Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
5~)9
--1--
POOL CLEANER
BACKGROUND OF ~HE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to devices
for dislodging and/or collecting de~ris within a swim-
ming pool. More 6pecifically, this invention relates to
an improved pool cleaner of the type for submerged and
generally random travel along the flo~r and sidewalls of
a swimming pool to dislodge and collect debris~
Residential and commercial swimmin~ pools
conventionally include a water filtration system for
removin~ dirt and debris from the pool water. Such
filtration systems typically include a circulation pump
installed at a convenient position outside the swimming
pool and appropriately coupled through piping to the
pool water for pumping water to a filter unit. The
filter unit includes a filtration material for separat-
ing from the water dirt and other 6uspended debris,after which the water is recirculated by the pump to the
swimming pool. To maintain desired ~tandards of water
cleanline~s and clari~y~ the filtration ~y~tem is
normally operated on a daily ~chedule for at least
several hours each day.
While a ~wimming pool filtration system of the
type described above is essential for main~aining water
cleanliness and clari~y, such filtration ~ystems by
themselves are yenerally incapable of maintaining a
swimming pool in a satisfactory state o~ cleanliness
over a long period of time. For example, conventional
water filtration systems are designed for removing
suspended, water-entrained debris of a relatively small
~ize and not for removing sizeable debri~ such as
leaves ~r the like, of a larger size. Moreover, conven-
tional ~yst~ms are not designed for removing par culate
matter which tends to ~ettle irrespective of size onto
the floor or sidewalls of the ~wimming poolO According-
s~,
;4~
--2--
ly, periodic cleaning of the pool floor and ~idewalls byadditi~nAl means i5 required for maantaining the swim-
ming pcol in a clean condition.
A variety of in-the-pool cleaning devices are
well known for use in concert with a conventional
filtration ~ystem f~r cleaning the floor and sidewalls
of a swimming pool. One ~uch particularly common device
comprises, for example, a ~o-called vacuum head which is
connected to the ~uction ~ide of a pool filtration
~y~tem pump and then moved manually over ~ubmerged pool
surfaces to draw debris and sediment into the main
~ilter unit~ A major di~advantage of such manual
devices, however, resides in the fact that the pool
owner may be disinclined to spend the time or the effort
to clean ~he pool himself or to incur the expense of
hiring other persons to perform the cleaning ~ask~
In recent years, a variety of automated
in-the-pool cleaning devices have become popular for
removing or assisting in the removal of debris and
sediment from swimming pool water without requiring
manual operation or at~en~ion. For example, floating
in-the-pool cleaning devices of the general type
6hown and described in U.S. Patent 3,032,044 have been
designed for connection to the circulation pump of a
pool water filtration system for directing a portion of
the pump di~charge in the form of one or more pres
~urized water jets against pool ~urfaces to dislodge
debris and zediment. The dislodged material is thus
returned to a suspended ~tate within the pool water for
removal by ~he conventional filtration system, thereby
improving the overall cleanliness of the pool ~ater.
~owever, larger debris tends to re~e~tle relatively
quickly onto the pool floor and ~idewalls resulting in a
periodic requirement ~o remove ~uch debri~ by o~her
technique~, ~uch a~ a manually handled vacuum head.
Other widely u~ed in-the-pool cleaning devices
5(:~
have been designed for ~ollecting large and small debris
from a swimming pool while simultaneously dislodging
~mall particulate and sediment from the pool floor and
sidewalls. See, for example, the pool cleaning deYice
hown and described ill U~S. Patent 3,822,75~ depicting a
clearling device adapted for submerged and generally
random travel along the pool floor and ~idewalls for
dislodging and collecting debris, wherein 6uch devices
are exempl~fied by the pool cleaner manufactured
and ~old by Polaris Vac-Sweep of San Marcos, California,
under the trademark "POLARIS VAC-SWEEP~. This latter
type of automatic in-the-pool cleaning device advantage-
ously provides improved overall pool cleaning by sub-
stantially precluding any requirement to periodically
utilize a manually operated vacuum head to remove larger
de~ris such as leaves from a wimming pool.
While submerged pool cleaning devices of the
type described in U. S. Patent 3,822,754 havé performed
in a highly ~atisfactory manner, particularly in compar-
ison with other types of cleaning devices, a number ofoperational ~hortcomin~s are present ln currently
available equipment. For example, such cleaning devices
are typically supported upon driven wheels wherein at
least a portion of a wheel drive train i8 exposed to
potential jamming or damage from contact ~ith pool
debris. In addition, such devices have had relatively
high pre~sure requirements for proper operation,
wherein the pressure requiremen~ has been fulfilled in
many ~ystems only by use of a separate booster pump in
addition to the filtration system pump. In addition, by
way of ~urther example, satisfactory ~pparatu~ has not
been provided for integration directly into the cleaning
device to prevent device entrapment within a confined
region of a pool, ~uch as a corner.
There exists, therefore~ a ~ignificant need
for an improYed in-the-pool cleaning device of the type
~LXti~5~39
adapted for Gubmerged travel over pool surfaces to
cGllect and dislodge debris, wherein drive train compon-
ents are protected against contact with pool debris,
wherein water flow and pressure requirements for proper
efficient operation are sub~tantially minimi2ed, and
wherein effectiYe backup means are provided for prevent-
ing undesired entrapment of the device within a conf ined
region of a pool. The present invention fulfills these
needs and provides urther significant related advan-
tages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, an improvedpool cleaner is provided for ~ubmerged and generally
random travel over the floor and ~idewalls of a swimming
pool to collect debris and to dislodge and suspend
debris within the pool water for subsequent filtration
by a main pool filtration system. The pool cleaner
comprises a hydraulically contoured housing of simpli-
fied design and improved hydraulic shape driven through-
out the pool by an integrated drive as~embly including a
water-powered drive train protectively encased within
the housing and a plurality of wheels disposed outside
the bousing. ~he pool cleaner is adapted for connection
to a supply of wa~er under pressure via a flexible
~upply hose. The pool cleaner i~cludes improved
water flow distributivn means for utilizing the pres-
surized water as a power source for the drive train, for
providing a debris xuction collection sy~tem, and for
improving pool cleaner stability and c~pability to
dislodge debris from pool surfaces,
3~ In the preferred form of the invention, the
pool cleaner housing is defined by a relatively small
number of ~hell-shaped housing portions designed for
5q)~3
--5--
rapid assembly about the integrated drive assembly
to substantially encase and protect the drive assembly
in a ~eated operational position with rotatable wheels
disposed outside the housing for supporting ~nd driving
the cleaner. The water supp7y hose is coupled to a
supply mast having a lower end detachably mounted on the
housing and an upper end angled slightly in a rearward
direction for connection to the hose. The ~upply mast
couples the pressurized water inflow to a pressure
manifold within the housing from which the pressurized
water i~ distributed in controlled ratio to the various
operational component~ of the pool cleaner.
More particularly, one or more drive nozzles
direct a portion of the water from the pressure manifold
into driving relation with a water turbine of the drive
train. ~he water turbine ~ coupled through reduction
gears to a central drive ~haft carrying a driving
sprocket which is in turn coupled via timing belts to a
pair of driven sprockets within the housing. The ~riven
sprockets are each disposed at a common side of the
housing and are drivingly coupled to a respective one of
two ~leaner wheels disposed outside the cleaner housingO
Axially ~paced pairs of bearings on each axle rotatably
support the driven ~prockts and the associated cleaner
wheel. A third cleaner wheel is driven directly by the
drive shaft a~ ~he opposite side of the housing, wherein
the axis of rotation of this third wheel i~ offset
relative to the two cleaner wheels a~sociated with the
driven cprockets.
The housing includes a vertically open
~uction mast having a porous debris-~ollecting filter
bag mounted at its upper end by means o~ spring-loaded
latch clips. The lower end of the suction mast is open
at the bottom of the housing, and a plurality of
relatively small jet pump orifices are arranged about
the inner diame~er of the ~uction mast generally at the
4s~)~
lower end thereof. These jet pump orifices direct
individual water flows from the pressure manifold
upwardly and slightly radially inwardly within the
suction mast thereby creating a suction water flow
5 upwardly through the mast drawing debris fro~ beneath
the cleaner housing into the collection filter bag. The
bottom profil~ of the housing is contoured particularly
with respect to providing an increased distance between
the housing and pool surfaces behind the suction mast to
improve cleaner traction and thereby correspondingly
improve suction cleaning capability particularly when
the water ~upply pressure is relatively low.
The back up valve assembly is mounted within
the housing and incl~des a primary flow tube aligned
between the water ~upply mast and the pressure manifold.
A small bleed port formed along the primary flow tube
passes a small bleed flow of water perpendicular to the
general water flow through the primary flow tube,
wherein the bleed flow is directed into drivin~ relation
20 with a water wheel forming a portion of an hydraulic
timer. The water wheel is rotatably driven by the bleed
flow to drive a reduction gear train which correspond
ingly drives a Geneva wheel mechanism for ~w$tching a
back up valve plate a~sociated with the pri~ary flow
tube between a normal position closing a b~ck up jet
port and permitting primary water flow to the pressure
manifold, and a back up position ~t least ~ubstantially
closing primary flow to the manifold and opening the
back up ~et for ~ ~hort time interval. This back up jet
directs the water flow generally downw~rdly and/or
generally forwardly beneath the cleaner housing to lift
the entire cleaner in an upward and/or rearward direc~
tion thereby preventing the eleaner from becoming stuck
in a confined region of the pool, after which the valve
plate returns to its normal position and the cleaner
resumes normal operation.
~4~
--7--
According to further aspects of the invention,
additional water 10ws from the pressure manifold are
directed ~o a rearwardly open thrust jet and a rearward-
ly open sweep hose jet spaced vertically beneath the
thrus~ jet. The thrust jet creates a reaction force
acting forwardly on the cleaner along a plane positioned
above the rotationa~ ax2s of the cleaner drive wheels to
assist forward cleaner mo~io~ and to increase downward
traction particularly on the front wheel. The sweep
hose port is coupled to an elongated flexible sweep hose
which is pulled by the cleaner through the pool, wherein
the ~weep hose reacts to water flow therethrough to whip
about in a generally random fashion dislodging debris
from pool surfaces. In addition, water discharged by
the drive train water ~urbine and the back up valve
water ~heel is guided into the interior of the housing
in sufficient v~lume relative to housing openings in the
vicinity o~ the wheels and the supply and ~uction masts
to create a ~light internal housing pre~surization
tending to prevent ingress of debris or other foreign
matter which might otherwise interfere with cleaner
opera~ion.
Other fea~ures and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent ~rom the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of
example, the principles of the invention.
BRI~F DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings illustrate the
invention. In such drawings:
FI~URE 1 is a somewhat ~chematic perspective
view illu~trating an improved pool cleaner embodying the
novel features of the invention and shown in operation
5~9
--8--
traveling generally along the floor of a swimming
pool;
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged generally rear per
spective view of the pool cleaner of FIGURE l;
5FIGURE 3 is an enlarged generally front
perspective view of the p~ol cleaner shown in PIGURE
l;
FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view
illustrating assembly of the major components of the
improved pool ~leaner;
FIGURE 5 i8 an enlarged fragmented longitud~
inal vertical section of the improved pool cleaner,
taken generally on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 6 is a horizontal ~ection of the pool
cleaner taken generally on the line 6-6 of FIGURE
5;
FIGURE 7 is a partial, generally bottom
perspective view of the pool cleaner;
FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of the pool
cleaner taken generally on the line 8-8 of FIGURE
5;
FIGURE 9 is a fragmented transverse vertical
section taken generally on the line 9-9 of FIGURE
5;
25FIGURE 10 is a rear elevation view of the pool
cleaner taken generally on the line 10-10 of FIGURE
5;
FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal vertical section
taken generally on the line 11-11 of FIG~RE 6;
30FIGURE 12 is a longi~udinal vertical ~ection
taken generally on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 6;
FIGURE 13 is a fragmented transverse vertical
section taken generally on the line 13-13 o~ FIGURE 6;
FIGURE 14 i~ an enlarged horizontal section
taken generally on the line lA-14 of FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 15 is a fragmented transverse vertical
5~
_g
section taken generally on the line 15-15 of FIGURE
S;
FIGURE 16 is a fragmented longitudinal verti-
cal section taken generally on the line 16-16 of FIGURE
14;
FIGURE 17 is a hori~ontal section taken
generally on the line 17-17 of FIGURE 16;
FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmented exploded
perspective view illustrating attachment of a debris
collection bag to the upper end of a suction mast ~or
the pool cleaner; and
FIGURE 19 is an enlarged fragmented transverse
vertical section taken generally ~n the line 19-19 of
FIGURE 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
~5 As shown in the exemplary drawings, an improv-
ed automatic swimming pool cleaner referred to generally
by the reference numeral 10 is provided for dislodging
and/or collecting debris and sedim2nt from within a
~wimming pool 12. The pool cleaner 10 comprises a
20 8implified, hydraulically contoured housing 14 formed
from generally shell-shaped housing portions adapted for
rapid assembly about an hydraulically operated drive
assembly including an in~2grated drive tr~in (not shown
in FIGURE 1) encased within the ~ousing and a plurality
of wheels 15, 16, and 17 for suppor~ing and driving the
cleaner over ~he floor le ~nd ~idewalls 20 of the
swimming pool 12. In additiont the pool cleaner 10
includes an improved hydraulic vacuum system ~or drawing
de~ris and sediment into a porous collection bag 22, and
a back up valve assembly having 2In hydraulic timer (also
not shown in FIG. 1) is mounted within the hou~ing for
periodically altering the direction of ~leaner travel
to preven~ entrapment within a confined r2gion or eorner
~2~5t3~'~
of the swimming pool.
The automatic swimming pool cleaner 10 of the
present invention constitutes an improvement upon
swimming pool cleaner~ of the general type described in
U. S. Patent 3,822,754, wherein 6uch cleaners are
designed for generally random travel over the flo~r 18
and sidewalls 20 of a swimming pool 12 having virtually
any conventional construction. More particularlyt as
depicted by way of example in FIGURE 1, su~h swimming
pools 12 commonly include the pool floor 18 which may be
generally horizontal or of ~loping contour to define
comparatively 6hallower and deeper regions of the pool.
The pool floor 18 blends generally smoothly with side-
walls 20 which extend upwardly to appropriate decking 24
or the like above the ~urface of water 26 illing the
pool.
A ~wimming pool 12 of thi~ general type is
typically provided with a filtration system 28 depicted
~chematically in FIG. 1 for filtering particulate and
other foreiyn matter from ~he pool water 26 ~o maintain
the water in a relatively clear and sanitary state.
This fil~ration system i~ normally installed at a
convenient location near the ~wimming pool and includes
a circulation pump for drawing water from the pool
~5 through one or more outflow .ports 29 and/or floor
drains 30 for pa~sage through appropriate conduits 31
and further through ~ filter unit which separates
particulate from the pool water. The filtered pool
water is coupled from the filter unit through a return
conduit 32 for re~irculation to the pool via one or more
return ports 33 typically po~itioned slightly below the
6urface of the pool water~
The pool cleaner 10 of the present invention
is hydraulically operated to travel back and for~h in a
g~nerally random pattern over the pool floor lB and to
climb ~he ~idewall~ 20 for ~ollection o~ de~ri~, sedi-
~L~645g)9
ment9 and the like within the collection bag 22, whereinthis foreign matter may have settled onto the &urfaces
of the pool floor and sidewalls. In addition, the pool
cleaner 10 includes means for disturbing and dislodging
settled debris and ~ediment for suspension thereof
within the pool water for flow into and filtration
within the main filtration system 28. Accordingly, the
pool cleaner 10 collects debris, such as leaves, twigs,
and the like, which yenerally will not flow through the
circulation ~ystem 28, and functions further to maintain
smaller debris and particulate in suspension with the
water for improving the overall cle~ning effectiveness
of the circulation system. In addition, the cleaner
tends to circulate and distribute pool ~hemicals, such
15 as chlorine, substantially uniformly throughout the
pool, wherein such chemicals are heavier than water and
otherwise tend to settle with higher ~oncentration at or
near the bottom of the pool. Advantageously, the po~l
cleaner 10 operates automatically and substantially
unattended, requiring only occasional emptying of the
debris collection bag 22.
The hydrauli~ drive assembly and vacuum system
of the pool cleaner 10 are powered by a supply of water
under pressure obtained conveniently and directly from
25 the main f iltration ~ystem 28 of the ~wimming pool .
More particularly, a ~ontrol valve 34 is installed
along the length of the filtered water return conduit 32
for diverting all or part of the filtered water dis-
charged from the ~ilter unit for passage through an
~uxiliary conduit 35 to a cleaner supply port 36 at one
side of the pool 120 An elongated flexible hose 37 of a
ligh~weight plastic material or the like has one end
adapted for connection to ~his supply port 36 and an
opposite or downstream end connec~ed to the pool cleaner
10 for coupling the pressurized filtered water to the
pool cleaFIer for water-p~wered operation of the various
1~45~'3
12--
cleaner components, as will be described. The length of
the flexible hose 37 i~ chosen to permit travel of the
pool cleaner lO over substantially the entire ~ubmerged
~urface area of the pool floor lB and sidewalls 20 with
one or more swivel joints 38 being conveniently pr~vided
along the length of the hose to relieve and accommodate
hose ~wisting or kinking which might otherwise occur in
response to random cleaner travel and result in undesir-
ed restriction or interference with cleaner operation.
The pool cleaner 10 of the present invention
provides a number of significant improvements in
overall operation and cleanin9 efficiency in comparison
with previously available automatic pool cleaners of the
same general type. More particularly, the improved pool
cleaner 10 is designed for reliable and effective
operation in response to a water supply flow having a
relatively reduced pressure parti~ularly in comparison
with previous cleaners of the type requiring use of a
separate booster pump, thereby reducin~ cleaner energy
~0 consumption and further permitting a relatively high
water ~low to be maintained ~hrough the normal return
~onduit 32 of the filtration ~ystem 2B throughout
cleaner opera~ion. ~s a result, the filtration system
2B operates with a highly sati~factory cleaning effec-
tiveness simultaneously with operation of the pool
cleaner 10 to improve substantially the overall state of
cleanline~s of the swimming pool, all without requiring
operator attention or intervention. In additi~n, the
improved pool cleaner 10 is pro~ided with a ~implified
housing 14 designed for rapid ~ssembly enc~sing an
integrated drive train with moving components protec~ed
against contact with debris or any ~izable foreign
matter to preven~ drive train jamming or malfunction.
As shown in more detail in one preferred ~orm
in FIGSo 2-5, the p~ol cleaner 10 comprises the hydrau-
lically contoured housing 14 formed from a relatively
5()~
-13-
minimum number of generally shell-shaped housing por-
tions preferably of a lightweight and inexpen~ive molded
plastic construction. These 6hell-shaped housing
portions include a lower housing base 40 adapted for
rapid assembly with and attachment to upper left and
right eowli~gs 41 and 42 to define a substantially
enclosed housing chamber 43 (FIG. 5).
~ he housing base 40 is generally upwardly open
in configuration and includes a central integrally
1~ molded and upstanding open cylindrical 6uction mast 44
forming a portion of the hydraulic vacuum sy~tem to be
described in more detail. A ~hin mounting bracket 45
extends vertically along ~he rear side of the suction
mast and includes a plurality of verti~ally spaced
openings 46. ~he two upper cowlings 41 and 42 are
~haped for transverse mating engagement defining a
generall~ downwardly open configuration to fit over and
con~orm with the housing base 40. These upper cowlings
41 and 42 include transversely aligned semicircular
recesses 47 which cooperate to form a circular passage
fitting closely about the upstanding suction mast 44 at
a position slightly above the mountin~ bracket 45. A
screw 48 has its threaded shank receivable through an
appropriately sized opening 49 in the left cowling 41
and further through one of the mounting bracket openings
46 for ~ecure threaded reception into an ali~ned aper-
tured bos~ 50 on the inbvard 6ide of the right cowling
42 to att~ch the ~owlings together and furth~r to mount
those cowlings securely about the suction mast 44 and
3~ with respect to the housing base 40O
The cleaner housing 14, when assembled,
encases an integrated drive train 52 ~PIG. 4) within the
housing chamber 43, wherein this drive train 52 is
advantageously preassembled with the cleaner wheels 15,
3~ 16, and 17 to form the hydraulic drive assembly for the
cleaner and for rapid, ~implified installation into the
housing as a preassembled unit. This integrated drive
train 52 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 5, 6, and
11-13. As illustrated, the drive train comprises a
lightweight support frame 54 of molded plastic or the
like having an array of vertical walls 55 for rotatably
supp~rti~g various drive train power transfer compon-
ents. The vertical walls 55 of the support frame 54 are
joined to a lower generally horizontal shelf 56 which
fits in seated relation in a predetermined position onto
apertured bosses 57 projecting upwardly from within the
housing base. Mounting ~crews 5B are fastened downward-
ly through appropriate holes ~n the support frame shelf
56 for threaded reception into the bosses 57 to securely
lock the drive train 52 within the lower housing base.
According to one feature of the invention, the
upper ends o$ the apertured bosses 57 are adapted to
carry a number of inverted cup-shaped ~pacers 51 between
the bosses and the support frame 54, as shown best in
FIG~ 5. The~e spacers 51 can be left in place or
removed in ~n appropriate number, as desired, to con-
trollably select the height of the cleaner wheels 15,
16, ~nd 17 carried by the drive train 52 with respect to
the cleaner housing base 40, and thereby control the
spacing of the suction mast 44 relative to an underlying
pool surface. Variability of this mast-pool ~urface
spacing adv~ntageously permits the suction characteri~-
tics of the hydraulic vacuum system, to be described, to
be customized quickly and easily to a particular pool.
While the spacers 51 are shown in cup-shaped ~orm,
alternative spacer designs are contemplated including,
for example, indicia or scores on the bosses indicating
incremental positions for shortening the bosses as
desired to control ~ucton mast spacing with respect to a
pool surface.
In accordance with a further primary aspect of
the presen~ invention, the ~upport frame 54 is ~ized and
450~
-15-
shaped to fit relatively closely within the assembled
cleaner housing 14 whereas the cleaner wheels 15, 16,
and 17 are supported by the frame 54 in positions
outside the assembled housing for rolling ~ontact with
the surfaces of the pool floor 18 and ~idewalls 20. In
this regard, the housing base 40 has an upper peripheral
margin including three upwardly opening semicircular
recesses 59 which cooperate with three downwardly
opening semicircular recesses 60 formed collectively in
~he upper ~owlings 41 and 42 for relatively close
clearance passage of appropriate axles coupled between
~he drive train 52 and ~he three cleaner wheels 15, 16,
and 17.
As shown best in FIGS. 6 and 11, the vertical
wall~ 55 of the drive train ~upport frame 54 oarry a
central, transversely extending drive shaft 62 prefer-
ably of a bexagonal cross section. This drive shaft 62
is supported for rotation relative to the ~rame ~4 by a
pair of fiupport bearings 63 at opposite lateral sides
of the ~rame. While the ~pecific form of these support
bearings 63 may vary, a ball bearing assembly i5 prefer-
red of the type having an inner ring 6ecured for rota-
tion with the ~haft and an outer ring anchored within an
apprpri~te opening ~n the frame with a ~eries of bearing
balls interpo~ed between the rings. A third ~upport
bearing 64 of similar or identi~al ~onstruction is
carried by the ~haft near one lateral ~ide of the frame
54, and this latter ~upport bearing 64 in turn carries a
water turbine 65 having a circumferential array of
arcuate an~ generally radially ou~wardly projecting
turbine vanes 66.
The wa~er turbine 65 may be formed convenient
ly from a lightweight molded plastic including or
appropriately ~ecured ~ a relatively ~mall drive
gear 67 ~t one axial ~ide thereof. Thi6 drive gear ~7
forms a Pirst gear of a reduction gear train by virtue
s~
-16-
of meshed relation with a comparatively larger second
gear 68 carried by a short idler shaft 69 ~upported
within a spaced pair of additional support bearings 70
on a spaced pair of the vertical walls 55 of the support
frame 5~. A ~omparatively smaller ~hird gear 71 is
formed integrally with or i~ otherwise rotatable with
the second gear 68 and is positioned in meshed relation
wi~h a larger four~h gear 72 keyed in any suitable
manner onto the central drive shaft 62 for rotation
therewith. Accordingly~ rotational movement of the
water turbine 65 is tran~ferred via the various reduc-
~ion gears to rotate the ~entral drive shaft 62 at a
rotational speed proportional with but substantially
less than the rotational ~peed of the water turbine.
The three cleaner wheels 15, 16, and 17 are
all coupled with the central drive shaft 62 for driven
rotation in respon~e to rotational driving of the water
turbine 65. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 6, the
central drive ~haft 62 has a sufficient length to
project laterally outwardly from the drive train support
frame 54 and through the associated axle opening
59,60 in the assembled housing 14. The shaft 62 pro~
ject~ further through a cylindrical ~pacer 73 and a
hexagonal opening in a hub 19 in the ~ingle wheel 15 at
the left side of the pool cleaner . The drive shaft 62
terminates with a retainer groove at the ou~board side
of the wheel hub 19, and a C-shaped retainer 21 is
fitted into this groove to hold the wheel lS in pla~e
and in driven relation with the shaft 62.
At the right side of the pool cleaner 10, the
central drive shaft 62 projects laterally through the
associated support bearing 63 for driving reception into
an appropriately ~hap@d hub (not Ehown~ of a drive
sprocket 74 keyed in any suitable manner onto ~he shaft
for rotation therewith. Thi~ drive sprocket 74 is
positioned between the ~uppor~ frame 54 and the assem-
39
-17-
bled housing 14, and has ~ tGothed periphery for posi-
tive drive engagement with a pair of tooth2d timing
bel~s 75 and 76. These timing belts 75 and 76 respec
tively extend from the drive sprocket 74 in a forward
direction about a driven toothed ~procket 77 ~nd in a
rearward direction for reception about a ~econd driven
toothed sprocket 78.
The two driven sprockets 77 and 78 are gener-
ally identical with one another and are ~upported in
generally the same manner for rotation relative to the
drive train ~upport frame 54. ~ore particularly, as
~hown in FIGS. 6, 12, and 13 by way of example with
respect to the forward driven ~pro~ket 77, the sprocket
is carried as by press-fitting onto the outer ring of an
additional ~upport be2ring 79 having its inner ring
keyed onto a ~hort stub ~haft 82 of hexagonal cross
section and ~eated nonrotationally within a support
block 83 on the drive train frame 54. The driven
sprocket i~ thus free to rotate on the stub ~haft 82
along wi~h the outer ring of the bearing in r~sponse to
ro~ational movement transferred thereto by means of the
associated timing belt. A laterally outwardly project-
ing drive hub 84 formed integrally with the driven
sprocket ~xtends through the adjacent axle opening 59,60
~n the ass~mbled housing 14 and further into an enlarged
hub B5 o~ the forward cleaner wheel 16. The relative
fit between the drive hub 84 and the wheel hub 85 is
chosen for transfer o rotational motion to the wheel
lS, with ~he hubs B4 and 85 being ~ecurely fastened
together by means of a tight friction fit or by use of
an adhesive or the li~e, if desired. The ~tub ~haft 82
extend~ from ~he frame ~upport block 83 ~hrough the
drive hub 84 ~nd has an ou~board end keyed ~nto the
in~er ring of an additional fiupport bearing B7, the
out~r ring of which is secured ~s by press-itting into
the wheel hub 85.
5()'3
8-
Accordingly, rotational driving of the water
turbine 65 of the drive train 52 results in rotational
driving of the three cleaner wheels 15, 16, and 17 at a
common rotational speed, thereby propelling the cleaner
over the surfaces ~f the pool floor 18 and ~idewalls 20
at a relatively slow r~te of travel. The transfer of
rotational motion to the wheels is accomplished by
direct connection of the drive shaft 62 with the single
left wheel 15 and by use of the drive ~procket 74 and
the driven sprocke~s 77 and 78 for transferring rota-
tional motion to the two right-side wheels 16 and 17~
Importantly, except for the wheels 15-17 and the
associated ~xle structures~ all moving ~omponents of the
drive assembly are encased in a protected position
within the substantially enclosed cleaner housing 14
protected against inadvertent ~ontact with debris, such
as twigs, pebbles, or the like, which could otherwise
jam or interfere with drive train operation. Moreover,
all bearings for ~he drive train and the wheels are
arranged in relatively widely spaced pairs to decrease
bearing wear and minimize requirements for extremely
precise bearing tolerances.
The water turbine 65 of the drive train 52 is
supplied with pressurized water from the flexible hose
37 (F~G. 1). More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3,
and 5, the water supply hose 37 has a downstream end 37
shaped to fit 6nugly over the upper end of a ~ubular
water supply mast 90 of molded plastic or the like
mounted within the cleaner housing 14 and protruding
upwardly with close clearance through a circular opening
defined by cooperating 6emicircular recesses 91 and g2
formed in the upper ~owlings 41 ~nd 42. ~he protruding
upper end of this supply mast is desirably ~ilted
slightly in a rearward direction by a ~mall angle on the
order of about 15 degrees to minimize or eliminate
dragging effect6 which might otherwise be applied by the
s~
--19--
hose 37 ~o the pool cleaner 10, particularly when the
pool cleaner operates in shallow water with th~ distance
between the suction mast and ~he horizontally floating
ho~e being relatively short~
Within the housin~ 14, the supply mast extends
generally in parallel with the suction mast 44 and
terminates in an enlarged lower end 90' seated over the
upper end of a primary flow tube 93 of the back up valve
assembly 94, to be described in more detail, with a
resilient annular seal 95 being captured between the
mast and flow tube to eliminate water leakage. Conven-
iently, the supply mast 90 i~ locked in position by
means of a forward and vertically elongated thin mount-
ing bracket ~6 having vertically spaced openings 97 in
registry with the openings 46 of the suction mast
mounting bracket 45, with short bolts 98 being passed
through aligned pairs of the bracket openings for
attaching the supply mast 90 to the suction mast 44. In
this regard, the screw 4B for attaching the housing
cowlings 41 and 42 passes through one aligned pair of
the opening~ in the suction and supply mast mounting
brackets. Moreover, the supply mast gO provides a
convenient mounting structure for a hollow ballast float
100 carried at a relatively high and rearward position
with respect to the cleaner housing 14~ wherein this
ballast float 100 is threaded onto a support arm 101
formed integrally with and projectins rearwardly from
the supply mast 90 through an opening defined by cooper-
ating semicircular recesses 1~2 and 103 in the housing
~owlings 41 and 42~
The above-described wa~er supply mast 90
guides pressurized water from the flexible hose 37
downwardly through the primary flow tube 93 of the back
up valve assembly 94 for further passage downwardly into
an open pressure manifold 104. This pressure manifold
104 is disposed at the bottom of the housing base 40 and
~4~50~3
-20-
is formed cooperatively by the base and a contoured
platform 106 having a size and shape for secured mount-
ing into the base in spaced relation with a lower
portion thereof.
The pressure manifold 104 provides a common
chamber from which appropriately proportioned water
flows are discharged for hydraulic operation of the
various cleaner components. For example, as shown in
FIG. 11, a pair of jet nozzles 107 and 108 direct a pair
of water jets depicted by arrows 109 in driving relation
against the arcuate vanes 66 of the water turbine 65.
These water jets thus rotatably drive the water turbine
65 at a rapid rotational speed resulting in transfer or
rotational power with speed reduction to the three
cleaner wheels 15-17~ as described previously. The
provision of two jet nozzles 107 and 108 advantageously
increases the overall water ~ass flow rate impacting the
turbine wheel thereby providing rotational driving
energy greater than with a single jet nozzle to corres-
pondingly permit improved turbine driving at relatively
lower water pressures~ This high water mass flow enters
the general interior ch~mber 43 of the housing 14 after
impact with the turbine vanes, wherein this water flow
iB chosen relative ~o the sizes of the various housing
openings, for example, adjacent the wheels and the
suction and supply masts~ ~o result in a ~light internal
housing pressurization during cleaner operation to
inhibit entry of dirt or other foreign matter which
might interfere with desired cleaner operation.
The pressure manifold 104 includes additional
discharge passage for water to hydraulically opera~e the
vacuum ~ystem for picking up and collecting debris
within the collection bag 22. More particularly, as
depicted in FIGS. 5-10, the pressure manifold 104
annularly ~urrounds the lower end of the central suction
mast 44O The lower end of this suction mast is joined
S()9
--21--
to a transYersely elongated and downwardly opening
intake funnel 110 defined by sloping bottom wall por-
tions 111 of the housing base 40. A p}urality of
relatively small jet pump orifices 112 are arranged
about the inner diameter surface of the suction mas~
lower end for directing a plurality of water jets in an
upward and slightly radially inward direction within the
interior of the suction mast 44. These upwardly direct-
ed water jets are depicted in FIGSo 5 and 9 by the
arrows 113 and effectively serve to draw a substantial
additional water flow in an upward direction from the
region of the intake funnel 110 through the suction
mast 44 upwardly through the collection bag 22. ~his
upward and substantial water flow through the suction
mast effectively vacuums debris and other sediment from
the surface of the pool floor and ~idewalls to carry the
drawn debris upwardly for collection within the bag 22.
Moreover, the relatively closely spaced and adjustably
positioned relationship between the periphery of the
intake funnel 110 and adjacent surfaces of the pool
effectively holds the pool cleaner against the pool
sur~ace to subs~antially increase wheel traction ~nd to
permit the cleaner to adhere to the vertical sidewalls
20 of the pool as the cleaner travels a~out within the
pool.
As ~hown best in FIGS. 6 and 8, the jet pump
orifices 11~ are fsrmed within relatively small protru-
sions 114 and 115 lining the inner diameter surface of
the ~uction mast 44. These orifices 112 are thus
positioned substantially away from a central vertical
axis of the suction mast where the orifice-forming
structure dves not significantly interfere with suction
mast water flow. However, the protrusions 114 and 115
permit the orifices 112 to open predominantly in a
vertical direction with a minimum radial inclination oft
for example, about 15 degrees or less, ~uch ~hat the
5(3
-22-
discharged water je~s are directed predominantly in an
upward direction for maximum drawing effect up~n debris
within the pool. The plurality of orifice water
jets are designed to discharge a sufficient combined
water flow rate to achieve the desired vacuuming
effects, wherein these vacuuming effects are further
enhanced by positioning the orifices 112 in an at least
roughly symmetric relation about the inner diameter of
the suction mast, as viewed in FIG. 6~
Operation of the hydraulic vacuum system is
further enhanced by appropriate contouring of the bottom
geometry of the housing base 40, particularly in a
region behind the intake funnel 110, to enhance cleaner
traction with a pool surface and thereby enhance cleaner
efficiency. More specifically, with reference to FIGS.
S and 7 13, the bottom profile of the housing base 40
includes a generally upstanding transverse shoulder 80
in a position closely behind the funnel 110 wherein
this shoulder 80 has i~s upper extent joined to a
generally rearwardly extending rear portion 88 of the
housing which is spaced above the underlying pool
surface by a distance substantially greater than the
spacing of the housing portion surrounding the ~unnel
110. The housing base 40 is thus provided with an
abrupt increase in pool surface spacing over the rear
por~ion 88. This rear spacing minimizes a low pressure
region beneath the cleaner resulting ~rom suction mast
water flow at a position behind an imaginary triangle
having apexes at the rotational centers of the wheels
15, 16, and 17, while not affecting the corresponding
low pre~sure region forward of this triangle. As a
result, water flow through the suction mast 44 causes
greater adherance or traction of the forwardmost wheel
16 to preven~ lifting thereof from the pool surface in
response to dr~g forces and the like, wherein such
lifting of the front wheel otherwise virtually destroys
~2~4S09
-23-
debris collecting capability.
Additional discharge flows are taken from the
pressure manifold 104 providing a stabilizing thrust jet
and for operating a trailing flexible sweep hose 1160
More particularly, with reference to FIGS. 5~10~ a rear
portion of the housing base 40 cooperates with the rear
portion B8 of the manifold-forming platform 106 to
define a water flow passage 117 leading to an upper,
rearwardly directed thrust jet nozzle 118~ This thrust
jet noz~le has a bulbous-shaped base 119 frictionally
trapped within an appropriately shaped and rearwardly
opening retainer 120 to permit manual adjustment of the
specific angular orientation of a rearwardly directed
nozzle arm 121. The nozzl~ arm 121 can thus be set to
open directly rearwardly for rearward discharge of a
thrust water jet depicted by arrow 122 in FIG. 5, or
angularly ad~usted to open generally rearwardly and
angularly, as desired. This thrust jet 122 creates a
reaction force of controlled direction which functions
to assist orward driving movement of the cleaner 10 and
further provides a downward turning moment with respect
to the underlying rotational axes of the wheels 15 and
17 to increase traction of the front wheel 16 wi~h pool
surfaces.
The water flow passa~e 117 also opens to a
rearwardly directed ~weep hose jet nozzle 123 positioned
vertically below the thrust jet nozzle 118. This sweep
hose jet nozzle 123 is adapted for connection to the
trailing 1exible sweep hose 116 of conventional design
and as shown best in FIG. 2. ~he sweep hose 116 func-
tions upon flow of pressurized wa~er ~here~hrough ~o
whip about and disturb sediment and other fine particu-
late mat~er settled onto pool surfaces thereby suspend-
ing such particulate within the pool water where it can
3~ be collec~ed and filtered through the main pool filtra-
tion system 28 (~IG. 1). Conveniently, the sweep hose
i4S~ 3
-24-
116 includes at periodic positions along its length a
plurality of enlarged, relatively hard rings 125 of
plastic or the like to decrease hose wear which might
otherwise occur from constant movement over pool sur-
5 f aces~
In operation, the pool cleaner 10 thus re-
sponds to supply of pressurized water through the
flexible hose 37 to drive the wheels 15-17 in a manner
propelling the cleaner ~lowly in a forward direction
over ~urfaces of the pool floor 18 and sidewalls 20.
Simultaneously~ debris is water~vacuumed upwardly
through the ~uction mast 44 for collection within
the porous bag 22, while sediment is disturbed and
suspended within the pool water by a combination of the
suction mast flow and the whipping action of the trail-
ing sweep hose 116. Simultaneously, pool chemicals such
as chloriney which ~re heavier than the water and thus
tend to congregate near the pool floor, are stirred
about as the cleaner operates for relatively uniform
distribution thro~ghout the pool.
When the pool cleaner reaches an obstruction
preventing further direct forward travel, the front nose
130 of the cleaner housing 14 imparts a turning movement
to the cleaner by virtue of an angularly set contour
extending forwardly and la~erally from the left wheel 15
toward the front right wheel 16. The cleaner 10 thus
tends to turn in place and continue travel in a differ-
ent direction. Alternatively, when the cleaner travels
along the pool floor 18 and then reaches a smoothly
curved region merging with a sidewall 20, the cleaner
tends to travel through the curved region and crawl up
the pool ~idewall with suction-~ssisted wheel traction
until breaking the water surface to relieve the ~ucti~n-
assisted traction. The pool cleaner 10 ~hen falls
35 by gravity back to the floor 18 of the po~l, with the
ballast float 100 assuring a low overall eenter of
~L~6~5(~9
-25-
~ravity causlng the cleaner to land upright on the pool
floor 18 and resume travel in a forward direction.
The combination of these various movements resul~s in an
overall random cleaner travel throughout the ~wimming
pool to collect and dislodge debris,
In some swimming pools, the particular shapes
of floor and sidewall surfaces may provide one or more
relatively confined regions within which the pool
cleaner may become trapped. To prevent cleaner entrap-
ment; notwithstanding the presence of such confinedregions, the back up valve assembly 94 is integrated
into the cleaner housing and inc~udes an hydraulic timer
for periodically diverting some or all of the water flow
from the supply mast 90 through a back up port 132
projecting through the rear portion 88 of the housing
base to drive the cleaner generally rearwardly and/or
upwardly within the pool water for a short time inter-
val. The back up valve assembly 94 then resumes normal
water supply through the supply mast 90 into the pres-
20sure manifold 104 for resuming normal cleaner operation.
The back up valve assembly 94 is 6hown in more
detail in FIGS. 14-17 to include the primary flow tube
93 coupled directly between the supply mast 90 and the
pressure ~anifold 104. Near the upper end of this
25primary flow tube 93, a small bleed port 133 permits a
small bleed flow of water to pass radially outwardly
from the flow tube 93 in a direction generally perpen-
dicular to water flow through the flow tube, thereby
dynamically preventing particulate of any significant
30cize from passing through the bleed port 133. This
bleed flow enters a reduction gear housing 134 and
impinges upon vanes 135 of a water wheel 136 supported
for free rotation about a vertically mounted shaft 137.
Subsequent to driving contact with the water wheel 136,
35the bleed flow exits the reduction ge~r housing 134
through an outlet opening 138 for passage into the
~26~S(~9
--26--
chamber 43 of the cleaner housing.
The rotatably driven water wheel 136 is formed
from molded plastic ~r the like and is integral ~r
suitably coupled with a first gear 140 of a multigear
reduction aear train 141. This first gear 140 is one of
several stacked gears rotatably supported on the shaft
137 in meshed relation with several vertically stacked
gears rotatably supported on an adjacent idler shaft 142
mounted within the housing i34. The stacks of gears of
the reduction gear train 141 ultimately transfer rota-
tional motion to a lower gear 143 keyed on the shaft 137
which in turn projects from the gear ho~sing 134 down-
wardly into an expanded lower chamber 144 at the lower
end of the primary flow tube 93.
The shaft 137 is thus rotatably driven by the
water wheel 136 at a rotational speed proportional to
but ~ubstantially less than the rotational speed of the
water wheel~ The lower end of this shaft 137 carried a
drive plate 145 including a downwardly projecting and
closely spaced pair of drive pins 146 mounted near the
drive plate periphery to relatively 810wly rotate about
the axis of the shaft 137. These drive pins 146 on the
plate 145 rotate without interference through the major
portion of the rotational motion of the plate 145.
However, through a small angular increment of the
rotational movement of the plate, the drive pins 146 are
carried into engagemen~ with one of four egually spaced
and radially open slots 147 of an adjacent Geneva wheel
148 supported for rotation by a short driven ~haft 149.
This Geneva wheel 148 in turn is secured to a back up
valve plate 150 having a pair of oppositely disposed
arcuate segments 151 for respe~tive relative opening and
closing of the primary flow tube 93 for water flow to
the pressure manifold 104 and the back up port 132 or
water discharge in a forward and/or rearward direction
beneath the housing 14.
~2641509
-27-
As the drive plate 145 rotates to move thedrive pins 146 into engagement with the Geneva wheel
148~ the leading pin 146 moves into an open slot 147 to
rotate the Geneva wheel and the valve plate 150 through
an angle of about 90 degrees in a relatiYely short
period of time. Sueh valve plate movement displaces one
of the segments 151 from a position closing the back up
port 132 to water flow to a position instead closing or
substantially blocXing water flow into t~e pressure
manifold 1040 This diverts ~ome of the water flow to
the pressure manifold 104 through the back up port to
displace the cleaner rearwardly and/or upwardly, as
described above, in accordanc~e with the particular
directional orientation of the back up port 132, with a
downward orienta~ion being depicted by way of example in
FIG. 10.
Within a few seconds, say about 10 to 15
seconds, the first drive pin 146 exits the now-rotated
Geneva wheel slot 147 and th~ ~econd drive pin 146
advances into a subsequent wheel ~lot 147 to rotate the
Geneva wheel through a subsequent 90 degrees. The valve
plate is thus returned to an initial or normal condition
closing flow to the back up port 132 and opening flow to
the pressure manifold 104. Accordingly, the back up
v~lve assembly 94 operates to regularly and periodically
reverse the direction of cleaner motion for a short time
interval thereby insuring against cleaner entrapment
within a con~ined region of a swimming pool~
For some swimming pools, the particular shape
and ~eometry of the floor and sidewalls may not provide
any ~i~ni~icant confined region such that periodic
backing up of the pool cleaner is not required. In-
stead, it may be desired to continue forward cleaner
travel and vacuuming operation at all times thereby
maximizing cleaner effectiveness as a function of time.
To this end, ~ disable lever 152 having a generally
so~
-28~
hook-shaped configuration, as depicted in FIG. 14, is
swingably mounted on a screw 153 adjacent the outlet
opening 138 of the reduction gear housing 134. This
disable lever 152 may have its free end retracted from
S the outlet opening to permit free water wheel rotation
when periodic cleaner back up is desired. Alternative-
ly, the di~able lever 152 may be rotated to move its
free end into interference contact with the water wheel
vanes 135 thereby blocking the water wheel 136 against
rotation when the back up valve assembly 94 is in a
normal cleaner operating position. Cessation of water
wheel rotation effectively disables the back up valve
assembly to prevent periodic cleaner back upO
In accordance with a further feature of the
improved pool cleaner 10 of the present invention, the
collection bag 22 is provided with an improved mounting
ring 160 for rapid and simplified installation and/or
removal with respect to the upper end of the suction
mast 44. More specifically, as shown in FIGSo 18 and
19, the mounting ring 160 comprises an upstanding
support cylinder 161 which projects upwardly a substan-
tial distance within a lower reduced diameter neck 22'
of the collection bag ~2. This support cylinder 161 has
a lower end joined to an enlarged flange 162. The
collection bag neck 2~' is drawn over the support ring
161 into a position near or abutting the flange 162,
after which an outer locking collar 163 is snugly seated
about the bag and suppor~ ring 161 to lock the bag in
place~ ~ suitable adhesive may be provided between the
collar and the support ring to permanen~ly secure ~he
bag, if desired.
Below the flan~e 161, the ring 160 i~ ~haped
for sliding reception into a shallow counterbore 44' at
th~ upper end of the suction mast 44 and further into
flush annular supported engagement wi h the lower extent
of ~he coun~erbore. ~ pair of latch clips 164 project
~2~91S09
-29-
downwardly from the mounting ring 1~0 beyond the coun-
terbore and terminate in outwardly presented and down-
wardly pointed wedge plates 165. These latch clips are
designed for resilient displacement toward each other
5 for reception of the wedge plates 165 downwardly into
the suction mast upper end, followed by resilient
outward tab movement for locked and seated reception
into matingly shaped openings 167 formed near the upper
end of the suction mast. Accordingly, the mounting ring
can be installed rapidly onto the suction mast and
further may be removed easily by mere inward depression
on the wedge plates 165 followed by separation of the
mounting ring 160 and bag 122 from the suction mast.
With this mounting construction, the bag 22 tends not to
sag downwardly about the upp2r end of the suction mast
44 where the debris otherwise may tend to fall out of
the collection bag when the bag is removed for emptying.
The improved pool cleaner 10 of the present
invention thus operates efficiently and economically for
efective collection and dislodging of debris within a
swimming pool, all without reguiring significant opera-
tor attention. The cleaner is designed for efficient
hydraulic operation as well as facilitated as~embly and
disassembly, Although cleaner maintenance is generally
not required, except ~or periodic emptying of the
collection ~ag 22, the various components of the cleaner
are easily accessed by the cleaner owner ~or component
repairs or replacement as needed.
A variety of modi~ications and improvements to
the pool cleaner described hPrein are believed to be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artO Accord-
ingly, no limitation upon the invention is intended,
except as set forth in the appended claims.
