Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MOTORISED POOL-CLEANING APPARATUS COMPRISING ROTARY
MEANS WITH FREEWHEEL DISPLACEMENT
FIELD
The present invention relates to a motorised pool-cleaning apparatus
comprising suction means
and rotary means for displacing the apparatus, which rotary means define first
and second bearing
axles.
BACKGROUND
Prior art teaches of such motorised pool-cleaning robots, intended to clean
the immersed surfaces
of a pool or the like, and the water of said pool, by moving and rubbing on
the surfaces, and by
sucking the water of the pool into a suction pump, placed in the robot, and
expelling it outwardly
therefrom. These robots comprise motorised brush rollers, which are intended
to permit the
displacement of the robot, on the surfaces to be cleaned, by adherence and/or
sliding, induced by
the weight of the robot on the horizontal surfaces, aided by low pressure
caused by the suction of
the water, more especially for the vertical surfaces, and generally by a
floating handle, intended
substantially to permit the adherence of the robot on the vertical portions.
Robots are known, for
example, which comprise four bearing brush rollers, the two rollers of which
on one side of the
robot are entrained by a first motor, and the two other rollers of which, on
the other side of the
robot, are entrained by a second motor, said first and second motors being
controlled by
electronics capable of desynchronising the motors, permitting different
rotational speeds thereof
in order to allow directional changes of the robot. Such robots have the
disadvantage of
possessing bulky propulsion means, more especially through the use of a
plurality of motors,
taking up a lot of space for an apparatus of limited size, to the detriment of
more essential
members directly connected to the suction functionality of the robot, for
example.
In fact, the projected ground area of a pool robot is limited because of the
loss of low pressure on
curved walls which is induced by a distance to the wall which is all the
greater when the robot has
an extended ground area and when the curve of the wall of the pool is, of
course, of small radius.
In addition, it is noted that the use of a plurality of motors and of their
associated electronics
increases the cost of the robot for no purpose.
The document GB 2 153 661 is known, which relates to a pool cleaner comprising
a body
supported by a base carried by driving caterpillars, which are entrained by a
mechanism
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comprising an oscillating plate and entrainment rods, the oscillating plate
being set in motion by
water passing through the casing under the control of the filter pump of the
pool which is
connected to the cleaner. The cleaner comprises two spindles, situated at the
front and at the rear
of the cleaner, which are rotationally entrained by means of entrainment
wheels, themselves
rotating as a result of the oscillating plate and a transmission by belt and
caterpillars. The two
spindles respectively carry, in addition, two aligned rotating rollers, each
formed by flexible
vanes, the exterior diameter of which extends beyond the diameter of the
caterpillars, forming
sealing means which prevent water from entering beneath the front and the rear
of the cleaner.
The wheels of a single spindle are coupled with an idle motion coupling, which
permits, during a
fraction of a revolution, only the (caterpillar) wheel connected by drive
means to be entrained
during a reversal of the rotary movement, so as to cause a rotation of the
cleaner on itself through
the rotation of only one of its caterpillars. The vane rollers at the front
additionally carry out a
function of wiping the surface to be cleaned, and they send the waste matter
wiped off beneath the
cleaner. The idle motion coupling necessarily entrains the robot, during a
reverse rotation, in a
new direction, which is predetermined by construction parameters of the robot,
such as the
diameter of the wheels/rollers and the transmission particularly, and the
value of the angle of
rotation made idle by the coupling. Such a structure thereby limits the
manoeuvring freedom of
the cleaner, and its directional possibilities of displacement.
The document US 2002/129839 is also known, which relates to a basin or tank
cleaner of the
robot type, supported by wheels mounted on fixed or displaceable axles which
form an acute
angle with the longitudinal axis of the body of the cleaner when said cleaner
is displaced in one or
other of two opposite directions, thereby providing a variable trajectory
while moving forward or
backward on the bottom of the basin or tank while cleaning it. This document
teaches that the
cleaner comprises a single motor, to remove the debris and propel the robot,
in combination with
directional control means. The control means for changing the direction of the
cleaner are either
connected to the mobility of the axle or axles carrying the wheels or
connected to the change of
direction of a hydraulic propulsion jet. The change of direction of the robot
according to this
document may also be effected by pressing a displaceable prop on the surface
to be cleaned. The
means of changing the direction of such a basin cleaner are all specific,
relatively complex and
also limiting, relative to the manoeuvring freedom of the cleaner and to its
directional
displacement possibilities.
SUMMARY
The present invention permits these disadvantages to be overcome and other
advantages to be
proposed. More precisely, it consists of a motorised pool-cleaning apparatus
comprising:
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suction means,
rotary means for displacing said apparatus and defining first and second
bearing axles,
characterised in that:
said rotary means, for displacing the apparatus and defining one bearing axle
at least of
said first and second bearing axles, comprise a first and a second rotating
roller, the respective
axes of rotation of which are aligned on said one bearing axle at least of
said first and second
bearing axles, and in that
said first and second rotating rollers are connected by a freewheel
connection.
The freewheel connection between two aligned rollers of one bearing axle
permits the two
rotating rollers to be entrained simultaneously in a given direction of
rotation which corresponds
to the forward movement of the apparatus, which can be called a pool robot
when its functioning
is automated, by only motorising one of the rollers. In the reverse direction
of rotation of the
reduction motor, only the motorised roller is entrained in reverse rotation,
corresponding to the
rearward movement of the robot, the other roller no longer being entrained
because of the
freewheel. Thus, it is possible to make the robot turn by simply reversing the
direction of rotation
of a reduction motor, the robot then turning substantially about the non-
entrained roller and being
connected to the entrained roller by the freewheel connection. Thus, the
apparatus according to
the invention advances in a straight line in the direction of entrainment of
the freewheel, and turns
on itself when the direction of rotation of the reduction motor is reversed,
until the direction of
rotation is reversed again. Appropriate alternative cycles of moving backward
and moving
forward may thus permit the apparatus to sweep all of the immersed surfaces of
a pool by friction.
The freewheel permits the apparatus to function by means of a single motor,
and allows internal
space to be freed or the internal members to be arranged differently, for
better distribution of the
masses and better dimensions, more especially a reduction in the height of the
apparatus.
According to an advantageous feature, the apparatus according to the invention
comprises a single
reduction motor, and first means for rotationally entraining one of said first
or second rotating
rollers by said single reduction motor.
The use of a single motor or reduction motor additionally permits a centrifuge
suction pump to be
housed in the apparatus, for example, more efficient but more bulky than pumps
with traditional
vanes, while keeping reduced exterior dimensions.
According to another advantageous feature, said rotary means, for displacing
said apparatus and
defining the other bearing axle of said first and second bearing axles,
comprise a third and a
fourth rotating roller, the respective axes of rotation of which are aligned
on said other bearing
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axle of said first and second bearing axles, said third and fourth rotating
rollers being connected
by a freewheel connection.
Thus, two bearing axles, motorised in an identical manner with a freewheel,
permit the drive of
the apparatus according to the invention to be improved, while benefiting from
the functioning
principle described above with one motorised bearing axle. The apparatus
according to the
invention, provided with four brush rollers, advances in a straight line in
the direction of
entrainment of the freewheels, and turns on itself when the direction of
rotation of the reduction
motor is reversed.
According to another advantageous feature, the apparatus according to the
invention comprises in
addition second means for rotationally entraining one of said third or fourth
rotating roller by said
single reduction motor.
According to another advantageous feature, the apparatus according to the
invention comprises a
support on which is secured said single reduction motor, first and second
lateral caterpillar means
on said support on both sides thereof, first and second means for entraining
said first and second
caterpillar means respectively, associated with one at least of said first or
second bearing axles,
said first and second entrainment means being connected to said support by
means of a
connection with a degree of rotational freedom.
The caterpillar means permit the apparatus according to the invention to cross
obstacles which
cannot be crossed with the single rotating rollers, for example steps.
According to another advantageous feature, said support comprises a first
portion in the form of a
U, on which is secured said single reduction motor, a first and a second
lateral casing closing the
open lateral ends of the U, secured respectively in a releasable manner on
said first portion of the
support and carrying said rotary means for displacing the apparatus.
According to another advantageous feature, said first and second lateral
casings respectively
carry, in addition, the first and second means for entraining said first and
second caterpillar
means, and said first and second rotating rollers and said third and fourth
rotating rollers are
placed in an overhanging manner on the side of said first and second lateral
casings respectively
turned towards the first U-shaped portion of the support, said first and
second means for
entraining said first and second caterpillar means being respectively placed
in an overhanging
manner on the opposite side of said lateral casings.
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The overhanging mounting of the rotating rollers and of the caterpillar
entrainment means permits
easy access to these means by an operator, as they are all advantageously
visible without any
dismantling.
5 According to another advantageous feature, said freewheel connection or
connections comprises
or comprise, respectively, a helical resilient washer and at least one lug
capable of abutting
against one end of said helical washer in a first direction of rotation, and
of sliding on said helical
washer in the second opposite direction of rotation.
According to another advantageous feature, said suction means comprise a pump
of the centrifuge
type.
According to another advantageous feature, said first and second means for
entraining said first
and second caterpillar means comprise respectively four driving wheels,
connected in groups of
two by means of a first and a second transmission belt.
According to another advantageous feature, the apparatus according to
invention comprises two
fixed gripping handles, disposed below an upper level which is defined by the
highest surface of
said apparatus.
According to another advantageous feature, said two fixed gripping handles are
parallel to said
first and second bearing axles and disposed above these bearing axles.
According to another advantageous feature, said first and second means, for
rotationally
entraining one of said first or second rotating rollers and one of said third
or fourth rotating
rollers, comprise said first and second transmission belts.
Other features and advantages will appear on reading the following description
of one
embodiment of a motorised pool-cleaning apparatus according to the invention,
together with the
accompanying drawings, an embodiment given by way of non-limiting
illustration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective fragmentary partial plan view of one embodiment of a
motorised pool-
cleaning apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective fragmentary plan view of one detail in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective underneath view of an enlarged detail of Figure 1;
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Figure 4 is a perspective plan view of the example in Figure 1, partially
assembled;
Figure 5 shows an enlarged assembly detail of the apparatus in Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a perspective plan view of the embodiment in Figure 1, with a
supplementary member
in partially fragmentary view;
Figure 7 is a perspective plan view of the complete embodiment in Figure 1;
Figure 8 shows an enlarged assembly detail of the apparatus in Figure 5; and
Figures 9 and 10 are perspective and cross-sectional (Figure 9) views of an
enlarged detail of
Figure 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The motorised pool-cleaning apparatus 1 illustrated in Figure 1 comprises:
- suction means 30,
rotary means 4 for displacing the apparatus and defining the first 2 and
second 3 bearing
axles, comprising respectively a first 5 and a second 6 rotating roller, the
respective axes of
rotation 7,8 of which are aligned on the first bearing axle 2, and
advantageously a third 10 and a
fourth 11 rotating roller, the respective axes of rotation 12, 13 of which are
aligned on the second
bearing axle 3,
the first 5 and second 6 rotating rollers being connected by a freewheel
connection 9, and
- the third 10 and fourth 11 rotating rollers being connected by a freewheel
connection 14,
preferably a single reduction motor 15, first means 16 for rotationally
entraining one of
the first 5 or second 6 rotating rollers by the single reduction motor, in
this case the first rotating
roller 5 in the example illustrated, and second means 17 for rotationally
entraining one of the third
10 or fourth 11 rotating rollers by the single reduction motor 15, in this
case the third rotating
roller 10 in the example illustrated in Figure 1,
advantageously a support 18 on which is secured the single reduction motor 15,
first 19
and second 20 lateral caterpillar means on the support 18 on both sides of
said support, first 22
and second 23 means for entraining the first 19 and second 20 caterpillar
means associated with
the first 2 and second 3 bearing axles respectively, the first 22 and second
23 entrainment means
being connected to the support 18 by means of a connection with a degree of
rotational freedom.
The suction means 30 advantageously comprise a pump of the centrifuge type 31,
more efficient
than a vane pump and also more bulky, but housable in the support 18, which is
advantageously
in the form of a U as illustrated in Figure 1, thanks to the use of a single
reduction motor. The
reduction motor 15 and the centrifuge pump 31 are positioned centrally in the
axis of the U, and
preferably aligned along the longitudinal axis of the U, in order to free a
space for the filters (not
illustrated for reasons of clarity in the Figure) on both sides of the
reduction motor 15 and pump
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31 assembly, in front of and behind these members. The water is sucked into
the apparatus 1
through orifices 32 provided in the lower portion of the U which forms the
support 18, as
illustrated in Figure 1 or 4, then passes through the filters placed above,
then enters the inlet
opening 33 of the centrifuge suction pump 31, in order to be forced-back
through the outlet
opening 34 of this pump, which outlet terminates on the upper surface of the
apparatus, as
illustrated in Figure 7.
The rotating rollers 5, 6, 10 and I 1 are advantageously identical and each
formed by two half-
shells 35 and 36, screwed one onto the other in order to form a cylinder of
circular cross-section
as illustrated in Figure 5, which shows, in a fragmentary view, two rotating
rollers forming one of
the two bearing axles 2, 3. One end of the half-shells includes at least one
lug, which has the
function of entraining the freewheel 9 placed between two rollers and
connecting these rollers by
a connection which rotates in only one direction. In addition, said end of the
half-shells includes
a supplementary lug 37 for the rotational immobilisation of the freewheel on
one of the two
aligned rollers, so that the driven roller entrains the other aligned roller
in one direction of rotation
and no longer entrains it in the opposite direction of rotation. It is to be
noted that, in Figure 5,
one half-shell of a roller has not been illustrated, in order to permit the
freewheel to be seen.
Each-half shell advantageously includes, at each end, a half-bore, the
appropriate shape of which
permits a connection of the rollers to the apparatus, more particularly to the
support, according to
a connection with a degree of rotational freedom. The cylindrical surface of
each rotating roller is
covered with a flexible brush of any known kind, for example formed from
elastomer, secured on
the roller, capable of transmitting the drive couple and of ensuring the
adherence of the apparatus
on the walls of a pool.
The freewheel connections 9, 14 include a helical resilient washer 38,
rotationally connected to
one of the rollers of the bearing axle 2, 3 respectively, and at least one lug
37, which is integral
with the other roller of the bearing axle in question, capable of abutting
against the washer 38 in a
first direction of rotation, more particularly of abutting against the radial
portion 39 projecting
axially from the helical washer, as illustrated in Figure 8, and of sliding on
said portion in the
second opposite direction of rotation, as a result of its elasticity. The
resilient washer 38 is
rotationally connected to one of the rollers of the bearing axle, for example
by means of a lug 37
which penetrates into a housing 60 of the helical washer 38. In a preferential
manner, each
rotating roller 5, 6, 10 and 11 includes two diametrically opposed lugs, and
each washer includes
two corresponding, diametrically opposed housings 60, in which are
respectively accommodated
the two lugs 37 of a roller. One of the housings 60, provided on the resilient
washer 38,
preferably intercepts the radial stop member 39, as illustrated in Figure 8,
so that the lug 37 of the
roller which is not rotationally connected to the washer 38 can press against
a stop member 39,
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profiled in a cylindrical form complementary to that of the lug in order to
ensure a better
distribution of the forces. It is to be noted that Figure 5 illustrates,
differently from Figure 8,
another embodiment of the resilient washer 38, in which the housing 60
provided on this washer
does not intercept the radial stop member 39. As illustrated in Figure 1, the
helical resilient
washer 38 may include an axle 40, which projects axially on both sides of the
washer and permits
rotational guidance in the ends of the aligned rollers between which it is
disposed.
The support 18 advantageously comprises a first portion 24 in the shape of a
U, on which is
secured the single reduction motor 15, a first 25 and a second 26 lateral
casing which close the
open lateral ends of the U, secured respectively in a releasable manner, for
example by a screw,
on the first portion 24 of the support 18, and carrying respectively the
rotating rollers 5, 6 and 10,
11.
The transmission of the driving movement of the reduction motor 15 to the
rotating rollers 5 and
10, which are integral with the first lateral casing 25, is advantageously
effected in the following
manner via the first 16 and second 17 rotational entrainment means: the
driving spindle of the
reduction motor is provided with an entrainment pinion 41, in engagement with
two transmission
pinions 42, 43, which are integral with the lateral casing 25 by a connection
with a degree of
rotational freedom. The rotational movement of the transmission pinions is
then transmitted to
the rollers 5 and 10 via a first 27 and a second 28 synchronous transmission
belt, respectively, in
contact with two pulleys 44, 45 which are rigidly connected to the two
transmission pinions 42,
43, and with two pulleys 46, 47 which are rigidly connected to the two
rotating rollers 5, 10
respectively, as illustrated in Figure 2 or 3. The bearing axles 2 and 3, the
rotational axes of the
transmission pinions 42, 43 and of the driving pinion 41, as well as the axes
of rotation of the
pulleys 44, 45, 46, 47 are advantageously horizontal and parallel.
As illustrated in Figures 1, 2 or 3, the first 25 and second 26 lateral
casings respectively carry, in
addition, the first 22 and second 23 entrainrnent means of the first 19 and
second 20 caterpillar
means, and the first 5, second 6, third 10 and fourth 11 rotating rollers are
placed in an
overhanging manner on the side of the first 25 and second 26 lateral casings
respectively turned
towards the first U-shaped portion 24 of the support 18, the first 22 and
second 23 entrainment
means of the first 19 and second 20 caterpillar means being respectively
placed in an overhanging
manner on the opposite side of the lateral casings 25, 26.
The first 22 and second 23 entrainment means of the first 19 and second 20
caterpillar means
comprise respectively four driving wheels 48, 49, 50, 51, connected in groups
of two
advantageously by means of the first 27 and second 28 transmission belts.
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The four driving wheels 48, 49, 50, 51 each advantageously assume the form of
a rim with lateral
edges, as shown in Figures 1, 2 or 3, on which rim the caterpillar means is
placed and adheres by
friction. These rims 48, 49, 50, 51 each include a central groove capable of
housing the
corresponding belt 27, 28, so that the exterior diameter of the belt is less
than the diameter of the
rim on which the caterpillar rests. The caterpillars can extend beyond the
edge of the wheels, for
example with caterpillar clamps covering the edge of the wheels, and thereby
prevent a hard
portion of the apparatus, in this case the edge of the wheels, being able to
come into contact with
the coating of the pool, the caterpillars advantageously being made from
flexible material of the
elastomeric type or similar, while the wheels will preferably be made from a
hard material of the
rigid plastics material type.
Figure 3 shows a lateral transmission assembly made up of two rotating wheels
5 and 10, the four
driving wheels 48, 49, 50 and 51 for entraining the caterpillar, connected two
by two by a belt 27,
28, and the lateral casing 25 connecting these members, and Figure 2 shows the
two lateral
transmission assemblies, which are advantageously identical, the rotating
wheels 5, 6 and 10, 11
of which are respectively connected by the freewheel connections 9 and 14. It
is evident that, for
reasons of simplifying the production of the apparatus described, the two
lateral transmission
assemblies include transmission pinions 42 and 43, making these assemblies
perfectly identical,
while only one of these assemblies would necessitate the presence of such
pinions, namely the
assembly of which the transmission pinions are in contact with the pinion of
the reduction motor
15. The purpose of having two identical transmission assemblies is of course
obvious, from the
point of view of reducing the manufacturing costs.
The end wheels 48, 51 of the caterpillars 19, 20 are advantageously aligned on
the bearing axles 2
and 3 defined respectively by the axes of rotation of the rotating rollers 5,
6, 10 and 11, more
especially in order to improve the guidance of the caterpillars. The end
wheels 48 and 51 are
associated, in a rigid and dismantlable manner, with the corresponding
rotating roller through the
intermediary of a spindle traversing the lateral casing in a bearing provided
for this purpose, and
penetrating into an appropriate bore of the roller. In addition, the four
driving wheels 48, 49, 50
and 51 for entraining the caterpillar possess axes of rotation situated in the
same horizontal plane,
and this permits a very flat apparatus to be proposed.
It is to be noted that a caterpillar has not been illustrated in Figures 2, 3
and 4 in order to show the
driving wheels for entraining said caterpillar, as well as the transmission
belts. The exterior
diameter of the driving wheels 48, 49, 50, 51 is designed so that the
caterpillar does not hinder the
motorisation of the apparatus by the rotating wheels 5, 6, 10 and 11, which
must have, with their
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brush, a diameter greater than that of the caterpillars. In fact, it needs to
be remembered that the
caterpillars are only used when an obstacle is present during the displacement
of the apparatus, so
that the drive of the bearing axles 2 or 3 is insufficient to ensure its
movement.
5 Figure 6 repeats the illustration of Figure 1 while adding an upper hood 52,
which closes the
upper portion of the apparatus and, more particularly, the motor compartment
comprising the
reduction motor, the centrifuge pump and the filters (not illustrated). The
hood, advantageously
screwed onto the support 18, includes an opening intended to permit the water
to be forced-back
by the pump, and also advantageously includes access flaps 53 and 54 to these
filters for their
10 maintenance. The access flaps 53 and 54 are advantageously deprived of
locking, in order to
simplify manipulation, and make access to the filters very easy. During the
functioning of the
apparatus, the access flaps are kept flattened by the suction low pressure.
When the pump is
stopped, the access flaps, which are advantageously hinged on one of their
sides and on the upper
hood, serve as emptying valves by opening freely during the removal of the
robot from the pool.
This configuration offers an advantageous through cross-section for the water,
and limits the
number of discharge orifices in the robot. The filters will preferably be
formed by a rigid cassette
which contains the filtration material.
The extreme simplicity of the structure of the apparatus according to the
invention will be noted,
said structure being reduced to:
a U-shaped support on which are secured the reduction motor and pump members,
- two lateral casings secured to the U-shaped support, which can be rapidly
dismantled and
include all of the transmission and the members connected with the drive of
the apparatus,
- freewheels inserted between the two lateral groups, and
- an upper hood for closing the motor compartment.
The caterpillars with their driving wheels are advantageously placed in an
overhanging manner on
the lateral casings, so that they are entirely visible and access for
maintenance is achieved without
having to dismantle any structural member.
Two fixed handles 57 will advantageously be added to permit the apparatus to
be gripped by the
user in order to transport it to the place of use. Such fixed handles 57 may,
for example, assume
the form of two bars 58, advantageously parallel respectively to the bearing
axles 2 and 3 and
placed substantially above these bearing axles, as illustrated in Figure 7.
These handles 57 may
be made integral with the upper hood 52 or with any other structural member of
the apparatus,
and participate in the resistant structure thereof, but should preferably not
extend above the
highest upper surface of the apparatus, namely, in the example illustrated,
not extend above the
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upper hood 52, in order not to increase the height of the apparatus and not to
hinder the
displacement of the electric cable 61, as will be explained in more detail
below.
The centrifuge pump is advantageously made up of two distinct parts, the motor
with its turbine
on the one hand and the guide 55 for the fluid flow on the other hand,
individually screwed to the
base of the support 18, the flow guide having its outlet in the upper portion
of the apparatus at the
opening 34 illustrated in Figure 1. The flow guide advantageously serves as an
attachment, for
example at a point 56 in the vicinity of the outlet 34, for an electric
connector 62, preferably
rotary, of the electric supply cable 61 of the reduction motor 15 and of the
suction pump 31. In
the event of abnormal tension on the electric cable, the flow guide is capable
of resisting this force
without transmitting it either to the sealing casing of the pump motor or to
the upper hood 52 of
the apparatus.
It is to be noted that fluid penetrates into the apparatus, with the exception
of the electric motors
which must be placed in sealed protective casings according to any known
method, the electric
connector 62 which must be sealed as explained hereinafter by means of Figures
9 and 10, and
more generally with the exception of all of the electric members.
The electric supply cable 61 of the apparatus is fitted, at one end, with the
preferably rotary
electric connector 62 and, at the other end, with a standard connector (not
illustrated) for an
electric connection to an electric supply box. The electric cable 61 is made
up, for example, of a
sheath 63 formed from flexible PVC, normally fitted with five electric wires
64 in the interior
thereof, the immersed end 65 of the cable preferably being sealed to ensure a
presence of air in
the interior of the sheath 63, so necessary for the flotation of the cable.
The rotary connector 62
advantageously serves as an attachment strap for the cable, directly or
indirectly, and prevents it
from kinking.
As illustrated in Figures 7, 9 and 10, the electric connector 62 is preferably
rotational along a
vertical axis 66, with a radial horizontal inlet for the supply cable 61 on a
turning portion 67 of the
connector 62. Thus, the rotation of the turning portion 67 of the connector 62
is induced by the
displacement inertia of the cable 61 and not by its torsional resistance, and
this prevents the
electric cable from being subjected to excessive fatigue forces, extending its
service life and
facilitating its manipulation. Thus, the supply cable 61 does not require any
specific torsional
performance in order to make the turning portion 67 of the connector 62 turn.
The electric connector 62 is now going to be described in more detail with one
embodiment
according to Figures 9 and 10.
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The turning portion 67 of the connector comprises a turret 80, which
advantageously assumes a
substantially cylindrical general shape, with a circular cross-section, the
axis of symmetry of
which is intended to be vertical, and includes a sealed radial inlet 69 for
the electric cable 61. In
the axis of the turret 80 is disposed a connection tube 70, which is secured
to said turret by means
of one rotating connection 79 at least and in the interior of which connection
tube are disposed the
electric wires 64 of said electric cable 61, respectively connected to
conductor paths 71, arranged
vertically and respectively forming cylindrical conductor rings with a
circular cross-section on the
exterior surface of the connection tube, in order that each electrical wire is
capable of ensuring an
electric connection via its circular path.
The fixed portion 68 of the connector 62 includes a guide tube 72 with a
circular cross-section,
enclosing the connection tube 70 and connected to the turning portion 67 by a
connection with a
degree of rotational freedom. The tube 72 is preferably intended to be secured
in a connector
strap 73, as shown in Figure 9, which strap is itself secured to the apparatus
via the guide 55 for
the flow, for example. The turning portion 67 of the connector 62 is
advantageously connected to
the connector strap 73 through the intermediary of the turret 80 by a
connection 74, which has a
degree of rotational freedom and is intended to transmit the mechanical forces
between the
electric cable 61 and the apparatus in order to avoid pulling on the electric
connection. As shown
in Figure 9, the guide tube 72 includes an interior surface provided with a
number of transverse
conductor strips 75, arranged to correspond with the number of circular paths
71 of the connection
tube 70, each strip 75 being capable of coming into contact by friction with
the corresponding
conductor path 71, so as to ensure an electric connection over 360 when the
electric cable 61
effects a complete revolution, that is to say when the turning portion 67, and
more specifically the
connection tube 70, effects a complete rotation in the guide tube 72. The
electric wires 76, which
are intended to supply the appropriate electric members in the apparatus and
are respectively
connected to the strips 75, emerge from the guide tube 72 through the lower
portion thereof.
Figure 10 illustrates the turning portion 67, which is provided with the guide
tube 72 and with the
electric cable 61, insulated from the connector strap 73.
The connection tube 70 advantageously includes insulating collars 77, each
assuming a circular
washer shape, separating the circular conductor paths 71 from one another, and
the exterior
cylindrical surface of which serves advantageously as a guide surface for the
tube 70 in the tube
72, as illustrated in Figure 9. The assembly of the tubes 70 and 72 may
additionally include a
rotating guide block 78. The connection 79 between the connection tube 70 and
the turret 80 will
at least be a rotating connection but, in a preferred manner, a clearance will
be left between the
CA 02566029 2006-11-14
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two portions of the connection in order that the forces transmitted to the
turret 80 by the electric
cable 61 are not transmitted to the connection tube 70, thereby avoiding
pulling on the assembly
of rotating connections between the connection tube 70 and the guide tube 72.
The sealing of the electric connector 62 will advantageously be ensured on the
one hand by a lip
joint 81 placed between the connection tube 70 and the guide tube 72, in the
upper portion of
these elements at the level of the connection 74 between the turret 80 and the
strap 73, and on the
other hand in the base of these two tubes by a sealed resin stopper, for
example blocking the base
of the guide tube 72, thereby protecting all of the rotating connections
between these two sealing
points. The inlet of the connection tube 70 will be able to be provided with a
sealed resin stopper
in order to prevent liquid, which is being introduced into the turret 80, from
penetrating the
interior of the tube 70, where the connections of the supply wires to the
circular conductor paths is
effected. The turret 80, as well as the strap 73, will advantageously be
provided in the form of
two half shells, screwed one onto the other, thereby proposing a simple means
to achieve the
connection 74 with a degree of rotational freedom, and the rotating connection
79, for example of
the one-piece cotter-pin, lug or grooves type, and an efficient means to
achieve the sealed
connection of the electric cable 61 with the turret 80 by pressure of the two
half-shells on the
exterior sheath 63 of the cable 61.
The apparatus according to the invention may be provided with any known means
which permits
its functioning to be automated, for example of the delay and reverse
reduction motor drive type.
It is to be noted that the apparatus according to the invention permits the
use of a conventional
floating handle to be avoided, because of a low centre of gravity which
permits the adherence of
the robot on vertical parts to be optimised. The absence of the second
reduction motor
additionally permits space to be freed to position an internal float (not
illustrated), which
advantageously replaces the floating handle, this internal float, produced for
example from
polystyrene, having a more reduced volume the lighter the robot is. The
internal float will
preferably be housed beneath and above the reduction motor, assuming the form
of a plate for
example. The internal float will advantageously be able to assume any
appropriate shape,
moulding itself into the free spaces in the interior of the U-shaped support.
The absence of a floating handle permits the upper portion of the apparatus to
be freed of any
displaceable member, more precisely to free the portion of the apparatus
situated above the upper
hood 52, and to adopt a rotary connector 62 with a radial inlet which extends,
for its part, at least
to the level of its radial inlet, above the highest level of the upper hood.
One advantage provided
CA 02566029 2006-11-14
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by the reduced height of the apparatus according to the invention is to be
able to use it on bathing
areas which are not very deep.
