WO2015150713A1

WO2015150713A1 - Brush for an apparatus for cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid

Info

Publication number: WO2015150713A1
Application number: PCT/FR2015/050873
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe BLANC TAILLEUR; Philippe Pichon
Original assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
Priority date: 2014-04-04
Filing date: 2015-04-03
Publication date: 2015-10-08
Also published as: US20160298349A1; FR3019574A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a brush (16) designed to be rotated about an axis (13) for an apparatus for cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid. The brush (16) comprises at least two surfaces (15) of brushes (16) having different mechanical properties and disposed in different angular positions of the brush (16) about the axis (13).

Description

BRUSH FOR AN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING SURFACE SUBMERGED IN A LIQUID

The field of the invention is the field of pool accessories. More specifically, the invention relates to a brush for a surface cleaning apparatus immersed in a liquid such as a pool cleaning robot, a tubular brush, a cleaning apparatus comprising such a brush, and a method of manufacturing a such a brush.

STATE OF THE ART

The invention relates to a brush for a surface cleaner device immersed in a liquid, such as a surface formed by the walls of a pool, in particular a swimming pool. These include a brush for a mobile pool cleaning robot.

Figure 1 shows an example of an existing mobile pool cleaning robot 10. Said robot 10 comprises a body, displacement means 1 1 for example consisting of wheels or caterpillars, and a rotary shaft 12 supporting a brush 16. Said brush 16 being positioned so as to come into contact with the surfaces of the pool to be cleaned .

In an exemplary embodiment according to the patent application US6212725, the brush 16 comprises a plurality of cylindrical disks 14 mounted on a rotary shaft 12. Each cylindrical disk 14 has a central opening corresponding in size and shape to the cross section of the cylinder. rotating shaft 12, on which said cylindrical disks 14 are threaded.

The cylindrical disks 14 consist of a spongy material compressed in cellulose or a similar material.

This in-line brush structure is long to put in place since the cylindrical disks 14 are threaded one after the other around the rotary shaft 12.

Replacing a worn cylindrical disk 14 with a cylindrical replacement disk 14 placed at the same location on the brush 16 takes a long time. Indeed, initially, it is necessary to remove the used cylindrical disc 14, removing all the cylindrical discs 14 previous one end of the rotary shaft 12. In a second step, it is necessary to insert around the rotary shaft 12, the cylindrical disk 14 replacement in place of the cylindrical disc 14 used. Finally, in a third step, it is necessary to replace the cylindrical disks 14, removed to allow the passage of the cylindrical disk 14 replacement around the rotary shaft 12 one after the other.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the disadvantages of the solutions of the prior art, including those described above, by proposing a solution that facilitates the introduction and replacement of said brush and time saving.

For this purpose, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a brush adapted to be rotated about an axis for a surface cleaning apparatus immersed in a liquid. The brush comprises at least two brush surfaces of different mechanical characteristics, arranged at different angular positions of the brush about said axis.

More specifically, the invention relates to a swimming pool cleaning apparatus.

The brush is a patchwork of surfaces of brushes of different characteristics, joined together. Such arrangements make it possible to vary the material and / or the shape of the brush surfaces. The brush has a substantially cylindrical shape.

Such provisions make it possible to customize the brush according to the needs of the surface to be cleaned, for example by choosing the number and nature of the surfaces of the brushes to be assembled. In addition, the brush forming a single piece, it is simple to change when it is worn.

In particular embodiments, the brush may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combination. In particular embodiments of the invention, the brush surfaces are previously assembled together, and form a rollable strip length "L". The rollable strip is adapted to cover a rotary shaft of predetermined diameter "D" oriented along an axis, when the rollable strip is wound on the rotary shaft by assembly means.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the assembly means are of the tenon / mortise type.

Such arrangements make it possible to have simple assembling means to be used to form the rollable strip as well as to undo it. The tenon / mortise type assembly means are made of flexible material which allows easy handling of said assembly means. In particular embodiments of the invention, the brush surfaces are rectangular strips. At least two rectangular strips may be of the same width or width. Preferably, the rectangular strips extend in the axis of the rotary shaft supporting said brush.

It is understood that a width of a rectangular strip is on a part of the length L of the rollable strip.

Such arrangements make it possible to have a brush comprising rectangular strips extending in the axis of the rotary shaft. When the robot advances, the rotation of the brush causes the contact of a succession of rectangular strips on the surface to be cleaned.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the brush surfaces have different hardnesses.

Such arrangements allow to alternate the hardness of the surfaces of the brushes which succeed one another during the rotation of the brush on the surface to be cleaned. This makes it possible to alternate the functionalities of the brush surfaces because bands of different hardnesses may have different functions. In particular embodiments of the invention, the rollable strip comprises at least one PVC (polyvinyl chloride) brush surface and at least one elastomeric brush surface.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the rollable strip comprises at least one PVC brush surface and at least one pile brush surface.

PVC brushes are made of brushes and lamella brushes. The term "picot brush" means a brush comprising cylindrical elements with a diameter varying from 1 to 4 mm approximately. The term "brush cover" means a brush comprising blades having a dimension of approximately 15 to 30 mm and a thickness of approximately 2 mm. Such arrangements make it possible to vary on the same brush the categories of brush surfaces that make up the rollable strip, that is to say that it gives possibilities for example to combine on the same brush surfaces of PVC brushes and elastomer brush surfaces and / or PVC brush surfaces and pile brush surfaces.

The preceding characteristics taken in combination advantageously make it possible to have brush surfaces in a number greater than or equal to 2, of respective distinct widths, as well as of different hardnesses. Such a configuration therefore makes it possible to confer on the brush a brushing power, via a friction force, which varies according to the angular position of the brush on the immersed surface. This configuration of the brush is also adapted so that the immersed surface undergoes a fixed intensity friction force for a predefined time, said predefined time being a function of the width of the brushing surface generating said friction force. Thus, the brush is advantageously configurable according to all the possible possibilities in terms of geometry and hardness of the brush surfaces so as to allow optimal cleaning of the immersed surface.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the assembly means connecting two ends of length L 'of the rollable strip between them, other than the lengths L, are reversible. Such provisions make it possible to fix the rollable strip on the rotary shaft and to detach it easily. It also makes it easy to perform the brush change. The invention relates to a second aspect a tubular brush adapted to be inserted on a rotary shaft adapted to support said brush.

Such arrangements allow to insert around the rotary shaft adapted to support a brush, the tubular brush already made of previously assembled brush surfaces.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a pool cleaning apparatus comprising the brush described above.

Such arrangements make it possible to have an apparatus comprising a brush composed of customizable brush surfaces shaped, in quantity and in nature of brushes for better adaptation to the surfaces to be cleaned as well as a better efficiency of said brush.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a brush for a pool cleaning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims comprising steps of:

- assembly of brush surfaces forming a rollable strip,

- Assembling between them by means of assembling ends of length L other than the lengths L of the rollable strip so as to form a tube.

Such provisions allow to make a customizable brush by the many possibilities of assembling brush surfaces. The formed tube is adapted to fit around the rotary shaft which is adapted to support said brush.

In particular embodiments, the method comprises a step prior to assembling the ends of length L 'between them, when the assembly means connecting said ends are reversible, placing the rollable web around the rotating shaft so that the lengths L are wound around said rotary shaft.

Such arrangements allow when the rotary shaft of the robot is not accessible to slide the tube around the rotary shaft, to pass the winding strip composed of the assembly of the brush surfaces, around the rotary shaft then assemble it. The lengths L correspond to D ^* n which corresponds to the circumference of the rotary shaft of diameter D.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the figures which represent:

FIG. 1 (already cited): example of a pool cleaning robot of the prior art,

- Figures 2, 3: views of examples of rollable tape,

- Figures 4 and 5: examples of tubes formed of at least two brush surfaces assembled together.

In these figures, identical references from one figure to another designate identical or similar elements. For the sake of clarity, the elements shown are not to scale unless otherwise stated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

To clean the surfaces of a pool such as a swimming pool, various means can be used including the use of a mobile cleaning robot.

Such a robot comprises a body, displacement means, and a rotary shaft supporting a brush 16. In the present example, the brush 16 is a substantially cylindrical brush. Said brush 16 being positioned so as to come into contact with the surfaces of the pool to be cleaned.

The brush 16, which is the subject of the invention, consists of brush surfaces 16 joined together forming a roll-up strip. Said brush surfaces 16 are for example assembled together by bonding, by slightly heating the ends of the brush surfaces 16 to bond them together, or by any other means to join together the brush surfaces 16.

Figure 2 is a preferred embodiment of the rollable strip. In this example, the rollable strip has a rectangular shape having two lengths L parallel to each other and two lengths L '. Said roll-up strip is composed of six brush surfaces 16 of respective widths 11 to 16, which are in this preferred example, in the form of rectangular strips extending longitudinally with respect to the axis 13 of the rotary shaft 12 In this example, a rectangular strip has a width 11, included in the length L of the rollable strip. This width 11 is equivalent to a width 13 of another rectangular strip of the rollable strip of the example of FIG. 2. In the same example, another rectangular strip has a width 12 different from the width 11.

In this non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rollable strip is composed of an alternation of rectangular strips of different hardness. Indeed, the example of Figure 2 comprises two rectangular strips of equivalent hardness and width 11 and 13 equivalents. The example of FIG. 2 also comprises a rectangular strip of width less than the widths 11 and 13 but of hardness equivalent to those of the rectangular strips of widths 11 and 13. The rollable strip of FIG. 2 also comprises two rectangular strips of widths. 12 and 14 and equivalent hardnesses. The roll-up strip comprises another rectangular strip of width 16 and of hardness different from the hardnesses of the strips of widths 11, 12 and 15.

The brush surfaces 16 of the roll-up web of the non-limiting example of the invention of FIG. 2 comprise only brush surfaces 16 made of elastomer but of different hardnesses.

The lengths L of the roll-up strip have a dimension equal to TT * D where D is the diameter of the rotary shaft 12 on which the brush 16 is inserted.

The roll-up strip comes to form a tube by assembling the end of the rectangular strip of width 11 not connected to the rectangular strip of width 12, with the end of the rectangular strip of width 16 not connected with the rectangular strip of width 15. Said ends are assembled according to different assembly means 17. connecting means 17 reversible connection of these ends exist as means of flexible tenon / mortise type as visible in Figure 4. is meant by tenon, a male part of a piece of construction to be driven into a female part d another room, called mortise. The interlocking assembly of a tenon in a mortise makes it possible to hold two pieces together.

Other assembling means 17 that can be used are self-gripping strips. In the example of FIG. 2, a hook-and-loop strip would be installed at the end of the rectangular strip of width 11 not connected to the rectangular strip of width 12, as well as at the end of the rectangular strip of width 16 no. connected to the rectangular strip of width 15. The two hook-and-loop strips are fixed to the rectangular strips so that they can be assembled together to form a tube. Velcro® is an example of hook and loop fasteners. The reversible assembly means 17 correspond to assembly means 17 strips for assembling and detaching easily without the need for tools.

Non-reversible assembly means 17 may be used to assemble two brush surfaces 16. For example, the ends of the rectangular strips of width 11 and 16 not connected to the rectangular strips of widths 12 and 15 may be slightly heated so that the materials of the rectangular strips of widths 11 and 16 soften and come to bond with each other by cooling when the two ends are in contact.

The roll-up strip of FIG. 2 forms a tube like that of the example of FIG. 5. However, the tube of FIG. 5 comprises another example of assembly of brush surfaces 16. In fact, the tube of FIG. Figure 5 comprises at least four surfaces 15 of brushes 16 of different hardnesses and widths. In addition, the tube comprises surfaces 15 of brush 16 PVC, foam and elastomer type TPE. The tube may also comprise a brush surface 16 made of soft PVC TPE elastomer.

Other examples of roll-up tapes are shown in FIG. 3. The example of FIG. 3 comprises widths L corresponding to TT * D with D corresponding to the diameter of the rotary shaft 12 on which the brush 16 is inserted. The example of FIG. 3 comprises brush surfaces 16 in the form of rectangular strips that are not perpendicular or parallel to the axis 13 as well as a brush surface 16 of non-geometrical shape.

The method of manufacturing this brush 16 comprises a first step of assembling brush surfaces 16. This assembly constitutes a roll-up strip having at least two lengths L equivalent to TT * D where D corresponds to the diameter of the rotary shaft. 12 on which will be inserted the brush 16.

Two ends of lengths L 'of the rollable strip which do not correspond to the lengths L are assembled by means of assemblies 17.

If the assembly means 17 are non-reversible, then the two ends of the windable strip are assembled and form a tube which slides on the rotary shaft 12 of the robot 10. The rotary shaft 12 of the robot 10 being accessible to slide the tube.

If the assembly means 17 are reversible, then a user places the rollable strip around the rotary shaft 12 so that the lengths L surround the rotary shaft 12. Then, said user assembles the ends of the rollable strip. by reversible assembly means 17 such as tenon / mortise type means.

The change of the brush 16, when worn, is simple. When the assembly means 17 of the ends of the rollable strip are reversible, a user detaches the assembly means 17 in order to separate the ends. Then said user winds around the rotary shaft 12 a new windable band comprising reversible assembly means 12 which they fix. When the assembly means 17 are non-reversible, the rotary shaft 12 is accessible to slide along the rotary shaft the tube formed by assembling the ends of the rollable strip. So if the tube is worn, a user comes to remove it from the rotary shaft 12 accessible and adds a new one.

The above description clearly illustrates that by its different characteristics and advantages, the present invention achieves the objectives it has set for itself. In particular, the brush 16 which is the subject of the invention makes it possible to combine the use of brush surfaces 16 whose characteristics of said brush surfaces 16 are different from each other in order to combine different functionalities. The manufacture and the change of the brush 16 are also simple to perform.

Claims

1. Brush (16) adapted to be rotated about an axis (13) for a surface cleaning apparatus (10) immersed in a liquid,

characterized in that said brush (16) comprises at least two surfaces (15) of brushes (16) of different mechanical characteristics, arranged at different angular positions of the brush (16) about said axis (13).

2. Brush (16) according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces (15) of brushes (16) are previously assembled together, and form a windable band of length "L" adapted to cover a rotary shaft (12) of predetermined diameter "D" oriented along the axis (13), when said windable strip is wound on the rotary shaft (12) by means of assembly.

3. Brush according to claim 2, wherein the connecting means are of the type mortise / tenon.

4. Brush (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surfaces (15) of brushes (16) are rectangular strips.

Brush (16) according to claim 4, wherein the rectangular strips extend in the axis (13) of the rotary shaft (12) supporting said brush (16).

6. Brush (16) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the rectangular strips have the same width.

7. Brush (16) according to any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein at least two rectangular strips have different widths.

8. Brush (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two surfaces (15) of brushes (16) have different hardnesses.

Brush (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one PVC brush surface (15) and at least one elastomer brush surface (15).

Brush (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one PVC brush surface (15) and at least one bristle brush surface (16).

11. Brush (16) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the connecting means connecting two ends of length U of the rollable tape other than the lengths L between them are reversible.

12. Brush (16) tubular according to any preceding claim adapted to be inserted on a rotary shaft (12) adapted to support said brush (16).

Pool cleaning apparatus (10) comprising a brush (16) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

A method of manufacturing a brush (16) for a liquid immersed surface cleaning apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising steps of:

- assembly of surfaces (15) of brushes (16) forming a rollable strip,

- Assembling together length ends L 'of the rollable tape other than the lengths L so as to form a tube by means of assembly.

15. A method of manufacturing a brush according to claims 1 1 and 14, comprising a step prior to assembling the length ends L 'of the rollable strip, when the assembly means connecting said ends are reversible, consisting of placing the rollable band around the rotary shaft (12) so that the lengths L are wound around said rotary shaft (12).