Water jet reversing propulsion and directional controls for automated swimming pool cleaners

• US 20080189885A1
• Filed: 04/08/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Giora Erlich, Tibor Horvath
• Original Assignee: Giora Erlich, Tibor Horvath
• Inventors: Erlich, Giora, Horvath, Tibor
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1663 the propulsion resulting from an intermittent interruption of the waterflow through the cleaner

Abstract

A self-propelled apparatus for cleaning the submerged bottom surfaces of a pool or tank in a predetermined regular pattern includes a reversible water jet drive means for propelling the apparatus in opposite directions corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The direction of the discharge of the propelling water jet is changed by mechanical sensors, electrical sensors, or by interrupting the water pump. The source of the pressurized jet stream can include a pump integral to the apparatus or an external portable pump and/or a pump associated with the pool'"'"'s filtering and/or circulation system.

Claims

1-65. -65. (canceled)

66. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning the submerged bottom surface of a pool or tank, said apparatus being in fluid communication with a pressurized stream of water discharged from a discharge outlet and said apparatus being propelled by the discharge of a water jet, the apparatus comprising:

a directional discharge conduit in fluid communication with the pressurized stream of water discharged from the discharge outlet, the discharge conduit having at least one discharge opening through which the water jet is directionally discharged from the apparatus; and

a water jet valve located between the discharge outlet and the at least one discharge opening in the discharge conduit, the water jet valve being operable between first and second discharge positions to direct the water jet in generally opposite directions,

whereby the pressurized water stream discharged from the discharge outlet undergoes only one right-angle change of direction after entering the apparatus and before being discharged from the apparatus to move over the bottom surface of the pool in a direction that is determined by the position of the water jet valve.

67. The apparatus of claim 66 in which the discharge outlet is in fluid communication with a housing adapter on the apparatus for connection to a pump that is external to the apparatus.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 in which the housing adapter connects to the external pump by a flexible hose.

69. The apparatus of claim 68 in which the pressurized stream of water is diverted from the water circulation system of the pool from an inlet to the pool.

70. The apparatus of claim 66 in which the pressurized stream of water is delivered via an inlet to the pool.

71. The apparatus of claim 66 in which the discharge conduit has at least two longitudinal discharge openings, each of which discharge openings is located at opposite ends of the discharge conduit and which create a longitudinal force vector in the water jet discharged from said openings.

72. The apparatus of claim 66 in which there are at least two opposing longitudinal discharge openings, each of which discharge openings are located at the end of the discharge conduit and creates a longitudinal force vector in the water jet discharged from said opposing openings.

73. The apparatus of claim 66 in which opposing end portions of the discharge conduit are upwardly inclined from the horizontal to create a downward vertical force vector and a longitudinal force vector in the water jet discharged from the opposing openings.

74. The apparatus of claim 71 in which the water jet valve comprises at least one deflector member moveable between a first operating position and a second operating position, whereby movement of the deflector member from the first position to the second position effects the movement of water from one to the other of the at least two discharge openings.

75. The apparatus of claim 74 where the deflector member comprises a flap valve assembly mounted on the interior of the discharge conduit between the longitudinal discharge openings and in fluid communication with the water discharge outlet, said flap valve assembly comprising control means for alternating the flow of water from the discharge outlet to one or the other of the at least two directional discharge openings.

76. The apparatus of claim 66 where the water jet valve is operable between the first and second discharge positions in response to an interruption of the pressurized water stream from the discharge outlet.

77. The apparatus of claim 76 in which the flap valve assembly control means comprises a pivotally-mounted flap member and a plurality of bias-mounted flap positioning members mounted on the interior of the discharge conduit, said positioning members being responsive to the force of water flowing through said valve assembly.

78. The apparatus of claim 72 which further comprises an intermediate conduit that intersects the directional discharge conduit opposite the flap valve assembly, the intermediate fluid conduit being in fluid communication with the discharge outlet and the directional discharge conduit.

79. The apparatus of claim 78 which further comprises at least one vertical discharge outlet proximate the pivotally mounted end of the flap member.

80. The apparatus of claim 79 which further comprises vertical discharge flow control means associated with the at least one vertical discharge outlet for varying the volume of water passing through the vertical discharge outlet.

81. The apparatus of claim 80 in which the flow control means is manually adjustable.

82. The apparatus of claim 72 in which the direction of discharge of the water is changed by directional control means that is responsive to the proximity of the apparatus to a side wall of the pool being cleaned.

83. The apparatus of claim 81 in which the directional control means is joined by a mechanical linkage to at least one external sensor extending in the direction of movement of the apparatus.

84. The apparatus of claim 83 in which at least one of the sensors is slidably mounted for movement in a plane that is parallel to the base of the apparatus and extends beyond the periphery of the apparatus in the direction of movement to contact a side wall of the pool as the apparatus approaches the side wall.

85. The apparatus of claim 84 in which the mechanical linkage comprises means for translating a sliding movement of a least one of the sensors into a rotational movement, and thereby reverse the direction of the water discharged from the discharge conduit.

86. The apparatus of claim 82 in which the directional control means is selected from the group consisting of (a) an infrared light source, an infrared light sensor and a circuit associated with the sensor to receive and transmit a signal from the sensor to the directional control means, whereby infrared light reflected from an adjacent pool side wall detected by the sensor causes the apparatus to reverse direction;

(b) a magnetic sensor and a circuit associated with the sensor to receive and transmit a signal from the sensor to the directional control means, whereby a variation in the movement of the magnetic member detected by the sensor causes the apparatus to change direction; and

(c) a mercury switch and an associated circuit to receive and transmit a signal from the mercury switch to the directional control means, whereby a change in the orientation of the apparatus that activates the mercury switch produces a signal that causes the apparatus to change direction.