacuum head and closed by a perimeter of foam on the rear and side parts (5). Such closure can or cannot leave a side opening (6), where one can install a tilted (inclined) brush (9) to clean the corners. The first and last brushes (8) can be tilted in the direction of the suction nozzle (4) in order to facilitate the aspiration of the dirt and even the central brushes can be tilted and turned in the direction of the suction nozzle (4). In addition, the second line of brushes can be arranged in a curve thus generating increasing openings from the center to the outside. Wheels (1.2, 1.3) can also be added in order to reduce friction during movement.

Description

Descriptive report on patent of invention: "ELEMENTS AMD ARRANGEMENT OF ELEMENTS FOR A VACCUM OF BOTTOM POOL."

The patent for the invention of elements has a shape and arrangement that leads to a unique vaccum of bottom pool and provides an efficiency cleaning with less soil deposits in the bottom.

In the pool cleaning operations weather conducted manually or automatically, the arrangement and choice of devices that act in the process have great influence on. the efficiency of aspiration. This must be the best way, otherwise the dirt deposited in the bottom will boil and be removed only when filtering treats the entire volume of water in the pool.

Questions about the efficiency of filtration is due to the fact that the process of water circulation forms a movement pattern which, in turn, estabilisb.es a stagnation pattern that promotes retention of part of the material that are in suspension^ boiling). A new application of floculant takes this rest to "the bottom, but again, the inefficiency of aspiration enters the scene, leaving a considerable quantity of dirt in the volume and in the bottom.

Many vacuum cleaners currently available in the market use brushes and/or flexible tabs in order to move the deposited dirt and have the water pumped by a bomb through the nozzle of the vacuum so that it can drag this suspension to a filter. Due to impedance to the flow that tabs and brushes represent, the main way of water is through openings that exist in the limit (perimeter) to the insertion of wheels that help the displacement of the vacuum, but once they are far away from a great parcel of brushes and/or flexible tabs, they cannot generate attraction points of suspension with such intensity, so as to remove the dirt revolved before it is placed again, or get lost in the volume of water.

In the following text it will be described combinations of special brushes and foams that take vacuum cleaners of great efficiency in the task of collecting the dirt deposit in the bottom of pools, in a more immediate way without revolving. The arrangements shown can be applied to both manual or automatic cleaning. For further information of the proposal, the following illustrative drawings will be referenced throughout the text. Pictures are displayed with explanatory and illustrative purpose of the principles of operation not as aesthetic and dimensional factors restrictors within range of this patent. They are:

Figure 1 and 2 show an overview arrangement of elements that will be described in other figures throughout this report.

Figures 3 to 5 show some options for the arrangement of brush and foam for directing the flow of water through the bomb.

Figure 6 shows two possible ways of removable fixing for device elements.

Figure 7 shows a chance that is required for larger vacuum cleaners, with spacings gradually increasing with the distance in relation to the suction nozzle.

Figure 8 shows a restriction concerning sizes adopted on elements and arrangement of the patent.

The principle of working is based on the observation that brushes only makes the deposited dirt boils, and they must be proportional to the flow of water to drag the dirt before it has been dispersed in volume of water around the vacuum.

As shown in figure 1, brushes (2) are installed in a base plate {1), inserted in two parallel rows. The brushes should have a small overlap (3) in order to ensure that trails of dirt deposited without revolving will not be left.

The spacings between the brushes and the TOWS of brushes allow water to pass into the suction nozzle (4) dragging, the dirt revolved by the brushes (2) so immediately, in order to avoid this dirt gets far from the vacuum. To ensure that all sucction capacity of the system will be used to aspire dirt, a lock

(5) is applied to the rear part of the vacuum. A lock, preferably, made of foam, but it can also be a flexible flap, such as in a rake, also serves to make the final revolving of the portions stuck at the bottom, keeping them in froat by the flow of impedance provided by the foam and by the curved shape of it. This arrangement ensures that nothing will escape sucction. hi order to avoid that part of the dirt revolved by the outer brushes escape from the vacuum sides, one can leave a space between the first and last brushes and the barrier as shown in figure 1. This opening can be applied to any options listed in this report.

In order to reduce the flow of impedance that represent brushes, one can make them inclined(7) as shown in figure 2, generating smaller stagnations in the rear part of the brushes, thus facilitating the flow and accelerating the removal of the suspension formed.

In this configuration, no further need for the two rows interposed, but the need remains for a small overlap of tracks swept by brushes. It could also be eliminated the side opening, as shown in (6) since the flow is directed to the sucction nozzle (4) by the tilt of brushes.

To control the deformation of foam a support is necessary (1.1) along the outer face, adjacent to the base plate. (1). Such support can leave a fraction of foam exposed, as shown the support in figure 1, so that the deformation caused by the settlement projects a small knob to the side, maintaining a better contact with the side walls when the vacuum works together with them, or yet, cover the entire barrier, as shown in figure 2.

Also_., to limit the deformation of the foam to the minimum necessary to establish a good seal and facilitate displacement of the device at the bottom ,wheels (12) can be assembled in the space in front of the barrier, as shown in figure 1 , in order to get an effect aesthetically better or just behind the barrier, a. single wheel (3) to a better support using brushes in the front part or counter-point as in figure 2.The options (1-2) and (1-3) are mutually exclusive.

The sloped brushes may be used in the first and last positions to eliminate the need of opening (6) in other settings, as shown (8) in figure 3.

Figure 4- we can see that it is possible in a side opening, slightly larger than the one shown in (6) figure 1, to put a side brush (9) in order to clean the comers in a direct way. The need for overlapping the tracks still exists, and this device (9) can be applied to any of the alternatives listed in this report. It is obvious that the side brush {9) should not leave spaces than strictly necessary to promote the flow of the drag.

Figure 5- there is the alternative of using one set of brushes, but with a space slightly greater in expanders, yet respecting the overlapping of their tracks.

This alternative would have a simple process of assembly, because the frontal area would be occupied by a single brush. A side opening, as shown in (6) figure 1, can also be placed to ensure the drag of the revolved dirt, otherwise it would get around the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 6- there are two possible ways of fixing the brushes and foam. They are represented in this figure. Due to a reasonable friction at which the last one will be constantly exposed, one should allow an easy exchange with mobile mounts, such as a " swallowtail", part (a) or a flexible lock, part (b). This part of the invention refers to itens of public knowledge, and which option will be adopted by the manufacturer should not be considered as a limiting within range of this patent.

For large vacuum cleaners, the difference in distance between the openings and sucction nozzle is that even with brushes tilted in first and last positions, most of the flow served by the close brushes allow the escape of dirt revolved by the far away ones. In order to remedy mis deficiency, as shown in figure 7, it is used a second TOW with the centers of brushes arranged in curve, which gradually increases the distance between the brushes in the first and second rows generating broader channels for the passage of water, and compensating disadvantages of greater distance.

Whatever is the arrangement adopted, one must be careful so that small areas left without sucction in the beginning and end of the path of the vacuum do not intersect with those generated by the path on cross-direction, necessary to finish the overall cleaning process of the bottom.

If this occurs, "blind spots" will be formed and these ones will be cleaned by other means,, spending time, effort and resources unnecessary. As shown in figure 8, areas of shadow (10.1) formed by a path in a direction should not overlap (intersect) those areas of shadow (10.2) formed by scanning in the transverse direction and must finish the cleaning. This implies that the width of the brushes must be greater than the spacing of rows (in the case of straight brushes) and/or the bending of the last brush do not exceed one eighth of a full turn. The use of this device (we do not have any report of similar one available in the market), makes the task of cleaning bottom of the pool more rapid and simple, thus revolving less dirt towards the center and moreover, needing less time for subsequent filtration carrying out all requirements concerning use and news required, in order to deserve the protection of the pattern of invention.

Claims

1. Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, characterized for having parallel rows of brushes (2) interpolated with overlapping (3) and a rear and side barrier (5) mounted in a plate base (1) as figure 1.

2. Elements and arrangement of itens for a. vacuum of bottom pool, in accordance with claim 1, characterized by brushes with expanders arranged with a slight tilt (7) towards the sucction nozzle (4), according to figure 2.

3. Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, <daaracterized by having a support to the barrier (1.1) immediately behind it (5), as shown in figure 1, and can be applied to any configuration described in the report, extending it across the barrier or leaving "portions discovered in the ends.

4. Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, in accordance with claim 1, characterized by having the first and last brushes mounted with a tilt into the vacuum, {S)aocording to figure 3.

5. Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, characterized by having a single brush (10), but with greater expanders and far in direction of length.

6, Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, characterized by having a side opening (6) according to figure 1, for side sucction of the revolved material and can be applied to any configuration described in this report.

7. Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, in accordance with claims 1 to 5 , characterized by having brushes directed for one side (9) mounted in the opening sides (6),according to figure 4.

8. Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, characterized by having support wheels (1.2) in the space between the barrier (5) and brushes (2.7), wheels, or (1.3) in a range of the base plate(l) just behind the support of the barrier.

9. Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, characterized by having the brushes, with any drawings already referred to the rest of claims, in two rows, yet interposed, a straight and a curve one with increasing openings from the center to the outside. lO.Elements and arrangement of itens for a vacuum of bottom pool, characterized by having their elements, brushes, barriers and wheels mounted through removable fixation, such as a swallowtail or flexible flaps for an easy and rapid replacement in case of wear.