US 6,473,928 B1Granted

Magnetic control valve for a suction powered pool cleaner

AssigneePolaris Pool Systems, Inc.

InventorsThomas E. Veloskey, Justin A. Forbes, Jeffrey A. Wichmann, Ronald J. Sargent

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A magnetic control valve is provided in a suction powered pool cleaner of the type for vacuuming dirt and debris from submerged floor and side wall surfaces of a swimming pool. The pool cleaner comprises a head defining a suction inlet for vacuum inflow of water and debris into a plenum chamber, and further through a suction tube adapted for connection via a vacuum hose to a conventional pool water filtration system. The control valve includes an oscillatory valve member movable between open and substantially closed positions relative to an upstream end of the suction tube to produce pressure fluctuations causing the cleaner to advance in steps over submerged pool surfaces. Oscillatory driving of the valve head is assisted by permanent magnets mounted on the valve member and cleaner head to generate repulsion forces as the valve head respectively approaches the open and closed positions.

Claims45

Dependent claims

A pool cleaner for connection to a suction source, said pool cleaner comprising:

a cleaner head including housing means forming a plenum chamber and a downwardly open suction inlet for inflow of water and water-borne debris from a submerged surface of a swimming pool into said plenum chamber, said cleaner head further including a suction tube having a first end coupled to said housing means in flow communication with said plenum chamber and a second end adapted for connection to a suction source, said suction tube extending angularly upwardly and forwardly from said housing means;
and
a magnetic control valve including a valve member mounted within said plenum chamber for movement back-and-forth between an open position to permit substantially unobstructed flow of water from said plenum chamber to said suction tube, and a substantially closed position to obstruct flow of water from said plenum chamber to said suction tube;
said magnetic control valve further including at least one magnet movable with said valve member, at least one first reaction magnet mounted on said cleaner head in a position for reacting with said valve member magnet to produce a repulsion force upon movement of said valve member toward said substantially closed position, and at least one second reaction magnet mounted on said cleaner head in a position for reacting with said valve member magnet to produce a repulsion force upon movement of said valve member toward said open position.

1 more element

In a pool cleaner for connection to a suction source, said pool cleaner including a cleaner head defining a plenum chamber and a downwardly open suction inlet for inflow of water and water-borne debris from a submerged surface of a swimming pool into said plenum chamber, a suction tube extending angularly upwardly from said cleaner head and having a first end coupled in flow communication with said plenum chamber and a second end adapted for connection to a suction source, and a control valve including a valve member mounted within said plenum chamber for movement back-and-forth between an open position to permit substantially unobstructed flow of water from said plenum chamber to said suction tube, and a substantially closed position to obstruct flow of water from said plenum chamber to said suction tube, the improvement comprising:

at least one magnet movable with said valve member between said open and closed positions;
and
reaction magnet means for reacting with said valve member magnet to produce a repulsion force upon movement of said valve member from said open position toward said substantially closed position, for reversing the direction of movement of said valve member.

In a pool cleaner for connection to a suction source, said pool cleaner including a cleaner head defining an open suction inlet for inflow of water and water-borne debris from a submerged surface of a swimming pool, a suction port coupled in flow communication with said suction inlet and adapted for connection to a suction source, and a control valve including a valve member mounted on said cleaner head for movement back-and-forth between an open position to permit substantially unobstructed flow of water from said suction inlet to said suction port, and a substantially closed position to obstruct flow of water from said suction inlet to said suction port, the improvement comprising:

at least one magnet movable with said valve member during at least a portion of said valve member movement between said open and closed positions;
and
reaction magnet means for reacting with said at least one valve member magnet to produce a repulsion force upon movement of said valve member from said open position toward said substantially closed position, for reversing the direction of movement of said valve member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.