Pool cleaning vacuum employing multiple power supply sources and associated method
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E04H-004/16
E04H-004/00
출원번호
US-0705707
(2007-02-12)
등록번호
US-7437790
(2008-10-21)
발명자
/ 주소
Ajello,Mike
출원인 / 주소
Ajello,Mike
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
8인용 특허 :
6
초록▼
A pool cleaning vacuum employing multiple power supply sources and associated method includes a body including first, second and third vertically juxtaposed chambers formed therein. The chambers share a wall with the second chamber wherein the third chamber is isolated therefrom. A motor assembly an
A pool cleaning vacuum employing multiple power supply sources and associated method includes a body including first, second and third vertically juxtaposed chambers formed therein. The chambers share a wall with the second chamber wherein the third chamber is isolated therefrom. A motor assembly and a filter section are housed within the first chamber. The filter section is located downstream of the motor assembly, and has an open lateral face exposed to the aqueous environment. An anchor shaft is seated within the second chamber and extends through an entire longitudinal length of the body. A vacuum head is pivotally attached to the anchor shaft. The vacuum head includes a conduit in communication with the filter section, and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to opposed corners thereof. A mechanism transmits a predetermined quantity of power to the motor assembly.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A portable vacuum cleaner for cleaning an aqueous environment, said vacuum cleaner comprising: a body including first, second and third vertically juxtaposed chambers formed therein, each of said firs
What is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A portable vacuum cleaner for cleaning an aqueous environment, said vacuum cleaner comprising: a body including first, second and third vertically juxtaposed chambers formed therein, each of said first and third chambers sharing a wall with said second chamber wherein said third chamber is isolated from said first and second chambers such that water is prohibited from entering said third chamber when said body is submerged into the aqueous environment; a motor assembly housed within said first chamber; a filter section housed within said first chamber and being located downstream of said motor assembly; a rigid and rectilinear anchor shaft seated within said second chamber and extending through an entire longitudinal length of said body, said anchor shaft being removably mated to an existing swimming pool cleaning pole; a vacuum head disposed exterior of said body and pivotally attached directly to said anchor shaft, said vacuum head including a flexible conduit in fluid communication with said filter section such that unfiltered water is directed upwardly through said conduit and into said filter section, said vacuum head further including a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to opposed corners thereof; and means for automatically and continuously transmitting a predetermined quantity of power to said motor assembly such that a user can continuously operate said vacuum cleaner while receiving power from alternate sources; wherein said body includes a plurality of gills formed within an outer wall thereof and situated adjacent to said motor assembly such that filtered water exits said body via said gills after the unfiltered water passes through said filter section; wherein said automatic power transmitting means comprises first, second and third power supply sources, said first power supply source providing a 110 volt alternating current, said second and third power supply sources supplying a 12 volt direct current; first, second and third power inlet ports respectively and directly mated to said first, second and third power supply sources; first, second and third switches respectively and directly coupled to said first, second and third inlet ports; a transformer electrically and directly coupled to said first switch for stepping down said 110 volt alternating current to a 12 direct current prior to reaching said motor assembly; and a voltage detecting and distribution circuit electrically mated to said first, second and third switches for detecting and continuously distributing said 12 volt direct current from at least one of said first, second and third power supply sources to said motor assembly during operating conditions such that the user can continuously operate said vacuum cleaner when any two of said first, second and third power supply sources are inactive; wherein said first switch is normally maintained at a closed position such that said 12 volt direct current from said transformer is a primary power supply source; wherein said second and third switches are normally maintained at open positions respectively such that said 12 volt direct current from said second and third power supply sources are backup power supply sources. 2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said voltage detecting and distribution circuit comprises: a processor; a memory electrically coupled to said processor and including software instructions that cause said voltage detecting and distribution circuit to automatically toggle said first, second and third switches between on and off positions such that only one of said first, second and third power supply sources direct a corresponding one of said 12 volt direct currents to said motor assembly, said software instructions including and executing a control logic algorithm including the steps of a. periodically inquiring about a voltage level remaining within said first, second and third power sources respectively, b. detecting whether said voltage level of said first power supply source has fallen below a predetermined minimum voltage level threshold, c. if yes, toggling said first switch to an open position; d. determining which one of said second and third power supply sources has a lower voltage level that is above said predetermined minimum voltage level threshold; e. toggling one of said second and third switches to a closed position that is associated with said power supply source having the lower voltage level above said predetermined minimum voltage level threshold, and f. if no, maintaining said first switch at a closed position and further maintaining said second and third switches at said open position. 3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said second power supply source comprises: a portable battery pack seated externally of said body and electrically mated with said motor assembly. 4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said third power supply source comprises: a rechargeable battery pack removably seated within said third chamber and electrically mated with said motor assembly. 5. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein said filter section comprises: a canister; a cylindrical filter member housed within said canister; and a one-way check valve automatically pivotal between open and closed positions when said motor assembly is toggled to on and off positions, said filter member having axially opposed ends directly coupled to said one-way check valve and said motor assembly respectively for directing the unfiltered water through said filter and out from said body via said gills. 6. A portable vacuum cleaner for cleaning an aqueous environment, said vacuum cleaner comprising: a body including first, second and third vertically juxtaposed chambers formed therein, each of said first and third chambers sharing a wall with said second chamber wherein said third chamber is isolated from said first and second chambers such that water is prohibited from entering said third chamber when said body is submerged into the aqueous environment; a motor assembly housed within said first chamber; a filter section housed within said first chamber and being located downstream of said motor assembly, said first chamber having an open lateral face exposed to the aqueous environment such that the user can quickly remove said filter section during maintenance procedures; a rigid and rectilinear anchor shaft seated within said second chamber and extending through an entire longitudinal length of said body, said anchor shaft being removably mated to an existing swimming pool cleaning pole; a vacuum head disposed exterior of said body and pivotally attached directly to said anchor shaft, said vacuum head including a flexible conduit in fluid communication with said filter section such that unfiltered water is directed upwardly through said conduit and into said filter section, said vacuum head further including a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to opposed corners thereof; and means for automatically and continuously transmitting a predetermined quantity of power to said motor assembly such that a user can continuously operate said vacuum cleaner while receiving power from alternate sources; wherein said body includes a plurality of gills formed within an outer wall thereof and situated adjacent to said motor assembly such that filtered water exits said body via said gills after the unfiltered water passes through said filter section; wherein said automatic power transmitting means comprises first, second and third power supply sources, said first power supply source providing a 110 volt alternating current, said second and third power supply sources supplying a 12 volt direct current; first, second and third power inlet ports respectively and directly mated to said first, second and third power supply sources; first, second and third switches respectively and directly coupled to said first, second and third inlet ports; a transformer electrically and directly coupled to said first switch for stepping down said 110 volt alternating current to a 12 direct current prior to reaching said motor assembly; and a voltage detecting and distribution circuit electrically mated to said first, second and third switches for detecting and continuously distributing said 12 volt direct current from at least one of said first, second and third power supply sources to said motor assembly during operating conditions such that the user can continuously operate said vacuum cleaner when any two of said first, second and third power supply sources are inactive; wherein said first switch is normally maintained at a closed position such that said 12 volt direct current from said transformer is a primary power supply source; wherein said second and third switches are normally maintained at open positions respectively such that said 12 volt direct current from said second and third power supply sources are backup power supply sources. 7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said voltage detecting and distribution circuit comprises: a processor; a memory electrically coupled to said processor and including software instructions that cause said voltage detecting and distribution circuit to automatically toggle said first, second and third switches between on and off positions such that only one of said first, second and third power supply sources direct a corresponding one of said 12 volt direct currents to said motor assembly, said software instructions including and executing a control logic algorithm including the steps of a. periodically inquiring about a voltage level remaining within said first, second and third power sources respectively, b. detecting whether said voltage level of said first power supply source has fallen below a predetermined minimum voltage level threshold, c. if yes, toggling said first switch to an open position; d. determining which one of said second and third power supply sources has a lower voltage level that is above said predetermined minimum voltage level threshold; e. toggling one of said second and third switches to a closed position that is associated with said power supply source having the lower voltage level above said predetermined minimum voltage level threshold, and f. if no, maintaining said first switch at a closed position and further maintaining said second and third switches at said open position. 8. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said second power supply source comprises: a portable battery pack seated externally of said body and electrically mated with said motor assembly. 9. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said third power supply source comprises: a rechargeable battery pack removably seated within said third chamber and electrically mated with said motor assembly. 10. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein said filter section comprises: a canister; a cylindrical filter member housed within said canister; and a one-way check valve automatically pivotal between open and closed positions when said motor assembly is toggled to on and off positions, said filter member having axially opposed ends directly coupled to said one-way check valve and said motor assembly respectively for directing the unfiltered water through said filter and out from said body via said gills. 11. A method for cleaning a bottom surface of an aqueous environment comprising the steps of: a. providing a body including first, second and third vertically juxtaposed chambers formed therein, each of said first and third chambers sharing a wall with said second chamber wherein said third chamber is isolated from said first and second chambers such that water is prohibited from entering said third chamber when said body is submerged into the aqueous environment; b. providing a motor assembly housed within said first chamber; c. providing a filter section housed within said first chamber and being located downstream of said motor assembly, said first chamber having an open lateral face exposed to the aqueous environment such that the user can quickly remove said filter section during maintenance procedures; d. positioning a rigid and rectilinear anchor shaft within said second chamber and through an entire longitudinal length of said body, said anchor shaft being removably mated to an existing swimming pool cleaning pole; e. pivotally attaching a vacuum head directly to said anchor shaft wherein said vacuum head is disposed exterior of said body, said vacuum head including a flexible conduit in fluid communication with said filter section such that unfiltered water is directed upwardly through said conduit and into said filter section, said vacuum head further including a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to opposed corners thereof; and f. automatically and continuously transmitting a predetermined quantity of power to said motor assembly such that a user can continuously operate said vacuum cleaner while receiving power from alternate sources; wherein said body includes a plurality of gills formed within an outer wall thereof and situated adjacent to said motor assembly such that filtered water exits said body via said gills after the unfiltered water passes through said filter section; wherein said automatic power transmitting means comprises first, second and third power supply sources, said first power supply source providing a 110 volt alternating current, said second and third power supply sources supplying a 12 volt direct current; first, second and third power inlet ports respectively and directly mated to said first, second and third power supply sources; first, second and third switches respectively and directly coupled to said first, second and third inlet ports; a transformer electrically and directly coupled to said first switch for stepping down said 110 volt alternating current to a 12 direct current prior to reaching said motor assembly; and a voltage detecting and distribution circuit electrically mated to said first, second and third switches for detecting and continuously distributing said 12 volt direct current from at least one of said first, second and third power supply sources to said motor assembly during operating conditions such that the user can continuously operate said vacuum cleaner when any two of said first, second and third power supply sources are inactive; wherein said first switch is normally maintained at a closed position such that said 12 volt direct current from said transformer is a primary power supply source; wherein said second and third switches are normally maintained at open positions respective such that said 12 volt direct current from said second and third power supply sources are backup power supply sources. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said voltage detecting and distribution circuit comprises: a processor; a memory electrically coupled to said processor and including software instructions that cause said voltage detecting and distribution circuit to automatically toggle said first, second and third switches between on and off positions such that only one of said first, second and third power supply sources direct a corresponding one of said 12 volt direct currents to said motor assembly, said software instructions including and executing a control logic algorithm including the steps of a. periodically inquiring about a voltage level remaining within said first, second and third power sources respectively, b. detecting whether said voltage level of said first power supply source has fallen below a predetermined minimum voltage level threshold, c. if yes, toggling said first switch to an open position; d. determining which one of said second and third power supply sources has a lower voltage level that is above said predetermined minimum voltage level threshold; e. toggling one of said second and third switches to a closed position that is associated with said power supply source having the lower voltage level above said predetermined minimum voltage level threshold, and f. if no, maintaining said first switch at a closed position and further maintaining said second and third switches at said open position. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein said second power supply source comprises: a portable battery pack seated externally of said body and electrically mated with said motor assembly. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said third power supply source comprises: a rechargeable battery pack removably seated within said third chamber and electrically mated with said motor assembly. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein said filter section comprises: a canister; a cylindrical filter member housed within said canister; and a one-way check valve automatically pivotal between open and closed positions when said motor assembly is toggled to on and off positions, said filter member having axially opposed ends directly coupled to said one-way check valve and said motor assembly respectively for directing the unfiltered water through said filter and out from said body via said gills.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Minami Don S. (Monte Soreno CA) Shawver Michael J. (Castro Valley CA) Jensen Thomas P. (Boise ID) Shubert Lawrence G. (San Francisco CA) Marshall Kenneth N. (Novato CA), Automatic pool cleaning apparatus.
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