Motorised Pool-Cleaning Device Comprising Cantilevered Motor Movement Transmission Means

• US 20080250580A1
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pmps Technologies
• Original Assignee: Pmps Technologies
• Inventors: Puech, Maxime, Lavabre, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A motorised pool-cleaning device (1) includes: a suction element (30); a rotary element (4) for moving the device, which define first (2) and second (3) bearing axles; a support (18) consisting of (i) a first central part (24) and (ii) first (25) and second (26) side covers which are connected to either side of the first central part, such as to form the chassis of the motorised device, and which support the rotary movement element (4); and a drive element (16, 17) for rotating the rotary movement element (4), which are disposed on the first and second side covers in a cantilevered manner.

Claims

1. Motorised pool-cleaning apparatus (1) including:

suction means (30),

rotary means (4) for displacing said apparatus and defining first (2) and second (3) bearing axles,

characterised in that it comprises;

a support (18) including;

a first central portion (24),

a first (25) and a second (26) lateral casing, associated with said first central portion on both sides of said central portion so as to form a chassis of said motorised apparatus, and carrying said rotary means (4) for displacing the apparatus, and

rotational entrainment means (16, 17) for said rotary displacement means (4), disposed in an overhanging manner on said first and second lateral casings.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said rotary displacement means (4) are placed in an overhanging manner on said first and second lateral casings, on the side of these casings which is turned towards said first central portion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it additionally comprises:

first (19) and second (20) lateral caterpillar means on said support (18) on both sides of said support,

first (22) and second (23) means for entraining said first and second caterpillar means respectively, associated with one at least of said first (2) or second (3) bearing axle, and connected to said support by means of a connection with a degree of rotational freedom,

said first (22) and second (23) means for entraining said first (19) and second (20) caterpillar means being respectively placed in an overhanging manner on said first (25) and second (26) lateral casings, on the side of these casings opposite to the side which is turned towards the first central portion (24).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that said first (22) and second (23) means for entraining said first (19) and second (20) caterpillar means respectively include four driving wheels (48, 49, 50, 51), connected in groups of two by means of a first (27) and a second (28) transmission belt, and aligned in the same plane.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that two (48, 51) of said four driving wheels of said first (22) or second (23) means for entraining said first (19) or second (20) caterpillar means are aligned with said rotary means (4) for displacing the apparatus and integral with said rotary means respectively.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that the two other wheels (49, 50) of said four driving wheels, which are not aligned with said rotary means (4) for displacing the apparatus, are connected in an overhanging manner on said first (25) or second (26) lateral casing through the intermediary of two transmission wheels (43, 42) respectively, placed in an overhanging manner on the side of the first or second lateral casing which is turned towards the first central portion (24) of the support (18).

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that said rotary means, for displacing the apparatus and defining one (2) at least of said first and second bearing axles, include a first (5) and a second (6) rotating roller, the respective axes of rotation (7, 8) of which are aligned on said one (2) at least of said first and second bearing axles, and in that

said first (5) and second (6) rotating rollers are connected by a connection (9) of the freewheel type.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises:

a single reduction motor (15) secured on said first central portion (24) of said support (18), said central portion having a U shape, and

first means (16) for rotationally entraining one of said first (5) or second (6) rotating rollers by said single reduction motor.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that said single reduction motor (15) is in contact with said two transmission wheels (43, 42).

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that said rotary means (4), for displacing said apparatus and defining the other (3) of said first (2) and second (3) bearing axles, include a third (10) and a fourth (11) rotating roller, the respective axes of rotation (12, 13) of which are aligned on said other (3) of said first (2) and second (3) bearing axles, and in that said third (10) and fourth (11) rotating rollers are connected by a connection (14) of the freewheel type.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that it comprises in addition second means (17) for rotationally entraining one of said third (10) or fourth (11) rotating rollers by said single reduction motor (15).

12. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that said connection or connections (9, 14) of the freewheel type comprises or comprise, respectively, a helical resilient washer and at least one lug capable of abutting against one end (39) of said helical washer in a first direction of rotation and of sliding on said washer in the second opposite direction of rotation.

13. Apparatus according to 12claim 1, characterised in that said suction means (30) comprise a pump (31) of the centrifuge type.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that said first (16) and second (17) means, for rotationally entraining one of said first (5) or second (6) rotating rollers and one of said third (10) or fourth (11) rotating rollers, comprise said first (27) and second (28) transmission belts.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises two fixed gripping handles (57), disposed beneath an upper level which is defined by the highest surface of said apparatus.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterised in that said two fixed gripping handles (57) are parallel to said first (2) and second (3) bearing axles and disposed above these axles.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a rotary electric connector (62) for a connection to an electric supply cable (61), which permits said electric supply cable to be connected to said apparatus according to a connection with a degree of rotational freedom.

18. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that it additionally comprises:

first (19) and second (20) lateral caterpillar means on said support (18) on both sides of said support,

first (22) and second (23) means for entraining said first and second caterpillar means respectively, associated with one at least of said first (2) or second (3) bearing axle, and connected to said support by means of a connection with a degree of rotational freedom,

said first (22) and second (23) means for entraining said first (19) and second (20) caterpillar means being respectively placed in an overhanging manner on said first (25) and second (26) lateral casings, on the side of these casings opposite to the side which is turned towards the first central portion (24).

19. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said rotary means, for displacing the apparatus and defining one (2) at least of said first and second bearing axles, include a first (5) and a second (6) rotating roller, the respective axes of rotation (7, 8) of which are aligned on said one (2) at least of said first and second bearing axles, and in that

said first (5) and second (6) rotating rollers are connected by a connection (9) of the freewheel type.

20. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that said rotary means, for displacing the apparatus and defining one (2) at least of said first and second bearing axles, include a first (5) and a second (6) rotating roller, the respective axes of rotation (7, 8) of which are aligned on said one (2) at least of said first and second bearing axles, and in that

said first (5) and second (6) rotating rollers are connected by a connection (9) of the freewheel type.