Working method and cleaning device to clean a swimming pool

• US 7,987,543 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3S Systemtechnik AG
• Original Assignee: 3S Systemtechnik AG
• Inventors: Sommer, Hans Rudolf, Sommer, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US12/698,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20100132136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

In a working method for a cleaning device (2) that moves back and forth in a swimming pool (1), control thereof is such that the cleaning device (2) moves from a starting position at a low speed in a forward direction V in a first pass in a first cleaning path (4) until it runs up to a pool wall (3), wherein the distance D1 traversed along the first cleaning path is measured or determined. The cleaning device (2) is then guided to a second cleaning path (5) deviating from or offset relative to the first cleaning path (4) in a second pass, initially at a low speed, whereupon the cleaning device then moves in a backward direction along the second cleaning path (5) at a high speed until the distance Dz traversed is smaller than the distance D1 traversed in the previous pass by an amount A. Upon reaching distance Dz the cleaning device (2) continues to move along the second cleaning path (5) at low speed until it runs up to a swimming pool wall (3), wherein the distance D2 traversed along the second cleaning path is measured or determined. The cleaning device (2) is controlled in the same manner in each subsequent pass as in the previous pass.

Claims

1. A cleaning device (2) for moving back and forth in a swimming pool, comprising:

a drive mechanism that can be switched to forward or backward travel and that is actively connected to drive wheels or drive tracks, with a motor being provided for each of a left-hand side and a right-hand side part of the drive mechanism, respectively, and with a control apparatus to control the drive mechanism, and with contact means arranged at the front and rear to generate control signals in the event that the cleaning device runs up to a swimming pool wall or an obstacle, wherein the control apparatus comprises a speed control unit for each part of the drive mechanism and means to differentially control the speed of both of the motors, and wherein the cleaning device (2) comprises means at both parts of the drive mechanism to measure the distances traversed during travel, wherein the control apparatus is adapted to control the cleaning device (2) to be moved at a low speed in a forward direction V in a first pass in a first cleaning path (4) from a starting position until control signals are generated by the contact means, and the means for measuring the distances is adapted to measure or determine a distance D1 traversed during travel, characterized in that the control apparatus is further adapted to control the cleaning device (2) to be guided at a low speed to a second cleaning path (5) deviating from or offset relative to the first cleaning path (4), and to be moved in a second pass in a backward direction along the second cleaning path (5) at a high speed until a distance Dz traversed is smaller by an amount A than the distance D1 traversed in the previous pass, and to continue moving the cleaning device (2) at low speed along the second cleaning path (5) upon reaching distance Dz until control signals are generated by the contact means, and the means for measuring the distances is further adapted to measure or determine a distance D2 traversed during travel along said second cleaning path (5), and wherein the control apparatus is furthermore adapted to control the cleaning device (2) in the same manner in each subsequent pass as in the previous pass, wherein the motors can be operated by the speed control unit at least one low speed and at least one high speed.

2. The cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the motors can be operated by the speed control unit at equal but counterrotating speeds.

3. The cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact means are deflecting mechanical switching elements and/or non-contact sensors.

4. The cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the speed control unit is arranged to guide the cleaning device (2) to a cleaning path that deviates from or is offset relative to a previous cleaning path.

5. The cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device (2) includes a compass.