RANDOM MOTION SUCTION CLEANER

• US 3,676,884 A
• Filed: 04/14/1970
• Issued: 07/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley S. Wulc
• Original Assignee: Stanley S. Wulc
• Inventors: Wulc, Stanley S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/028,453
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 15/1.7,319
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1636 Suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1645 Connections to the pool water circulation system
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A self-propelled device adapted to move along the bottom of swimming pools or other water tanks in a random pattern to clean the surface thereof. The cleaner has low-voltage motors for driving, sensing means to sense contact with walls, and electronic logic means to direct the motion of the cleaner according to certain requirements. The Cleaner has a suction inlet, a strainer, and is connected by means of a hose to a relatively high-voltage pump above the water level. The logic means provides for lock-out of spurious signals, pause times, and turning by selected drive wheel reversals. Various modifications and board applications of certain of the principles are possible.

Claims

1. A random motion suction cleaner vehicle adapted to move in a straight line across the interior bottom of a liquid filled tank, to sense obstacles, and to turn away from said obstacles, said vehicle comprising;

a base and an openable cover on said base, a left side obstacle contact sensing means and a right side obstacle contact sensing means, on said base, a left side independent drive means and a right side independent drive means, on said base, each of said drive meanS comprising at least one separate and independent electric motor, each of said electric motors being mechanically connected to a drive wheel under all conditions, a logic and control means operatively connected to said drive means and said sensing means to control said drive means in response to signals from said sensing means, a suction opening in said base, a removeable strainer on said base, inside said cover, an outlet in said cover, said suction opening, strainer and outlet communicating to provide a flow path for said liquid through said suction opening, strainer and outlet in that order.

2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said drive means comprises two functionally inDependent electric motors, both of said motors sharing a common output shaft, one of said motors wired for reverse motion and the other of said motors wired for forward motion.

3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said left and right sensing means each comprise substantially horizontal arms extending forward from said base and outwardly frOm the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, each of said arms having an inboard and outboard end, a pivot near each of said inboard ends to permit horizontal motion of said arms in either direction around said pivot, a switch near each of said inboard ends, each said switch being at least indirectly contacted by said arm, said switch being operated upon pivoting of said arm in either direction around said pivot.

4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein each said switch is a magnetic reed switch and wherein each said arm is provided with a magnet near said inboard end to connect only magnetically with said switch, said switch being mechanically spaced from said magnet.

5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said sensing means comprises a substantially horizontal arm extending forward from said base and diverging outwardly from the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, each said arm having an inboard and outboard end, an arm extension on each said arm, each said extension extending inwardly toward said longitudinal axis of said vehicle from a point between said inboard and outboard end of each said arm.

6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said logic and control means is entirely electronic and entirely solid-state, and is provided in a water tight control box inside said cover.

7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein said logic and control means is permanently programmed to control said drive means in response to signals from said sensing meanS as follows:

left and right drive means normally forward;

upon contact signal from left sensing means right sensing means is made inoperative and left and right drive means stop for a period of time, left and right drive means reverse for a period of time, left and right drive means stop for a period of time, left drive means operates forward and right drive means operates reverse for a period of time;

left and right drive means stop for a period of time;

left and right drive means operate forward and both left and right sensing means are rendered operative, and forward motion continues until another signal is received; and

upon a contact signal from said right sensing means, the same sequence iS provided with left and right interchange.

8. A system to clean the submerged bottom of a tank containing liquid said system comprising:

a random motion vehicle having a left side and a right side, said vehicle comprising a left side sensing means, a right side sensing means, each said sensing means adapted to sense an obstacle, a left side independent drive means and a right side independent drive means, each of said drive means comprising at least one separate and independent electric motor, each of said electric mOtors being mechanically connected to a drive wheel under all conditions, a logic and drive control means to operate said drive means in response to signals received from said sensing means, a suction opening near said tank bottom, a hose, said hose communicating at least indirectly with said suction opening, said hose extending out of said tank, a pump, provided outside of the interior of said tank, said pump being connected to said hose, to draw liquid into said suction opening from said tank.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said random motion vehicle includes a strainer between and communicating with said suction opening and said hose.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein, said hose comprises a hose-insulated power line assembly, said hose communicating with said strainer and said power line communicating with said drive means and said logic and drive control means a power source and a traNsformer, provided outside of the interior of said tank, said transformer having a relatively low voltage output safe for use in a water environment, said transformer output being connected to said power line.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said pump is driven by an electric motor operated at a relatively high voltage, higher than said output voltage of said transformer.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said pump communicates with a filtration means outside of the interior of said tank.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tank is a swimming pool filled with water, and said pump is part of said pool'"'"''"'"'s water cleaning equipment.

14. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said logic and control means is entirely electronic and said power line communicates with said logic and control means.

15. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said insulated power line is provided with a surround, and said insulated power line and surround are contained inside said hose, said surround having a density less than that of said liquid, and said hose-insulated power line assembly has a density at least no greater than the density of said liquid.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said surround is an hermetically sealed gas filled tube.