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Robotic pool cleaning apparatus

  • US 9,399,877 B2
  • Filed: 11/21/2014
  • Issued: 07/26/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A cordless and autonomous robotic apparatus for cleaning surfaces of a swimming pool comprising:

  • a frame, the frame having a travel direction axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis;

    a first plurality of road wheels and pulley wheels mounted for rotation to one side of the frame with respect to the transverse axis and defining a first belt path;

    a second plurality of road wheels and pulley wheels mounted for rotation to an opposite side of the frame with respect to the transverse axis and defining a second belt path;

    first and second track belts respectively extending around the first and second belt paths, at least a portion of each belt being adapted to engage a swimming pool surface;

    a first drive motor mounted to the frame and operatively engaged to at least one pulley wheel of the first plurality of pulley wheels for rotating at least one pulley wheel to move the first belt with respect to the frame to thereby move the frame along a swimming pool surface;

    a second drive motor mounted to the frame and operatively engaged to at least one pulley wheel of the second plurality of pulley wheels for rotating the at least one pulley wheel to move the second belt with respect to the frame to thereby move the frame along a swimming pool surface;

    at least one first forward outside wheel connected to one of the first plurality of pulley wheels at a forward side of the first belt path with respect to the travel direction axis;

    at least one first rearward outside wheel connected to one of the first plurality of pulley wheels at a rearward side of the first belt path with respect to the travel direction axis;

    at least one second forward outside wheel connected to one of the second plurality of pulley wheels at a forward side of the second belt path with respect to the travel direction axis;

    at least one second rearward outside wheel connected to one of the second plurality of pulley wheels at a rearward side of the second belt path with respect to the travel direction axis;

    the outside wheels rotating with their respective pulley wheels and having outer friction surfaces adapted to engage a swimming pool surface for moving the frame with respect to the swimming pool surface;

    a forward brush assembly mounted for rotation to the forward side of the frame for brushing a swimming pool surface, the forward brush assembly being operatively engaged to at least one of the drive motors for rotating the forward brush assembly;

    a rearward brush assembly mounted for rotation to the rearward side of the frame for brushing a swimming pool surface, the rearward brush assembly being operatively engaged to at least one of the drive motors for rotating the rearward brush assembly;

    at least one one way valve engaged to the frame between the brush assemblies and near a lower side of the frame with respect to the vertical axis, the one way valve having an inlet for receiving water from a swimming pool into a lower free volume of the frame, and an outlet in the lower volume of the frame;

    a filter bag having an opening engaged over the outlet of the one way valve and being expandable into the lower free volume for filtering debris from water received by the one way valve before water exits the filter bag and enters a remaining free volume of the frame;

    a pump assembly mounted in the frame for pumping water through free volumes and out through an upper side of the frame with respect to the vertical axis;

    a computer processor assembly mounted in the frame and electrically connected to the drive motors and the pump assembly for controlling the drive motors and pump assembly, the computer processor assembly including a computer memory for storing an operating program for controlling operation of the drive motors and pump assembly for moving the apparatus along programmed paths along swimming pool surfaces and for pumping water through the free volumes; and

    at least one rechargeable battery assembly mounted in the frame and containing at least one rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to the computer processor assembly, to the drive motors and to the pump assembly, for powering the computer processor assembly, the drive motors and the pump assembly.

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