Apparatus for improved subaqueous stability

• US 20060059637A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Igor Fridman, Joseph Porat
• Original Assignee: Igor Fridman, Joseph Porat
• Inventors: Fridman, Igor, Porat, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/945,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059637A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/1.700
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A locomotive element to be incorporated in an underwater device propelled on a supporting surface along a predetermined axis of motion. The locomotive element comprises at least one resilient surface that can be rolled on the supporting surface. The resilient surface has a plurality of flow-through passages substantially perpendicular to the axis of motion.

Claims

1. A locomotive element to be incorporated in an underwater device propelled on a supporting surface along a predetermined axis of motion, the locomotive element comprising at least one resilient surface that can be rolled on the supporting surface, said at least one surface having a plurality of flow-through passages substantially perpendicular to the axis of motion.

2. The locomotive element of claim 1, wherein it is in the form of a wheel.

3. The locomotive element of claim 1, wherein it is in the form of a track.

4. The locomotive element of claim 1, wherein it is in the form of a drum.

5. The locomotive element of claim 1, wherein the flow-through passages are located in a plurality of protrusions provided on the resilient surface.

6. A pool cleaning robot comprising a motorized drive;

an impeller driven by a pump motor;

power supply; and

locomotive elements coupled to the motorized drive for propelling the robot on a supporting surface along a predetermined axis of motion, each of the locomotive elements comprising;

at least one resilient surface that can be rolled on the supporting surface, said at least one surface having a plurality of flow-through passages substantially perpendicular to the axis of motion.

7. The robot of claim 6, wherein each of the locomotive elements is in the form of a wheel.

8. The robot of claim 6, wherein each of the locomotive elements is in the form of a track.

9. The robot of claim 6, wherein each of the locomotive elements is in the form of a drum.

10. The robot of claim 6, wherein the flow-through passages are located in a plurality of protrusions provided on the resilient surface.

11. A method for enhancing stability of a locomotive element, used to propel an underwater propelled device along a predetermined axis of motion, the method comprising:

providing the underwater propelled device with locomotive elements, each of the locomotive elements comprising;

at least one resilient surface that can be rolled on the supporting surface, said at least one surface having a plurality of flow-through passages substantially perpendicular to the axis of motion.