U.S. patent application number 10/406089 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for underwater cleaning apparatus using suction grip.
Invention is credited to Walton, Charles A..
Application Number | 20040194237 10/406089 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33097246 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040194237 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walton, Charles A. |
October 7, 2004 |
Underwater cleaning apparatus using suction grip
Abstract
A rotating or oscillating brush is brought up against an
underwater surface to be cleaned. The surface may be the hull of a
boat or inside walls of an aquarium. While the brush moves, the
apparatus is held against the surface by suction. There is a
suction pump which pumps water from the apparatus to above ground
or elsewhere. The suction creates force of the apparatus against
the surface for good cleaning. It is ordinarily difficult to get
good force against the surface since the water may be deep and
there is nothing for the operator or the apparatus to push against.
Debris from cleaning is drawn away from the cleaning area. Wheels
or pads or a rubber skirt are used to avoid damaging the surface
from too much force. A flexible skirt minimizes water leakage past
the apparatus and allows conformation to rounded shapes such as
boat hull. The motor to drive the brush may be electric, or may be
hydraulic, or may use the suction pressure as a source of energy.
The suction pump may be separate or may be driven by the same motor
driving the brush.
Inventors: |
Walton, Charles A.; (Los
Gatos, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles A. Walton
19115 Overlook Road
Los Gatos
CA
95030
US
|
Family ID: |
33097246 |
Appl. No.: |
10/406089 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/1.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/1663
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/001.7 |
International
Class: |
E04H 004/16 |
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces, comprised of a power
drive to an abrasive device, a housing for the device with an open
end towards the surface to be cleaned, an exhaust pump connected to
or external to the housing, said pump suctioning water from the
underwater surface through the housing to the exhaust point, said
water flow causing said housing to press against the surface to be
cleaned.
2. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1, in
which the said moving abrasive device is in the shape of a flat
circular disk, with an abrasive side facing the surface, and in
which the said power drive is in the form of a shaft to the
circular disk.
3. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1, in
which the said moving abrasive device is in the shape of a roller,
with axis parallel to the said surface, with an abrasive exterior
facing the said surface, and in which the said power drive is a
belt drive to the said roller.
4. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1, in
which the said housing is in the form of a bell, the open end of
the bell facing the underwater surface.
5. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1 in which
said power drive causes oscillatory action of said abrasive
device.
6. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1 in which
power to said power drive is an electric motor.
7. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1 in which
power to said power drive is an hydraulic motor.
8. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 7 in which
said hydraulic motor is driven by the water flow resulting from the
suction of water by said exhaust pump.
9. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1 in which
the said motor driving the said shaft moving the said brush also
drives the rotor of a centrifugal pump, said centrifugal pump then
acting as the said exhaust pump.
10. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim as in 1
in which the said suction water flow also removes debris to a
remote location.
11. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1 in
which the lips of the said housing are held a short distance away
from the said surface by roller wheels.
12. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1 in
which the said lips of the said housing are held away by a rubber
bumper.
13. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim as in 1
in which the said open end of said housing is surrounded by a
flexible skirt or flange which resists water flow under the housing
perimeter tips, and thereby increases the pressure of the housing
against the said surface.
14. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1 in
which the said brush can be moved perpendicularly to said surface
towards or away from said surface to allow adjustment of the
pressure of said brush against said surface.
15. A system for cleaning underwater surfaces as in claim 1, in
which lateral motion across said surface can be accomplished by
slight tipping of said housing, thereby unbalancing the flow under
the said lips, and causing the housing to have a preferred lateral
direction of motion across said surface.
Description
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
[0001] A rotating or oscillating brush is brought up against an
underwater surface to be cleaned. The surface may be the hull of a
boat or inside walls of an aquariurm While the brush moves, the
apparatus is held against the surface by suction. There is a
suction pump which pumps water from the apparatus to above ground
or elsewhere. The suction creates force of the apparatus against
the surface for good cleaning. It is ordinarily difficult to get
good force against the surface since the water may be deep and
there is nothing for the operator or the apparatus to push against.
Debris from cleaning is drawn away from the cleaning area. Wheels
or pads or a rubber skirt are used to avoid damaging the surface
from too much force. A flexible skirt minimizes water leakage past
the apparatus and allows conformation to rounded shapes such as
boat hull The motor to drive the brush may be electric, or may be
hydraulic, or may use the suction pressure as a source of energy.
The suction pump may be separate or may be driven by the same motor
driving the brush.
[0002] Further, the subject system cleans underwater objects such
as the bottoms of boats and the sides of aquariums. There is a
rotating brush, powered by a motor. Both may rotate on the same
shaft, or there may be an intervening gear box to optimize the
relative speeds of the two. The brush rotates against the surface
to be cleaned, or as an alternative is an oscillating brush.
[0003] The brush is housed within a bell shaped frame, the open end
of which faces the surface to be cleaned. Leading from the bell is
a tube which connects to an exhaust pump. The exhaust pump pulls
water from the bell and water enters the bell from near the surface
to be cleaned. The effect is for the bell to move towards the
surface. Thus the pressure of the brush on the surface, needed for
cleaning, is provided by the suction action of the exhaust
motor.
[0004] The motor driving the brush in one form is electrical and
capable of operating under water. It may be of the type used for
electric propulsion of small boats for fishing when doing what is
known as trolling. The motor uses a safe low voltage, 12 volts or
24, so there is no shock hazard.
[0005] In a convenient form, it is powered from a battery attached
to the motor. An operator using the equipment underwater controls
the motor brush and propeller speed through controls on the motor
assembly, or by communication by either wire or radio to the above
water power source. The motion of the cleaning brush may be rotary,
or may be linear, with a reciprocating motion.
[0006] To avoid excessive pressure of the apparatus against the
surface, which hinders lateral motion, there are pressure release
flaps on the sides of the bell.
[0007] An alternative configuration is to use a roller rather than
a circular brush, with an abrasive surface, resembling an upright
vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND
[0008] Underwater surfaces pick up a variety of undesired plant and
animal growths, including barnacles. These growths slow down a
boat, obscure viewing through aquarium windows, and cause water
pollution. Some harbors have stringent pollution laws which
prohibit debris from the surface of the boat hull from entering the
harbor waters.
[0009] Cleaning is most typically by mechanical scrubbing. Pressure
against the surface plus scrubbing motion is needed. Pressure
against an underwater surface is sometimes difficult because there
is no convenient floor to push against. Pushing from the dock side
is awkward and is necessarily done at the adverse end of a long
lever arm.
[0010] There have been many efforts to make easy underwater
cleaning of boats, and cleaning of aquarium walls. See reference 2.
Some have put brushes on long handles, with a bend in the handle to
adapt to boat hull curvature. Other efforts have been to use a flow
of water through a turbine or impeller to dive a rotating brush
under water. The rotating brush provides some of the necessary
scrubbing action. There is still a problem of applying adequate
pressure. In another system a jet of water squirts or jets away
from the surface, applying pressure towards the surface. One
problem with this jet system is that, as the brush is moved to
lower depths, perhaps four to ten feet down, the ambient water
pressure increases, and there is back pressure, so that the brush
rotates more slowly. The reactive jet water flow squirting pressure
is reduced, frequently rendering the system unsatisfactory. Another
way to get pressure towards the surface is to use a venturi effect
to cause suction against the surface, but this is also
unsatisfactory owing to the back pressure increasing with depth,
and with flat surfaces, not cylindrical the venturi effect is very
weak. Further, the jet action stirs the water, causing opacity of
the water, and spreading the waste products.
PRIOR ART AND PRIOR ART PATENTS
[0011] 1. Application Ser. No. 09/659,407 by Charles Walton,
(Docket ID 146) for pond and aquarium underwater surfaces
cleaning.
[0012] 2. Patent references: There were 19 patents cited with
regard to the above application, q.v. The list is attached.
[0013] 3. Application Ser. No. 110/340774 (Docket ID151 by Charles
Walton) shows a propeller system to provide pressure to bring
together the surface and the rotating or moving brush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0014] FIG. 1. Underwater cleaning system using an electric motor
to drive the brush, with a separate suction pump to draw water from
a bell shape housing surrounding the brush.
[0015] FIG. 2. Cleaning system using an electric motor to drive the
brush, and the same motor to drive a suction pump inside the unit,
and provisions for moving the brush towards or away from the
surface, and a speed change system.
[0016] FIG. 3. Cleaning system in which the flow induced by a
separate suction pump also powers the brush.
[0017] FIG. 4. Underwater Cleaning system using an abrasive roller
and a suction pump.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Refer to FIG. 1. There is a bell, or yoke, 10 with its open
end brought against the surface 12. The surface 12 carries some
unwanted material 14, such as algae, barnacles, snails, or mud. The
bell 10 also supports a bearing 16, with shaft 18 carrying brush
20. The other end of shaft 18 is driven by motor 22. On brush 20
are multiple scrubbing bristles 24. The bell 10 is held a short
distance away from surface 12 by multiple wheels 26, mounted on the
lips 28 of bell 10. In lieu of wheels 26 the bell lips 28 may carry
a non scratching protection, such as a rubber lip. The lip 28 also
supports a skirt 32 or flange. Skirt 32 constrains the flow of
water,described later, between the bell 10 and surface 12 and
maximizes the suction effect, to be described later.
[0019] There is an external suction pump 38, which may be above or
below the water level. When suction pump 38 is operating, water
flows as follows. Water enters under the flexible skirt 32. It next
flows under the bell tips 28, and through holes in brush 20, and
around the outside of brush 20. Water flows through holes 34 in the
bell 10 and tube 36. Tube 36 in turn is connected to the suction
pump 38. When pump 38 operates the flow is as described and water
is drawn from the bell and is exited to another location from
nozzle 40, along with the debris 14 scrubbed free by brush 20.
[0020] Refer next to FIG. 2. In this figure new members are
introduced, namely a local (bell mounted) suction impeller 82, a
gear box speed changer 78, and an axial slip drive allowing axial
brush motion while still delivering rotating power to the brush The
primary elements of FIG. 1 are repeated, namely the brush 20,
bristles 24, tips 28, skirt 32, and motor 22. The bell 50 carries
more members than bell 10. There is a fluid permeable plate 52
which supports shaft 18 with bearing 54. Bearing 54 supports the
brush, and has the additional capability of allowing axial travel
of the brush The purpose of axial travel is given later.
[0021] Shaft 18 is driven rotationally from a power coupling unit
formed of housing 56 and follower 58. Housing 56 is driven by shaft
60, to be discussed later. Housing 56 drives the rotation of
follower 58 in the following manner. There are matching slots in
both housing 56 and follower 58. Riding in the matching slots there
are rectangular strips, known as splines, between the housing 56
and follower 58. The spline mechanism is known in the art and the
splines are not shown. The result is one to one coupling in
rotation, yet follower 58 can move axially while this rotation
occurs. Follower 58, shaft 18, brush 20, all move together axially,
while being driven rotationally by housing 56 and shaft 60.
[0022] To move the brush 20 and follower 58 axially, there is a
dual washer plate element 62, attached rigidly to shaft 18. A
control bar 64 fits between the washer plates. The bar 64 applies
pressure to element 62 to move it axially, while still allowing
shaft 18 to rotate. Thus the pressure of brush 20 against surface
12 is controlled. Spring 66, which has provisions for adjustable
tension not shown, also applies force to bar 64, to control the
brush pressure. Bar 64 pivots on point 68 so that pressure by an
operator on the remote end of bar 64 will also control pressure of
the brush 20 against surface 12.
[0023] Axial travel of the brush allows adjustment of the pressure
of the brush against the surface 12. This adjustment is important
in several ways. The pressure need will vary according to the
stubbornness of film 14, and according to wear of the bristles 24,
and the degree of flex of the skirt 32. Further, if the operator
wishes to break the pressure of the brush against the surface,
added axial extension lifts the skirt 32 higher and the pressure
towards the surface is brought to practically zero.
[0024] Brush pressure adjustment is convenient for situations where
the apparatus is be moved from one working area to another. The
operator applies sufficient brush pressure to lift the bell, fully
releasing the suction, making movement easy. Further, when the
apparatus is pointed in the direction of motion, the suction effect
make propulsion to a new area more easy. Changes in brush pressure
are also helpful and needed when dealing with curving portions of a
boat hull.
[0025] On the other end of shaft 60 is a second support bearing 72.
Bearing 72 is carried by a water permeable structure 74. Water
passes freely through 74 via multiple holes 76. Shaft 60 is also
the output shaft of speed changer 78. Speed changer 78 is most
typically of the form of a double gear pass, examples of which are
found in swimming pool cleaners to drive the wheels, and is
depicted in more detail in reference 1 of this application.
[0026] The input shaft of the speed changer 78 is drive shaft 80.
Shaft 80 is driven by and supported by the output of impeller 82.
Impeller 82 is the rotating part of a water pump formed of impeller
82, housing 50, and exit point 84. The input end of impeller 82 is
supported by shaft 80 extending into bearing 86. The further
extension of shaft 80 is into drive motor 22. Drive motor 22
rotates impeller 82 which then pumps water from bell 50 to output
pipe 88 and to the exhaust motor 90.
[0027] Water is thus drawn from the underwater surface 12 into the
bell 50 at its open end, passing lips 28, and exits via exhaust
pump 90 from exhaust point 92. Water is moved in this direction
from one or both pump 90 and the pump formed of motor 22 and
impeller 82.
[0028] The RPM of the pump formed of motor 22 and impeller 82 is
relatively high for good pumping action, whereas scrubbing action
typically needs less speed but more torque, hence the speed changer
78 optimizes both speeds and torque. An alternative to speed
changer 78 is to use a separate motor for pumping and for
brushing.
[0029] For the below water electric motor, power cables, not shown,
are brought from above water and are attached to the exhaust hose,
forming an umbilicus to the apparatus.
[0030] Refer next to FIG. 3. This configuration has the advantage
of not requiring an underwater electric motor. The primary elements
of FIG. 1 repeat, namely the brush 20, tips 28, skirt 32, and the
same general flow of water from skirts 32 to exhaust 92.
[0031] There is the same flow of water into the bell 100 from the
surface 12. The source of rotary power is different. There is a
rotor 106 bearing panels or vanes similar to the vanes on a water
wheel or water turbine. The rotor is supported by bearings 54 and
108 on shaft 18. The water passes through brush 20 as in the
previous figures. As the water exits from brush 20 it is
constrained by surface 101 to flow through guide pipes 102 and 104
to nozzles 110 and 112. Nozzles 110 and 112 drive vaned rotor 106,
in the manner of a water turbine. Vaned rotor 106 drives the brush
20 for the desired cleaning action. From rotor 106 the water exits
via pipes 114 and 116 to exit pipe 88 and exhaust pump 90 and
exhaust nozzle 92.
[0032] The brush 20 in FIG. 3 has added vanes, giving it both a
propeller type action and rotary pump action, both increasing the
water flow from the surface 12 and increasing debris 14 flow
through the brush 20 to the exhaust 92, and also increasing the
suction pressure upon the surface 12.
[0033] The rotary motion of the brush 20 gives rotary direction to
the water flow. To cooperate with this rotary action, the flow
elements 102 and 104, in cooperation with nozzles 110 and 112, are
tilted in the direction of the rotary action of the brush 20 and
rotor 106. With the tilt the water impinges upon the vaned rotor
106 with increased velocity, with consequent performance
improvement.
[0034] Nozzle 110 is oriented to drive the turbine blades on
turbine 106 toward the viewer, indicated by a circle with a dot
inside, representing the front end of an arrow. Nozzle 112 is
oriented to drive the turbine blades away from the viewer,
indicated by a circle with a cross inside, representing the rear
end of an arrow.
[0035] Shaft 18 has freedom to move axially through bearings 54 and
108, so that the proximity of brush 20 to surface 12 can be
adjusted axially, and the pressure of the brush against surface 12
can be adjusted, typically by applying pressure to the external end
of shaft 18. Shaft 18 is moved axially in the manner shown in FIG.
2. This dual washer structure is not repeated in FIG. 3. Under
certain conditions and proportions of brush area, horse power,
impeller size, orifice size, and viscosity, the optimum RPM of the
brush is not the same as the optimum RPM of the pumps or impellers.
In such a case, the remedy is a speed changing gear box between the
impeller and brush
[0036] Refer next to FIG. 4. In this system the rotary brush 20 is
replaced by a roller brush 124, in the form of a cylinder bearing
bristles or similar abrasive surface. The power drive is a motor
122 using a power transfer belt 126. The housing 120 is rectangular
in shape and is modified from bell shaped housings 10, 50, and 100
to accept this roller configuration. Certain hull shapes are more
easily cleaned with this linear configuration.
[0037] Variations
[0038] 1. To accomplish brush to surface pressure adjustment, an
alternative way is to mount the motor and shaft on bearings which
slide axially, carrying the brush, towards or away from the
surface.
[0039] 2. A second way to adjust brush pressure against the
surface, not shown, is to raise and lower the skirts or flange
around the bell adjacent to the surface to be cleaned. A third way,
not shown, is to raise and lower the wheels which position the bell
height over the surface to be cleaned.
[0040] 3. An alternative way to drive the brush while allowing
axial motion is that, rather than a splined shaft, the last drive
gear and its pinion, are made overly thick in the axial direction,
so that torque is transmitted, even as the brush shaft moves
axially. Axial movement allows achievement of various applications
of surface pressure.
[0041] 4. Not shown are mechanical provisions for driving an
oscillating brush rather than a rotary brush. For back and forth
oscillation, mechanical cranks or an offset cam will provide
oscillating action, or other devices known to mechanical engineers
skilled in the art. The oscillation action is preferred by some
boat owners because residual cleaning streaks are all oriented in
the direction of motion of the boat, and thus offer a slightly
reduced drag over the surface.
[0042] 5. Lateral motion of the entire apparatus, while cleaning a
surface, can be accomplished by the operator tilting the bell, away
from the desired direction of lateral motion. The tilt of the bell
will cause the edge of the bell facing in the desired direction to
lift, and there is then greater input flow from the lifted side
than the low other side, and there will consequently be greater
pull in the direction which has been lifted. Alternatively, lateral
or sideways motion is accomplished by selectively opening valves in
the sides of the bell, opening a valve in the side towards which
motion is desired. The sideways suction aids sideways motion.
[0043] 6. To adapt to curved boat hulls, the bell may be made into
more than one solid piece. There will be multiple flaps on the side
of the bell which can pull back from projection or curves, and
return to normal when the underwater surface being cleaned is more
regular. The bottom part of the bell is made of rubber, to conform
to hull shapes.
[0044] 7. The brush may be driven through a flexible shaft from a
remote location. The motor may be powered by air, or powered by
hydraulics.
[0045] 8. Under certain combinations of surface quality, brush
pressure, and water pressure, the pressure or suction toward the
surface can become excessive, making lateral movement difficult.
The unit will seem to bond to the surface. The remedies for this
difficulty are several, one of which is to have release valves in
the side of the bell. The internal suction is reduced when the
relief valves are open. The opening of the valves is under manual
control, or is spring operated, or other automatic control, related
to pressure and lateral mobility. For example, if lateral motion is
detected to be stiff, then by excess pressure required on the
handle, the side valves will automatically open, or the bottom
wheels will lift the assembly.
[0046] 9. The skirt may be larger than shown, and the bottom
(surface 12 side) part of the bell may be highly flexible and
extend upward (axial direction) to a large percentage of the bell
sides. The bell will then more flexibly adapt to various boat hull
shapes.
[0047] 10. The skirt may be formed of a large number of rubber
fingers, also adaptable to boat bottom shapes, and passing water
with some resistance to the bell.
[0048] 11. The system can be configured in the manner of the
classic upright vacuum cleaner, as described in FIG. 4. The brush
scrubbing element is a roller, rather than a flat circular brush
surface. The debris is collected while scrubbing and sent upwards
to a large bag, which filters out the debris and exhausts the
water. The scrub marks of such a system are parallel, rather than
circular, and will aid the speed of a boat.
* * * * *