Pool cleaning vehicle with mechanism for skewing an axle
First Claim
1. A self directed pool cleaning vehicle comprising:
- a hollow body including at least one water inlet port and at least one water outlet port with the inlet port or ports being located proximate the bottom of the body;
at least one filter within the body;
a drive mechanism mounted to the body which propels the vehicle in two generally opposed directions;
a first axle and a second axle, each axle carrying two wheels at either end thereof which support the body and control its direction of movement in response to the drive mechanism, the axles being mounted to the body such that they can be perpendicular to the directions in which the drive mechanism propels the vehicle, the first axle being mounted to the body via a first slot and a second, the first slot and second slot extending in the direction in which the drive mechanism propels the vehicle such that the ends of the first axle can move toward either end of the slots; and
a steering structure including a flexible member having at least a first portion which moves to close a portion of the first slot to the movement of the first axle in the first slot, the movement of the first portion of the flexible member changing the angle of the first axle to other than perpendicular to the directions in which the drive mechanism propels the vehicle when the first axle is used as the trailing axle.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self directed pool cleaning vehicle comprising a body carrying water inlet and outlet ports with the inlet port being located on the bottom of the body with the body containing a filter is described. A drive mechanism propels the vehicle in two generally opposed directions. Two axles which each carry two wheels support the body and control its direction of movement. One axle is mounted to the body via slots that extend in the directions of motion such that this axle can move toward either end of the slots. A steering structure is provided with a portion that moves to close a portion of one of the slots and can be locked in a position that prevents one end of an axle from traversing its slot. Thus when this axle is the trialing axle it is held at other than a right angle to the two generally opposed directions.
10 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A self directed pool cleaning vehicle comprising:
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a hollow body including at least one water inlet port and at least one water outlet port with the inlet port or ports being located proximate the bottom of the body; at least one filter within the body; a drive mechanism mounted to the body which propels the vehicle in two generally opposed directions; a first axle and a second axle, each axle carrying two wheels at either end thereof which support the body and control its direction of movement in response to the drive mechanism, the axles being mounted to the body such that they can be perpendicular to the directions in which the drive mechanism propels the vehicle, the first axle being mounted to the body via a first slot and a second, the first slot and second slot extending in the direction in which the drive mechanism propels the vehicle such that the ends of the first axle can move toward either end of the slots; and a steering structure including a flexible member having at least a first portion which moves to close a portion of the first slot to the movement of the first axle in the first slot, the movement of the first portion of the flexible member changing the angle of the first axle to other than perpendicular to the directions in which the drive mechanism propels the vehicle when the first axle is used as the trailing axle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification