Pool cleaning apparatus

• US 6,965,814 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maytronics Ltd (Kibbutz Yizreel)
• Original Assignee: Maytronics Ltd (Kibbutz Yizreel)
• Inventors: Hadari, Yair
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): JARRETT, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/868,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700/282, 15/17, 210/169
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A system for determining the effectiveness of the filtering and maneuverability of a robot for cleaning swimming pools, the robot includes a robot propelling motor, at least one water pump having an impeller and an impeller motor, a pool water inlet leading to a filter, a filtered water outlet, and a propelling mechanism for propelling the robot along the floor and/or walls of the swimming pool, the system comprising a computer for determining and setting an initial power to be supplied to the impeller motor, a first circuit for sensing the actual power supplied to the impeller motor during its operation, a second circuit for calculating the ratio between the set power and an instantaneous power supplied to said impeller motor, and a producer connected to the second circuit for producing an indication signal when the ratio exceeds a predetermined value. A controller for controlling the at least one impeller motor in consideration of the ratio; and a sensor for sensing the inclination of the floor and/or wall on which the robot is propelled are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for determining the effectiveness of the filtering and maneuverability of a robot for cleaning swimming pools, said robot including a robot propelling motor, at least one water pump having an impeller and an impeller motor, a pool water inlet leading to a filter, a filtered water outlet, and means for propelling said robot along the floor and/or walls of said swimming pool, said system comprising:

computer means for determining and setting an initial power to be supplied to said impeller motor;

first circuit means for sensing the actual power supplied to said impeller motor during its operation;

second circuit means for calculating the ratio between the set power and an instantaneous power supplied to said impeller motor, and

means connected to said second circuit means for producing an indication signal when said ratio exceeds a predetermined value.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling said at least one impeller motor in consideration of said ratio.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing the inclination of the floor and/or wall on which said robot is propelled, and for producing an output signal indicative of said inclination.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first circuit means for sensing the actual power supplied to said impeller motor senses the current flow to said motor.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second circuit means for calculating said ratio also determines said output signal prior to feeding said means for producing an indication signal.