US 2006/0065580 A1Published application

Positive pressure pool cleaner propulsion subsystem

AssigneeHenkin-Laby, LLC

InventorsMelvyn Henkin, Jordan Laby

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Abstract

An automatic pool cleaner configured to be powered by a supplied positive pressure water flow including an improved propulsion subsystem for propelling the cleaner body through a swimming pool along a substantially random travel path. The subsystem includes a hydraulic valve actuator configured to use water pressure to switch a valve element mounted for reciprocal linear movement from a default state (e.g., redirect travel state) to an active state (e.g., forward travel state) and to then restore the valve element to the default state. The water pressure for controlling the actuator is selectively supplied by a direction controller which responds to regular periodic occurrences and/or irregularly occurring events such as the interruption of cleaner body motion.

Claims13

Dependent claims

Apparatus for cleaning the interior surface of a containment wall containing a water pool, said apparatus comprising:

a body adapted to be immersed in said water pool;
at least one first discharge outlet on said body oriented to discharge a water flow in a direction acting to move said body in a first direction;
at least one second discharge outlet on said body oriented to discharge a water flow in a direction acting to move said body in a second direction different from said first direction;
and
a propulsion subsystem for selectively providing a water flow to said first discharge outlet or said second discharge outlet, said propulsion subsystem comprising:
a valve assembly including an inlet port and first and second outlet ports, said inlet port being adapted to receive a water flow supplied by a positive pressure source, said first outlet port being coupled to said first discharge outlet, and said second outlet port being coupled to said second discharge outlet;
a valve element mounted for reciprocal linear movement between first and second positions such that said valve element in said first position closes said second outlet port and in said second position closes said first outlet port;
a hydraulic actuator for moving said valve element between said first and second positions, said actuator comprising at least one piston having first and second oppositely directed faces;
and
means for selectively applying water pressure supplied by said positive pressure source to said faces to selectively move said valve element to said first position or second position.

7 more elements

Apparatus for cleaning the surface of a water pool and the surface of a containment wall containing the water pool, said apparatus comprising:

a body adapted to be immersed in said water pool;
at least one first discharge outlet on said body oriented to discharge a water flow in a direction acting to move said body in a first direction;
at least one second discharge outlet on said body oriented to discharge a water flow in a direction acting to move said body in a second direction different from said first direction;
and
at least one third discharge outlet on said body oriented to discharge a water flow in a direction acting to raise the body to the surface of said water pool;
a propulsion subsystem for selectively providing a water flow to said first discharge outlet or said second discharge outlet, said propulsion subsystem comprising:
a valve assembly comprising an inlet port and a plurality of aligned outlet ports including a center outlet port located between a first end outlet port and a second end outlet port;
said inlet port being adapted to receive a water flow supplied by a positive pressure source, said first end outlet port being coupled to said first discharge outlet, said center outlet port being coupled to said second discharge outlet, and said second end outlet port being coupled to said third discharge outlet;
and
first and second aligned valve elements each mounted for reciprocal linear movement to open said center outlet port to supply a water flow to said second discharge outlet.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.