IPC분류정보
| 국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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| 국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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| 출원번호 |
US-0487846
(2014-09-16)
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| 등록번호 |
US-9745767
(2017-08-29)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Renaud, Benoit Joseph
- Hardy, David John
- Parcell, Jason Wayne
- Teuscher, Scott
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| 출원인 / 주소 |
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| 대리인 / 주소 |
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| 인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
84 |
초록
▼
A fluid distribution system for an underwater pool cleaner comprises an inlet body having an inlet for receiving a supply of pressurized fluid, a valve assembly body in fluid communication with the inlet of the inlet body and including a plurality of fluid outlets, a first one of the outlets provide
A fluid distribution system for an underwater pool cleaner comprises an inlet body having an inlet for receiving a supply of pressurized fluid, a valve assembly body in fluid communication with the inlet of the inlet body and including a plurality of fluid outlets, a first one of the outlets provides fluid for propelling the underwater pool cleaner in a forward direction and a second one of the outlets provides fluid for propelling the underwater pool cleaner in a reverse direction, and a valve subassembly including a cam wheel that is fluidicly driven by the supply of pressurized fluid and periodically switches the supply of pressurized fluid from the first one of the outlets to the second one of the outlets to periodically change direction of propulsion of the underwater pool cleaner.
대표청구항
▼
1. A fluid distribution system for an underwater pool cleaner, comprising: an inlet body having an inlet for receiving a supply of pressurized fluid;a valve assembly body in fluid communication with said inlet of said inlet body and including a plurality of fluid outlets, a first one of said outlets
1. A fluid distribution system for an underwater pool cleaner, comprising: an inlet body having an inlet for receiving a supply of pressurized fluid;a valve assembly body in fluid communication with said inlet of said inlet body and including a plurality of fluid outlets, a first one of said outlets for providing fluid for propelling the underwater pool cleaner in a forward direction and a second one of said outlets for providing fluid for propelling the underwater pool cleaner in a reverse direction; anda valve subassembly including a turbine rotatably driven by the supply of pressurized fluid and a cam wheel including a first cam track and a second cam track, the cam wheel being operatively engaged with the turbine such that the cam wheel is rotatably driven by the turbine and periodically switching the supply of pressurized fluid from said first one of said outlets to said second one of said outlets to periodically change direction of propulsion of the underwater pool cleaner. 2. The fluid distribution system of claim 1, wherein the valve subassembly further comprises a rocker seal including a first sealing member, a second sealing member, and a cam post, the rocker seal being pivotally mounted adjacent the cam wheel and the valve assembly body with the cam post being engageable with the first and second cam tracks, and the rocker seal being pivotal between a first position and a second position, wherein (i) when the cam post is engaged with the first cam track the rocker seal is placed in the first position where the first sealing member prevents fluid from flowing through said second one of said outlets, and (ii) when the cam post is engaged with the second cam track the rocker seal is placed in the second position where the second sealing member prevents fluid from flowing through said first one of said outlets. 3. The fluid distribution system of claim 2, further comprising a gear reduction stack positioned between the turbine and the cam wheel, the gear reduction stack being engaged with the turbine and the cam wheel, wherein the gear reduction stack transfers a first number of rotations of the turbine into a second number of rotations of the cam wheel. 4. The fluid distribution system of claim 2, wherein the inlet body includes an outlet that provides pressurized fluid to rotationally drive the turbine. 5. The fluid distribution system of claim 2, wherein said first cam track has a first length and said second cam track has a second length, said first length being longer than said second length. 6. The fluid distribution system of claim 5, wherein the first cam track is associated with a first operation of the underwater pool cleaner and the second cam track is associated with a second operation of the underwater pool cleaner, the first length determining the amount of time that the first operation is to be operative and the second length determining the amount of time that the second operation is to be operative. 7. The fluid distribution system of claim 2, wherein the first and second cam tracks extend radially outward from the cam wheel and along a portion of a circumference thereof. 8. The fluid distribution system of claim 2, further comprising: a second valve assembly body including an inlet, a first fluid outlet, and a second fluid outlet, and defining a valve chamber, wherein the inlet of said second valve body is positioned adjacent said first one of said outlets of said valve assembly body;a valve seal including a sealing member, the valve seal positioned within the valve chamber of the second valve assembly body and being rotatable between a first position wherein the valve seal sealing member is adjacent the first fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body and a second position wherein the valve seal sealing member is adjacent the second fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body; anda rotatable lever arm engaged with the valve seal for rotating the valve seal about a rotational axis,wherein (i) when the valve seal is in the first position the valve seal prevents fluid from flowing through the first fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body, and (ii) when the valve seal is in the second position the valve seal prevents fluid from flowing through the second fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body. 9. The fluid distribution system of claim 8, wherein the fluid distribution system is connected with a water jet propulsion system of the underwater pool cleaner. 10. The fluid distribution system of claim 9, wherein the first fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body is in fluidic communication with a forward thrust jet nozzle of the underwater pool cleaner to propel the underwater pool cleaner in a first direction underwater, the second fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body is in fluidic communication with a top mode jet nozzle of the underwater pool cleaner to propel the underwater pool cleaner along a pool water surface, and said second one of said fluid outlets of the first valve assembly body is in fluidic communication with a reverse thrust jet nozzle of the underwater pool cleaner to propel the underwater pool cleaner in a second direction that is different than the first direction. 11. The fluid distribution system of claim 8, wherein the first outlet of the second valve assembly body is in fluidic communication with a suction system of the underwater pool cleaner. 12. The fluid distribution system of claim 1, wherein the inlet of the inlet body is in fluidic communication with a pump external to the underwater pool cleaner, the supply of pressurized fluid being provided by the pump. 13. The fluid distribution system of claim 1, wherein the fluid distribution system is connected with a water jet propulsion system of the underwater pool cleaner. 14. The fluid distribution system of claim 13, wherein said first one of said outlets is in fluidic communication with a forward thrust jet nozzle of the underwater pool cleaner to propel the underwater pool cleaner in a first direction, and said second one of said outlets is in fluidic communication with a reverse thrust jet nozzle of the underwater pool cleaner to propel the underwater pool cleaner in a second direction that is different than the first direction. 15. The fluid distribution system of claim 1, wherein said first one of said outlets is in fluidic communication with a suction system of the underwater pool cleaner. 16. An underwater pool cleaner comprising: a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;a pressurized fluid inlet connected with a source of pressurized fluid;a bottom mode forward thrust jet nozzle;a reverse/spinout mode jet nozzle;a suction tube extending between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;a suction jet ring positioned within the suction tube and including one or more suction jet nozzles; andan automatic timing valve positioned in the housing and in fluidic communication with the bottom mode forward thrust jet nozzle, the top mode forward thrust jet nozzle, the reverse/spinout mode jet nozzle, and the suction jet ring, the automatic timing valve including: a) an inlet body having an inlet in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid inlet for receiving a supply of pressurized fluid;b) a valve assembly body in fluid communication with said inlet of said inlet body and including a plurality of fluid outlets, a first one of said outlets in fluid communication with the bottom mode forward thrust jet nozzle and the suction jet ring, said first one of said outlets for providing fluid for propelling the pool or spa cleaner in a forward direction, and a second one of said outlets in fluid communication with the reverse/spinout mode jet nozzle, said second one of said outlets for providing fluid for propelling the pool or spa cleaner in a reverse direction; andc) a valve subassembly including a turbine rotatably driven by the supply of pressurized fluid and a cam wheel including a first cam track and a second cam track, the cam wheel being operatively engaged with the turbine such that the cam wheel is rotatably driven by the turbine and periodically switching the supply of pressurized fluid from said first one of said outlets to said second one of said outlets to periodically change direction of propulsion of the underwater pool cleaner. 17. The underwater pool cleaner of claim 16, wherein the valve subassembly further comprises a rocker seal including a first sealing member, a second sealing member, and a cam post, the rocker seal being pivotally mounted adjacent the cam wheel and the valve assembly body with the cam post being engageable with the first and second cam tracks, and the rocker seal being pivotal between a first position and a second position, wherein (i) when the cam post is engaged with the first cam track the rocker seal is placed in the first position where the first sealing member prevents fluid from flowing through said second one of said outlets, and (ii) when the cam post is engaged with the second cam track the rocker seal is placed in the second position where the second sealing member prevents fluid from flowing through said first one of said outlets. 18. The underwater pool cleaner of claim 17, further comprising: a top mode forward thrust jet nozzle;one or more skimmer/debris retention jets;a second valve assembly body including an inlet, a first fluid outlet in fluidic communication with the bottom mode forward thrust jet nozzle and for providing fluid to propel the underwater pool cleaner in a forward direction along the bottom of a pool, and a second fluid outlet in fluidic communication with the top mode forward thrust jet nozzle for providing fluid to propel the underwater pool cleaner along a pool water surface and the skimmer/debris retention jets for retaining debris, and defining a valve chamber, wherein the inlet of said second valve body is positioned adjacent said first one of said outlets of said valve assembly body;a valve seal including a sealing member, the valve seal positioned within the valve chamber of the second valve assembly body and being rotatable between a first position wherein the valve seal sealing member is adjacent the first fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body and a second position wherein the valve seal sealing member is adjacent the second fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body; anda rotatable lever arm engaged with the valve seal for rotating the valve seal about a rotational axis,wherein (i) when the valve seal is in the first position the valve seal prevents fluid from flowing through the first fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body, and (ii) when the valve seal is in the second position the valve seal prevents fluid from flowing through the second fluid outlet of the second valve assembly body. 19. The pool cleaner of claim 17, further comprising a gear reduction stack positioned between the turbine and the cam wheel, the gear reduction stack being engaged with the turbine and the cam wheel, wherein the gear reduction stack transfers a first number of rotations of the turbine into a second number of rotations of the cam wheel. 20. The pool cleaner of claim 17, wherein the inlet body includes an outlet that provides pressurized fluid to rotationally drive the turbine. 21. The pool cleaner of claim 17, wherein said first section of said cam track has a first length and said second section of said cam track has a second length, said first length being longer than said second length. 22. The pool cleaner of claim 21, wherein the first section of said cam track is associated with a first operation of the pool cleaner and the second section of said cam track is associated with a second operation of the pool cleaner, the first length determining the amount of time that the pool cleaner is to be in the first operation and the second length determining the amount of time that the pool cleaner is to be in the second operation. 23. The pool cleaner of claim 16, further comprising one or more wheels mounted to the housing for facilitating locomotion of the pool cleaner along a pool bottom or pool wall. 24. The pool cleaner of claim 16, wherein the suction jet nozzles create a venturi effect in the suction tube to suction water and debris into the suction tube through the inlet opening.
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