Patent ID: 8496813

Claim:
A solar powered skimmer for a swimming pool including: a solar panel pivotal about an axis; a flexible endless belt having lower and upper portions which terminate at lower and upper ends, respectively, of said belt; motive means for causing said belt to travel in ascending and descending paths and being activated at least in part by said solar panel, a lower portion of said belt being adapted to be immersed in the water in said swimming pool for skimming debris floating on the surface of said water, swivelling means arranged to permit adjustment of the orientation of said axis such that said axis extends from east to west; tilting means for adjusting the position of said solar panel such that said solar panel faces the sun; and means for causing said solar panel to pivot about said axis at a rate which equals the observed rate of movement of the sun as it crosses the sky from morning to evening such that said solar panel continuously faces the sun during daylight.