Automatic pool cleaner

An automatic pool cleaner comprising a housing and a base. The housing comprises a suction flow pathway, an impeller disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the suction flow pathway such that water traveling through the suction flow pathway spins the impeller, wherein spinning of the impeller causes the pool cleaner to move forward, an off-center cam that extends through the impeller and is configured to rotate as the impeller rotates, and two spring biased valves. Each valve comprises a valve seat, and a spring biased poppet configured to seal against the valve seat, the poppet having a rod with a spring disposed around the rod. The base comprises two feet, each foot having a spring-biased pad extending from each end of the foot, two A-arm assemblies, one for each foot, and a suction port that extends through the base.

BACKGROUND

The care and cleaning of swimming pools and spas occupies a great deal of time for owners and operators. It has long been recognized that an automatic pool cleaner that will automatically traverse the pool bottom surface while effectively picking up dirt and debris is desired. It has also been recognized that an automatic pool cleaner that uses the existing pool water recirculation equipment, does not use electricity in its internal operation, and is of low cost, is desired.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved pool cleaner.

SUMMARY

In the invention described herein is directed to an automatic pool cleaner. In a first embodiment, the automatic pool cleaner has a housing and a base.

The housing comprises a suction flow pathway that extends through the housing, an impeller, a vacuum line connection port, and two spring biased valves.

The impeller is disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the suction flow pathway such that water traveling through the suction flow pathway spins the impeller, wherein spinning of the impeller causes the pool cleaner to move forward.

The vacuum line connection port extends vertically through the housing.

The two spring biased valves are disposed within the housing. Each valve comprises a valve seat, and a spring biased poppet configured to seal against the valve seat, the poppet having a rod with a spring disposed around the rod.

The base has two feet, one on either side of the base, and a suction port that extends through the base and is in fluid communication with the vacuum line connection port.

Ideally, the housing has two side surfaces, a front surface and a back surface, and further comprises a removable cover.

Ideally, the housing includes an off-center cam that extends through the impeller and is configured to rotate as the impeller rotates.

Ideally, each foot has opposed ends and a spring-biased pad extends from each end of each foot.

Ideally, each pad is rotatably coupled to a respective foot by a housing and there is a spring coupled to each housing that is configured to bias the corresponding housing away from an interior surface of the foot.

Ideally, the base further comprises two A-arm assemblies, one for each foot. Each A-arm assembly comprises an axle for rotatably coupling the corresponding foot to the base, and two rotatable wheels rotatably coupled to the A-arm assembly. The wheels are configured to rest on either side of the off-center cam, whereby rotation of the off-center cam causes the corresponding A-arm assembly to rock back and forth.

Ideally, each foot has an opening having two flat sides and an end of the axle of the A-arm assembly has two flat surfaces configured to mate with the two flat sides of the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings given below, unless a different meaning is clearly intended by the context in which such term is used.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” and similar referents used herein are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless their usage in context indicates otherwise.

As used in this disclosure, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers ingredients or steps.

All dimensions specified in this disclosure are by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting. Further, the proportions shown in these Figures are not necessarily to scale. As will be understood by those with skill in the art with reference to this disclosure, the actual dimensions and proportions of any system, any device or part of a device disclosed in this disclosure will be determined by its intended use.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding features throughout the several views. Further, described herein are certain non-limiting embodiments of my pipeline filter assembly for pool filtering and maintenance.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown my automatic pool cleaner100. The pool cleaner comprises a housing102and a base104. The base104has two feet114, two paddles116and a suction port200.

The housing102has a removable top cover106, two side surfaces108A,108B, a front surface110, and a back surface112. The cover106has a plurality of openings107configured to let pool water pass into and out of the housing102. The cover106also has a center opening109. On the back surface112of the housing102is a bypass suction inlet202.

As best seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, the housing102also has a suction flow pathway300that extends through the housing102, an impeller302, and a vacuum line connection port304, an off-center cam400, and two spring biased valves306.

The impeller302is rotatably disposed within the housing102and is in fluid communication with the suction flow pathway300such that water traveling through the suction flow pathway300spins the impeller302. When the impeller302spins, it causes the pool cleaner100to move forward via movement of the feet114, which is discussed in greater detail below.

The vacuum line connection port304is coupled to one end of the suction flow pathway300and extends vertically through the center opening109in the removable cover106. The vacuum line connection portion304is configured to removably couple to a vacuum source. Typically, the vacuum source is the existing filter system for the pool.

There is a gear308around the base of the vacuum line connection port304. Rotation of the vacuum line port gear308causes the vacuum line connection port304to rotate. Gear308has a plurality of teeth that rotatably engage with a plurality of teeth on a connection gear310. Connection gear310is rotatably disposed within the housing102in close proximity to the vacuum line port gear308. The connection gear310is rotatably coupled to a turbine312. Rotatably positioned below the turbine312is a blocking disc314and below the blocking disc314is a gear box316. The blocking disc314is coupled to the gear box316via a shaft. The blocking disc314rotates at slow speed (via the gear box316) to alternate flow of water through the turbine312. The alternating flow causes the turbine312to alternate spinning clockwise and counter-clockwise.

The turbine312rotates due to flow of water through the bypass inlet port202, which is regulated by the rotation of the blocking disc314. Rotation of the turbine312causes the connection gear310to rotate, which causes the vacuum line connection port gear308to rotate, ultimately causing the vacuum line connection port304to rotate. As noted above, turbine312alternates between spinning clockwise and counter-clockwise. This means that the vacuum line connection port gear308(and connection port304) also alternate between rotating clockwise and counter-clockwise. This change in rotation direction causes the cleaner100to also change direction, ensuring that the cleaner100covers all areas of the pool floor.

The gear box316contains a plurality of stacked gears318and a gear box impeller320. The gears318are rotated by the flow of water through the bypass suction inlet202, causing the gear box impeller320to rotate. The gearbox is a 6-stage gear box and it serves two purposes: reduce the gear box impeller320speed and cause the blocking disc314to rotate at a slow speed.

As shown inFIG. 4, the off-center cam400extends through the impeller302. Rotation of the impeller302(via water passing through the suction flow pathway300) causes the cam400to also rotate. Rotation of the cam400is discussed in greater detail below.

As best seen inFIGS. 11-14, the two spring biased valves306are disposed within the housing102. Each valve comprises a valve seat1200, and a spring biased poppet1202configured to seal against the valve seat1200. The poppet1202has a mushroom-shaped end piece1204coupled to an axial rod1206. The rod1206has a spring1208encircling the rod1206and providing a biasing pressure between a lower surface of the end piece1204and a base of the valve306. The function of the valves306is discussed in greater detail below.

The two feet114are disposed on either side of the base104. Each foot114has an elongated, slightly arched shape with opposed ends. A spring-biased pad118extends from each end of each foot114. As best seen inFIGS. 5 and 6, each pad118is rotatably coupled to its respective foot114via a housing120. There is a spring122coupled to each housing120and configured to bias the corresponding housing120away from an interior surface of the foot114. This bias keeps the pad118in contact with a pool surface as the pool cleaner100moves.

The pads118have wear indicators on their sides. The wear indicator is a line on the side of the pad118that appears as a difference in texture. When this texture difference is no longer visible at the bottom of the pad118when viewed from either side, the pads118must be changed.

As best seen inFIGS. 4-6 and 9-10, each foot114is coupled to the cleaner100by an A-arm assembly402. Each A-arm assembly402comprises an axle404for rotatably coupling the corresponding foot114to the base102. Each A-arm assembly402also comprises two rotatable wheels406rotatably coupled to the A-arm assembly402that are configured to rest on either side of the off-center cam400. This can be seen inFIGS. 5 and 6. Rotation of the off-center cam400causes the corresponding A-arm assembly402to rock back and forth. Due to the cam400being off-center, the foot114connected to the A-arm assembly402also rocks, alternating between lifting the front pad118off the pool surface500, while the rear pad118remains in contact with the pool surface500, and lifting the read pad118off the pool surface500while the front pad118remains in contact with the pool surface500. This alternating lifting motion is what moves the pool cleaner100along the pool surface500.

Preferably, each foot114has an opening1000for insertion of the axel404therein. More preferably, the opening1000has two flat sides1002and an end of the axle404configured to mate with the foot114has two flat surfaces502, such that the two flat sides1002of the opening1000mates securely mates with the two flat surfaces502of the axel404. This configuration is desirable because the flat sides1002/flat surfaces502help the axel404and the corresponding foot114endure the stress repeated lifting and placing to move the cleaner100forward.

The base104also comprises two paddles116, one paddle116connected to each foot114. Each foot116has a pair of hooks117that are configured for insertion through a corresponding pair of openings119in each paddle116. The openings119in the paddle116are slipped over the hooks117and the paddle116is pivoted/bent downward, away from the sidewalls108A,108B of the cleaner, and locked into place. To remove the paddles116, the paddles116are bent upwards towards the sidewalls108A,108B of the cleaner100. This allows the paddles116to be lifted off the hooks117. Each paddle116has a wear indicator121which is a horizontal line with three vertical lines above it. The paddles116must be replaced when the horizontal line can no longer be seen. The paddles116are hollow underneath, creating a cavity. This cavity helps extend the suction flow/cleaning area under the cleaner100. Each paddle116is hinged to its respective foot114so that the paddles116can conform to uneven pool surfaces.

The suction port200is an opening that extends through the base104and is in fluid communication with the suction flow pathway300and the vacuum line connection port304. Pool water is sucked through the suction port200, into the suction flow pathway300where it spins the impeller302, and after spinning the impeller302, the pool water exits the cleaner100through the vacuum line connection port304.

The cleaner100also has a front flap122and a rear flap124coupled to the base104. The front and rear flaps122,124are hinged to the cleaner100and create a seal of sorts that directs the suction flow of water perpendicular to the direction of travel of the cleaner100.

Referring now toFIGS. 11-14, the function of the impeller302and the valves306will now be discussed in greater detail. As noted above, pool water is sucked into the cleaner100through the suction port200. Once inside the cleaner100, the pool water is now inside the suction flow pathway300. Flow of the water through the suction flow pathway300causes the impeller302to spin. As the impeller302spins, the feet114are caused to rock back and forth, moving the cleaner100along the pool surface500. One issue that often arises in automatic pool cleaners100is regulation of the vacuum pressure within the cleaner100. Because the cleaner100is hooked up to the existing pool filter system, regulation of the pressure can be difficult, and there can be significant fluctuations which will cause the cleaner100to move too fast and put undue stress on the components of the cleaner100. In order to prevent these pressure fluctuations from damaging the cleaner100, valves306are provided.

As noted above, there is at least one valve assembly306, but preferably, there are two or more valve assemblies306. Each valve assembly306has a valve assembly housing disposed within the pool cleaner housing102, a valve seat1200, and a spring biased poppet1202configured to seal against the valve seat1200. The valve assembly housing has an open top and a bottom, and the bottom has a hollow, optionally cylindrical, projection that projects into an interior of the valve assembly housing. The valve seat1200is coupled to the open top of the valve assembly housing. The poppet1202is configured to seal upwards against the valve seat1200and has a rod1206that is disposed within the projection of the valve assembly housing. The spring1208encircles both the rod1206and the projection and provides a biasing pressure between a lower surface of the end piece1204and a base of the valve306.

Under normal operating vacuum pressure, shown inFIG. 13, the pool water flows through the suction port200, into the suction flow pathway300spinning the impeller302, and out through the vacuum line connection port304. The valve306remains closed, where the poppet1202is sealed against the valve seat1200. The normal operating vacuum pressure is not enough to override the biasing pressure of the spring1208.

FIG. 14shows the flow path of the pool water when the vacuum pressure is not optimal. In this instance, the vacuum pressure is strong enough to override the biasing pressure of the spring1208. This causes the poppet1202to be pulled down and un-sealed from the valve seat1200. Additional pool water can now enter the cleaner100through the valves306. This allows the cleaner100to continue running/moving at its optimal speed, regardless of pressure fluctuations that are caused by the pool filter system. These valves306also prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the cleaner100due to those pressure fluctuations. An additional advantage of these valves306is that they are incorporated into the cleaner100itself, and require no extra installation or work on the part of the pool owner. Moreover, the valves306do not require any sort of electricity or computer system to run. They are purely mechanical, meaning the valves306automatically open and close in response to vacuum pressure changes, which is ideal as the cleaner100is constantly immersed in water. Along the same lines, the mechanical nature of the valves306makes them simple, with less pieces to break and wear out. The valves306are a simple and elegant solution to the pressure fluctuation problem.

While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. The forgoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The steps disclosed for the present embodiments, for example, are not intended to be limiting nor are they intended to indicate that each step is necessarily essential to the embodiment, but instead are exemplary steps only. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of preferred embodiments contained in this disclosure. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference. Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.