Aqua Products, Inc.

Ethical Products, Inc.

Other

Tibor Horvath

Giora Erlich

Joseph Porat

A self-propelled cleaning apparatus for cleaning a submerged surface of a pool or tank includes a housing having a front portion as defined by the direction of movement of the apparatus when propelled by a water jet, an opposing rear portion and adjoining side portions defining the periphery of the apparatus, and a baseplate with at least one water inlet. Rotationally-mounted supports are coupled proximate the front and rear portions of the housing to enable movement of the apparatus over the submerged surface. A water pump is configured to draw water and debris from the pool through the inlet for filtering. A stationary directional discharge conduit is in fluid communication with the pump and has at least one discharge opening through which a pressurized stream of water forming the water jet is directionally discharged at an acute angle with respect to the surface over which the apparatus is moving.

Automated swimming pool cleaner having an angled jet drive propulsion system

Automated swimming pool cleaner having and angled jet drive propulsion system

A self-propelled robotic pool cleaner () has a first pair of driven brushes () and second pair of free brushes co-axially mounted for rotation on axles () at the opposite ends of the pool cleaner. The first pair of brushes are mounted on one side and are driven by a drive motor (); the second pair of brushes are mounted on the opposite side of the cleaner. A rotational delay clutch () is co-axially positioned between each pair of the first and second brushes so that reversing the drive motor causes the first pair of driven brushes to temporarily rotate at an angular rotational velocity that is greater than that of the second pair of brushes, thereby pivoting the pool cleaner through a predetermined angular change in direction before the synchronous rotation of the second pair of dual brushes is initiated by the engagement of the clutch.

Directional control for dual brush robotic pool cleaners

A method and apparatus for controlling the directional movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner having at least one pair of rotational support members for propelling and cleaning a surface of a pool. The method includes accelerating the at least one pair of rotational support members of the pool cleaner from a stopped position to a first predetermined rotational rate in a first predetermined time period; rotating the at least one pair of rotational support members at said first predetermined rotational rate for a second predetermined time period; and increasing the first rate of rotation to a second greater predetermined rotational rate, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled at a normalized rate for cleaning said pool.

Directional control method and apparatus for dual brush robotic pool cleaners

A pool cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a pump for drawing water and debris through an intake port into a filter. A jet-valve housing having a jet valve flap is mounted over the pump to direct a propulsion jet stream from the pump to move the cleaner in a forward direction. A cleaning nozzle is mounted over each of the front and rear portions of the housing, and a pressurized water jet stream is directed at a first pool surface beneath the cleaner through the front end nozzle while moving in a forward direction. When the cleaner engages a second pool surface substantially perpendicular to the first surface, propulsion outlets of the jet valve housing are partially closed to redirect a portion of the propulsion jet stream to the front-end nozzle to lift the front end of the cleaner off the first surface. When the front end of the cleaner disengages from contact with the second surface, the propulsion outlets open to permit the propulsion jet stream to propel the cleaner along the second surface.

Pool cleaner with high pressure cleaning jets

A method for accurately controlling the directional and turning movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner while cleaning a pool includes the steps of propelling the pool cleaner in a first direction along a generally straight path from a first sidewall toward an opposing sidewall of the pool, wherein said pool cleaner is propelled to a position in the pool corresponding to a distance greater than the midpoint between the first sidewall and the opposing sidewall and before contacting the opposing sidewall of the pool; stopping the pool cleaner at the position and pivoting the pool cleaner to a predetermined angular change in direction; and reversing direction and resuming propulsion of the pool cleaner, wherein the pool cleaner moves in a second direction along a generally straight path that is angularly displaced from the first direction.

Directional control method for dual brush robotic pool cleaners

A self-propelled robotic pool cleaner () has a first pair of driven brushes () and second pair of free brushes co-axially mounted for rotation on axles () at the opposite ends of the pool cleaner that are transverse to the direction of movement. The first pair of brushes are mounted on one side and are driven by a drive motor (); the second pair of brushes are mounted on the opposite side of the cleaner. A rotational delay clutch () is co-axially positioned between each pair of the first and second brushes so that reversing the drive motor causes the first pair of driven brushes to temporarily rotate at an angular rotational velocity that is greater than that of the second pair of brushes, thereby pivoting the pool cleaner through a predetermined angular change in direction before the synchronous rotation of the second pair of dual brushes is initiated by the engagement of the clutch. Following each reversal, the pool cleaner moves in a new direction along a generally straight path that is angularly displaced from its prior path. A highly efficient cleaning program permits the use of a battery to power the drive and water pump motors in pool cleaners that ascend the side walls as well as cleaning the bottom surface.

A self-propelled apparatus for cleaning the submerged bottom surfaces of a pool or tank in a predetermined regular pattern includes a reversible water jet drive means for propelling the apparatus in opposite directions corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The direction of the discharge of the propelling water jet is changed by mechanical sensors, electrical sensors, or by interrupting the water pump. The source of the pressurized jet stream can include a pump integral to the apparatus or an external portable pump and/or a pump associated with the pool's filtering and/or circulation system.

Water jet reversing propulsion and directional controls for automated swimming pool cleaners

A self-propelled apparatus for cleaning the submerged bottom surfaces of a pool or tank in a predetermined regular pattern includes a reversible drive means for propelling the apparatus in opposite directions corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. A housing is formed by a top wall, depending front and rear walls and depending side walls, where the side walls defining the periphery of the apparatus. At least one projecting pivot member extends from a side wall of the housing, wherein the end of the projecting pivot member serves as a pivot point in contact with a side wall of the pool to change the orientation of the apparatus with respect to the side wall of the pool.

Automated swimming pool cleaner with stationary projecting pivot member

A swimming pool cleaner discharges water jets under the cleaner body, directed toward its center from its sides, to agitate and lift debris toward one or more vacuum intake openings, to greatly enhance the cleaning ability of the cleaner. The suspended dirt and debris become semi-buoyant under the force of the jetted water which is preferably moving in the same direction as the cleaner, so that the relative speed between the cleaner and the suspended dirt and debris is reduced, thereby enabling the cleaner to move at a relatively faster rate and still clean with equivalent or even greater efficiency than a pool cleaner that is not equipped with directional cleaning water jets. In addition, displaced front and back orientations of the intake ports allow for longer time for any dirt and debris to be picked up.

Cleaner with high pressure cleaning jets

A pool or tank cleaner that is propelled by means of one or more water jets is directed in one or more predetermined systematic scanning patterns of either straight, curvilinear, or combinations of both, by an apparatus and method that controls and varies the directional discharge of one or more water jets that propel the cleaner in its translational movement. The direction of the discharge of the propelling water jet is changed by mechanical sensors, electrical sensors, or by interrupting the water pump. Further variations in the direction of translational movement of the cleaner are effected by activating at least one retractable depending member to periodically contact the pool surface below the moving cleaner, thereby causing the cleaner to pivot or otherwise change direction.

A robotic pool or tank cleaner is supported by wheels that are mounted on fixed or movable axles that form an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner's body when the cleaner moves in either or both of two opposing directions to thereby provide a variable path as the device moves back and forth across the bottom surface of the pool or tank that is being cleaned.

Growing community of inventors

Estero, FL, United States of America

Tibor Horvath