Pool cleaning robot

• US 8,424,142 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytronics Ltd (Kibbutz Yizreel)
• Original Assignee: Maytronics Ltd (Kibbutz Yizreel)
• Inventors: Garti, Efraim
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTEI, BRIAN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/793,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 15/17, 153/19, 153/39, 153/404, 153/84
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A pool cleaning robot is provided for cleaning a surface of a swimming pool. The robot comprises a main housing, a pair of main wheels disposed at opposite ends of a bottom panel of the housing spanning along a majority of its width and carrying a pair of continuous tracks spanning between edges thereof, the main wheels being configured for rotating at a first angular velocity, at least one inlet being formed in the bottom panel between the main wheels and being configured for intake of water and debris, and at least one auxiliary brushwheel disposed between the main wheels. The robot is configured for rotating the auxiliary brushwheel about an axis of rotation at a second angular velocity which is substantially greater than the first angular velocity.

Claims

1. A pool cleaning robot for cleaning a surface of a swimming pool, said robot comprising:

a main housing;

main wheels being configured for propelling the robot and for rotating at a first angular velocity;

two auxiliary brushwheels configured to rotate independently of one another and disposed between said main wheels; and

at least one inlet being formed in a bottom panel of the housing between said main wheels and being configured for intake of water and debris;

wherein said robot is configured for rotating said auxiliary brushwheel about an axis of rotation at a second angular velocity which is substantially greater than the first angular velocity;

wherein said bottom panel has first and second halves being separated by an axis spanning along the bottom panel between midpoints of said main wheels, and wherein;

a first of said auxiliary brushwheels is disposed substantially on a first side of said axis, and a second of said auxiliary brushwheels is disposed substantially on a second side of said axis; and

a first of said inlets, being associated with the first brushwheel, is formed substantially in said first side between the first auxiliary brushwheel and a first of said main wheels, and a second of said inlets, being associated with the second brushwheel, is formed substantially on said second side between the second auxiliary brushwheel and a second of said main wheels;

wherein said robot is configured to rotate the first auxiliary brushwheel such that the direction of movement of a portion thereof contacting the surface is toward said first inlet, and to rotate the second auxiliary brushwheel such that the direction of movement of a portion thereof contacting the surface is toward said second inlet.

2. A pool cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein said wheels carry a pair of continuous tracks spanning between edges thereof.

3. A pool cleaning robot according to claim 2, wherein said auxiliary brushwheel is driven by a transmission gear, said robot further comprising a drive gear configured to engage one of said continuous tracks and to engage said transmission gear.

4. A pool cleaning robot according to claim 1, being designed such that motion thereof is independent of the rotation of the auxiliary brushwheels.

5. A pool cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary brushwheels each comprises a plurality of bristles, each bristle comprising a shaft and a head, said shaft being flexible enough so that rotations of the auxiliary brushwheels do not substantially affect the movement of the robot, said head being designed to dislodge debris from the surface.

6. A pool cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein said second angular velocity is at least substantially twice that of the first angular velocity.

7. A pool cleaning robot for cleaning a surface of a swimming pool, said robot comprising:

a main housing;

main wheels being configured for propelling the robot and for rotating at a first angular velocity;

at least one auxiliary brushwheel disposed between said main wheels; and

at least one inlet being formed in a bottom panel of the housing between said main wheels and being configured for intake of water and debris;

wherein said robot is configured for rotating said auxiliary brushwheel about an axis of rotation at a second angular velocity which is substantially greater than the first angular velocity;

wherein said second angular velocity is at least substantially twice that of the first angular velocity;

wherein said bottom panel has first and second halves being separated by an axis spanning along the bottom panel between midpoints of said main wheels, and wherein;

a first of said auxiliary brushwheels is disposed substantially on a first side of said axis, and a second of said auxiliary brushwheels is disposed substantially on a second side of said axis; and

a first of said inlets, being associated with the first brushwheel, is formed substantially in said first side between the first auxiliary brushwheel and a first of said main wheels, and a second of said inlets, being associated with the second brushwheel, is formed substantially on said second side between the second auxiliary brushwheel and a second of said main wheels;

wherein said robot is configured to rotate the first auxiliary brushwheel such that the direction of movement of a portion thereof contacting the surface is toward said first inlet, and to rotate the second auxiliary brushwheel such that the direction of movement of a portion thereof contacting the surface is toward said second inlet.

8. A pool cleaning robot according to claim 7, wherein said auxiliary brushwheels each comprises a plurality of bristles, each bristle comprising a shaft and a head, said shaft being flexible enough so that rotations of the auxiliary brushwheels do not substantially affect the movement of the robot, said head being designed to dislodge debris from the surface.

9. A pool cleaning robot according to claim 8, wherein each of said heads projects laterally from said bristle in a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the auxiliary brushwheel.