Hydrocyclonic pool cleaner

• US 10,253,517 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Graham M., Teuscher, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Karls, Shay
• Application Number:
  US15/887,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20180328066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 2009/002 with external filters
• CPC Class Codes: B04C 5/28 for parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/38 by centrifugal separation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners that remove debris from water using a plurality of cyclonic flows, or that include a removable impeller subassembly, a check valve for a debris canister, a particle separator assembly having a handle that locks to the pool cleaner, a modular roller drive gear box, or a roller latch that secures a roller to the pool cleaner. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to the check valve and the roller latch themselves. Exemplary embodiments are directed to a filter medium for pool cleaners that includes embossments providing flow channels for water, and to roller assemblies for pool cleaners. Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners including alternative pump motor engagements. Exemplary embodiments are directed to pool cleaners power supplies that include a potted and contoured power board assembly, and to kickstands therefor. Exemplary embodiments are directed to a pool cleaner caddy, and removable wheels therefor.

Claims

1. A pool cleaner for a pool or spa, comprising:

a canister that collects and retains debris from water being cleaned by the pool cleaner, including an inlet, a top, and a bottom having an opening, the canister having an inner chamber, an outlet being provided proximal the top;

a filter medium disposed within the inner chamber of the canister;

one or more cyclone containers disposed within the inner chamber of the canister and at least partially surrounded by the filter medium;

a sleeve having a first end and a second end, the sleeve extending through the chamber, the second end of the sleeve being proximal the opening;

a shaft including a first end and a second end, the shaft extending through the sleeve with the first end of the shaft proximal the first end of the sleeve, the second end of the shaft being proximal the opening and having a first coupling member configured to engage a second coupling member of a drive; and

an impeller engaged with the first end of the shaft, the impeller being proximal the outlet;

wherein a first cyclonic flow is generated within the inner chamber, and a second cyclonic flow is generated within each of the one or more cyclone containers; and

wherein the impeller is rotationally driven by said drive through at least the shaft to expel cleaned water into the pool or spa.

2. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein the canister defines a cylindrical configuration.

3. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein the inlet is a tangential inlet.

4. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein the filtering medium is configured to separate large debris particles from a fluid flow during the first cyclonic flow.

5. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more cyclone containers comprises a cylindrical cyclone chamber with a first tangential inlet and a debris underflow nozzle.

6. The pool cleaner of claim 5, wherein each of the one or more cyclone containers includes a second tangential inlet.

7. The pool cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a cyclone block including the one or more cyclone containers, wherein the one or more cyclone containers is a plurality of cyclone containers radially disposed around a central axis.

8. The pool cleaner of claim 7, wherein the cyclone block includes an opening and the sleeve extends through the cyclone block opening.

9. The pool cleaner of claim 7, wherein the one or more cyclone containers includes a first set of radially disposed cyclone containers and a second set of radially disposed cyclone containers positioned around the first set of radially disposed cyclone containers.

10. The pool cleaner of claim 9, wherein the cyclone containers are radially disposed around a first central axis, the cyclone containers of the second set of radially disposed cyclone containers each have a second central axis, and the central axis of each cyclone container of the second set of radially disposed cyclone containers is at an angle with respect to the first central axis.

11. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more cyclone containers comprises a cylindrical top portion, a frustoconical bottom portion, and a debris underflow nozzle at a distal end of the cyclone container.

12. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more cyclone containers is configured to separate small debris particles from a fluid flow during the second cyclonic flow.

13. The pool cleaner of claim 1, comprising a large debris container hingedly connected to a bottom edge of the canister.

14. The pool cleaner of claim 1, comprising a fine debris subassembly disposed within the inner chamber of the canister.

15. The pool cleaner of claim 14, wherein the fine debris subassembly comprises a fine debris container having a dish and a tubular extension.

16. The pool cleaner of claim 15, wherein the fine debris subassembly further comprises a fine debris container top having a top circular plate and a tubular extension extending from the top circular plate and positioned within the tubular extension of the fine debris container.

17. The pool cleaner of claim 16, comprising an inner chamber defined between the tubular extension of the fine debris container top and the tubular extension of the fine debris container, the inner chamber configured and dimensioned to maintain small debris particles separated from a fluid flow during the second cyclonic flow.

18. The pool cleaner of claim 17, comprising a gasket positioned within the inner chamber and engaged with the tubular extension of the fine debris container top and the tubular extension of the fine debris container, the gasket maintaining separation between the small debris particles within the inner chamber and the large debris particles collected in the large debris container.

19. The pool cleaner of claim 18, wherein positioning the large debris container in an open position simultaneously empties the large debris container and the inner chamber of the fine debris container.

20. The pool cleaner of claim 1, comprising one or more vortex finders, each of the one or more vortex finders positioned within a respective cyclone container of the one or more-cyclone containers.

21. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein the one or more cyclone containers is a plurality of cyclone containers;

and

wherein the one or more vortex finders is a ring of vortex finders, each of the vortex finders positioned within a respective cyclone container of the plurality of cyclone containers.

22. The pool cleaner of claim 21, wherein the ring of vortex finders comprises a central portion and a plurality of curved protrusions, each of the curved protrusions including a vortex finder.

23. The pool cleaner of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of curved protrusions are hingedly connected to a polygonal perimeter of the central portion.

24. The pool cleaner of claim 1, comprising a top cap defining a chamber extending to the outlet.

25. The pool cleaner of claim 24, comprising a guard removably connected to the top cap, the guard provided proximal the outlet.

26. The pool cleaner of claim 25, wherein the shaft is rotatably engaged with the sleeve, the sleeve is engaged with the guard, and the guard, sleeve, shaft, and impeller are removable as a single unit.

27. The pool cleaner of claim 1, wherein said drive comprises a motor.

28. The pool cleaner of claim 1 having a power source comprised of electricity.

29. The pool cleaner of claim 1 having a power source comprised of positive water pressure.

30. The pool cleaner of claim 1 having a power source comprised of negative water pressure.