Self propelled drivehead for automatic swimming pool cleaner

Claim 1

A drivehead for an automatic swimming pool cleaning system, which system includes, at least one elongate flexible cleaning hose having an inner fixed end and an outer free end, means for supplying water under pressure to the inner fixed end of said cleaning hose to cause said hose to randomly oscillate, thereby abrading the inner surfaces of the swimming pool to dislodge particulate material therefrom and maintain said particulate material in suspension in the pool water for removal by the pool water filtration system, and drivehead means operatively associated with said cleaning hose to move the inner water receiving end thereof to different locations within said pool to effect random contact between said oscillating hose and substantially all of the interior surfaces of said pool, said drivehead comprising: (a) a horizontal platform member; (b) a circular wheel member mounted horizontally for free rotation on said platform member, the periphery of said wheel member extending laterally beyond the periphery of said platform member; (c) a water jet nozzle carried by said platform member, disposed to eject a stream of water therethrough, the reaction force of which urges said wheel member into rolling contact with and along the sides of said pool; and (d) means for connecting a flexible water supply hose to said nozzle for effecting fluid communication between said nozzle and a source of water under pressure, said water jet nozzle and said supply hose cooperating, when said drivehead encounters an obstruction, to cause said platform member to rotate within said circular wheel member, to move said drivehead around the obstruction and continue its normal movement in rolling contact with and along the sides of said pool.