Automatic swimming pool cleaner

A swimming pool cleaner, useful in a system employing a water pump for withdrawing water from a swimming pool and for returning a pressurized water supply flow, said cleaner comprising:

• a frame structure supported on movable traction means adapted to engage the pool vessel surface;
• turbine means including a power output member supported on said frame structure;
• supply hose means for coupling said water supply flow from said water pump to said turbine means for driving said power output member;
• means coupling said power output member to said traction means for moving said frame structure in response to said water supply flow driving said power output member;
• thrust means supported on said frame structure and coupled to said supply hose means for discharging a portion of said water supply flow in a direction having a component extending normal to said vessel surface to produce a reaction force in a direction to increase the traction between said traction means and vessel surface;
• suction means carried by said frame structure and having a suction opening located to be in close proximity to said pool vessel surface;
• a water permeable debris container carried by said frame structure;
• and
• means communicating said suction opening with said debris container.

In a swimming pool cleaning system including a car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, the improvement comprising:

• a debris container carried by said car and having an entrance opening;
• debris suction means carried by said car including a suction entrance disposed in close proximity to said vessel surface and a suction exit coupled to said debris container means entrance opening;
• and
• pulverizing means mounted in said container for pulverizing debris.

A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

• a car including a frame supported on wheel means for engaging the surface of a swimming pool vessel;
• propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface;
• said wheel means including first and second parallel wheels each mounted for rotation on said frame and offset with respect to one another so that a line projected between the axes thereof is skewed with respect to the planes of said first and second wheels, at least one of said wheels extending beyond said frame in the direction said car is propelled for engaging vertical surfaces of said swimming pool vessel;
• and
• debris suction means carried by said car and including a suction entrance located on said car in close proximity to said vessel surface.

A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

• a car including a frame supported on traction means for engaging the surface of a swimming pool vessel;
• water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and an outlet;
• propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface;
• thrust means carried by said car for producing a water flow having a component directed to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traction means against said pool vessel surface, said thrust means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means outlet for discharging a water flow in a direction having a component extending normal to said vessel surface;
• and
• debris suction means carried by said car and including a suction entrance located on said car in close proximity to said vessel surface.

A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

• a car including a frame supported on traction means for engaging the surface of a swimming pool vessel;
• water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and first and second outlets;
• propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface, said propelling means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means first outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed substantially parallel to said vessel surface;
• thrust means carried by said car including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means second outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed normal to said vessel surface to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traction means against said vessel surface;
• and
• debris suction means carried by said car and including a suction entrance located on said car in close proximity to said vessel surface.

A swimming pool cleaner comprising:

• a car including a frame supported on traction means for engaging the surface of a swimming pool vessel;
• water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and first and second outlets;
• propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface, said propelling means including means for discharging a water flow having a component directed substantially parallel to said vessel surface;
• and
• suction means carried by said car and including a suction entrance located on said car in close proximity to said vessel surface, said suction means including a tube having entrance and exit openings at opposite ends thereof, said tube entrance opening communicating with said suction entrance, and a nozzle disposed in said tube for discharging a water flow from proximate to said tube entrance opening toward said tube exit opening to produce a suction at said tube entrance opening.