Patent US3822754A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3822754A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic swimming pool cleaner
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-07-26
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Granted: 1974-07-09
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Expires: 1992-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An automatic swimming pool cleaner comprised of a car adapted to travel underwater along a random path on the pool vessel surface for dislodging debris therefrom. The car wheels are driven by a water powered turbine to propel the car in a forward direction, along the vessel surface. In order to prevent the car from being driven into a position, as for example against a vertical wall, from which it cannot emerge, a wheel geometry is employed which, upon contact, develops a horizontal force component parallel to the vertical wall, to thus enable the car to spin off. Alternatively, or in combination, a water flow produced reaction force can produce a torque to turn the car with respect to the engaged wheel to enable the car to spin off. The car is designed with a low center of gravity and a relatively buoyant top portion so as to produce a torque which maintains the car correct side up when on the pool bottom. Means are provided on the car for producing a water flow having a force component perpendicular to the vessel surface to provide good traction between the car wheels and the vessel surface. Further, a water flow produced suction is created adjacent to the vessel surface for collecting debris into a basket carried by the car. In addition, one or more hoses is pulled by the car and whipped by water flow to sweep dirt from the vessel surface.
Inventors
- 👤 M Henkin
- 👤 J Laby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:57
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/14; E04H4/16; E04H4/1654; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S180/00; Y10S180/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a swimming pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on traction means for engAging said pool vessel surface; said traction means including first and second driving wheels; means mounting said first and second driving wheels on opposite sides of said frame, each for rotation about its own axis, with the rotational axes of said driving wheels extending substantially parallel and offset with respect to one another so that a line projected between the centers of said first and second driving wheels is skewed with respect to said rotational axes water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and an outlet; turbine means carried by said car coupled to said one water supply means outlet, drive means coupling said turbine means to said traction means for drivingly rotating said driving wheels in response to water supplied to said turbine means for propelling said car along said vessel surface; and thrust means carried by said car for producing a water flow having a component directed to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said driving wheels against said pool vessel surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a swimming pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on traction means for engAging said pool vessel surface; said traction means including first and second driving wheels; means mounting said first and second driving wheels on opposite sides of said frame, each for rotation about its own axis, with the rotational axes of said driving wheels extending substantially parallel and offset with respect to one another so that a line projected between the centers of said first and second driving wheels is skewed with respect to said rotational axes water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and an outlet; turbine means carried by said car coupled to said one water supply means outlet, drive means coupling said turbine means to said traction means for drivingly rotating said driving wheels in response to water supplied to said turbine means for propelling said car along said vessel surface; and thrust means carried by said car for producing a water flow having a component directed to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said driving wheels against said pool vessel surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The car of claim 1 including steering means comprising a third wheel mounted on said frame for rotation in various planes extending substantially perpendicular to said common plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The car of claim 2 including means driven by said water supply means for varying the plane of rotation of said third wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The swimming pool cleaner of claim 1 wherein said thrust means includes a nozzle coupled to said water supply means for discharging a water flow in a direction having a component extending normal to said vessel surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The swimming pool cleaner of claim 4 including adjustable means for supporting said nozzle in different orientations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus useful in a system employing a water pump for withdrawing water from a swimming pool and for returning a pressured water supply flow, said apparatus comprising: a frame structure supported on movable traction means adapted to engage the surface of the pool, said traction means including first and second wheels; means supporting said first and second wheels for rotation in substantially parallel planes and offset from one another whereby a line projected between the leading edges of said wheels is skewed relative to the planes of rotation of said wheels; turbine means supported on said frame structure including a power output member coupled to said first and second wheels; supply hose means for coupling said water supply flow from said water pump to said turbine means for driving said power output member; and thrust means supported on said frame structure and coupled to said supply hose means for discharging a portion of said water supply flow in a direction having a component extending normal to said vessel surface to produce a reaction force in a direction to increase the traction between said traction means and vessel surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus useful in a system employing a water pump for withdrawing water from a swimming pool and for returning a pressured water supply flow, said apparatus comprising: a frame structure supported on movable traction means adapted to engage the surface of the pool, said traction means including first and second wheels; means supporting said first and second wheels for rotation in substantially parallel planes and offset from one another whereby a line projected between the leading edges of said wheels is skewed relative to the planes of rotation of said wheels; turbine means supported on said frame structure including a power output member coupled to said first and second wheels; supply hose means for coupling said water supply flow from said water pump to said turbine means for driving said power output member; and thrust means supported on said frame structure and coupled to said supply hose means for discharging a portion of said water supply flow in a direction having a component extending normal to said vessel surface to produce a reaction force in a direction to increase the traction between said traction means and vessel surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including booster pump means operatively coupled between said water pump and said supply flow in said supply hose means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including gear means formed on each of said first and second wheels; and wherein said means coupling said turbine means power output member to said first and second wheels includes first and second gears secured to said output member and engaged with said first and second wheel gear means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6 including a third wheel; and means mounting said third wheel for rotation in various planes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including means driven by the water flow in said supply hose means for varying the plane of rotation of said third wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
A car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on wheel means for engaging said pool vessel surface; and propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface; said wheel means including first and second parallel wheels each mounted For rotation on said frame and offset with respect to one another so that a line projected between the axes thereof is skewed with respect to the planes of said first and second wheels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
A car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on wheel means for engaging said pool vessel surface; and propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface; said wheel means including first and second parallel wheels each mounted For rotation on said frame and offset with respect to one another so that a line projected between the axes thereof is skewed with respect to the planes of said first and second wheels.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The car of claim 11 including drive means responsive to said propelling means for driving rotating said first and second wheels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
A car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on traction means for engaging said vessel surface; water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and an outlet, propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface; thrust means carried by said car for producing a water flow having a component directed to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traction means against said pool vessel surface, said thrust means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means outlet for discharging a water flow in a direction having a component extending normal to said vessel surface; and adjustable means for supporting said nozzle in different orientations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
A car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on traction means for engaging said vessel surface; water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and an outlet, propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface; thrust means carried by said car for producing a water flow having a component directed to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traction means against said pool vessel surface, said thrust means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means outlet for discharging a water flow in a direction having a component extending normal to said vessel surface; and adjustable means for supporting said nozzle in different orientations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The car of claim 13 wherein said traction means includes means mounting first and second wheels on opposite sides of said frame for rotation in substantially parallel planes and each oriented sustantially perpendicular to a common plane tangential to said first and second wheels.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The car of claim 14 wherein said mounting means positions said first and second wheels on said frame offset with respect to one another so that a line projected between the axes of said wheels is skewed with respect to the planes thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The car of claim 13 wherein said water supply means includes a second outlet and said propelling means includes a turbine for drivingly rotating said traction means in response to water supplied through said water supply means second outlet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The car of claim 13 wherein said water supply means includes a second outlet and said propelling means includes a nozzle coupled to said water supply means second outlet for discharging a water flow in a direction having a component extending substantially parallel to said vessel surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
136 words
A car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on traction means for engaging said pool vessel surface; water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and first and second outlets; propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface, said propelling means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means first outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed substantially parallel to said vessel surface; and thrust means carried by said car including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means second outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed normal to said vessel surface to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traction means against said vessel surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
136 words
A car adapted to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on traction means for engaging said pool vessel surface; water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and first and second outlets; propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface, said propelling means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means first outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed substantially parallel to said vessel surface; and thrust means carried by said car including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means second outlet for discharging a water flow having a component directed normal to said vessel surface to produce a reaction force on said car acting to thrust said traction means against said vessel surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
A car adpated to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on traction means for engaging said pool vessel surface; water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and an outlet; propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface, said propelling means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means outlet for discharging a water flow in a direction having a component extending substantially parallel to said vessel surface; and adjustable means for supporting said nozzle in different orientations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
96 words
A car adpated to travel underwater on the surface of a pool vessel, said car including: a frame supported on traction means for engaging said pool vessel surface; water supply means carried by said car having an inlet and an outlet; propelling means carried by said car for propelling said car along said vessel surface, said propelling means including a nozzle coupled to said water supply means outlet for discharging a water flow in a direction having a component extending substantially parallel to said vessel surface; and adjustable means for supporting said nozzle in different orientations.
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) | 1977-07-08 | 1978-01-07 | 1978-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-08 | 1982-01-07 | 1982-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-08 | 1986-01-07 | 1986-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |