Liquid purification or separation – Flow – fluid pressure or material level – responsive
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2002-05-14
Drodge, Joseph W. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Flow, fluid pressure or material level, responsive
C210S090000, C210S167150, C210S138000, C210S143000, C210S416200, C134S05600D, C015S001700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06387250
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus powered from the suction (i.e., negative pressure) side of a pump for cleaning a water pool; e.g., swimming pool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The prior art is replete with different types of automatic swimming pool cleaners powered from either the positive pressure side or suction side of a pump. They include water surface cleaning devices which typically float at the water surface and skim floating debris therefrom. The prior art also shows pool wall surface cleaning devices which typically rest at the pool bottom and can be moved along the wall (which term should be understood to include bottom and side portions) for wall cleaning, as by vacuuming and/or sweeping. Some prior art assemblies include both water surface cleaning and wall surface cleaning components tethered together.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus driven by water suction (i.e., negative pressure) for cleaning the interior surface of a pool containment wall and/or the upper surface of a water pool contained therein.
Apparatus in accordance with the invention includes (1) an essentially rigid unitary structure, i.e., a cleaner body, capable of being immersed in a water pool and (2) a level control subsystem for selectively moving the body to a position either (1) proximate to the surface of the water pool for water surface cleaning or (2) proximate to the interior surface of the containment wall for wall surface cleaning.
The invention can be embodied in a cleaner body having a weight/buoyancy characteristic to cause it to normally rest either (1) proximate to the pool bottom adjacent to the wall surface (i.e., heavier-than-water) or (2) proximate to the water surface (i.e., lighter-than-water). With the heavier-than-water body, the level control subsystem in an active state produces a vertical force component for lifting the body to proximate to the water surface for operation in a water surface cleaning mode. With the lighter-than-water body, the level control subsystem in an active state produces a vertical force component for causing the body to descend to the wall surface for operation in the wall surface cleaning mode.
A level control subsystem in accordance with the invention can produce the desired vertical force component either by discharging an appropriately directed water outflow from the body, and/or by modifying the body's weight/buoyancy characteristic, and/or by orientating hydrodynamic surfaces or adjusting the pitch of the body.
Embodiments of the invention preferably also include a propulsion control subsystem for producing a nominally horizontal (relative to the body) force component for moving the body along (1) a path adjacent to the water surface when the body is in the water surface cleaning mode and (2) a path adjacent to the wall surface when the body is in the wall surface cleaning mode. When in the water surface cleaning mode, debris is collected from the water surface, e.g., by skimming. When in the wall surface cleaning mode, debris is collected from the wall surface, e.g., by suction.
Embodiments of the invention are configured to be hydraulically powered from the suction side of an external hydraulic pump typically driven by an electric motor. This external pump generally comprises the normally available main pool pump used for pool water circulation. Proximal and distal ends of a flexible suction hose are respectively coupled to the pump and cleaner body for producing a water flow through the body for powering the aforementioned level control and propulsion subsystems. The hose is preferably configured with portions having a specific gravity >1.0 so that it typically lies at the bottom of the pool close to the wall surface with the hose distal end being pulled along by the movement of the body.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, the external pump draws a primary pool water inflow through the cleaner body. The primary inflow is used to develop vertical and horizontal force components capable of acting on the body to affect level control and propulsion. A preferred propulsion subsystem is operable in either a normal (i.e., forward) state for moving the body in a first direction, or a redirection (e.g., backup) state for moving the body in a second direction, e.g., laterally and/or rearwardly. Water surface cleaning and wall surface cleaning preferably occur during the forward propulsion state. The redirection state assists the body in freeing itself from obstructions.
The actual motion and orientation of the cleaner body at any instant in time is determined by the net effect of all forces acting on the body. Some of these forces are directly produced by outflows from the cleaner body. Other forces which effect the motion and orientation are attributable, inter alia, to the following:
a. the weight and buoyancy characteristics of the body
b. the hydrodynamic effects resulting from the relative movement between the water and body
c. the drag forces attributable to the suction hose
d. the contact forces of cleaner body parts against the wall surface, and other obstruction surfaces
Preferred embodiments of the invention employ a turbine or other transducer which responds to the primary pool water inflow to drive a flow generator for producing one or more secondary flows. The secondary flows are then utilized to produce vertical and/or horizontal force components which act on the cleaner body for level control and/or propulsion. The flow generator can comprise a propeller or a pump utilizing, for example, a driven paddle wheel. For level control, the secondary flows can (1) be selectively directed by a switchable level flow director to discharge outflows which directly produce a vertical (upward or downward) thrust and/or (2) be used to control the weight/buoyancy characteristic and/or the pitch orientation of the body to enable it to rise or descend. For propulsion, the secondary flows are selectively directed by a switchable propulsion flow director to discharge outflows to produce force components for propulsion in either said first or second directions.
Additionally, the primary and/or secondary flows can be used for control purposes such as for driving a timing assembly to cause the flow directors to switch states.
A preferred cleaner body in accordance with the invention is comprised of a chassis supported on multiple traction wheels; e.g., a front wheel and first and second rear traction wheels. The wheels are mounted for rotation around horizontally oriented axles. The chassis is preferably configured with a nose portion proximate to the front wheel and front shoulders extending rearwardly therefrom. The shoulders taper outwardly from the nose portion to facilitate deflection off obstructions and to minimize drag as the body moves forwardly through the water. Side rails extending rearwardly from the outer ends of the shoulders toward a body tail portion can define chambers for affecting the body's weight/buoyancy characteristic.
A preferred cleaner body is configured so that, when at rest on a horizontal portion of the wall surface, it exhibits a nose-down, tail-up pitch or attitude. One or more hydrodynamic surfaces on the body creates a vertical force component for maintaining this attitude as the body moves through the water along a wall surface in the wall surface cleaning mode. This attitude facilitates hold down of the wheels against the wall surface and properly orients a vacuum inlet opening relative to the wall surface. When in the water surface cleaning mode, the vertical force component attributable to the hydrodynamic surface is minimized allowing the body to assume a more horizontally oriented attitude. This attitude facilitates movement along the water surface and/or facilitates skimming water from the surface into a debris container.
A preferred cleaner body in accordance with the invention carries a water permeable debris container. In the water surface cleaning mode, water skimmed from the surface flows through
Henkin Melvyn L.
Laby Jordan M.
Cecil Terry K.
Drodge Joseph W.
Freilich Hornbaker & Rosen
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