Automatic pool cleaner gear change mechanism
First Claim
1. In an automatic pool cleaner comprising a first gear and a second gear, a mechanism for changing between the first gear and the second gear, the mechanism comprising:
- an oscillatable gear carrying assembly moveable between a first position wherein the first gear is engaged and a second position wherein the second gear is engaged;
a biasing mechanism for urging the assembly towards a first position when selected and to the second position when selected; and
an actuating arrangement for selecting one of said positions by initiating movement of the assembly from another of said positions, to enable the biasing mechanism to urge the assembly towards the selected one of said positions;
the first gear and the second gear being mounted on the assembly and when the first gear is engaged, the cleaner is driven to move in a first direction and when the second gear is engaged, the cleaner is driven in another direction;
the biasing mechanism comprising a first magnet having a pole of a first kind and a pole of a second kind which is carried by the assembly and a second magnet having a pole of the first kind and a pole of the second kind mounted externally of the assembly, with the pole of the first kind of the first magnet facing towards the pole of the first kind of the second magnet, so that mutually repelling forces between said first poles urge the assembly towards the selected one of said positions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism (106) for selecting one of a first gear (102) and a second gear (104) for driving an automatic swimming pool cleaner (10) includes a bi-stable oscillating gear change assembly (100). The assembly is moveable between a first position wherein the first gear is engaged and a second position wherein the second gear is engaged. A first magnet (142) is carried by the assembly. A second magnet (138, 140) is carried externally of the assembly on the cleaner body (18). A cam arrangement (152, 160) initiates movement of the assembly (100) from one of the first and second positions to enable mutually repelling forces between like poles of the first and second magnets (142, 138, 140) to cause the assembly to settle in another of the first position and the second positions, thereby to change between the first and second gears quickly and cleanly.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In an automatic pool cleaner comprising a first gear and a second gear, a mechanism for changing between the first gear and the second gear, the mechanism comprising:
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an oscillatable gear carrying assembly moveable between a first position wherein the first gear is engaged and a second position wherein the second gear is engaged; a biasing mechanism for urging the assembly towards a first position when selected and to the second position when selected; and an actuating arrangement for selecting one of said positions by initiating movement of the assembly from another of said positions, to enable the biasing mechanism to urge the assembly towards the selected one of said positions; the first gear and the second gear being mounted on the assembly and when the first gear is engaged, the cleaner is driven to move in a first direction and when the second gear is engaged, the cleaner is driven in another direction; the biasing mechanism comprising a first magnet having a pole of a first kind and a pole of a second kind which is carried by the assembly and a second magnet having a pole of the first kind and a pole of the second kind mounted externally of the assembly, with the pole of the first kind of the first magnet facing towards the pole of the first kind of the second magnet, so that mutually repelling forces between said first poles urge the assembly towards the selected one of said positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification