Apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface including a brushing device driven by members for driving the apparatus on the submerged surface

• US 8,393,029 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
• Inventors: Pichon, Philippe, Mastio, Emmanuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, ANDREW ALAN
• Application Number:
  US12/808,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20110000030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17, 153/88, 15/27, 15/411, 15/521, 210/167.1, 210/167.16, 210/167.17, 210/416.2, 210/459, 449/0, 449/6, 134/109, 134/110, 134/167.R, 134/168.R
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

Detailed is a device for cleaning an immersed surface including a body, members for driving this body over the immersed surface in a longitudinal direction, including a wheel, a device for brushing the immersed surface, a mechanism for rotating the brushing device about a brushing axis, wherein the driving mechanism of the brushing device includes: an internally toothed ring which is fixedly joined to a wheel, a brush pinion which is fixedly joined to the brushing device and which is engaged in the ring of this drive wheel in such a manner that a rotation of this drive wheel brings about a rotation of the brushing device about the brushing axis thereof in the same rotation direction.

Claims

1. A swimming pool cleaner adapted to travel along an immersed surface and comprising:

a. a body comprising (i) an inlet and (ii) an outlet separate from the inlet;

b. a pumping device configured to cause water to flow from the inlet to the outlet;

c. a wheel configured for rotation and having an internally toothed ring;

d. a brush assembly (i) configured to contact the immersed, surface and (ii) comprising a brush and a shaft about which the brush rotates; and

e. a pinion engaging the internally toothed ring and connected to the shaft so that rotation of the wheel in a first direction causes rotation of the pinion and the brush in the first direction.

2. A swimming pool cleaner according to claim 1 further comprising a filtering device positioned between the inlet and the outlet and through which water may flow under action of the pumping device.

3. A swimming pool cleaner according to claim 1 further comprising (a) an electric motor and (b) a wheel pinion engaging the internally toothed ring and configured to be rotated under action of the electric motor.

4. A swimming pool cleaner according to claim 3 in which the electric motor comprises a drive shaft, further comprising (a) a drive pinion connected to the drive shaft and (b) an intermediate pinion engaging the drive pinion.

5. A swimming pool cleaner according to claim 4 further comprising an intermediate transmission shaft to which both of the intermediate and wheel pinions are connected.

6. A swimming pool cleaner according to claim 3 in which each of the brush pinion and the wheel pinion has a pitch and a diameter, the pitches of the brush and wheel pinions being identical and the diameters of the brush and wheel pinions being identical.

7. A swimming pool cleaner according to claim 1 in which the body defines a forwardmost portion and the wheel extends forward of the forwardmost portion.