Patent ID: 6199237
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
An underwater vacuum comprising:a vacuum housing having a suction opening at the bottom thereof and a vacuum housing outlet opening, and said vacuum housing having an exterior and an interior;a turbine housing fixed to said exterior of said vacuum housing, said turbine housing having a turbine housing inlet and a turbine housing outlet, said turbine housing inlet being in fluid communication with said vacuum housing outlet opening;a turbine rotatably supported within said turbine housing;an outlet pipe supported by said vacuum housing, said outlet pipe having an outlet pipe inlet and an outlet pipe outlet, said outlet pipe inlet being in fluid communication with said turbine housing outlet;a plurality of wheels rotatably supported by said vacuum housing proximate said suction opening, said plurality of wheels supporting said suction opening adjacent a surface to be cleaned, and allowing the underwater vacuum to be moved about the surface to be cleaned;a brush rotatably supported within said vacuum housing, said brush having a plurality of bristles, said brush being positioned within said vacuum housing such that a predetermined number of said plurality of bristles project beyond said suction opening to the outside of said vacuum housing and contact the surface to be cleaned; andmeans for transmitting rotational motion from said turbine to said brush;whereby, when said underwater vacuum is supported adjacent a submerged surface to be cleaned by said plurality of wheels and when said outlet pipe outlet is connected to a pump via a hose and the pump is turned on, water being drawn through said vacuum housing will cause rotation of said turbine, which in turn causes rotation of said brush, to thereby dislodge matter from the submerged surface, the dislodged matter becoming entrained in water being drawn through said vacuum housing, the water and the dislodged matter being removed from proximity of the submerged surface via the hose.