Working method and cleaning device for cleaning a swimming pool

• US 6,309,468 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3S Systemtechnik AG
• Original Assignee: 3S Systemtechnik AG
• Inventors: Sommer, Hans-Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US09/404,204
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17, 153/19, 134/18
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A cleaning device (2) which can be moved backwards and forwards in a swimming pool (1) has a drive mechanism which can be switched to forward or backward travel and has one motor for a left-hand-side and one for a right-hand-side part of the drive mechanism and a control apparatus for controlling the drive mechanism. The control apparatus has a speed regulation apparatus for each part of the drive mechanism and has means for differentially controlling the speed of the two motors. The cleaning device has means on both parts of the drive mechanism for measuring the distances (d₁, d₂) covered in forward and backward travel. The angles (R₁, R₂) of change of direction are calculated and differentially controlled by the control apparatus on the basis of the measured distances (d₁, d₂) covered and an offset width (v) of the respective travel tracks. The advantage of the control method lies in the fact that angles of change of direction can be precisely executed and swimming pools of any desired shape can be reliably cleaned.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a swimming pool using a cleaning device that moves backwards and forwards in the swimming pool, and has a drive mechanism that can be switched to forward or backward travel and is actively connected to drive wheels or drive tracks, a respective motor for each of a left-hand-side and a right hand-side part of the drive mechanism, a control apparatus for controlling the drive mechanism, and contact means arranged at the front and rear to generate control signals in the event that the cleaning device approaches a swimming pool wall or an obstacle, and wherein the control apparatus possesses, for each part of the drive mechanism, a speed regulating apparatus and means for the differential control of the speed of the two motors, said method comprising individually measuring the respective distances (d₁,d₂) covered in forward or backward movement by each part of the drive mechanism and, using the control apparatus, calculating and differentially controlling angles (R₁, R₂) of change of direction for the travelling cleaning device based on the measured distances (d₁, d₂) covered and an offset width (v) of the respective travel tracks.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, for the performance of changes of direction of the travelling cleaning device, operating the two motors at constant but different nominal speeds for the duration of the change of the direction.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising controlling the magnitude of the angle (R₁, R₂) of change of direction by changing at least one of the following dependent parameters, (a) the different nominal speeds of the two motors and (b) the period for which the two motors are operated at different nominal speeds.

4. The method according to claim 3, where in the method further comprises triggering an operation of change of direction after contact is made with a swimming pool wall by one of the contact means for generating control signals arranged at the front and rear;

and wherein the triggering includes;

first stopping the cleaning device and switching the direction of travel, in a subsequent first movement phase, accelerating the two motors via a linear speed increase, and in a second, subsequent movement phase, operating the two motors at constant but different nominal speeds for the duration of the change of direction, and concluding the operation of change of direction by bringing the two motors to the same nominal speed, and retaining the speed finally reached in order to cross the bottom of the swimming pool.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising, for the duration of the change of direction, bringing one of the motors to a nominal speed which is higher than the nominal speed to be achieved at the end of the operation of change of direction and retained for the crossing of the swimming pool bottom.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising aligning the cleaning device with a swimming pool wall at least at the beginning of operation.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising controlling the cleaning device by a program that can be set at the control apparatus so that, at each reference wall of the swimming pool, the cleaning device automatically aligns itself relative thereto.

8. A cleaning device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, comprising a drive mechanism that can be switched to forward or backward travel and is actively connected to drive wheels or drive tracks;

a respective motor for each of a left-hand-side and a right-hand-side part of the drive mechanism;

a control apparatus for controlling the drive mechanism, and contact means arranged at the front and rear to generate control signals in the event that the cleaning device approaches a swimming pool wall or an obstacle; and

wherein the control apparatus possesses a speed regulating apparatus for each part of the drive mechanism, and means for the differential control of the speed of the two motors;

the cleaning device has means on both parts of the drive mechanism for measuring the distances covered in forward or backward travel; and

the control apparatus possesses means for calculating and differentially controlling changes of direction fo the travelling cleaning device based on the measured distances covered and an offset width of the respective travel tracks.