U.S. patent number 3,753,265 [Application Number 05/179,515] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-21 for translatable suction cleaning vehicle.
Invention is credited to Stanley S. Wulc.
United States Patent |
3,753,265 |
Wulc |
August 21, 1973 |
TRANSLATABLE SUCTION CLEANING VEHICLE
Abstract
An improved translatable suction cleaning vehicle which is
adapted to moveably interface with a bottom surface of a pool and
remove extraneous particulates therefrom. The improved cleaner
incorporates suction inlet mechanisms, driving and sensing means
for cooperation with logic and control mechanisms within a control
box located external to and substantially displaced from the main
body of the cleaner vehicle. An improvement to the cleaning vehicle
provides for a plurality of mercury switches to act as the sensing
means. When an obstacle is struck, the mercury switches are
inclined and actuate the remotely positioned logic and control
mechanisms. A further improvement to the vehicle provides for a
driving mechanism which is manually controlled by an operator
wherein the appropriate logic circuitry is removed from the logic
and control mechanism.
Inventors: |
Wulc; Stanley S. (Rydal,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
26822427 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/179,515 |
Filed: |
September 10, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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124318 |
Mar 15, 1971 |
3676885 |
Jul 18, 1972 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/1.7;
15/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H
4/1654 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04H
4/16 (20060101); E04H 4/00 (20060101); E04h
003/20 (); A47l 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/1.7,319 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Roberts; Edward L.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
1. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 124,318, filed March 15, 1971, now U.S. Pat.
No. 3,676,885, granted July 18, 1972.
2. This application incorporates by reference U.S. Pat. application
Ser. No. 28,453 filed Apr. 14, 1970 now U.S. Pat. 3,676,884,
granted July 18, 1972.
3. This application incorporates by reference U.S. Pat. application
Ser. No. 124,318 filed March 15, 1971 now U.S. Pat. 3,676,885,
granted July 18, 1972.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A translatable suction cleaning vehicle adapted to movably
interface with a bottom surface of a tank, comprising:
a. a base having an openable cover forming a vehicle chamber
therebetween, said base having a suction opening passing
therethrough;
b. a plurality of obstacle contact sensing means movably secured to
said base, said plurality of obstacle contact sensing means passing
an electrical signal to said logic and control means when said
sensing means is predeterminedly inclined to a vertical axis
passing normal said bottom surface of said tank;
c. a plurality of independent drive means secured to said base;
d. liquid intake means being removable from said suction cleaning
vehicle, said liquid intake means positionally located within said
base cover forming a continuous particle path from said suction
opening to an outlet in said base cover; and,
e. logic and control means for controlling translation of said
cleaning vehicle in response to signals from said contact sensing
means.
2. The suction cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said
obstacle sensing means includes:
a. a pair of electrodes being positive and negative respectively,
said electrodes electrically connected to said logic and control
means; and,
b. an electrically conducting medium for forming an electrically
conducting path between said positive and negative electrodes when
said obstacle sensing means is inclined at a predetermined angle to
said vertical axis.
3. The suction cleaning vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said
obstacle contact sensing means comprises a plurality of mercury
switches, said mercury switches being inclinable when contacting
obstacles in said tank.
4. The suction vehicle as recited in claim 3 wherein said mercury
switches are operationally conductive between the inclinable
vertical angles of 5.degree. and 45.degree. with respect to said
vertical axis passing normal said bottom surface of said tank.
5. The suction vehicle as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said
mercury switches includes a weighted member rigidly secured to a
bottom portion of each of said switches, said weighted members for
maintaining said switches in a predetermined position during said
vehicle translation before contacting a next obstacle.
6. The suction vehicle as recited in claim 5 wherein said weighted
members are spheroid in shape, said weighted members extending in a
forward direction with respect to said vehicle movement direction
for providing an impact bumper for said mercury switches.
7. The suction vehicle as recited in claim 6 wherein said mercury
switches are flexibly mounted to said base and base cover for
providing freedom of movement of said mercury switches.
8. The suction vehicle as recited in claim 7 wherein said flexible
mounting is a pendulum suspension of said mercury switches with
respect said base and base cover.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of translatable suction
cleaning vehicles. In particular this invention pertains to the
field of moveable suction cleaners to clean the interior surfaces
of pools or tanks. More in particular, this invention relates to
the field of suction cleaners having remotely positioned logic and
control mechanisms to redirect the motion of the vehicle after a
pool or tank obstacle has been encountered.
2. Prior Art
Suction cleaning vehicles used to clean interior surfaces of tanks
or pools are known in the art. It is also known in the art to
provide devices adapted to be moved along surfaces in a
pre-programmed manner and to turn away from the boundaries of an
obstacle. However, such prior art demands the use of high voltage
levels below the liquid surface in the pool thereby increasing the
hazard of electrical discharge. In addition, such prior art does
not provide for the logic and control mechanisms to be remotely
located with respect to the vehicle thereby forcing the logic and
control mechanisms to be enclosed in a hermetically sealed
container. Such prior art which incorporates the logic and control
mechanisms within the vehicle causes the cleaning vehicle to be
heavier and less transportable. Some of the other prior art
requires relatively heavy and otherwise cumbersome gear mechanisms
as well as other mechanical elements to provide an adequate turning
motion.
Additionally, none of the prior art found in this field has
incorporated mercury inclination switches to sense obstacles in the
pool or tank. Other prior art devices in this field utilizing
control mechanisms for operation are bigger, more expensive, and
control with less accuracy than the subject invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A translatable suction cleaning vehicle which is adapted to
moveably interface with a bottom surface of a tank. The cleaning
vehicle includes a base having an openable cover forming a vehicle
chamber. The base has a suction opening passing therethrough. A
plurality of obstacle contact sensing mechanisms are movably
secured to the base. Independent drive mechanisms mounted on the
base serve to drive the vehicle. Liquid intake mechanisms are
removably mounted to the base and are positionally located within
the base cover forming a continuous particle path from the suction
opening to an outlet in the base cover. Logic and control
mechanisms for controlling the translation of the cleaning vehicle
in response to signals from the contact sensing mechanisms are
remotely positioned with respect to the vehicle chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the translatable suction cleaning vehicle
with the outside covering partially fragmented;
FIG. 2 is an elevation cross-sectional view of the vehicle taken
along the section line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view partially fragmented of an obstacle
sensing mechanism;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the obstacle sensing mechanism
taken along the section line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an elevational cross-section partially fragmented of the
vehicle incorporating the obstacle sensing mechanism of FIG. 3;
and,
FIG. 6 is an elevational cross-section of the vehicle showing a
manual driving mechanism remotely positioned with respect to the
vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown translatable suction
cleaning vehicle 10 which is adapted to moveably interface with a
bottom or interior surface of pool or tank 11. Vehicle 10, although
being moveable in essentially planar motion includes the capability
of being redirectable after impacting obstacles or protuberances
11a which may be encountered during the translation path. The main
objective of vehicle 10 is to promote the removal of various
particulates of material which are extraneous to the natural
environment within which vehicle 10 operates. These particulates
may accumulate on the bottom surfaces of tank 11 and increase the
pollutant level of the liquid contained therein thereby
necessitating their removal.
Important component mechanisms of vehicle 10 as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 includes base 20 which has pivatally attached thereto
openable cover 40. As seen, these components take the shape of a
turtle or some like geometrical shape which would be esthetically
pleasing while concurrently fitting in with the natural operational
environment envisioned for vehicle 10. A pair of sensing mechanisms
60R,60L are secured to leg extensions 61a through clamps 61b. Leg
extensions 61a are in turn rigidly fastened through bolting or like
means to bulkhead 29 which is contained within vehicle 10 as is
shown. Mechanisms 60R,L upon impacting protuberances or obstacles
11a initiate a signal sent to logic and control means contained
within control box 50. As shown, control box 50 is located external
to assembly or vehicle 10 and has the function of redirecting the
motion of wheel shafts 52R, 52L, 54R and 54L after contact has been
made with obstacles 11a. Vehicle 10 is thus turned and translatably
moved away from obstacle restraints through programmed linearly
directed traction belts 56R, 56L.
An improvement to the operation of vehicle 10 includes the
displacement of control box 50, containing logic and control board
circuitry, away from the enclosed chamber formed by the combination
of base 20 and openable cover 40. As has been mentioned, control
box 50 contains the logic and control circuitry for programmed
translation of vehicle 10. The circuitry contained within control
box 50 is fully described within the incorporated application
reference Ser. No. 28,453 filed Apr. 14, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No.
3,676,884, granted July 18. 1972, and is electrically drawn in FIG.
3 of that reference application. As shown, control box 50 is
displaced from and located external to vehicle 10, being connected
to motors 51 through flexible electrical cabling 100. Cable 100
passes internal to vehicle 10 through suction outlet 48 and is
directly connected to appropriate motors 51 contained therein.
The liquid intake means and its associated structure is fully and
exactly described in U.S. patent 3,676,885, incorporated herein by
reference, from column 2, line 61, to column 3, line 46.
The removal of control box 50 from the interior of vehicle 10
provides a lighter vehicle assembly which may be moved manually by
an operator with greater ease then in previous mechanisms. In
addition, control box 50 no longer requires hermetic sealing
thereby lowering manufacturing costs through use of a standard
structural housing. Cable 100, as is obvious, is partially immersed
in tank 11 liquid during the operation phase of vehicle 10. The
cable may be further fit with a disconnect plug (not shown) in
order that ease of connection between cable 100 and control box 50
be optimized. In this manner, box 50 may be permanently maintained
at a predetermined location near pool or tank 11 but substantially
removed therefrom.
Motors 51 are herein provided for ease of connection to electrical
cable 100 and are further connected to rear wheel axles. Four
motors 51 may be functionally incorporated within vehicle 10,
although for each rear driven wheel two motors associated with each
of such wheels share common elements and are commonly and
standardly obtained as a commercial unit. Generally, motors 51 are
designated as geared-motors wherein the output shaft runs at a
substantially lower rotating speed than that of the rotors. The
output shafts of motors 51 are directly connected to one or the
other of the rear drive wheels.
General operating procedures show that vehicle 10 translates over
an interior surface of tank or pool 11 wherein extraneous
particulates are drawn through suction inlet 24 into an internal
chamber formed by base 20 and openable cover 40. The suction is
created by an external pump (not shown) which maintains a
controlled pressure gradient. Liquid, containing particulates, is
drawn into vehicle 10 and through outlet 48 into a filtration unit
positioned external to vehicle 10, such being commercially
available but not part of the inventive concept as herein detailed.
When vehicle 10 impacts obstacles 11a through sensor assemblies
60R, L, the externally located logic and control means within
control box 50 redirects the motion of vehicle 10 in another
direction in order to continue the particulate straining
process.
Another improvement to the operation of cleaner vehicle 10 includes
the incorporation of obstacle sensing mechanisms 102R, L which are
described in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The principal objective of
mechanisms 102R, L is to pass an electrical signal to the logic and
control means within remotely placed control box 50 when mechanisms
102R, L are impacted by obstacle 11a. As will be shown, actuation
of mechanisms 102R, L is accomplished by inclining one or the other
of the sensing mechanisms through a predetermined angle with
respect to a vertical axis passing normal to the horizontal plane
of the interior surface of tank or pool 11. This inclination is
forced by mechanisms 102R, L striking or otherwise impacting
obstacles or protuberances 11a which essentially tilts one or both
of the mechanisms.
In general, sensing mechanisms 102R, L include a pair of electrodes
104A, B which are positive and negative respectively. Electrodes
104A, B are electrically connected on a first end to remotely
located logic and control mechanisms within control box 50. As
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, electrodes 104A, B pass through an upper
wall 114 of housing or enclosing member 106. Electrode 104A extends
into the vicinity of a bottom surface of housing 106 and beneath
the surface of electrically conducting liquid medium 108. In the
operating condition, and throughout the translation history of
vehicle 10, electrode 104A remains immersed within medium 108.
Electrode 104B also passing internal to housing 106 includes
electrically conducting band 110 passing circumferential to an
internal later wall of housing 106. Band 110, which may be
incorporated into the lateral walls, is positioned above surface
122 of conducting medium 108 when the vertical axis of sensing
mechanism 102R, L is vertically directed. In the relactive
positioning as detailed in FIG. 4, no electrical contact is
maintained between electrodes 104A, B since band 110 is physically
displaced from medium 108.
When mechanisms 102R, L strike obstacles 11a, then the mechanisms
are inclined or tilted at a particular angle. As is evident, medium
108 will also be tilted and at a predetermined angle touch or
immerse band 110 in liquid. This wetted contact then forms an
electrical connection between electrodes 104A and B and an
appropriate signal is sent to the logic and control means in order
to redirect the direction motion of vehicle 10.
The operation of sensing mechanisms 102R, L are well known in the
art and the medium often used is the highly electrically conductive
liquid mercury. This type of switching mechanism is standardly
known as mercury switches and may take on a variety of specific
contours not important to the inventive concept as herein
described. The positional displacement of band 110 and medium 108
within housing 106 provides the operationally predetermined angle
through which switches 102R, L must be inclined before an
appropriate signal may be sent. As herein envisioned, the
predetermined angle wherein electrical contact is made, may be
varied between 5 and 45 degrees with respect to a vertical axis
passing normal to the horizontal interior surface of tank or pool
11.
The class of switch mechanisms 102 as herein shown is basically
characterized by pool of refined mercury or other conducting medium
108 in liquid form, at the bottom of housing 106. Enclosure 106 is
hermetically sealed and forms a chamber wherein electrodes 104A, B
may be electrically contactable. The chamber wall, may if desired,
be made to be one of the electrodes wherein at least a portion of
the chamber wall is made of an electrically conductive material.
Mercury switch devices are operated by tilting enclosure 106
through an angle sufficient to cause both electrodes 104A, B to be
wetted by a continuous liquid path. Electrodes may be constructed
of platinum, molybdenum or some like conductive material. Switches
102 provide a low circuit resistance as well as high make and break
capacities for A.C. and D.C. loading. The torqueing requirements
are usually low and such mechanisms are capable of operations
through a very low tilt angle dependent on the physical
displacement between the surface 122 and band 110, such operational
angles have been found to be as low as 0.15.degree..
Sensors 102 are connected to bulkhead 29 through flexible member or
chain 112 as is shown in FIG. 3. Chain 112 is connected on opposing
ends to upper surface 114 of housing 106 and clamp member 61b. Leg
extension 61a is rigidly fastened to clamp 61b and bulkhead 29
thereby providing structural continuity between mechanisms 102R, L
and the main body of vehicle 10. Chain, or other pendulum type
structure 112 permits tilting of sensors 102 when the mechanisms
strike protuberances or obstacles 11a.
In order to maintain sensors 102R, L in a vertically directed
downward manner throughout translation of vehicle 10, weighted
members 116 are rigidly secured to housing 106, as is shown in FIG.
3. Members 116 may be spherical as is shown or of some other
contour not important to the inventive concept. Weighted members
116 are necessary due to the horizontal drag that may be
encountered between sensors 102R, L and the tank liquid. This drag
further has the tendency to incline the sensors thus possibly
forcing an unwanted control signal to be sent to control box 50.
Members 116 tend to keep sensors 102R, L vertically directed until
obstacle 11a is contacted, and additionally force sensors 102R, L
back to a vertical positioning after obstacle impact.
Another improvement of the invention as herein described is shown
in FIG. 6 wherein a manual driving mechanism 118 is provided
external to vehicle 10. Driving mechanism 118 permits operator
control of vehicle 10 without the necessity of the logic and
control circuitry as has been previously described. Manual driving
mechanism 118 is connected directly to motors 51 through electrical
cable member 112 which passes internal to vehicle 10 through
cleaner outlet 48 as is shown. Operator manipulation of knob
controls 120 cause vehicle 10 to correspondingly be transported in
a predetermined path as a function of operator intent without
regard to specific logic and control means. Driving mechanism 118
is connected to an appropriate power source to provide the
necessary electrical motor response.
The improved invention as herein described has been shown to be an
effective randomly oriented pool or tank cleaner which may be
manufactured at a lower cost than others constructed for like
operation. This improved tank cleaner provides increased
reliability as well as ease of handling over previous mechanisms.
While this invention has been described with certain specific
embodiments thereof, it will now be understood that further
modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art
and it is intended to cover such modifications when it is in the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *