US3707737A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces
Assignee: PELTEC CORP
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Filing: 1971-08-30
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Granted: 1973-01-02
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Expires: 1991-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A liquid under pressure flows through a conduit to an inlet of a jet pump means from which issues a high velocity stream of liquid. An area of pressure lower than ambient pressure is established in the high velocity stream and this is communicated through a passageway to an inner face of a compressible resilient pad which is to be disposed against the submerged surface. A pressure differential exists between the ambient liquid on the outer side of the pad and the liquid flowing between the inner surface of the pad and the submerged surface and this pressure differential urges the compressible pad toward the submerged surface to conform to the contour thereof and results in a thin high velocity film of liquid flow across the submerged surface to clean the same. Rubbing contacts between the submerged surface and asperities on the surface of the pad serves to augment the cleaning action of the liquid flow. The resilient pad may also be somewhat porous thus allowing the flow of some liquid directly from the peripheral areas of the pad to the inlet of the jet pump thus tending to increase the surface flow velocity in these peripheral areas.
Inventors
- 👤 D Brower
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:32
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/14; E04H4/16; E04H4/1618
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
An apparatus for cleaning foreign material from a surface submerged in a liquid comprising, a frame means, conduit means for conveying a stream of liquid under pressure, a jet pump means having an inlet connected to said conduit means to receive said pressurized liquid and having a nozzle to increase the velocity of liquid flow, an outlet for said jet pump means for discharging liquid received from said nozzle, passageway means in fluid communication with said high velocity stream of liquid flow through said jet pump means and extending to a position adjacent the submerged surface, a pad means comprising a resilient, compressible pad having an inner surface for facing said submerged surface and for conforming thereto, said passageway means leading to said inner surface of said pad means to provide a lower than ambient pressure at said inner surface to cause liquid to flow as a high velocity film in the space between said pad inner surface and the submerged surface, an outer surface on said pad means for exposure to said ambient pressure which will be at a pressure higher than the pressure within the high velocity film of liquid whereby a pressure differential will be created across said pad means to urge said pad toward said submerged surface, and means connected to frame means for traversing said pad for gliding along said submerged surface so that foreign material will be stripped from said submerged surface by said high velocity film of liquid as well as by partial contact with the resilient pad and be transported through said passageway means to said outlet for discharge with the high velocity flow from said nozzle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
275 words
An apparatus for cleaning foreign material from a surface submerged in a liquid comprising, a frame means, conduit means for conveying a stream of liquid under pressure, a jet pump means having an inlet connected to said conduit means to receive said pressurized liquid and having a nozzle to increase the velocity of liquid flow, an outlet for said jet pump means for discharging liquid received from said nozzle, passageway means in fluid communication with said high velocity stream of liquid flow through said jet pump means and extending to a position adjacent the submerged surface, a pad means comprising a resilient, compressible pad having an inner surface for facing said submerged surface and for conforming thereto, said passageway means leading to said inner surface of said pad means to provide a lower than ambient pressure at said inner surface to cause liquid to flow as a high velocity film in the space between said pad inner surface and the submerged surface, an outer surface on said pad means for exposure to said ambient pressure which will be at a pressure higher than the pressure within the high velocity film of liquid whereby a pressure differential will be created across said pad means to urge said pad toward said submerged surface, and means connected to frame means for traversing said pad for gliding along said submerged surface so that foreign material will be stripped from said submerged surface by said high velocity film of liquid as well as by partial contact with the resilient pad and be transported through said passageway means to said outlet for discharge with the high velocity flow from said nozzle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said pad means includes a replaceable pad of sponge material and a holder for releasably holding said pad and for allowing sponge pads to be replaced when worn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which fastening means are provided for fastening said sponge pad to said holder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said sponge pad has an opening therein extending from said inner surface and said passageway means includes a sleeve attached to said holder and projecting into said opening in said sponge pad to a position adjacent the inner surface thereof to restrain the sponge material from flowing into and substantially restricting said passageway means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said passageway means includes a further sleeve in fluid communication with said outlet of said jet pump means and in telescoping relation with said sleeve of said holder whereby the high velocity film of liquid will flow into said opening in said sponge pad and through said telescoped sleeves and through said outlet of said jet pump means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said jet pump means is a jet eductor secured to the outer side of said pad means for directing fluid flow along a path substantially parallel to said outer surface of said pad means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which said means for transversing said pad comprises a hollow handle pivotally connected to said frame means and in which said conduit means comprises a hollow bore in the interior of said handle and a flexible hose extending between said handle bore and said inlet for said jet eductor.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for cleaning foreign material from a surface submerged in a liquid comprising a frame means, a handle pivotally secured to said frame means for manipulation and for exerting a pushing and pulling force on said frame means to cause the same to traverse along said submerged surface, a conduit for receiving liquid under pressure, a jet eductor carried by said Frame means with an inlet connected to said conduit to receive liquid under pressure, said jet eductor having a nozzle to cause an increase in velocity of the flow of liquid received from said inlet, an enlarged outlet for said jet eductor for receiving liquid from said nozzle, a compressible resilient pad carried by said frame means and having an inner flat surface for positioning adjacent the submerged surface, a passageway means extending from said jet eductor to a central location at said inner surface of said pad to establish a lower pressure than ambient pressure at said inner surface to cause ambient liquid to flow inwardly to said central location and in the space between said inner surface and said submerged surface, and means associated with the outer side of said pad providing an area for exposure to said ambient pressure and for establishing a pressure differential with the lower pressure and the liquid flowing between the inner surface of said pad and the submerged surface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for cleaning foreign material from a surface submerged in a liquid comprising a frame means, a handle pivotally secured to said frame means for manipulation and for exerting a pushing and pulling force on said frame means to cause the same to traverse along said submerged surface, a conduit for receiving liquid under pressure, a jet eductor carried by said Frame means with an inlet connected to said conduit to receive liquid under pressure, said jet eductor having a nozzle to cause an increase in velocity of the flow of liquid received from said inlet, an enlarged outlet for said jet eductor for receiving liquid from said nozzle, a compressible resilient pad carried by said frame means and having an inner flat surface for positioning adjacent the submerged surface, a passageway means extending from said jet eductor to a central location at said inner surface of said pad to establish a lower pressure than ambient pressure at said inner surface to cause ambient liquid to flow inwardly to said central location and in the space between said inner surface and said submerged surface, and means associated with the outer side of said pad providing an area for exposure to said ambient pressure and for establishing a pressure differential with the lower pressure and the liquid flowing between the inner surface of said pad and the submerged surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which a filter means is attached to said outlet of said jet eductor to filter foreign material from said liquid being discharged from said outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which a brush means is carried by said frame means to extend to said submerged surface for assisting in cleaning and scrubbing foreign material from said submerged surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-02 | 1976-07-03 | 1977-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-02 | 1980-07-03 | 1981-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-02 | 1984-07-03 | 1985-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |