초록 ▼

Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinio

Disclosed herein are a steering system for a suction cleaning device, a locomotion system for a pool cleaner, and a turbine for use in an automatic cleaner. The steering system includes a fluid driven turbine that rotates a cam gear that is interconnected with a cam wheel for directing a drive pinion. The drive pinion is positionable in a plurality of positions to drive a nose cone that steers the suction cleaning device. The locomotion system includes first and second A-frame arms that respectively engage first and second bearings about first and second eccentrics of a turbine. Rotation of the turbine causes the first and second A-frame arms to rotate back and forth driving associated walking pod assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor and a plurality of vanes connected to the turbine rotor. The plurality of vanes including lateral edges having lateral open regions to facilitate debris-removing efficiency.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In an automatic pool cleaner of the type motivated by flow of water therethrough to move along a pool surface to be cleaned, the flow of water being established by pumping action of a remote pump communicating with a cleaner body through a hose connected thereto, the pool cleaner including a stee

1. In an automatic pool cleaner of the type motivated by flow of water therethrough to move along a pool surface to be cleaned, the flow of water being established by pumping action of a remote pump communicating with a cleaner body through a hose connected thereto, the pool cleaner including a steering system connected to the hose to direct movement of the pool cleaner with respect to the hose, the improvement comprising: a steering drive mechanism secured with respect to the cleaner body and including a main rotatable member;a steering drive train extending from the main rotatable member to a steering mechanism which is secured with respect to the hose and steers the cleaner body in a plurality of directions with respect to the hose, the steering drive train engaged with the main rotatable member and engageable with the steering mechanism, the steering mechanism including first and second gear tracks for steering movement of the cleaner body with respect to the hose; anda cam drive train extending from the main rotatable member to a cam mechanism which includes a cam wheel rotatably secured with respect to the cleaner body, the cam wheel operatively connected to the steering mechanism through the steering drive train, the cam wheel having outer-profile regions of greater and lesser radii each corresponding to one of the directions of the steering mechanism. 2. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein the steering drive mechanism includes a steering pinion gear driven by the steering drive train and movable into one of the steering positions, including first and second positions each in engagement with one of the gear tracks for steering the cleaner body in one of clockwise and counter-clockwise directions around the hose. 3. The cleaner of claim 2 wherein the steering pinion gear is movable into a third steering position between the tracks for steering the cleaner body in a substantially no-turn position with respect to the hose. 4. The cleaner of claim 2 wherein the steering mechanism further includes a roller connected to the pinion gear and biased against the outer-profile regions of the cam wheel to ride there along, thereby moving the pinion gear between the steering positions. 5. The cleaner of claim 4 wherein the first gear track is of a smaller radius than the second gear track, and the tracks are coaxial. 6. The cleaner of claim 5 wherein the cam wheel has three outer-profile regions of lesser, medium and greater radii each corresponding to one of the steering directions, such that, (a) when the roller rides the lower radii region, the pinion gear engages the smaller-radii gear track and steers the cleaner body in one of the directions around the hose, (b) when the roller rides the greater radii region, the pinion gear engages the outer of the gear tracks and steers the cleaner body in the other of the directions around the hose, and (c) when the roller rides the medium radii region, the pinion gear is between the gear tracks and steers the cleaner body in a substantially no-turn direction with respect to the hose. 7. The cleaner of claim 4 further including: a swivel arm pivotally held by the cleaner body and having a distal end biased against the cam-wheel outer profile;a steering shaft journaled in the swivel-arm distal end and supporting the roller and the pinion gear for movement between the steering positions; anda spring which biases the swivel arm toward the cam wheel. 8. The cleaner of claim 7 wherein the cam drive train includes a reduction gear assembly secured with respect to the cleaner body and linking the drive mechanism with the cam wheel such that rotation of the cam wheel occurs upon rotation of the main rotatable member, whereby the cam wheel, acting through the swivel arm, alternately moves the pinion gear to one of the steering positions. 9. The cleaner of claim 8 wherein the cam mechanism includes a single-piece cam member including the cam wheel and a coaxial cam drive gear for its rotation. 10. The cleaner of claim 2 wherein the steering system further includes a hose-mounting structure which defines a water-flow passage therethrough and includes a hose-connecting portion and outward portion, the outward portion forming the first and second gear tracks concentric with the hose, the first gear track being of a smaller radius than the second gear track, and the tracks are coaxial. 11. The cleaner of claim 10 wherein: the outward portion forms a gear-track cavity with spaced inner and outer walls each forming a respective one of the first and second gear tracks; andthe pinion gear is disposed within the cavity for engagement with the first gear track to steer the cleaner body in one of clockwise and counter-clockwise directions with respect to the hose and with the outer of the gear tracks to steer the cleaner body in the other of the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction around the hose. 12. The cleaner of claim 11 wherein the steering system includes a neutral steering mode with the pinion gear positioned in the space between the gear tracks to steer the cleaner body in a substantially no-turn direction along the hose. 13. The cleaner of claim 10 wherein the cam mechanism includes a single-piece cam member including the cam wheel and a coaxial cam drive gear for its rotation, the cam member being secured to the hose-mounting structure in a position concentric with the hose, whereby the cam member is substantially concentric with the gear tracks. 14. The cleaner of claim 10 further including: a swivel arm pivotally held by the cleaner body and having a distal end biased against the cam-wheel outer profile;a steering shaft journaled in the swivel-arm distal end and supporting the pinion gear for movement between the steering positions; anda spring which biases the swivel arm toward the cam wheel. 15. The cleaner of claim 14 wherein the steering mechanism further includes a roller supported by the steering shaft concentrically with the pinion gear, the biased swivel arm pressing the roller against the outer profile of the cam wheel for riding there along, thereby moving the pinion gear between the steering positions. 16. The cleaner of claim 15 wherein the outer-profile regions of the cam wheel include: a region of a lesser radius which, through the roller contact, positions the pinion gear into engagement with the inner of the gear tracks to steer the cleaner body in one of clockwise and counter-clockwise directions with respect to the hose;a region of a greater radius which, through the roller contact, positions the pinion gear into engagement with the outer of the gear tracks to steer the cleaner body in the other of the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions; anda region of a medium radius which, through the roller contact, positions the pinion gear the pinion gear between the gear tracks to steer the cleaner body in a substantially no-turn direction with respect to the hose. 17. The cleaner of claim 16 wherein the cam mechanism includes a single-piece cam member including the cam wheel and a coaxial cam drive gear for its rotation, the cam member being secured to the hose-mounting structure in a position concentric with the hose, thereby the cam member is concentric with the gear tracks. 18. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein the cleaner body forms a water-flow chamber having water-flow inlet and outlet ports; andthe steering drive mechanism is moved by the flow of water. 19. The cleaner of claim 18 further includes a steering turbine mounted within the water-flow chamber for rotation by the flow of water and having a steering rotor rotatable about an axis, the steering rotor being connected to the main rotatable member for rotation thereof. 20. The cleaner of claim 19 wherein the water-flow chamber includes a steering-turbine compartment in communication with the water-flow chamber such that the steering turbine is rotated by the flow of water motivated by the flow of water through the cleaner body. 21. The cleaner of claim 20 wherein the steering-turbine compartment has water-flow inlet and outlet ports positioned and arranged for the flow of water to rotate the steering rotor. 22. The cleaner of claim 20 further including two turbines, including the steering turbine and a drive turbine which is rotatably mounted within the water-flow chamber for moving the cleaner body along the pool surface to be cleaned. 23. The cleaner of claim 1 wherein the steering drive mechanism is moved by an electric motor operatively connected to the main rotatable member. 24. A steering system for a suction cleaning device connectable to a suction source by a suction hose for use in a swimming pool, comprising: a steering turbine rotatably connected with a main rotatable member;a cam drive train rotatably driven by the main rotatable member and including a drive gear;a cam mechanism including a cam wheel and a cam gear, the cam mechanism being rotatably driven by the drive gear, and the cam wheel having a plurality of outer profile regions of varying radii, each of the outer profile regions corresponding to one of a plurality of steering position;a steering drive train rotatably driven by the main rotatable member and including a pinion gear, the pinion gear being biased between the plurality of steering positions by the cam wheel; anda nose cone including first and second gear tracks engageable with the pinion gear, the nose cone being engageable to rotate relative to the suction hose,wherein when the pinion gear is in a first steering position of the plurality of steering positions the pinion gear engages the first gear track and drives the nose cone in a first rotational direction relative to the hose, and when the pinion gear is in a second steering position of the plurality of steering positions the pinion gear engages the second gear track and drives the nose cone in a second rotational direction relative to the hose. 25. The steering system of claim 24, wherein the pinion gear is positionable into a third steering position where the pinion gear is disengaged with the first and second gear tracks and the nose cone is not rotated. 26. The steering system of claim 24, further comprising a roller connected to the pinion gear and biased against the outer-profile regions of the cam wheel to ride there along, thereby moving the pinion gear between the plurality of steering positions. 27. The steering system of claim 26, wherein the first gear track is of a smaller radius than the second gear track, and the first and second gear tracks are coaxial. 28. The steering system of claim 27, wherein the cam wheel has a first outer profile region of a first radii that corresponds to the first steering position, a second outer profile region of a second radii greater than the first radii that corresponds to the second steering position, and a third outer profile region of a third radii greater than the second radii that corresponds to a third steering position, and wherein when (a) the roller is biased against the first outer profile region the pinion gear engages the first gear track and rotates the nose cone in a first rotational direction, (b) the roller is biased against the second outer profile region the pinion gear does not engage either the first or second gear track and the nose cone is not rotationally driven, and (c) the roller is biased against the third outer profile region the pinion gear engages the second gear track and rotates the nose cone in a second rotational direction different than the first rotational direction. 29. The steering system of claim 24, further comprising: a swivel arm having the pinion gear mounted thereto, the swivel arm having a proximal end and a pivotally mounted distal end; anda spring biasing the swivel arm toward the cam wheel,wherein the cam wheel directs rotation of the swivel arm about the pivotally mounted distal end. 30. The steering system of claim 29, wherein the cam drive train includes a reduction gear assembly that links the main rotatable member with the cam gear such that rotation of the cam gear occurs upon rotation of the main rotatable member, and whereby the cam wheel alternately moves the pinion gear to one of the plurality of steering positions by rotating the swivel arm. 31. The steering system of claim 24, wherein the nose cone further includes a hose-connecting portion that defines a water-flow passage therethrough and a radial plate that forms the first and second gear tracks on an underside thereof, the first and second gear tracks being concentric with the hose-connecting portion. 32. The steering system of claim 31, wherein the radial plate forms a gear-track cavity formed between the first and second gear tracks, and the pinion gear is disposed within the gear-track cavity. 33. The steering system of claim 31, wherein the cam mechanism defines a water-flow passage therethrough, and the nose cone is coaxially mounted to the cam mechanism such that a continuous water flow passage is formed across the cam mechanism and the nose cone. 34. A suction cleaning device connectable to a suction source for use in a swimming pool comprising: a body having an inlet and an outlet with a substantially continuous fluid path extending between the inlet and the outlet; anda steering system mounted to the body for turning the suction cleaning device with respect to a hose connected to the steering system, the steering system comprising: a steering turbine rotatably connected with a main rotatable member;a cam drive train rotatably driven by the main rotatable member and including a drive gear;a cam mechanism including a cam wheel and a cam gear, the cam mechanism being rotatably driven by the drive gear, and the cam wheel having a plurality of outer profile regions of varying radii, each of the outer profile regions corresponding to one of a plurality of steering position;a steering drive train rotatably driven by the main rotatable member and including a pinion gear, the pinion gear being biased between the plurality of steering positions by the cam wheel; anda nose cone including first and second gear tracks engageable with the pinion gear, the nose cone being engageable with the suction hose,wherein when the pinion gear is in a first steering position of the plurality of steering positions the pinion gear engages the first gear track and drives the body in a first rotational direction about the hose, and when the pinion gear is in a second steering position of the plurality of steering positions the pinion gear engages the second gear track and drives the body in a second rotational direction about the hose. 35. The suction cleaning device of claim 34, wherein the pinion gear is positionable into a third steering position where the pinion gear is not engaged with either the first and second gear tracks and the body is not rotationally driven about the hose. 36. The suction cleaning device of claim 34, wherein the steering system further comprises a roller connected to the pinion gear and biased against the outer-profile regions of the cam wheel to ride there along, thereby moving the pinion gear between the plurality of steering positions. 37. The suction cleaning device of claim 36, wherein the first gear track is of a smaller radius than the second gear track, and the first and second gear tracks are coaxial. 38. The suction cleaning device of claim 37, wherein the cam wheel has a first outer profile region of a first radii that corresponds to the first steering position, a second outer profile region of a second radii greater than the first radii that corresponds to the second steering position, and a third outer profile region of a third radii greater than the second radii that corresponds to a third steering position, and wherein when (a) the roller is biased against the first outer profile region the pinion gear engages the first gear track and rotates the body in a first rotational direction about the hose, (b) the roller is biased against the second outer profile region the pinion gear does not engage either the first or second gear track and the body is not rotationally driven about the hose, and (c) the roller is biased against the third outer profile region the pinion gear engages the second gear track and rotates the body in a second rotational direction about the hose that is different than the first rotational direction. 39. The suction cleaning device of claim 34, wherein the steering system further comprises: a swivel arm pivotally mounted to the body and having the pinion gear mounted thereto; anda spring biasing the swivel arm toward the cam wheel,wherein the cam wheel pivotally rotates the swivel arm. 40. The suction cleaning device of claim 39, wherein the cam drive train includes a reduction gear assembly that links the main rotatable member with the cam gear such that rotation of the cam gear occurs upon rotation of the main rotatable member, and whereby the cam wheel alternately moves the pinion gear to one of the plurality of steering positions by pivotally rotating the swivel arm. 41. The suction cleaning device of claim 39, wherein the spring is a compliant mechanism. 42. The suction cleaning device of claim 39, wherein the spring is a deformable plastic arm. 43. The suction cleaning device of claim 34, wherein the nose cone further includes a hose-connecting portion that defines a water-flow passage therethrough and a radial plate that forms the first and second gear tracks on an underside thereof, the first and second gear tracks being concentric with the hose-connecting portion. 44. The suction cleaning device of claim 43, wherein the radial plate forms a gear-track cavity formed between the first and second gear tracks, and the pinion gear is disposed within the gear-track cavity. 45. The suction cleaning device of claim 43, wherein the cam mechanism defines a water-flow passage therethrough, and the nose cone is coaxially mounted to the cam mechanism such that a continuous water flow passage is formed across the cam mechanism and the nose cone. 46. The suction cleaning device of claim 34, wherein the body further comprises a steering turbine chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the steering turbine chamber housing the steering turbine, and the steering system is powered by the flow of water through the steering turbine chamber. 47. The suction cleaning device of claim 46, the steering turbine is rotationally mounted within the steering turbine chamber and rotatably connected to the main rotatable member such that rotation of the turbine results in rotation of the main rotatable member. 48. The suction cleaning device of claim 46, wherein the inlets to the steering turbine chamber are positioned and arranged such that a fluid flow through the inlets rotate the steering turbine. 49. The suction cleaning device of claim 34 further comprising a drive turbine rotatably mounted within the body for moving the cleaner body along a pool surface to be cleaned.