US4023227A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for cleaning submerged surfaces
Assignee: PACHUNG BV A CORP OF NETHERLANDS
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Filing: 1976-02-23
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Granted: 1977-05-17
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Expires: 1996-02-23
Abstract
Abstract The invention disclosed herein relates to an apparatus for automatically cleaning surfaces submerged within a liquid, such as the walls and floors of swimming pools. The apparatus comprises two suction passages in suction communication with a cleaning head that is releasably engageable with the surface to be cleaned and means, such as a flapper valve, for automatically transferring the flow of liquid from one passage to the other. By this means, as the flow of liquid in a passage is halted, the kinetic energy of the liquid is transferred to the apparatus, causing it to be displaced along the surface. The apparatus thus migrates randomly across the surface, cleaning it.
Inventors
- 👤 Fernand Louis Oscar Joseph Chauvier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:47
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/14; E04H4/16; E04H4/1654; E04H4/1663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A cleaning apparatus for automatically cleaning a surface submerged in a liquid, the apparatus including a cleaning head having a peripheral region releasably engageable with the surface to be cleaned; two suction passages in suction communication with the head through communication openings therein; valve seats located at each of the communication openings; and a valve member that is automatically displaceable between and against the valve seats for automatically transferring liquid flow through the passages from the head alternately and repeatedly from one of the passages to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A cleaning apparatus for automatically cleaning a surface submerged in a liquid, the apparatus including a cleaning head having a peripheral region releasably engageable with the surface to be cleaned; two suction passages in suction communication with the head through communication openings therein; valve seats located at each of the communication openings; and a valve member that is automatically displaceable between and against the valve seats for automatically transferring liquid flow through the passages from the head alternately and repeatedly from one of the passages to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the suction passages are defined by a rigid material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the suction passages are linear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the peripheral region of the cleaning head defines a plane and the axes of the suction passages are located parallel to each other at an acute angle to the plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the axes of the suction passages are at an angle of 45° to the plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the axes of the suction passages are located in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the peripheral region of the cleaning head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the suction passages are located adjacent each other in a plane which intersects the plane of the peripheral region of the cleaning head at the same angle as the angle between the axes of the passages and the plane of the peripheral region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said valve member is a flapper valve pivotally mounted about a pivotal axis to be sealingly displaceable against the valve seats located at the communication openings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the peripheral region of the cleaning head defines a plane and the pivotal axis is located at an acute angle to this plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the peripheral region of the cleaning head defines a plane and the pivotal axis is located parallel to this plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which the peripheral region of the cleaning head defines a plane and the valve seats are disposed such that when they are struck by the valve the apparatus experiences a net force that has a component that is parallel to this plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A cleaning apparatus for automatically cleaning a surface submerged in a liquid, the apparatus including a cleaning head having a peripheral region releasably engageable with the surface to be cleaned and having a sealing flange of a flexible material which is rotatable about the cleaning head; two suction passages in suction communication with the head through communication openings therein; and means for automatically transferring liquid flow through the passages from the head alternately and repeatedly from one of the passages to the other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
A cleaning apparatus for automatically cleaning a surface submerged in a liquid, the apparatus including a cleaning head having a peripheral region releasably engageable with the surface to be cleaned and having a sealing flange of a flexible material which is rotatable about the cleaning head; two suction passages in suction communication with the head through communication openings therein; and means for automatically transferring liquid flow through the passages from the head alternately and repeatedly from one of the passages to the other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 12, which has a relief opening between the sealing flange and the cleaning head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which that region of the apparatus that engages the surface to be cleaned has an abrasive lining or a brush to assist in cleaning this surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the suction passages are defined by two tubes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the ends of the passages remote from the head have a common suction inlet having a swivelling coupling that is attachable to a flexible hose.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the centre of gravity of the apparatus is located close to the cleaning head.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
127 words
A cleaning apparatus for automatically cleaning a surface submerged in a liquid, the apparatus including a cleaning head having a peripheral region releasably engageable with the surface to be cleaned; two suction passages in suction communication with the head through the communication openings therein; means for automatically transferring liquid flow through the passages from the head alternately and repeatedly from one of the passages to the other; and a displaceable ballast member which is automatically displaced due to the action of gravity away from the cleaning head when the peripheral region of the cleaning head is vertically oriented and the apparatus is tilted over a predetermined degree, and which automatically returns to its original position closer to the cleaning head when the peripheral region is horizontally oriented.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
A cleaning apparatus for automatically cleaning a surface submerged in a liquid, the apparatus including a cleaning head having a peripheral region releasably engageable with the surface to be cleaned; two suction passages in suction communication with the head through the communication openings therein; means for automatically transferring liquid flow through the passages from the head alternately and repeatedly from one of the passages to the other; and a displaceable ballast member which is automatically displaced due to the action of gravity away from the cleaning head when the peripheral region of the cleaning head is vertically oriented and the apparatus is tilted over a predetermined degree, and which automatically returns to its original position closer to the cleaning head when the peripheral region is horizontally oriented.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 18, which includes a V-shaped ballast housing in which the ballast member is housed, the ballast housing being oriented with its apex towards the cleaning head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 18 which includes a buoyancy member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which is of a mouldable synthetic plastics material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the suction passages are defined by a tube having an internal dividing partition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2257574A
Cited
US2321648A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |