Valve assembly

A valve assembly comprising:

• a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• a flow passage between the inlet and the outlet at least partly defined by a tubular member which is transversely contractibel and expansible over at least a portion of its length to control the flow of fluid through the passage;
• the body forming a chamber around the tube and including a flexible panel of material biased to be less flexible than the contractibel and expansible part of the tubular member;
• and
• means, responsive to variation in pressure internally and externally of the tubular member, for controlling the flow of fluid through the flow passage.

A swimming pool cleaner of the type wherein an interruption of the flow of water through the cleaner is utilized to prodive a propulsive force to cause the cleaner to move automatically across the surface to be cleaned characterized in that the flow path through the cleaner includes a valve assembly comprising:

• a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• a flow passage between the inlet and the outlet at least partly defined by a tubular member which is transversely contractible and expansible over at least part of its length to control the flow of fluid through the passage, the body forming a chamber around the tube;
• and
• means, responsive to variation in pressure internally and externally of the tubular member, for controlling the flow of fluid through the flow passage, the means controlling the flow of fluid comprising a fluid path from the chamber externally of the tubular member into the fluid outlet downstream of the contractible and expansible part of the tubular member.

A device for cleaning the submerged surface of a swimming pool, said device comprising:

• a head having an open mouth to fit against the surface to be cleaned, said head having an outlet for connection with a flexible hose to permit suction to be applied to the head from the hose to suck water through the head;
• and
• an automatic valve between said mouth and said outlet comprising a contractible tubular member adapted to contract sufficiently to create an interruption in water flow to said outlet, said interruption of flow being sufficient to produce a movement of said device along said submerged surface;
• said tubular member being a flexible tubular member enclosed in a chamber adapted to contain water and including a connection passage between said chamber and the suction source applied to said outlet.

A device for cleaning the submerged surface of a swimming pool, said device comprising:

• a head having an open mouth to be disposed proximate the surface to be cleaned and having an outlet for connection with a flexible hose to permit liquid to be sucked through the head by suction applied to the outlet;
• an automatic valve between said mouth and said outlet comprising a contractible tubular member adapted to contract sufficiently to create an interruption in water flow to said outlet, said interruption of flow being sufficient to produce a movement of said device along said submerged surface,
• the head including a body defining a chamber enclosing the tubular member and adapted to contain water at ambient pressure;
• the outlet of the head including first and second conduits of differing diameter concentrically disposed relative to one another to form an annulus, the first, inner conduit being in communication with the tubular member of the automatic valve and the second, outer conduit being attached to the body of the head;
• and
• a plate carried by the body of the head to define the downstream end of the chamber, said plate having a port opening therein to place the interior of the chamber in pressure communication with the annulus between the concentric pipes to provide for a reduction in pressure in the chamber upon interruption of liquid flow.