METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATION OF POOL CLEANER WITH INTEGRAL CHLORINE GENERATOR
First Claim
1. In an automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over at least the bottom wall of a pool;
- an integral electrochemical chlorine generator positioned in said housing for producing bactericidal chlorine, the electrochemical generator comprising a plurality of negative and positive conductive plates arranged in a parallel spaced-part array to form a plurality of passageways, the array being positioned in the flow path of water moving through the housing;
an outlet for discharging water containing bactericidal chlorine produced by the electrochemical generator into the water proximate the exterior of the pool cleaner housing;
a source of electrical power operatively connected to the electrochemical chlorine generator; and
programmable control means for initiating and terminating the operation of the chlorine generator, pump and drive means, the control means programmed for;
a. activating the water pump and the pool cleaner drive means to thereby move the pool cleaner across the surface of a wall of the pool to perform a programmed cleaning cycle;
b. initiating the operation of the chlorine generator to thereby produce bactericidal chlorine from a chlorine-containing compound dissolved in the water during the cleaning cycle;
c. discharging bactericidal chlorine-containing water from the pool cleaner housing in a turbulent flow to mix with the water in the pool;
d. deactivating the drive means and the water pump at the end of the cleaning cycle while maintaining the operation of the chlorine generator;
e. activating the water pump for intervals of several seconds every several minutes following the end of the cleaning cycle for a period of about one hour;
f. activating the drive means and pump for a period of time ranging from 2 to 4 minutes to thereby relocate the pool cleaner in the pool;
g. activating the water pump for intervals of several seconds every several minutes after the pool cleaner is relocated; and
h. repeating steps (f) and (g) for a predetermined period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of the salt water pool to be cleaned, and an integral electrochemical chlorine generator mounted in the housing, includes a processor/controller that is programmed to activate the chlorine generator, the pump and drive means in predetermined operational sequences that minimize wear and tear on the water pump and drive means, while at the same time distribute and maintain a safe level of sanitizing chlorine in the pool, to thereby obviate the need for an in-line chlorinator or other chemical additive treatments; an optional automated sensor device can be provided to activate a secondary maintenance program which enables the pool cleaner to operate over prolonged periods of time as the sole means for filtering and sanitizing the pool water. An electrochemical cell manual mounting system permits the cell to be secured in place for operation and manually removed for maintenance, repair or replacement by the user without special tools or training.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. In an automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over at least the bottom wall of a pool;
- an integral electrochemical chlorine generator positioned in said housing for producing bactericidal chlorine, the electrochemical generator comprising a plurality of negative and positive conductive plates arranged in a parallel spaced-part array to form a plurality of passageways, the array being positioned in the flow path of water moving through the housing;
an outlet for discharging water containing bactericidal chlorine produced by the electrochemical generator into the water proximate the exterior of the pool cleaner housing;
a source of electrical power operatively connected to the electrochemical chlorine generator; and
programmable control means for initiating and terminating the operation of the chlorine generator, pump and drive means, the control means programmed for;a. activating the water pump and the pool cleaner drive means to thereby move the pool cleaner across the surface of a wall of the pool to perform a programmed cleaning cycle; b. initiating the operation of the chlorine generator to thereby produce bactericidal chlorine from a chlorine-containing compound dissolved in the water during the cleaning cycle; c. discharging bactericidal chlorine-containing water from the pool cleaner housing in a turbulent flow to mix with the water in the pool; d. deactivating the drive means and the water pump at the end of the cleaning cycle while maintaining the operation of the chlorine generator; e. activating the water pump for intervals of several seconds every several minutes following the end of the cleaning cycle for a period of about one hour; f. activating the drive means and pump for a period of time ranging from 2 to 4 minutes to thereby relocate the pool cleaner in the pool; g. activating the water pump for intervals of several seconds every several minutes after the pool cleaner is relocated; and h. repeating steps (f) and (g) for a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19)
- an integral electrochemical chlorine generator positioned in said housing for producing bactericidal chlorine, the electrochemical generator comprising a plurality of negative and positive conductive plates arranged in a parallel spaced-part array to form a plurality of passageways, the array being positioned in the flow path of water moving through the housing;
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10. (canceled)
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11-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. (canceled)
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18. An automated system for establishing and maintaining a predetermined concentration of bactericidal chlorine in a swimming pool, the system comprising:
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a. an automated self-propelled pool cleaner having a housing, a water pump for moving water through the housing, drive means for moving the pool cleaner over the surface of the pool to be cleaned, an integral electrochemical chlorine generator mounted in the housing, the electrochemical generator comprising a plurality of negative and positive conductive plates arranged in a parallel spaced-apart array to form a plurality of passageways, the array being positioned in the flow path of water moving through the housing; b. a source of electrical power operatively connected to the electrochemical generator; c. programmed control means for initiating and terminating the functioning of the chlorine generator, the pump and the drive means, wherein the control means are programmed (i) to activate the chlorine generator to operate for a period of thirty minutes every two hours, and (ii) to activate the drive means and pump for a period of time ranging from 2 to 4 minutes to thereby relocate the pool cleaner in the pool at intervals of about one hour, and (iii) to activate the water pump for intervals of several seconds every several minutes for a period of about one hour after the pool cleaner is relocated. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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- 20. A robotic pool cleaner having an exterior housing and an electrochemical chlorine generator assembly mounted inside the housing, the electrochemical chlorine generator assembly comprising a plurality of conductive electrodes operatively connected to generator terminals for receiving power from a power source, a case constructed of a non-conductive material in which the plurality of electrodes are mounted, the case having passages for the movement of pool water across the chlorine-generating surfaces of the electrodes, mounting means on the ease for securely engaging corresponding receiving means on a structural member or the pool cleaner housing for securing the electrochemical chlorine generator assembly in an operable position in which the generator terminals are in mating contact with power conductors mounted in the pool cleaner, and manually releasable engagement surfaces for separating the mounting and receiving means to thereby permit removal of the electrochemical chlorine generator assembly from the interior of the pool cleaner housing.
Specification