Self-propelled running apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface

• US 6,886,205 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
• Inventors: Pichon, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US10/451,243
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17, 153/87, 154/04, 154/00, 153/98, 154/02, 153/97, 210/169
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

The invention concerns a self-propelled running apparatus for cleaning an immersed surface, comprising in combination a rigid transverse motor housing (1), two lateral flanges (6) rigidly fixed on either side of the motor housing (1) so as to form a rigid H-shaped frame (72), a front transverse wall (9) removably fixed to said frame (72), a rear transverse wall (10), a base (11) provided with water inlets (66) and a top hood (5) fixed to the frame (72) provided with a top orifice (4) for water evacuation, a unidirectional hydraulic circuit being provided from the inlets (66) between the transverse walls (9, 10), the motor housing (1) and the flanges (6), up to the top orifice (4) of the hood (5).

Claims

1. A self-propelled rolling apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface, comprising in combination:

a rigid transverse motor housing (1) enclosing at least one electric motor (70, 83) and having at least one drive shaft, called the driving shaft (2), for driving at least one running member (13, 14), and at least one drive shaft (71), called pumping shaft (71), for driving a pumping member (3), these drive shafts (2, 71) emerging outside the housing (1),

two lateral flanges (6) rigidly fixed on each side of the motor housing (1) and extending longitudinally forwards and rearwards of the motor housing (1) in order to form a rigid, generally H-shaped frame (72), at least one of the flanges (6) bearing means (48, 49, 57) for transmission of the driving movement between a driving shaft (2) projecting laterally from the motor housing (1) and at least one running member (13, 14) having a transverse axis of rotation extending between the two flanges (6) and guided by each flange (6),

a front transverse wall (9) extending at the front of the motor housing (1) and between the two flanges (6) being demountably fixed to the said frame (72),

the front transverse wall (9) and rear transverse wall (10) extending at a distance from the motor housing (1) in order to provide a passage for the water, and to form, between them and the lateral flanges (6), a bottom opening under the motor housing (1),

a base (11) provided with water inlets (66) and adapted to close the said bottom opening,

and a top hood (5) fixed to the frame (72) and covering the transverse walls (9, 10), the flanges (6) and the motor housing (1), this hood (5) being provided with a top orifice (4) for water evacuation, in order to provide a unidirectional hydraulic circuit from the inlets (66) of the base (11), at the front and rear between the transverse walls (9, 10) and the motor housing (1) and between the flanges (6), and up to the top orifice (4) of the hood (5).

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two flanges (6) are similar, the frame (72) being symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal plane orthogonal to a running plane defined by its running members (13, 14).

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame (72) is symmetrical with respect to a median transverse plane orthogonal to a running plane defined by its running members (13, 14).

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which comprises at least one front running member (13) extending between the two flanges (6), at the front of the front transverse wall (9), outside the hydraulic circuit.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which comprises at least one rear running member (14) extending between the two flanges (6), at the rear of the rear transverse wall (10), outside the hydraulic circuit.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the flanges (6) is formed of a casing (6) having an outer housing which encloses means (48, 49, 57) for transmission of the driving movement.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two flanges (6) each bear a transmission means (48, 49, 57).

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which comprises two independent separate drive motors (83), each of these motors having a driving shaft (2), and two pairs of independent running members (13, 14), namely a front pair of running members (13) and a rear pair of running members (14), the two running members of the same pair being arranged as a coaxial extension of each other and independent of each other in terms of rotation, one of them being coupled, via transmission means, to one of the two driving shafts, while the other is coupled, via transmission means, to the other driving shaft.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flanges (6) have grooves (64, 65) for receiving the lateral end edges (81, 82) of the transverse walls (9, 10).

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each flange (6) is demountably fixed to the motor housing (1), in particular by means of screws or bolts (23).

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transverse walls (9, 10) are fixed to the top hood (5) by means of screws or bolts (63) which clamp the top hood (5) on the transverse walls (9, 10).

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a carrying handle (8) fixed on the frame (72) through the hood (5).

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor housing (1) is moulded as close as possible around the elements which it contains and has rounded shapes promoting the water circulation.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor housing (1) comprises a central pumping motor (70) below a pumping shaft (71) orthogonal to a rolling plane defined by the running members and driving a pumping propeller (3) arranged outside the motor housing (1) under the orifice (4) of the hood (5), and capable of generating a flow of water in the apparatus between the water inlets (66) and the top orifice (4).

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base (11) bears a filter (12) interposed in the hydraulic circuit between the bottom water inlets (66) and the top evacuation orifice (4).

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the filter (12) extends between the motor housing (1) and each transverse wall (9, 10).

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the base (11) is removably fixed with respect to the frame (72).

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the base (11) is fixed to the flanges (6).

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the base (11) is fixed to the frame (72) by elastic-hooking fixing means (75).

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the transverse walls (9, 10) has at least one drain valve (74) allowing the emptying of the hydraulic circuit owing to gravity when the apparatus is withdrawn from the liquid.