Pool cleaner

Abstract

An improved pool cleaner is provided of the type for submerged random travel generally along the floor and sidewalls of a swimming pool to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner comprises an hydraulically contoured housing consisting of a limited number of shell shaped housing portions designed for rapid assembly about an integrated drive assembly having a water-powered drive train encased within the housing and rotatable wheels outside the housing for supporting and driving the pool cleaner. Water under pressure is supplied through a water supply mast detachably mounted on the housing for flow into a pressure manifold from which individual water flows are coupled through appropriately sized nozzles to drive a water turbine of the drive train and through a plurality of jet pump orifices opening generally upwardly about the inner diameter of an open central suction mast through which debris is drawn upwardly into a collection bag. In addition, water from the pressure manifold may be directed through a rearwardly open thrust jet positioned for improved cleaner stability and a rearwardly open sweep hose jet coupled to a flexible sweep hose. A back up valve assembly is mounted within the housing and includes an hydraulic timer responsive to a small bleed flow from the supply mast to periodically divert the pressurized water inflow to a back up jet oriented to drive the cleaner rearwardly and/or upwardly for a short time interval thereby preventing entrapment of the cleaner in a confined region of the pool such as a corner.