Pool cleaning vehicle having improved logic

• US 8,623,201 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartpool Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smartpool Incorporated
• Inventors: Hui, Wing-kin
• Primary Examiner(s): CECIL, TERRY K
• Application Number:
  US12/551,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20110049023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 210/167.16, 210/416.2, 210/141, 210/91, 210/143, 15/17, 134/56.R
• US Class Current: 210/91
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners

Abstract

A swimming pool cleaning vehicle including a housing having a body shell, a frame, and an interior with the housing. The housing having an outlet for releasing air from the shell. The shell being removably attached to the frame, and the frame including a base. The vehicle including a filtration system having a pump motor for pumping pool water through a filtration system, the pump creating a suction force, and the suction force being sufficient to allow the vehicle to climb the pool walls. The vehicle being capable of climbing the pool walls and breaking the surface of the water as it climbs the pool walls. The vehicle including logic for first, initiating vehicle movement, second, shutting off the pump motor, and third, re-starting the pump motor.

Claims

1. A pool cleaning vehicle having drive means for moving the vehicle about a surface of a pool, comprising:

a housing including;

a body shell and a frame, the shell being removably attached to the frame, the frame including a base and the shell including an outlet;

the vehicle including a filtration system having a pump motor for a pump for pumping pool water through a filtration system, the pump motor creating a suction force, the suction force being sufficient to allow the vehicle to climb pool walls, the pump motor operating drive means;

the vehicle being able to climb the pool walls and to break a surface of the water;

the vehicle including logic means for first, initiating vehicle movement, second, shutting off the pump motor, and third, re-starting the pump motor; and

the logic means causing the pump motor to operate at a first primary speed, shutting off the pump motor upon reaching a predetermined distance in relation to the surface of the water, returning the pump motor to the first primary speed after shut off of the pump motor,

wherein the vehicle includes sensor means for determining the distance between the vehicle and the surface of water, the sensor means in communication with the logic means of the vehicle.

2. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a low center of gravity for discouraging turtling.

3. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive means and the pump motor comprises a single electrical motor.

4. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein the motor has a first primary speed and a second faster speed, and wherein the logic means signals the vehicle to operate at the second faster speed after shut off of the motor, and including means for sensing that the bottom of the pool has been reached, and thereafter, the logic means returning the vehicle to the first primary speed.

5. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein the vehicle moves along the surface of the pool at the primary speed, shuts off and upon re-activation by the logic means, while the vehicle is descending the pool wall, the logic means sends a signal to the vehicle to operate at the faster descent speed for a pre-determined time;

after a pre-determined period of time, the logic means sends a signal to the pump motor to return to the primary speed.

6. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vehicle releases air through the outlet after shut off of the pump motor.

7. A pool cleaning vehicle having drive means for moving the vehicle about a surface of a pool, the vehicle including a filtration system having a pump motor of a pump for pumping pool water through the vehicle filtration system, the pump creating a suction force, the suction force being sufficient to allow the vehicle to climb pool walls, comprising:

a housing including;

a body shell and a frame, the shell being removably attached to the frame, the frame including a base and the shell including an outlet;

sensor means for determining when the vehicle breaks the surface of the water; and

event driven logic means to determine, first when to initiate the drive means;

second, to determine when the vehicle breaks the surface of the water;

third, to shut off the pump motor and the drive means when the vehicle breaks the surface of the water;

fourth, to re-activate the pump motor and the drive means after a predetermined time,

wherein the drive means and the pump motor comprises a single electrical motor.

8. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the vehicle releases air through the outlet after shut off of the pump motor.

9. A pool cleaning vehicle having drive means for moving the vehicle about a surface of a pool, the vehicle including a filtration system having a pump motor of a pump for pumping pool water through the vehicle filtration system, the pump creating a suction force, the suction force being sufficient to allow the vehicle to climb pool walls, comprising:

a housing including;

a body shell and a frame, the shell being removably attached to the frame, the frame including a base and the shell including an outlet;

sensor means for determining when the vehicle is climbing a wall one of the pool walls; and

time driven logic means, initiating shut off of the pump motor after a pre-determined time when vehicle begins climbing one of the pool walls; and

re-starting the pump motor in a pre-determined time after shut off,

wherein the drive means and pump motor comprises a single electrical motor.

10. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the vehicle releases air through the outlet after shut off of the pump motor.

11. A pool cleaning vehicle having drive means for moving the vehicle about a surface of a pool, the vehicle including a filtration system having a pump motor for pumping pool water through the vehicle filtration system, the pump motor creating a suction force, the suction force being sufficient to allow the vehicle to climb the pool walls, and the vehicle including logic means, the logic means for executing logic, the logic comprising the steps of:

initiating the drive means for movement along the surface of the pool;

moving the vehicle until contact with the wall is sensed by a sensor;

timing vehicle movement, if no wall is sensed within a first predetermined period of time, vehicle direction is reversed;

upon sensing a wall, timing the movement for a second predetermined period of time;

after reaching the second predetermined period of time, shutting off the drive means and the pump motor for a third predetermined period of time;

after reaching the third pre-determined time for shut off, re-starting the pump motor; and

repeating the above pattern,

wherein the pump motor operates at a second faster speed until a predetermined distance from the surface of the pool is reached and thereafter returning the pump motor to a slower first speed.

12. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first predetermined period of time is between 30 and 120 seconds.

13. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second predetermined period is between 3 and 20 seconds.

14. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 11, wherein the third predetermined period of time is between 0.2 and 5 seconds.

15. A pool cleaning vehicle having drive means for moving the vehicle about a surface of a pool, the vehicle including a first sensor for sensing an encounter with a pool wall, a second sensor for sensing the distance between a water surface of the pool and the vehicle and a third sensor for sensing a predetermined vehicle travel distance, the vehicle including a filtration system having a pump motor for pumping pool water through the vehicle filtration system, the pump motor creating a suction force, the suction force being sufficient to allow the vehicle to climb the pool walls, and the pump motor serving as a motor for the drive means and the vehicle including logic means, the logic means causing the pool cleaning vehicle to perform the steps of:

initiating the drive means for movement along the surface of the pool;

moving the vehicle until contact with a wall is sensed by a sensor;

or, in the alternative after going a predetermined travel distance, reversing the direction of the vehicle;

upon sensing a wall, activating a new travel distance sensor and causing the vehicle to travel a second predetermined distance;

after reaching the second predetermined distance, shutting off the pump motor and drive means and activating the sensor for sensing the distance from the surface of the water;

upon receiving a predetermined distance from the surface of the water, re-activing the pump motor;

after reaching the third pre-determined time for shut off, re-starting the pump motor; and

repeating the above pattern,

wherein the vehicle releases air through the outlet after shut off of the pump motor.

16. The pool cleaning vehicle as set forth in claim 15, wherein the pump motor includes a two speed motor, and whereupon reactivating the motor, the motor operates at a second speed faster than the first speed.