Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Submerged cleaners with ambient flow guides
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-10-09
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Submerged cleaners with ambient flow guides
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298513
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a device for the automatic cleaning of swimming pools, and more specifically to an improved and efficient suction-type automatic swimming pool cleaner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art has shown that a swimming pool may be cleaned automatically by a device using a cleaning head which engages the pool surfaces to be cleaned and is connected to one or a pair of tubes (either parallel or non-parallel) with a valve mechanism that interrupts the flow of pool water through the cleaning device by either periodically interrupting the constant flow of water through the single tube, or alternately delivering water through either of the pair of tubes. These suction type automatic swimming pool cleaners are typically powered by the flow of water flowing from the pool through the cleaning head, past a flapper valve, through the tube (or tubes), through a flexible hose normally associated with suction cleaners, and finally drawn into the suction side of the pool's filter pump.
The prior art is most notably represented by Hofmann U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,752 (which is manufactured and sold under the Barracuda trademark) and Chauvier U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,227 (which is manufactured and sold under the Kreepy Krauly trademark). Each of these automatic swimming pool cleaners consists of a cleaning head which is made up of a bottom opening in a plastic base which admits pool water and the debris such as dirt and leaves. This head has an elastomer disc about it which surrounds the head and increases the collecting area, and further acts as a stabilizer for the pool cleaner assembly. As the pool water is drawn up through the head it passes through a restricting orifice, offset from the longitudinal axis of the flapper valve, which is necessary to get the unpinned (free-floating) flapper valve to cycle or startup. The flapper valve cycles and as it does, it interrupts the steady suction flow to the pool's filter pump. This on-off or flow shift, depending upon the device, is amplified by the impact tube or tubes and causes a vibratory force sufficient to move the cleaner about the pools surfaces in a random fashion.
However, the offset restricting orifice, while necessary to initiate the flapper valve reciprocation, significantly limits the size of the debris that can be collected by the cleaner. In addition, debris often becomes trapped in the restricting orifice, causing system shutdown and requiring frequent cleanouts. Furthermore, the hydraulic restriction created by the orifice causes an increased electrical load on the pool pump, thereby shortening the life of the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a domestic automatic swimming pool cleaner which randomly travels about and cleans the walls and bottom surfaces of a swimming pool. The inventive apparatus includes two parallel or non-parallel impact tubes, the top ends of which are connected to a flexible suction hose which in turn is connected to the suction side of the pool's filter pump. The bottom ends of the tubes are served intermittent shots of water by a hinged self-starting flapper valve with an unrestricted upstream opening in the cleaner's pool surface contacting head. By the action of the flapper valve alternately delivering pool water to the two tubes, kinetic forces are generated which move the automatic pool cleaner about the pool for cleaning.
The present invention thus provides an open-ended, suction-type automatic pool cleaner with a pin supported flapper valve. In the subject invention no restrictive orifice is needed upstream of the flapper valve as the flapper valve is self starting in itself. This feature permits the pool cleaner to accept large pieces of debris as well reducing the frictional drag which allows the pool pump to run under a lesser electrical load. This feature also permits the easy clean out of debris jams which is a problem in the prior art pool cleaners.
The flapper valve in the present invention cycles about a hinge or trunnion pin or shaft. This shaft can be locked to the flapper valve and extended laterally outward from the cleaner body to provide a power take-off to drive a steering mechanism, timing device or other option for the pool cleaner. The shaft also holds the flapper valve in position and provides an axis about which the flapper valve cycles in a precise arc of travel (it also moves sideways to ensure shutoff on the valve seats). As the flapper valve cycles back and forth, it strikes against the narrow stepped surfaces located outboard on both sides of the flapper valve. These surfaces act as a water seal to positively shut off the flow of water at the end point of cyclic travel of the flapper valve, and thus the system gets more kinetic impact derived from the water flow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4023227 (1977-05-01), Chauvier
patent: 4133068 (1979-01-01), Hofmann
patent: 4152802 (1979-05-01), Chauvier
patent: 4156948 (1979-06-01), Chauvier et al.
patent: 4193156 (1980-03-01), Chauvier
patent: 4208752 (1980-06-01), Hofmann
patent: 5794293 (1998-08-01), Hoffinger
patent: 5970557 (1999-10-01), Supra
patent: 0 559 477 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 2520422 (1982-01-01), None
Rief Dieter J.
Rief Manuela
Chin Randall E.
Jansson & Shupe & Munger Ltd.
Poolvergnuegen
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