U.S. patent application number 13/717621 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-19 for pool cleaning vehicle with rotating and stationary scrubbing elements.
The applicant listed for this patent is Wing-Kin HUI. Invention is credited to Wing-Kin HUI.
Application Number | 20140165307 13/717621 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49886631 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140165307 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUI; Wing-Kin |
June 19, 2014 |
POOL CLEANING VEHICLE WITH ROTATING AND STATIONARY SCRUBBING
ELEMENTS
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a submersible pool cleaning vehicle (PCV)
having both cleaning and scrubbing structures. The PCV includes
spaced wheels and several sets of scrubbing members. Each of the
scrubbing members includes a plurality of scrubbing elements. The
PCV also includes a cleaning brush for dislodging particulates. In
one exemplary embodiment, the PCV includes a fixed scrubbing member
and two rotating scrubbing members. The rotating scrubbing member
act cooperatively and create a current after dislodging
particulates and dirt from the pool surface. The rotating scrubbing
members direct the current carrying such dislodged material toward
the intakes of the PCV so that it can be permanently removed from
the pool water.
Inventors: |
HUI; Wing-Kin; (Hong Kong,
HK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HUI; Wing-Kin |
Hong Kong |
|
HK |
|
|
Family ID: |
49886631 |
Appl. No.: |
13/717621 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/1.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 4/1654
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/1.7 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/16 20060101
E04H004/16 |
Claims
1. An automated fully submersible pool cleaning vehicle (PCV) for
sanitizing water in a swimming pool, the PCV, comprising: a housing
having a bottom and an exterior and an interior and including at
least one intake member and a vacuum member for drawing water into
the housing through the intakes, the housing including a filter
member for filtering water drawn into the housing through the
intakes and an outlet for expelling the filtered water back into
the pool; a chassis attached to the housing and being generally
within the interior; drive means attached to the chassis for
propelling the PCV throughout the surface of the pool, the drive
means including spaced apart wheels for receiving power from the
drive means; a cleaning member attached to the housing; a first set
of scrubbing members extending from the bottom and the scrubbing
members being proximate to the intake member; whereby, as the PCV
moves around the pool surface the scrubbing members contact the
surface of the pool and dislodge dirt and debris and whereby the
vacuum member absorbs the dislodged dirt and debris to facilitate
sanitizing the pool water.
2. The PCV as set forth in claim 1, wherein the PCV includes a
second scrubbing member and at least a second intake member, the
second scrubbing member is located proximate to the second intake
member.
3. The PCV as set forth in claim 2, wherein the PCV includes a
second scrubbing member and at least a second intake member, the
second scrubbing member is located proximate to the second intake
member.
4. The PCV as set forth in claim 3, wherein the second scrubber
member is attached to the bottom of the housing and extends from
the housing in a predetermined direction and the second scrubber
member includes rotating bristles, the rotating bristles have a
direction of rotation generally perpendicular to the direction from
which the second scrubber member extends from the bottom of the
housing.
5. The PCV as set forth in claim 4, wherein the PCV includes a
third scrubbing member, identical to the second scrubbing member
and at least a third intake member, the third scrubbing member is
located proximate to the third intake member; and the second and
third members being spaced apart.
6. The PCV as set forth in claim 1, wherein the scrubbing member
includes a plurality of scrubbing elements.
7. The PCV as set forth in claim 1, wherein the scrubbing elements
define a plurality of bristles and the bristles taken together
define a scrubbing element having frusta-conical shape.
8. The PCV as set forth in claim 5, wherein the scrubbing member
includes a plurality of scrubbing elements.
9. The PCV as set forth in claim 8, wherein the scrubbing elements
define a plurality of bristles and the bristles taken together
define a scrubbing element having frusta-conical shape.
10. The PCV as set forth in claim 6 or 8, wherein the scrubbing
elements are made from a material specifically designed for
scrubbing pool surfaces.
11. The PCV as set forth in claim 1, wherein the scrubbing member
is easily detached from re-attachable to the housing.
12. The PCV as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cleaning member
defines a rotating brush connected to the bottom of the housing
adjacent the intakes.
13. The PCV as set forth in claim 10, wherein the brush is easily
detached from the wheels and easily re-attached to the housing.
14. An automated fully submersible pool cleaning vehicle (PCV) for
sanitizing water in a swimming pool, the PCV, comprising: a housing
having a bottom and an exterior and an interior and including at
least one intake member and a vacuum member for drawing water into
the housing through the intakes, the housing including a filter
member for filtering water drawn into the housing through the
intakes and an outlet for expelling the filtered water back into
the pool; a chassis attached to the housing and being generally
within the interior; drive means attached to the chassis for
propelling the PCV throughout the surface of the pool, the drive
means including spaced apart wheels for receiving power from the
drive means; a cleaning member attached to the housing; a first set
of scrubbing members extending from the bottom and the scrubbing
members being proximate to the intake member, the scrubbing members
being stationary; whereby, as the PCV moves around the pool surface
the scrubbing members contact the surface of the pool and dislodge
dirt and debris and whereby the vacuum member absorbs the dislodged
dirt and debris to facilitate sanitizing the pool water.
15. The PCV as set forth in claim 14, wherein the PCV includes a
second scrubbing member mounted on the bottom of the housing, the
second scrubbing member rotates and directs water flow toward the
intakes.
16. The PCV as set forth in claim 15, wherein the PCV includes a
third scrubbing member mounted on the bottom of the housing, spaced
apart from the second scrubbing member, the third scrubbing member
rotates and directs water flow toward the intakes.
17. The PCV as set forth in claim 16, wherein the second and the
third scrubbing members rotate cooperatively, creating a current
flow which directs water toward the intakes.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to application Ser. Nos.
13/531,594 and 12/939,079, filed by co-inventor, Wing-kin HUI, for
POOL CLEANING VEHICLE HAVING SIDE VENTS AND DUCTS POOL CLEANING
VEHICLE WITH ENDLESS LOOP TRACK, respectively and filed on Nov. 17
& 18, 2008, also respectively. These applications are
specifically incorporated herein and are to be used for all
purposes consistent with incorporation by reference.
[0002] This application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 8,225,446
B2 POOL CLEANING VEHICLE HAVING SIDE VENTS AND DUCTS and issued on
Jul. 24, 2012 is specifically incorporated herein and are to be
used for all purposes consistent with incorporation by
reference.
[0003] And, finally, this application is related to co-filed
application Ser. No. ______, Attorney Docket No. JHUI1980.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention generally relates to the field of automated
pool products. Particularly, this invention relates to an automated
swimming pool cleaning vehicle (PCV) for facilitating thorough
cleaning of the pool water and pool surfaces. More particularly,
this invention relates to devices and cleaning structure used in
cooperation with a PCV having a set of spaced apart wheels and
providing structure for cleaning and scrubbing the pool
surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is well accepted that submersible automated pool cleaning
devices, such as self-propelled pool cleaning vehicles (PCNs) are
essential to the proper maintenance of a pool, whether the pool be
above or below ground. The typical vehicle includes a housing and
drive members. The drive members attach to the housing usually
through connection to a chassis. Drive members include wheels,
endless loop tracks and combinations of each. Additionally,
vehicles have included two and four wheel drive vehicles in various
combinations and variations. In the case of a belt or endless loop
track. The track wraps around the drive and/or idler wheels or
rollers.
[0006] It will be appreciated that a vehicle may also have some
combination of wheels and/or rollers and the vehicle may also be a
two or four-wheel drive vehicle. The endless loop track may be
fitted over any combination of two or four wheel drive vehicles.
Such tracks have been found to be an effective means for moving the
vehicle around the surface of the pool while the vehicle is
submerged.
[0007] Of course, the primary purpose for all PCV's is to clean the
pool and pool water. In order to properly maintain clean pool
water, the water itself as well as the pool surfaces must be
cleaned and kept clean. It is imperative to keep the pool surfaces
free from the buildup of dirt and debris. Once dirt and/or debris
is allowed to settle in on the pool surface, algae forms. A large
enough build-up of such algae can cause the pool pH to become
unbalanced and the pool water unstable, in terms of
cleanliness.
[0008] Sometimes drastic efforts caused by "dirty" water result in
the entire contents of the pool being drained and starting again.
As can be appreciated this is an expensive and time consuming
process. Additionally, without thorough cleaning and maintain, the
situation will simply be repeated. There is no guarantee, without
proper maintenance methods, that the water will not simply revert
to the same "dirty" condition.
[0009] Of special concern in this regard, is the fact that embedded
particles can be particular concern. As noted by others, these
embedded particulates can cause fatal consequences in term of
"dirty water" requiring the emptying of the pool for dry cleaning.
Clearly, a condition that is primary to avoid.
[0010] Clearly, there is a strong industry-wide need to prevent the
buildup of particulates in the pool water. There is even a stronger
need to prevent the embedding of such particulates in the surface
of the pool. Cleaning each and every square millimeter of the
pool's surface is simply not a practical solution. Therefore,
Applicant has developed a structure for using the automated pool
cleaning vehicle to remove even embedded particulates in the
surface of the pool. Additionally, the cleaning structure, in
accordance with the invention, facilitates the PCV to thoroughly
clean the dirt and debris thus dislodged from the pool's surface.
This not only serves the short term goal of keeping the water clean
and free from dirt and debris, but also is helpful in accomplishing
the long term goal of preventing the buildup of such particulates
on and in the surface of the pool.
[0011] What is needed is cleaning structure for a submersible
automated pool cleaning vehicle (PCV), which is adapted to clean
the pool surface by dislodging dirt and debris from the surface of
the pool and further to dislodge even embedded dirt and debris from
the surface of the pool using the automated motion of the PCV.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The sanitizing structure for a Pool Cleaning Vehicles (PCV),
in accordance with the present invention, is limited to such a PCV
having spaced-apart free-spinning and drive wheels and not drive
tracks, which was the subject of an earlier patent specification by
the one of the inventors herein. The sanitizing structure herein is
a combination of the cleaning member on the PCV chassis, the
suction created by the PCV for absorbing dirt and debris through
the PCV intakes and the scrubbing members associated with the
wheels. The scrubbing members include elements extending from the
wheels. In an exemplary embodiment, the elements defining a
plurality of bristles, which, taken together form a frustoconical
shape. The scrubbing members extend from the bottom of the housing
and toward the pool surface over which the PCV travels.
[0013] The cleaning member is a rotating brush attached to the
bottom of the PCV housing and includes bristles for dislodging dirt
and debris as the PCV movers along the pool surface. As the PCV
with the sanitizing structure, in accordance with the invention,
moves about the pool surface, the wheels with the scrubbing
elements and the bristles on the housing dislodge dirt and debris.
Thus, the dirt and debris dislodged by the cleaning and scrubbing
members are then sucked up by the PCV through housing intakes,
cleaning and sanitizing the pool water.
[0014] It is an object of this invention is to provide a PCV with
structure suitable for sanitizing swimming pool water.
[0015] It is an additional object of this invention to provide such
sanitizing structure, which is attachable to a PCV and thereby uses
automated means to dislodge dirt and debris from the pool
surface.
[0016] It is an additional object of this invention to provide such
sanitizing structure, which is attachable to a PCV and thereby uses
automated means to dislodge dirt and debris embedded in the pool
surface.
[0017] In accordance with the objects set forth above and those
that will be described hereinafter, the PCV in accordance with this
invention includes spaced apart drive wheels and sanitizing
structure being attachable to the chassis and the housing,
comprises: [0018] a housing having a bottom and an exterior and an
interior and including at least one intake member and a vacuum
member for drawing water into the housing through the intakes, the
housing including a filter member for filtering water drawn into
the housing through the intakes and an outlet for expelling the
filtered water back into the pool; [0019] a chassis attached to the
housing and being generally within the interior; [0020] drive means
attached to the chassis for propelling the PCV throughout the
surface of the pool, the drive means including spaced apart wheels
for receiving power from the drive means; [0021] a cleaning member
attached to the housing; [0022] a first set of scrubbing members
extending from the bottom and the scrubbing members being proximate
to the intake member; [0023] whereby, as the PCV moves around the
pool surface the scrubbing members contact the surface of the pool
and dislodge dirt and debris and whereby the vacuum member absorbs
the dislodged dirt and debris to facilitate sanitizing the pool
water.
[0024] In another exemplary embodiment, the PCV, in accordance with
this invention, the wheels have scrubbing elements and include
wheel covers, covering at least a substantial portion of the wheels
and the scrubbing elements are embedded in the wheel covers.
[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the PCV includes a second
scrubbing member and at least a second intake member, the second
scrubbing member is located proximate to the second intake
member.
[0026] In another exemplary embodiment, the second scrubber member
is attached to the bottom of the housing and extends from the
housing in a predetermined direction and the second scrubber member
includes rotating bristles, the rotating bristles have a direction
of rotation generally perpendicular to the direction from which the
second scrubber member extends from the bottom of the housing.
[0027] In another exemplary embodiment, the wheel covers include a
scrubbing element insert made from a material specifically designed
for scrubbing pool surfaces.
[0028] In another exemplary embodiment, the PCV includes a third
scrubbing member, identical to the second scrubbing member and at
least a third intake member, the third scrubbing member is located
proximate to the third intake member. The second and third members
are spaced apart from each other on bottom of the housing.
[0029] It is an advantage of the instant invention to provide a
sanitizing PCV, which cleans and sanitizes pool water in an
automated fashion by dislodging particulates from the surface of
the pool.
[0030] It is also an advantage of the invention to provide
detachable sanitizing elements to a pool cleaning vehicle, which
can be replaced upon becoming worn.
[0031] It is an additional advantage of the PCV in accordance with
this invention to be able to remove long standing stains found in
certain pool surfaces without having to resort to manual brushes
and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0032] For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of
the present invention, reference should be had to the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numerals and
wherein:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pool cleaning vehicle
having the sanitizing structure in accordance with this
invention.
[0034] FIG. 2 is bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment
of the PCV in accordance with this invention illustrating the
embodiment having three scrubber members.
[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates the proximity of the first scrubber
member to the housing intake.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a bottom partial perspective view of the PCV
illustrating the flow of dirt and particulates through the housing
intakes.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the PCV in accordance with
this invention illustrating the flow of dirt and particulates
through the housing intakes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] With respect to FIG. 1 there is shown an exemplary
embodiment of the submersible pool cleaning vehicle (PCV) having
the cleaning structure in accordance with this invention generally
denoted by the numeral 20.
[0039] The PCV 20 includes a housing 22 having an exterior 24 and
interior (not shown). Within the interior of the housing is a motor
for creating a vacuum effect. The housing includes conduit
terminating at intakes for drawing water into a filter system and
an outlet (not shown) for expelling filtered water back into the
pool. Such features are well known and are described in the art.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,867,389 B2 and U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/100,414 show further details of the above functions, the
entire specifications of which are specifically incorporated herein
for all purposes.
[0040] The PCV 20 includes a chassis (not shown) generally within
the interior of the housing 22. The PCV 20 includes an electrical
motor (not shown) which powers drive wheels 30. The PCV 20 includes
additional free-spinning wheel 32. The free-spinning wheel 32 is
also mounted on the chassis.
[0041] The wheels, whether drive wheels 30 or free spinning wheel
32 are spaced apart from one another and in any case, do not form
an endless loop. This is in contrast to earlier described
inventions in this art where the PCV included a drive track
(endless loop) instead of spaced apart wheels. For example, such
inventive aspects of cleaning a pool surface under water are
described in a related application, namely U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/939,079, the entire specification of which is specifically
incorporated herein for all purposes. When the drive motor is
activated, the PCV is propelled by supplying rotational power to
the drive wheels 30.
[0042] The PCV also includes a cleaning member 40. The cleaning
member 40 is mounted on an axle between drive wheels 30 as shown
clearly in FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the drive
wheels 30 are positioned at the rear of the PCV and a brush roller
42 defining a cleaning member 40 is positioned between the drive
wheels. Under power, the drive wheels 30 turn the roller 42 with
sufficient torque to cause the brush roller 42 to dislodge
particulates and dirt and debris. The brush roller 42 can be easily
removed and replaced as needed.
[0043] A series of intakes 50 are located in close proximity to the
roller 42 for sucking up such loosened matter. Again, this is well
understood in the art and the references specifically incorporated
above and below provide sufficient basis for understanding these
principles.
[0044] The PCV 20, in accordance with this invention, includes a
first scrubbing member 60, which comprises two sets of scrubbers as
shown. Each set of scrubbers are located proximate the brush roller
42 and the intakes 50.
[0045] The PCV includes a second and third scrubbing member, 62 and
64, respectively. Each of these scrubbing members is mounted on a
housing support 66, as best seen in FIGS. 2 & 4. Scrubber
member 62 and 64 include a plurality of scrubbing elements 68. The
scrubbing elements 68 are attached to a rotating platform 70 as
best seen in FIG. 5. The platform 70 is mounted on the housing
support 66.
[0046] The PCV 20 also includes a free-spinning wheel 32 positioned
between scrubbing members 62 and 64. Additionally, the PCV 20 has
another intake 74, located in the bottom of the housing 22 and
proximate the free-spinning wheel 32, and the scrubbing members 62
and 64.
[0047] With particular reference to FIGS. 2 & 3, there is shown
a bottom illustration of the PCV 20 with the PCV 20 in the upside
down position. In this view, the cleaning member 40 is clearly seen
between the two drive wheels 30.
[0048] The cleaning member 40 in the preferred embodiment in
accordance with the invention is a rotating brush, brush roller 42,
attached to an axle (not shown) between the drive wheels 30. As the
drive wheels 30 move PCV 20 along the pool surface, they rotate the
brush roller 42 so that it dislodges dirt and debris. The brush
roller 42 defines a series of peaks and valleys. The brush roller
42 is made from material that is specifically designed for
dislodging such particulates. Additionally, the brush roller 42 is
made from an engineering plastic that is both flexible and durable
for accomplishing this function.
[0049] The scrubbing members 62 and 64 each include a plurality of
scrubbing elements 68. The elements 68 are composed of a series of
individual bristles 80. The individual bristles 80 are grouped
together and define a particular shaper namely a frustoconical
shape. This shape has been found to maximize the amount of dirt and
stain that can be removed by the rotating scrubbing member 62 and
64.
[0050] The drive wheels 30 include scrubbing elements 82 mounted
over the drive wheels 30. The scrubbing elements 82 define tracks
having a pattern of ridges and valleys. As with the cleaning member
40, the pattern of the scrubbing elements 82 is formed to maximize
the amount of dirt and stain that is removed from the pool surface
contacted by the PCV 20. Likewise, the scrubbing elements 82 are
made from material suitable to perform the functions herein
described.
[0051] With respect to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated the flow
of the water after dirt and debris have been dislodged by the
scrubbing members 62 and 64. As seen, the rotating action of the
scrubbing member 62 and 64 in the direction of arrows 90 and 92
causes a current to be created. The current created flows,
generally, in the direction of arrows 94. As illustrated, the
direction of flow takes the dislodged dirt and debris into the path
of the intakes 50. A vacuum motor (not shown) is activated within
the housing 22 and a vacuum is created at the intakes. The
dislodged dirt and debris is sucked up through the intakes 50 and
removed from the pool surface and the pool water. In this manner
the pool is not merely cleaned but sanitized.
[0052] In an exemplary embodiment, the scrubbing members are made
from elastomer. The degree of hardness of the elastomer depends
upon the pool surface. On some pool surfaces a harder degree of
elastomer is more desirable than on others. By providing a variety
of different scrubbing elements, which are easily changeable, the
user can customize the PCV for his own particular pool surface.
[0053] Likewise, the scrubbing elements 36 are similarly
customizable. For example, a wheel cover 34 may have one type of
hardness and the scrubbing element can be imbedded with a specific
material that would be best suited for that surface. In this way, a
variety of wheel covers and scrubbing elements can be offered to
the user to best suit the needs of a particular pool surface.
[0054] The tread on the drive wheels 30 is made from an elastomer.
In the exemplary embodiment, the tread on the drive wheels is made
from various compounds, both natural and synthetic to satisfy the
requirements of moving the PCV and cleaning the underwater pool
surface.
[0055] The scrubbing elements in an exemplary embodiment have a
circular cross section. The surface is made from a material
designed to dislodge dirt and remove stain from a pool surface as
the PCV collides with the surface during normal operation. For
example, the material for the surface is normally hard, for example
an engineering plastic. In an exemplary embodiment, the scrubbing
elements includes an inner core which is sponge-like and flexible
in nature. Additionally, the surface of the scrubbing elements are
designed to have a rough, but non-abrasive surface is suitable for
dislodging dirt, debris and removing stains from the pool
surface.
[0056] While the foregoing detailed description has described
several embodiments of the cleaning structure in accordance with
this invention, it is to be understood that the above description
is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention.
Particularly, there are varieties of different combinations of
scrubbing members and elements, fixed and rotational that are not
disclosed specifically herein, but fall clearly within the spirit
and scope of the invention herein. Each such combination, although
not specifically recited and described above is within the spirit
and scope of this invention. It also will be appreciated that PCV
in accordance with the invention herein includes a drive structure
which is propelled by water flowing through output jets located on
the housing. In this embodiment, no motor is required to propel the
PCV. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the claims as set
forth below.
* * * * *