Pool cleaning robot

• US 7,805,792 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sacopa, S.A.U.
• Original Assignee: Max Roumagnac
• Inventors: Roumagnac, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/566,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17, 134/167.R, 134/168.R, 134/169.R, 134/172, 210/167.16, 210/416.2
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a pool cleaning robot having a structure for suctioning debris from the bottom of the pool and a propulsion nozzle (5) adapted for directing a propulsive jet of water in a direction opposite to a direction (D1,D2) of movement of the robot, characterized in that the nozzle (5) is rotatably mounted on an axis (z,z′) perpendicular to a plane of movement of the robot, in that the robot has a structure (12,13) for stopping the rotation of the nozzle in at least two essentially opposite directions and structure for controlling (7,71,72) the structure for stopping, equipped so as to be operated by a hydrodynamic force crated by the movement of the robot.

Claims

1. A pool cleaning robot having means for suctioning debris from the bottom of the pool and a propulsion nozzle adapted for directing a propulsive jet of water in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the robot, wherein the nozzle is rotationally mounted on an axis perpendicular to the plane of movement of the robot, in that the robot has means of stopping the rotation of the nozzle in at least two essentially opposite directions and means of controlling the stopping means, equipped so as to be operated by a hydrodynamic force created by the movement of the robot, wherein said robot has at least one wall, which disrupts the propulsion jet, on at least one part of an ejection perimeter of the nozzle, said wall constituting a part of a tipping cover, at least two openings for free passage of the jet being constructed in the cover.

2. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising means that ensure an autorotation of the nozzle in the absence of activation of the stopping means.

3. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising that the tipping cover bears a component of the stopping means.

4. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the means of suctioning debris has at least an opening in a bottom casing of the robot and a suction device.

5. The cleaning robot according to claim 4, further comprising a filter for retaining debris and a debris chamber positioned between the opening and the suction device.

6. The cleaning robot according to claim 4 wherein the suction device is a venturi device.

7. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising an independent pump that feeds the nozzle and the means for suctioning debris.

8. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising a connection to the backflow circuit of a pool filtration system via a hose, this circuit supplying a flow of water that feeds the nozzle and the means for suctioning debris.

9. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the means of suctioning debris has an opening in a bottom casing of the robot and a device for suctioning water via the opening, further comprising movable means of screening a part of the suction surface defined by the opening, equipped for concentrating the suction in the direction of advance of the robot.

10. The cleaning robot according to claim 9, wherein the movable means have a roller, which moves between two positions by rolling from one part or other of the suction opening depending on the direction of movement of the robot.

11. The cleaning robot according to claim 9, further comprising that the movable means have brushes, provided with axes of rotations positioned on one side and the other of the small sides of the opening and carried along in front of or in back of the opening depending on the direction of forward or backward movement of the robot.

12. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising an asymmetric base, which defines a front point, provided with a front wheel and a wide back base, provided with two back wheels, which are parallel, such that the robot behaves differently when it encounters an obstacle in forward travel and in backward travel.

13. The cleaning robot according to claim 12, wherein the front wheel is mounted on a pivoting axle.

14. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising a chassis that tips around an axle having two side wheels, which defines an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the robot, and in that it has a front wheel and a back wheel being alternately in contact with the bottom depending on the direction of movement of the robot.

15. The cleaning robot according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said front wheel or said back wheel is oriented at an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis such that the movement of the robot faces along two distinct trajectories forward and backward.

16. The cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising a paddle device, comprising a flap that closes a waste chamber when the robot is lifted from the pool bottom.