Patent ID: 7165284

Claim:
A method for propelling a robotic pool cleaning apparatus over the bottom and side wall surfaces of a pool by means of a water jet, where the apparatus comprises a pump operatively attached to a pump motor for delivery of a stream of pressurized water to a pump outlet having a plurality of discharge conduits and a diverter interposed in said pump outlet between the discharge conduits and the pump, said method comprising: (a) discharging a jet of water received from the pump outlet in a first predetermined direction, wherein a first high pressure water stream passing through said pump outlet causes said diverter to be disposed in a first position to close a first one of said plurality of discharge conduits; (b) continuing the discharge of the water jet in the first predetermined direction for a period of time; (c) terminating the flow of the water jet in the first predetermined direction by interrupting power to the pump motor to effect a low pressure condition in said pump outlet that moves said diverter to a second position between said discharge conduits; (d) discharging the water jet in a second predetermined direction by providing power to the pump motor to direct a second high pressure water stream that passes through said pump outlet to cause said diverter to be disposed in a third position to close a second one of said plurality of discharge conduits; and (e) continuing the flow of the water jet in the second predetermined direction for a period of time, wherein the pool cleaning apparatus is propelled in directions which change in response to the changes in the direction of the discharged water jet.