WORKING METHOD AND CLEANING DEVICE TO CLEAN A SWIMMING POOL

• US 20100132136A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3G Systemtechnik AG
• Original Assignee: 3G Systemtechnik AG
• Inventors: Sommer, Hans Rudolf, Sommer, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,987,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/1.700
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

In a working method for a cleaning device (2) that moves back and forth in a swimming pool (1), control thereof is such that

the cleaning device (2) moves from a starting position at a low speed in a forward direction V in a first pass in a first cleaning path (4) until it runs up to a pool wall (3), wherein the distance D1 traversed along the first cleaning path is measured or determined,

the cleaning device (2) is then guided to a second cleaning path (5) deviating from or offset relative to the first cleaning path (4) in a second pass, initially at a low speed, whereupon the cleaning device then moves in a backward direction along the second cleaning path (5) at a high speed until the distance Dz traversed is smaller than the distance D1 traversed in the previous pass by an amount A,

upon reaching distance Dz the cleaning device (2) continues to move along the second cleaning path (5) at low speed until it runs up to a swimming pool wall (3), wherein the distance D2 traversed along the second cleaning path is measured or determined, and

the cleaning device (2) is controlled in the same manner in each subsequent pass as in the previous pass.

Claims

1. A cleaning device (2) that moves back and forth in a swimming pool to carry out a working method with a drive mechanism that can be switched to forward or backward travel and that is actively connected to drive wheels or drive tracks, with a motor being provided for each of a left-hand side and a right-hand side part of the drive mechanism, respectively, and with a control apparatus to control the drive mechanism, and with contact means arranged at the front and rear to generate control signals in the event that the cleaning device runs up to a swimming pool wall or an obstacle, wherein the control apparatus comprises a speed control unit for each part of the drive mechanism and means to differentially control the speed of both of the motors, and wherein the cleaning device (2) comprises means at both parts of the drive mechanism to measure the distances traversed during travel,

characterized in that

the motors can be operated by the control unit at least one low speed and at least one high speed.

2. The cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the motors can be operated by the control unit at equal but opposite speeds.

3. The cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact means are deflecting mechanical switching elements and/or non-contact sensors.

4. The cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one partial method can be executed by the control unit in order to guide the cleaning device (2) to a cleaning path that deviates from or is offset relative to a previous cleaning path.

5. The cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that a compass is present.

6. A cleaning device (2) that moves back and forth in a swimming pool to carry out a working method comprising the steps of:

the cleaning device (2) moves at a low speed in a forward direction V in a first pass in a first cleaning path (4) from a starting position until it runs up to a pool wall (3), wherein the distance D1 traversed along the first cleaning path is measured or determined,

the cleaning device (2) is then initially guided at a low speed to a second cleaning path (5) deviating from or offset relative to the first cleaning path (4) whereupon in a second pass the cleaning device moves in a backward direction along the second cleaning path (5) at a high speed until the distance Dz traversed is smaller by an amount A than the distance D1 traversed in the previous pass,

upon reaching distance Dz the cleaning device (2) continues to move along the second cleaning path (5) at low speed until it runs up to a swimming pool wall (3), wherein the distance D2 traversed along the second cleaning path is measured or determined, and

the cleaning device (2) is controlled in the same manner in each subsequent pass as in the previous pass,

the cleaning device having a drive mechanism that can be switched to forward or backward travel and that is actively connected to drive wheels or drive tracks, with a motor being provided for each of a left-hand side and a right-hand side part of the drive mechanism, respectively, and with a control apparatus to control the drive mechanism, and with contact means arranged at the front and rear to generate control signals in the event that the cleaning device runs up to a swimming pool wall or an obstacle, wherein the control apparatus comprises a speed control unit for each part of the drive mechanism and means to differentially control the speed of both of the motors, and wherein the cleaning device (2) comprises means at both parts of the drive mechanism to measure the distances traversed during travel,

characterized in that

the motors can be operated by the control unit at least one low speed and at least one high speed.