Patent ID: 8590090

Claim:
A base plate for a self-propelled robotic cleaning apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool or tank, the base plate having a bottom surface and a water inlet formed therethrough and further comprising: an inlet extension member mounted in the water inlet, the inlet extension member being slidably retractable and extendable in a direction that is normal relative to the bottom surface of the base plate; and a height adjustment mechanism coupled to the inlet extension member and configured to move the inlet extension member upwardly and downwardly in the direction normal to the bottom surface of the base plate, the inlet extension member having a fully retracted height position and fully extended height position in the direction normal to the bottom surface of the base plate, and wherein the height adjustment mechanism is further configured to control movement and fixedly retain the inlet extension member in the fully extended height position, the fully retracted height position, or at an intermediate position between the fully extended and fully retracted height positions during a cleaning operation of the pool or tank.