Valve member for automatic pool cleaner

Abstract: A valve member 38 for an automatic swimming pool cleaner 10 is disclosed and claimed. The valve member is symmetrical and defines similarly shaped and positioned recesses 52 and 54 in opposed sealing faces 48 and 50 thereof.

Description: THIS invention relates to automatic cleaners for submerged surfaces and more particularly to automatic swimming pool cleaners. Automatic swimming pool cleaners are well known in the art. One such a machine, which is disclosed in the complete specification of SA Patent 75/1166, comprises a body having a hollow head defining a water inlet in a peripheral region thereof. The head defines two outlets from which two elongate tubes extend. The other ends of the tubes terminate in a coupling which, in use, is connected via a flexible hose to a suction source, such as the suction inlet of a pump and filtration system of a swimming pool. In the head there is mounted a closure member or valve for pivotal movement between two valve seats defining ports to the two tubes. Due to water flow through the body, the valve alternately and repeatedly opens and closes the ports. The valve therefore intermittently interrupts water flow through the ports, thereby to impart kinetic energy to the body causing the body automatically to move over the surface to be cleaned. The valve is symmetrical and comprises opposed planar and continuous sealing surfaces. The valve of the cleaner hereinbefore described, in use, generates some noise. Furthermore, flow of water through the cleaner and thus the efficiency of the cleaner is impaired by the configuration of the known valves. Other, but not more relevant, prior cleaners are disclosed in DE-A-2 620 119, FR-A-2 520 422 and EPA 476 413. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative valve member with which the applicant believes the aforementioned disadvantages will be alleviated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a valve member for a self-propelled automatic cleaner for submerged surfaces, the valve member being symmetrical and having first and second sealing faces for inlet ports of said cleaner, characterised in that the first and second sealing faces have similarly shaped and positioned recesses therein. According to another aspect of this invention there is provided an automatic self-propelling cleaner for submerged surfaces, comprising a submersible body with a hollow head having two inlet ports alternately opened and closed in operation by a pivotal valve member in causing movement of the cleaner, characterised in that first and second opposed sealing faces of symmetrical said valve member as presented alternately and respectively to said inlet ports have similarly shaped and positioned recesses therein. Said recesses may be medial of said sealing faces and facing said ports, indeed are so for countries overlapping with EPA 476,413. The valve member is preferably wedge-shaped and comprises an apex, a base, two opposed side faces and the said two opposed sealing faces. In the preferred embodiment each of the first and second sealing faces has only one recess therein. The said only one recess in each of the sealing faces may increase in depth in a direction from the apex to the base. A mouth of the recess in the sealing face is preferably rectangular and a wall between the recess in the first sealing face and the recess in the second sealing face is of uniform thickness. The mouth may occupy at least ten percent of the area of the sealing face wherein it is defined and preferably occupies in the order of forty five percent of the said area. In another embodiment a wall defining the recess may be curved. The valve member according to the invention may be made by an injection moulding process from a suitable resinous material. The invention also includes within its scope an automatic cleaner for submerged surfaces comprising a valve member as hereinbefore defined for intermittently varying liquid flow through the cleaner, thereby to cause the cleaner to move over a surface to be cleaned. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS The invention will now further be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrams wherein: figure 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of an automatic swimming pool cleaner; figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of part of a head of the pool cleaner; figure 3 is a perspective view of a valve member for the pool cleaner, from one side thereof; and figure 4 is a similar view of the valve member, from the other side thereof. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION A suction operable automatic swimming pool cleaner is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in figure 1. The cleaner 10 comprises a body 12 having a head 14 defining an internal chamber 16 communicating with a water inlet 18 (shown in figure 2) in a peripheral region of the head 14. A flexible seal 20 is mounted about the peripheral region. The head 14 defines two outlets from the chamber 18 and two elongate tubes 22 extend from the outlets and terminate in a coupling 24. Coupling 24 defines an outlet (not shown). In use, the outlet is connectable via a flexible suction hose 26 to a suction source (also not shown), such as the inlet of a swimming pool pump and filtration system. A dive float assembly 28 is pivotably mounted on the body to facilitate movement of the cleaner up and down the side walls (not shown) of a swimming pool (also not shown). A bumper strap 29 is mounted on the body 12. In the chamber 16 in the head 14, there are provided two ports 30 and 32, each communicating with one of the aforementioned outlets from the head. The ports are circumscribed by annular valve seats 34 and 36 respectively. Also in chamber 16 and between ports 34, 36 and the inlet 18 there is provided a wedge-shaped symmetrical valve 38. Valve 38 is mounted in the head for pivotal movement between a first position (shown in sold lines in figure 2) wherein it closes port 30 and a second position (shown in dotted lines in figure 2) wherein it closes port 32. Symmetrical valve 38 has an apex 40, a base 42, opposed side faces 44 and 46, and opposed sealing faces 48 and 50. Sealing faces 48 and 50 define symmetrical rectangular recesses 52 and 54 respectively which increase in depth from the apex 40 to the base 42. Wall 56 between the recesses 52 and 54 is of uniform thickness. The area of the mouth region of each of the recesses 52 and 54 is in the order of 45% of the surface area of the sealing face wherein it is defined. The valve 38 is injection moulded from a suitable polymeric material. In use, when the cleaner 10 is connected to the suction source, water is sucked through mouth 18 and flows through chamber 16, tubes 22 and the aforementioned outlet in the coupling 24 to the suction source. Water flowing past valve 38 causes the valve to oscillate between its aforementioned first and second positions, thereby alternately and repeatedly to open and close ports 30 and 32. The intermittent interruption of water flow through the tubes 22 causes kinetic energy to be imparted to the body 12, thereby to cause the cleaner to move in direction A over the surface to be cleaned. It has been found that with the valve 38 defining the symmetrical recesses 52 and 54, flow of water through the body is improved and noise generated by the cleaner in use, is reduced. It will be appreciated that there are many variations in detail on the valve member according to the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : DE, ES, FR, GB A valve member (38) for a self-propelling automatic cleaner (10) for submerged surfaces, the valve member (38) being symmetrical and having first and second sealing surfaces (48, 50) for inlet ports (30, 32) of said cleaner (10) to be sealed alternately by pivotting of said valve member (38), characterised in that the first and second sealing faces (48, 50) have similarly shaped and positioned medial recesses (52, 54) therein facing said ports (30, 32). Automatic self-propelling cleaner (10) for submerged surfaces, comprising a submersible body (12) with a hollow head (14) having two inlet ports (30, 32) alternately opened and closed in operation by a pivotal valve member (38) in causing movement of the cleaner, characterised in that first and second opposed sealing faces (48, 50) of symmetrical said valve member (38) as presented alternately and respectively to said inlet ports (30, 32) have similarly shaped and positioned medial recesses (52, 54) therein. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the valve member (38) is wedge-shaped and comprises an apex (40), a base (42), two opposed side faces (44, 46), and said opposed first and second recessed sealing faces (48, 50). Valve member or cleaner as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each of the first and second sealing faces (48, 50) has only one recess (52, 54) therein. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein said recess (52, 54) in each of said sealing faces (48, 50) increases in depth in a direction away from pivotting (40) of said valve member (38). Valve member or cleaner according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein a mouth of each said recess (52, 54) in the corresponding said sealing face (48, 50) is rectangular. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said mouth of each said recess (52, 54) occupies at least ten percent of the corresponding said sealing face (48, 50). Valve member or cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 4, to 7, wherein a wall (56) between the recesses (52, 54) in respective ones of said sealing faces (48, 50) is of uniform thickness. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein a or said recess (52, 54) defining wall is curved. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said valve member (38) comprises injection moulded resinous material. Claims for the following Contracting State : PT A valve member (38) for a self-propelling automatic cleaner (10) for submerged surfaces, the valve member (38) being symmetrical and having first and second sealing surfaces (48, 50) for inlet ports (30, 32) of said cleaner (10) to be sealed alternately by pivotting of said valve member (38), characterised in that the first and second sealing faces (48, 50) have similarly shaped and positioned recesses (52, 54) therein. Automatic self-propelling cleaner (10) for submerged surfaces, comprising a submersible body (12) with a hollow head (14) having two inlet ports (30, 32) alternately opened and closed in operation by a pivotal valve member (38) in causing movement of the cleaner, characterised in that first and second sealing faces (48, 50) of symmetrical said valve member (38) as presented alternately and respectively to said inlet ports (30, 32) have similarly shaped and positioned recesses (52, 54) therein. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said recesses (52, 54) are medial of said sealing faces (48, 50) and face said ports (30, 32). Valve member or cleaner as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the valve member (38) is wedge-shaped and comprises an apex (40), a base (42), two opposed side faces (44, 46) and said opposed first and second recessed sealing faces (48, 50). Valve member or cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the first and second sealing faces (48, 50) has only one recess (52, 54) therein. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein said recess (52, 54) in each of said sealing faces (48, 50) increases in depth in a direction away from pivotting (40) of said valve member (38). Valve member or cleaner according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein a mouth of each said recess (52, 54) in the corresponding said sealing face (48, 50) is rectangular. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in claim 7, wherein each said mouth of each said recess (52, 54) occupies at least ten percent of the corresponding said sealing face (48, 50). Valve member or cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein a wall (56) between the recesses (52, 54) in respective ones of said sealing faces (48, 50) is of uniform thickness. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein a or said recess (52, 54) defining wall is curved. Valve member or cleaner as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said valve member (38) comprises injection moulded resinous material.

Inventors: HAMER WAYNE RUSSELL, HAMER, WAYNE RUSSELL
Applicants: KREEPY KRAULY PTY LTD, KREEPY KRAULY (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: E04H4
IPC codes: E04H4