Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A SELF PROPELLED POOL CLEANER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relates to self propelled pool cleaners and in particular
to a new and useful combination giving rise to a compact pool cleaner
assembly,
the invention further relates to an improved pool cleaner and a kit of parts
for
retrofitting pool cleaners.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Submersible pool cleaners employing oscillating valves within a housing
and flexible discs engaging the surface to be cleaned are generally well known
as illustrated by way of example with reference to US Patent Nos 4,023,227 and
4,35'i ,077. Generally pool cleaners are of two types, the first type
employing a
valve in the form of an oscillating hammer and the second type which utilises
a
diaphragm. The US Patent No 4,351,077 is an illustration of hammer or flapper
type valve.
The configuration of the valve causes an intermittent cutoff of flowthrough
the head as the valve oscillates between its open and closed position and this
in turn causes pulsations which results in longitudinal contractions and
relaxations in the longitudinal resilient suction pipe from the head to the
outlet
from the swimming pool to its filter unit. In consequence of these
contractions
and relaxations, a simultaneous reduction and increase in the force applied to
hold the disc against the surface to be cleaned results in a step by step
movement of the head over the surface to be cleaned. Thus the pool cleaner
is propelled across the surface to be cleaned.
US 4,023,227 is another example of an oscillating hammer type cleaner.
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Other arrangements utilised to open and shutthe opening into the suction
tube are illustrated in, for example, US Patent Nos 4,769,867 and 4,807,318.
The two specifications of 4,023,227 and 4,351,077 provide a buoyancy
chamber to control the random movement of the cleaner. The buoyancy
chamber is in the form of a hollow float. The buoyancy chamber is used to
ensure that the cleaner, in terms of its passage up side walls and so on, when
it is released from the side walls it will be correctly oriented as it sinks.
US Patent No 4,642,833 describes a pool cleaner which provides a
diaphragm which opens and closes. US Patent No 4,742,593 also describes a
pool cleaner utilising diaphragm type valve for its operation.
As is demonstrated by the prior art patent search, there is an enormous
amount of prior art related to the basic structure of a self propelled pool
cleaner
of the type illustrated and described in the above referenced US patents.
In one form the applicant provides a new combination of old features,
which is basically a similar arrangement to the prior art, but provides a
compact,
easily assembled pool cleaner with an object of the invention to provide the
public with a useful choice. In another form by reason of the simplicity of
the
present cleaner its form and in a modified form it may be used to reconfigure
a
prior art hammer type cleaner as the more reliable suction type.
A relatively large number of pool owners have a pool cleaner with a
wedge-shaped hammer valve member of the hammer type. Many merchants
trading in pool cleaners also have a large number of this type of pool
cleaners
in stock. In operation, the hammer valve member must reciprocate between two
positions to cause fluid to flow alternately in two fluid flow passages. The
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reciprocation is necessary to cause the pool cleaner to move along the pool
surface to be cleaned. At times, the valve member does not move and the
cleaner therefore does not always function properly.
In view of the unreliability of the above mentioned pool cleaners, many
pool owners are left with the option of purchasing a different type of pool
cleaner
at considerable additional costs or revert to cleaning their pools manually.
The reliability issues also render these prior art pool cleaners of
substantially unmerchantable quality. Pool cleaner manufacturers and traders
are left with a large number of these cleaners in stock and find them
difficult to
move.
It is therefore an object of a preferred form of the invention to provide a
pool cleaner which alleviates, at least to some extent, one or more of the
aforementioned problems of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a kit of parts adapted
for retrofitting the prior art pool cleaner so as to alleviate, at least to
some extent,
one or more of the aforementioned prior art problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention resides in a pool cleaner having a
simplified construction when compared to the prior art, which resides in a
pool
cleaner having a head adapted to hold a disc, the head having an inlet, the
head
being coupled to a main body extending longitudinally, the main body having a
chamber, a tubular diaphragm valve having an inlet adjacent the inietto the
main
body and an outlet connected to longitudinally extending tube, the diaphragm
being separated from an interior wall of the main body by a chamber, an outlet
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hose being secured to the main body and being adapted to rotate with the tube
from the tubular diaphragm valve being located within the rotatable outlet
tube
and there being suction communication between the outlet tube and the
chamber surrounding the tubular diaphragm valve and also to the interior of
the
tubular diaphragm valve forflowthrough thereby creating periodic changes in
the
differential pressure across the diaphragm valve from its exterior in the
chamber
to its interior to provide a pulsing action to drive the self propelled pool
cleaner
across the surface to be cleaned, the head having a foot connectable to the
disc
and being connected to the main body by mating flanges, the main body having
an inlet and preferably, an adaptor inserted into the main body and
connectable
to one end of the tubular valve member, the main body preferably having a
pivoting float on one side opposite a counter weight on the other side, a
coupling
with an outlet into the main body comprising a threaded end, a clamp, a
bearing
and a hand nut rotatable on the threaded end to cause the clamp to press
against the ridges in the central tube to secure the rotatable outlet tube and
engage it with the bearing.
Preferably the inlet adaptor insertable into the head is adapted to
reconfigure the body to match a tubular diaphragm valve member having an
oblique inlet or a straight across inlet.
Preferably, the main body is generally having a top portion and an
enlargement, the top portion being of a size and dimension which is marginally
greater in cross-section than the central tube along a major portion of the
length
of the main body, the main body terminating at the head end with the
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enlargement which is marginally greater in cross-section than the top portion,
giving an overall appearance of being relatively narrow.
In another aspect the present invention resides in a kit of parts for
retrofitting a pool cleaner having a hollow body formed with a fluid inlet end
and
5 a fluid outlet end opposite to said inlet end, a divider forming two
separate flow
passages in said hollow, and a hammer valve member arranged to pivotally
reciprocate about a pivot point to cause fluid to flow alternately in the flow
passages. The kit comprises a diaphragm member for replacing the hammer
valve member, an inner tube member for replacing the divider and one end of
which being adapted for connection to the diaphragm member, a diaphragm
holder adapted for fixing in said hollow adjacent to said inlet end to hold
the
diaphragm member in position in said hollow, a tube holder adapted forfixing
in
said hollow adjacent to said outlet end to hold said tube in position in said
hollow.
In a still further aspect, the present invention resides in a process of
retrofitting a pool cleaner having a hollow body formed with a fluid inlet end
and
a fluid outlet end opposite to said inlet end, a top cap at said outlet end, a
divider
forming two separate flow passages in said hollow, and a hammer valve member
arranged to pivotally reciprocate about a pivot point to cause fluid to flow
alternately in the flow passages. the process comprising the steps of:
(a) opening said hollow body;
(b) removing said hammer valve member from said hollow;
(c) removing said divider from said hollow;
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(d) fixing a diaphragm member and an inner tube in position in said hollow
with respective diaphragm holderand tube holder so thatthe diaphragm member
is adjacent to said end and the innertube extending through said outlet end;
and
(e) applying said top cap to the body at said outlet end.
The process may include a further step of:
(f) applying a securing element to secure said inner tube in position.
Other steps for the process may include any one or more of:
(g) removing said top cap from the body;
(h) replacing a wear ring insert
(i) connecting a swivel tube to said top cap,
(j) applying a lock nut to lock said swivel tube in position; and
(k) applying a solidifying floatable material in said hollow or a space in
said
body.
In a further aspect therefore the present invention resides in a pool
cleaner comprising a hollow body formed with a fluid inlet end and a fluid
outlet
end opposite to said inlet end, a diaphragm member adapted for positioning in
the hollow adjacent to said inlet end, a diaphragm holder fixed to said body
and
adapted to hold the diaphragm member in position, an inner tube member
having one end thereof connected to the diaphragm member, and a tube holder
adapted for fixing in said hollow adjacent to said outlet end to hold said
tube in
position in said hollow.
In preference, said diaphragm holder has a retention aperture adapted to
frictionally retain said diaphragm member in position.
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The diaphragm holder may be formed so that it is fixed in said hollow at
an angled orientation.
Said diaphragm member may be tubular in shape. Preferably, one or both
ends of the tubular diaphragm member terminate at an angle.
The kit may have a securing element adapted to secure the tube in
position. The securing element may be a circlip, gland nut, clamp or the like.
The kit may also have a swivel tube adapted for connection to a top cap
at said outlet end.
The swivel tube is preferably dimensioned to extend outwardly from said
top cap. Preferably, the swivel tube is dimensioned to extend at a
substantially
distance from the top cap.
The kit/cleaner may have a solidifying floatable material for applying in
said hollow or a space in said body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and
be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings which refer to preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:-
Figure 1 is a cut-away perspective view showing components in a prior art
pool cleaner;
Figure 2 shows the process of removing certain components from the
prior art pool cleaner shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the
kit of parts according to the present invention for retrofitting the prior art
pool
cleaner shown in Figure 1;
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Figure 4 shows the kits of parts shown in Figure 3 in an assembled state;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment
of the kit of parts according to the present invention for retrofitting the
prior art
pool cleaner shown in Figure 1;
Figure 6 shows the kits of parts shown in Figure 5 in an assembled state;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment from above and in
front;
Figure 8 is a perspective view from above and behind;
Figure 9 is an exploded view and part section of one embodiment;
Figure 10 is an exploded view and part section of a second embodiment;
and
Figures 11 and 12 are longitudinal sections through the embodiments of
Figures 8 and 9 respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The prior art swimming pool cleaner 10 shown in Figure 1 has a hollow
body member 12 with a hollow 14 which forms a fluid inlet end 16 at its lower
part 17 and a fluid outlet end 18 at its top part 19. The top part 19 has a
slightly
smaller external circumference due to reduced wall thickness. A top cap 20 is
attached to the top part around the fluid outiet end 18. The top cap 20 is
formed
with a connection opening 22 to which a swivel tube 24 is connected by way of
a wear ring 26 inserted in the opening 22. A hand nut 28 is adapted to retain
the
swivel tube 24 in position. The lower part 17 is terminated at an angle of
about
45 and has an outwardly extending flange 30 to which a flexible disc (not
shown) is attached.
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The body 12 as shown has been cut medially along its longitudinal axis
for accessing components in the hollow. The components include a wedge-
shaped hammer valve member 32 pivotally connected to a divider 34 held by a
T-shaped holding piece 36. Provided upstream to the hammer valve 32 is a fluid
flow guide plate 38 and a foot attachment piece 40.
Referring to Figure 2, the process of retrofitting the prior art pool cleaner
following cutting of the body 12 involves removing and discarding the foot
attachment piece 40, the guide plate 38 and the hammer valve 32. The divider
34 is then cut and removed. The divider holder 36 in the top cap 20 is also
cut
10 and removed.
The first embodiment of the kit of parts for retrofitting the prior art pool
cleaner 10 shown in Figure 3 includes a tubular shaped diaphragm 50, a
diaphragm holder 52, an inner tube 54, a tube holder 56, a tube securing
element 58 and a swivel tube 60 which is substantially longer than that in the
prior art cleaner 10. While, not shown, the kit may include a flowable
material
which will be become solid and floatable, such as an injectable foam.
The process of retrofitting involves inserting the diaphragm holder 52
against the ledge 21 and securing thereat with an industrial grade glue. Then
attach the inner tube 54 to the diaphragm 50 and positioning the threaded end
51 of the diaphragm 50 in the aperture 53 of the holder 52. The exposed end of
the tube 54 is then inserted into the hole 57 of the tube holder 56 and the
holder
56 is positioned against the outlet end and secure thereat with the securing
element 58 which in this case is a circlip. The process follows by attaching
the
top cap 20 onto the top end part 19 and replacing the wear ring 26, the swivel
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tube 60 and locking the tube 60 in position with the hand nut 28. The
retrofitted
pool cleaner 100 is shown in Figure 4.
The second embodiment of the kit of parts for retrofitting the prior art pool
cleaner 10 shown in Figure 5 includes a tubular shaped diaphragm 50 with an
5 angled upstream end 51, a box shaped diaphragm holder 52 with an angled face
55 and an aperture 53 in that face, an inner tube 54 with a relatively short
attachment end 62, a tube holder 56 configured as a gland attachment to
receive
a securing element 58 in the form of a gland nut, and a swivel tube 60 which
is
substantially longer than that in the prior art cleaner 10.
10 The process steps of retrofitting the kit of parts shown in Figure 5 are
substantially similar to those described in relation to the first embodiment
and
are considered to be readily understood by a person skilled in the relevant
art.
Figure 6 shows the retrofitted pool cleaner 100 using the parts of the second
embodiment.
Referring now to the remaining drawings the same general form of
cleaner is illustrated but made as a new unit rather than from a retrofitted
hammer cleaner, and firstly to Figures 7 and 8, there is illustrated a pool
cleaner
110 having a head 111 including a surrounding flange 112, the flange 112 being
insertable into a foot as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the foot having a
slot to
receive a disc which travels across the surface to be cleaned. The cleaner 110
includes an outer body 113 and an outlet tube 114 secured to the outer body
113 by a coupling 115 to be described below, which utilises a hand nut 116. A
pivoting float 117 is used to keep the pool cleaner correctly oriented and the
float
117 is connected by arms 118 and 119 to the main body 113 at the pivot 120.
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A counter weight is located within a housing at 121 and is used to carry the
pool
cleaner to the bottom of a pool while the float 117 located opposite the
weight
121 will stabilise the body as it sinks and keep it upright.
The illustrated embodiment uses the two diaphragm type valve members
as depicted in US Patent No 4,742,593 the contents of which are included
herein
by reference and as can be seen in Figures 9 through 12, the respective
diaphragms 122 and 123 are coupled to a ridged central tube 124 and the only
difference between the two embodiments is in the nature of the adaptor 125 and
126 which fit into the inlet opening 127 and have flanges 128 and 129 which
abut against the shoulder 130 inside the main body 113. A weight 131 is
located
inside the weight housing 121 and the assembly of the pool cleaner is as
illustrated in the drawings. In particular to Figures 11 and 12 the inner tube
124
is spaced from the inner wall 131 of the main body 113 so as to form a chamber
132 which may be pressurised negatively due to the outlet tube 114
communicated with the chamber 132 via the annular space defined between the
tube 114 and the gaps in the clamp 133 which itself is held against shoulder
134
in the main body. The flange 135 is threaded and this cooperates with an
internal thread on the nut 116 and the outer tube 114 has a flange 136 and
there
is a provided an annular bearing surface 137 so that the tube 114 may rotate
thus providing a swivel in order to move with the hose (not shown). As can be
seen in Figures 11 and 12, a foot 138 having a channel 139 is fitted to the
peripheral flange 112 and any suitable disc may be positioned inside the
channel
139.
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Thus it will be appreciated that the combination of a narrow main body,
enlarged at the head end and having a diaphragm in the combination disclosed
provides a compact pool cleaner not envisaged bythe prior art in a crowded
field
where the technology is "well engineered".
Those skilled in the art will know or be able to ascertain without undue
experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments and methods
of the present invention as described herein. These and all other equivalents
are
intended to fall within the scope of the following claims.
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