Pool Cleaning Vehicle Having Internal Drive Propulsion

• US 20120304403A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartpool Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smartpool Incorporated
• Inventors: HUI, Wing-kin
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1654 Self-propelled cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19642 Directly cooperating gears

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a pool cleaning device including an internal drive assembly mounted outside the interior cavity of the device housing. The device including a pool cleaning vehicle, the vehicle including a housing defining a body shell and the body shell including an interior cavity and the pool cleaning vehicle including a drive assembly; and an internal drive assembly, the internal drive assembly including a motor assembly for engaging the vehicle drive assembly for propelling the vehicle, the motor assembly mounted outside the interior of the body shell.

Claims

1. An internal drive assembly for a pool cleaning vehicle, the vehicle including a housing defining a body shell and the body shell including an interior cavity and the pool cleaning vehicle including drive means for traveling around the underwater surface of the pool, the internal drive assembly comprising:

a motor assembly for engaging the internal drive assembly for propelling the vehicle, the motor assembly mounted outside of the body shell.

2. The internal drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the pool cleaning vehicle drive mechanism includes a drive roller and wherein the motor means includes a gear assembly in meshing connection with the drive mechanism and wherein the gear assembly is located within the drive roller.

3. The internal drive assembly of claim 2, wherein the motor assembly is journaled within the drive roller.

4. The internal drive assembly of claim 3, wherein the drive roller has internal gearing for meshing with the gear means of the motor assembly.

5. The internal drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal drive assembly includes drive wheels and wherein the drive wheels include a gear assembly.

6. The internal drive assembly of claim 5, wherein the internal drive assembly includes a gear assembly in compatible contact with the wheel gear assembly, such that when the internal drive assembly is activated the drive wheels move.

7. The internal drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly is completely within the drive roller assembly.

9. The internal drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal drive assembly includes a pair of drive wheels and wherein each wheel includes a drive gear formed as an integral part of each drive wheel.

10. The internal drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the internal drive assembly includes a drive motor housing external of the body shell and wherein the housing hermetically seals motor.

8. A pool cleaning device, comprising

a pool cleaning vehicle, the vehicle including a housing defining a body shell and the body shell including an interior cavity and the pool cleaning vehicle including a drive assembly;

and

an internal drive assembly, the internal drive assembly including a motor assembly for engaging the vehicle drive assembly for propelling the vehicle, the motor assembly mounted outside the interior of the body shell.