Apparatus and method of operation for high-speed swimming pool cleaner
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of operating a power-driven pool cleaner to clean the bottom and side walls of a pool or tank, the method comprising the steps of(a) providing a pool cleaner having a cover, drive means for moving the cleaner in forward and reverse directions and a timer;
- (b) activating the pool cleaner while the cleaner is in operating position in the pool;
(c) causing the pool cleaner to traverse the bottom of the pool in a forward direction at a primary drive speed until the cleaner encounters a side wall of the pool;
(d) causing the pool cleaner to ascend the side wall of the pool to the waterline of the pool;
(e) generating a control signal when the cleaner is in a vertical orientation on the side wall of the pool;
(f) activating the timer in response to the control signal;
(g) changing the drive speed of the pool cleaner to a secondary drive speed that is relatively slower than the primary drive speed while the cleaner is at the waterline of the pool;
(h) operating the cleaner for a predetermined operational period of time at the secondary drive speed;
(i) causing the cleaner to descend the side wall of the pool at the secondary speed, whereby any air entrained under the cover is displaced as the cleaner descends in contact with the side wall; and
(j) changing the drive speed of the pool cleaner after the predetermined operational period of time to the primary drive speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for cleaning the bottom and vertical side walls of a swimming pool, pond or tank employs a robotic, self-propelled cleaner having a protective housing of conventional design, the cleaner being operated at a primary cleaning speed as it traverses the surfaces to be cleaned and until the cleaner housing emerges from the water along a sidewall of the pool; thereafter the cleaner operates at a secondary drive speed that is relatively slower than the primary speed and the cleaner thereafter reverses direction and descends for a pre-determined period of time at the slower secondary speed in order to permit the air entrained under the housing to escape without destabilizing the cleaner during descent. After the predetermined period of time, the cleaner resumes operation at the more rapid primary speed until the cleaner housing once again emerges from the water'"'"'s surface, after which the cycle is repeated.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of operating a power-driven pool cleaner to clean the bottom and side walls of a pool or tank, the method comprising the steps of
(a) providing a pool cleaner having a cover, drive means for moving the cleaner in forward and reverse directions and a timer; -
(b) activating the pool cleaner while the cleaner is in operating position in the pool; (c) causing the pool cleaner to traverse the bottom of the pool in a forward direction at a primary drive speed until the cleaner encounters a side wall of the pool; (d) causing the pool cleaner to ascend the side wall of the pool to the waterline of the pool; (e) generating a control signal when the cleaner is in a vertical orientation on the side wall of the pool; (f) activating the timer in response to the control signal; (g) changing the drive speed of the pool cleaner to a secondary drive speed that is relatively slower than the primary drive speed while the cleaner is at the waterline of the pool; (h) operating the cleaner for a predetermined operational period of time at the secondary drive speed; (i) causing the cleaner to descend the side wall of the pool at the secondary speed, whereby any air entrained under the cover is displaced as the cleaner descends in contact with the side wall; and (j) changing the drive speed of the pool cleaner after the predetermined operational period of time to the primary drive speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An improved method for cleaning the bottom and side walls of a swimming pool or tank using a power-driven pool cleaner, the method comprising:
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(a) placing the pool cleaner in a horizontal operative position on the bottom of the pool; (b) causing the pool cleaner to traverse the bottom of the pool at a primary speed in the range from about twenty-four to about thirty-six feet per minute; (c) causing the pool cleaner to move horizontally along the waterline of the pool or tank; (d) causing the cleaner to descend from the waterline of the pool at a secondary speed that is less than the primary speed, the rate of descent at the secondary speed being sufficient to permit displacement of any entrained air in the pool while maintaining the pool cleaner in cleaning contact with the side wall of the pool. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification