Automatic cleaner for swimming pools

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a automatic, self-propelling apparatus, or cleaning robot, for cleaning swimming pools.

[0002] At present cleaning devices of self-propelling type are known which, after being immersed into a swimming pool, are able to move on the bottom and on the walls of the latter to carry out the cleaning thereof by means of brushes and a debris-aspirating circuit.

[0003] These devices require the intervention of an operator to perform the complete working cycle and especially for cleaning the filters and/or removing the device from the swimming pool upon completion of the work.

[0004] Consequently, these known devices exhibit some drawbacks inasmuch as they need a relatively complex maintenance and manual interventions by the user.

[0005] A first object of the present invention is to propose a automatic cleaner for swimming pool which does not need any service operated by the user at the end of each work cycle.

[0006] A second object of the invention is to propose a automatic cleaner able to move onto the vertical walls of the swimming pools in an effective and safe manner to carry out the cleaning thereof.

[0007] A further object is to make it possible to clean, in addition to the walls and bottom of the swimming pool, also the surface of the water.

[0008] The above stated technical task and specified objects are substantially obtained by means of a automatic cleaner for swimming pools whose technical characteristics are set out in appended claim 1.

[0009] Document WO 2005/035909 describes an automatic cleaner having all the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from a reading of the indicative and, therefore, non-limitative description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a automatic cleaner, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

• Fig. 1 shows the apparatus according to the invention upon the return of same apparatus to its housing base for the automatic recharge and cleaning of the filter;
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the automatic cleaner according to the present invention showing separately enlarged details for the sake of clarity;
• Fig. 3 is a side view of the automatic cleaner according to the invention; and
• Fig. 4 is a top view of the cleaner of Fig. 3.

[0011] With reference to the attached figures, an automatic cleaner according to a preferred embodiment of the invention substantially comprises:

• an external body or case 1 with longitudinal axis "a";
• a plurality of driving wheels 2 with transverse axis in the direction "b" which are provided with at least an electrically powered motor 15 and having preferably an abrasive or brush-like surface S;
• at least two independent thrust turbines 3, 4 able to balance the thrusts on the machine's axis and disposed along the longitudinal axis "a" on the back side of body 1;
• one or more suction mouths disposed below the body 1 and able to convey the debris and dirt drawn by the fans of turbines 3, 4 into a collecting filter 8. In a preferred embodiment, the mouth 5 exhibits a shutter door 23 to prevent the outward reflux of the filtered water;
• control electronics interfaced with the turbines 3, 4, with the motor 15 and with possible sensors, to carry out a stored, automatic work cycle;
• one or more position sensors 18 to detect the inclination of the cleaner with respect to the vertical plane and ascertain whether the cleaning is carried out either on the bottom or on a vertical wall;
• one or more floating sensors 20 to sense the water level and disposed preferably in correspondence of the two sides 6 of body 1;
• one pair of vanes 16 located laterally and individually operable for the removal of dirt on the water surface in a given direction of movement.

[0012] With reference to Fig. 1 a cleaner 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is further provided with a base 10 for the automatic return of same cleaner, which base is applicable on the surface of the swimming pool or externally thereof by means of a suitable chute.

[0013] The base 10 is provided with a power outlet, preferably at low voltage, for a plug of preferably inductive and/or capacitive type to be automatically inserted therein for powering the cleaner.

[0014] In use, the displacement of the cleaner is obtained through the motion of a pulley 14 which, via a timing belt 13, transfers the motion from a motor 15 to the wheels 2 of the apparatus.

[0015] Such technical solution allows the turbines 3, 4 to push the cleaner onto the bottom of the swimming pool against the vertical walls to be cleaned, while the actuation of the wheels 2 determines the trajectory followed by the cleaner onto the work surface.

[0016] A suitable sensor, for example an impact sensor (not shown) solid to the body 1, sends a signal to the electronics when the cleaner strikes an obstacle in front thereof; this occurs normally when the cleaner is on the bottom of the swimming pool and encounters a vertical wall as it moves on.

[0017] When reaching a vertical wall, the cleaner can start climbing the wall by deactivating or reversing the thrust action exerted from the first turbine 3 disposed in the front region of the apparatus.

[0018] The front wheels 2 then start climbing the vertical wall, while the rear wheels continue to push the machine as they are pressed onto the bottom by the action of the second turbine 4 located at the back, until the cleaner reaches the vertical position.

[0019] At this point, the turbines 3, 4 are operated both in a thrust-mode again, to allow the cleaner to remain adherent to, and move along the wall.

[0020] The position of the apparatus, horizontal if on the bottom, or vertical if on the wall, is signalled to the control electronics by the position sensor 18, the latter being possibly of inertial type.

[0021] Upon completion of its work cycle, the cleaner starts the procedure for returning to the recharge base 10.

[0022] The cleaner then moves up to the surface level detected by the position sensor 18.

[0023] The cleaner maintains, while on the surface, a stable position by means of a floating sensor 20 which allows the vanes 16 to come into operation for maintaining a suitable distribution of the weights during the displacement on the surface.

[0024] Consequently, the control electronics activates the suitable vanes 16 located laterally of body 1, the action of vanes allowing the movement of the cleaner on the surface until it reaches the wall to move along the latter in a preset direction, for example in clockwise direction, by cleaning the critical region which corresponds to the line of water surface.

[0025] The automatic cleaning apparatus it is able to automatically return to the base 10 disposed in the swimming pool, or on the outside thereof (Fig. 1) in combination with a suitable guide chute 7, in which base the recharge of the battery and the cleaning of the filter 8 are performed.

[0026] Moreover, advantageously, during the movement on the surface, the vanes 16 convey the dirt, for example floating leaves, through the vanes into the collecting filter 8, thereby cleaning the water surface.

[0027] Along its return path, the cleaner comes sooner or later across the recharge base 10, the latter being housed in a seat 11 horizontally disposed and anchored at the wall of the swimming pool by a mechanism allowing it to remain aligned with the water level all the time.

[0028] The base is opened at least on the side of the incoming cleaner (in the illustrated case being the left side) which automatically moves into it and exits therefrom according to a programmed work cycle.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is provided with a plug which fits automatically into an outlet of the base for the electric power supply.

[0030] Advantageously, the recharge may take place by using electrical connections 21 formed directly on the back side of body 1.

[0031] In particular, when the cleaner returns to the base 10, the above connections 21 come in contact with respective connections 22 formed inside the same base 10 and which are in turn connected to the supply outlet.

[0032] The power is preferably supplied by a plug/outlet coupling of inductive type of low voltage (e.g., 12 - 24 V) to avoid any possible contact between metal parts and electric lines in the presence of water.

[0033] Once in the base 10, the cleaner starts recharging the battery and carries out the automatic cleaning of the filter 8.

[0034] Preferably, the cleaning of filter 8 takes place with a reversal of the thrust direction of turbines 3, 4 which carry out a counter-washing of the filter 8 by discharging the filtrate into a disposal container.

[0035] The turbines 3, 4 may be mounted as in Fig. 3, that is, with the blades in correspondence of the top side of the cleaning apparatus, or overturned with respect to the configuration of Fig. 3 in order to attain a more convenient point of suction height for the upward thrust during the surfacing movement, as well as to activate a water flow during the stage of counter-washing of filter 8.

[0036] Moreover, the base 10 is such constructed as to collect the dirt in a deposit easily accessible from the outside of the swimming pool.

[0037] When the battery of the cleaner is fully charged and the preset working time starts, the cleaner exits automatically out of base 10 to start a fresh work cycle.

[0038] It should be clear from the aforementioned that the present cleaner is advantageous over the traditional cleaners which require the intervention of the user both at the start (the cleaner has to be immersed in the water) and at the end (the cleaner has to be pulled out) of the cleaning cycle, and the manual cleaning of the filter.

[0039] The cleaner invention solves these problems by means of a mechanism allowing automatic procedures, by causing the cleaner to go back to the recharge base 10 upon completion of the work cycle.

Claims

1. Automatic cleaner for swimming pools comprising:

a body provided with motor-driven wheels arranged for displacement on a travel plane (F);

at least a suction mouth (5) disposed in correspondence of a lower surface of the body (1);

at least an exit mouth (19);

a control-operated turbine (3, 4) for activation thereof between said suction mouLh (5) and said exit mouth (19);

a collecting filter (8) located between said suction mouth (5) and said exit mouth (19);

a control-operable motorisation for driving the wheels (2);

at least a battery for electrically powering the said motorisation and the turbines (3, 4);

an electronic control unit for driving the wheels (2) and determining the displacement of the cleaner along the travel plane (F), and for activating the turbines (3, 4) to allow the latter to exert a thrust able to keep the body (1) in contact with the plane (F),

characterized in that there is at least a second control - operated turbine (3,4) for activation thereof between said suction month (5) and said exit month (19); and said turbines (3, 4) are disposed along a longitudinal run axis (a) of body (1), on the back side of body (1), and are individually control-operable to change the relevant thrust with respect to the plane (F) to allow the cleaner to move both along a horizontal plane and onto a vertical wall.

2. Cleaner according to claim 1, wherein provision is made for position sensors (20) for detecting the horizontal/vertical position of the cleaner.

3. Cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein sensors (18) are provided for detecting the presence of the water surface.

4. Cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an outlet for the electrical recharge of power supply.

5. Cleaner according to claim 4, wherein said power supply outlet is of inductive and/or capacitive type.

6. Cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a pair of vanes (16) sideway of body (1) which are individually control-operable for the movement in a given direction at the water surface and the removal of any surface dirt.

7. Cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said electronic control unit is programmable according to preset work cycles.

8. Cleaner according to any of the precoding claims, wherein at least one of said turbines (3, 4) is disposed with its blades in correspondence of the lower part of the cleaning apparatus in order to obtain a more convenient point of suction height.

9. Apparatus for cleaning swimming pools according to one of claims 1-8 and further comprising a base (10) for the automatic return of the cleaner, said base being provided with a body (1)-housing seat (11) which is open at a side for the admittance of same body (1) into the seat (11).

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising means for keeping said base (10) at the level of water surface.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said base (10) is provided with an external power supply of inductive and/or capacitive type.

Ansprüche

1. Automatischer Schwimmbeckenreiniger, Folgendes beinhaltend:

einen Körper, der mit motorbetriebenen Rädern ausgestattet ist, die für die Bewegung auf einer Fahrebene (F) angeordnet sind;

mindestens eine Ansaugöffnung (5), die an einer unteren Oberfläche des Körpers (1) angeordnet ist;

mindestens eine Ausgangsöffnung (19);

eine durch Befehl betätigte Turbine (3, 4), die zwischen der Ansaugöffnung (5) und der Ausgangsöffnung (19) aktiviert werden kann;

einen Sammelfilter (8), der zwischen der Ansaugöffnung (5) und der Ausgangsöffnung (19) angeordnet ist;

einen durch Befehl zu betätigenden Antrieb für die Räder (2);

mindestens eine Batterie zur elektrischen Versorgung des Antriebes und der Turbinen (3, 4);

eine elektronische Steuereinheit zum Antreiben der Räder (2) und Bestimmen der Bewegung des Reinigers auf der Fahrebene (F) und zum Aktivieren der Turbinen (3, 4), damit diese eine Schubkraft ausüben können, die in der Lage ist, den Körper (1) in Berührung mit der Ebene (F) zu halten,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zumindest eine zweite durch Befehl betätigte Turbine (3,4) zur Aktivierung zwischen der Ansaugöffnung (5) und der Ausgangsöffnung (19) vorhanden ist; und dass die Turbinen (3, 4) entlang einer Längslaufachse (a) des Körpers (1) auf der Rückseite des Körpers (1) angeordnet sind und einzeln durch Befehl betätigt werden können, um die jeweilige Schubkraft im Verhältnis zu der Ebene (F) zu ändern und es damit dem Reiniger zu ermöglichen, sich sowohl auf einer horizontalen Ebene als auch auf einer vertikalen Wand zu bewegen.

2. Reiniger nach Anspruch 1, worin Positionssensoren (20) zur Erkennung der horizontalen/vertikalen Lage des Reinigers vorgesehen sind.

3. Reiniger nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, worin Sensoren (18) zur Erkennung der Anwesenheit des Wasserspiegels vorgesehen sind.

4. Reiniger nach einem der vorgehenden Ansprüche, der eine Buchse zur elektrischen Wiederaufladung der Energieversorgung beinhaltet.

5. Reiniger nach Anspruch 4, worin die Energieversorgungsbuchse von induktivem und/oder kapazitivem Typ ist.

6. Reiniger nach einem der vorgehenden Ansprüche, der ferner ein Paar Schaufeln (16) an den Seiten des Körpers (1) beinhaltet, die einzeln durch Befehl betätigt werden können, um die Bewegung in einer vorgegebenen Richtung an der Wasseroberfläche und die Entfernung von Oberflächenschmutz zu ermöglichen.

7. Reiniger nach einem der vorgehenden Ansprüche, worin die elektronische Steuereinheit nach voreingestellten Arbeitszyklen programmierbar ist.

8. Reiniger nach einem der vorgehenden Ansprüche, worin zumindest eine der Turbinen (3, 4) so angeordnet ist, dass sich ihre Schaufeln am unteren Teil des Reinigungsgerätes befinden, um eine geeignetere Höhenanordnung des Ansaugpunktes zu erhalten.

9. Gerät zur Schwimmbeckenreinigung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8 und ferner beinhaltend eine Basis (10) für die automatische Rückkehr des Reinigers, wobei diese Basis eine zur Unterbringung des Körpers (1) dienende Aufnahme (11) aufweist, die an einer Seite offen ist, damit der Körper (1) in die Aufnahme (11) eintreten kann.

10. Gerät nach Anspruch 9, beinhaltend Mittel, die dazu dienen, die Basis (10) auf Höhe des Wasserspiegels zu halten.

11. Gerät nach Anspruch 9 oder 10, worin die Basis (10) mit einer externen Energieversorgung von induktivem und/oder kapazitivem Typ ausgestattet ist.

Revendications

1. Nettoyeur automatique pour bassins de natation, comprenant :

un corps muni de roues motorisées prévues pour un déplacement sur un plan de marche (F) ;

au moins une bouche d'aspiration (5) située au niveau d'une surface inférieure du corps (1) ;

au moins une bouche de sortie (19) ;

une turbine (3, 4) actionnable sur commande pour l'activation de celle-ci entre ladite bouche d'aspiration (5) et ladite bouche de sortie (19) ;

un filtre de collecte (8) situé entre ladite bouche d'aspiration (5) et ladite bouche de sortie (19) ;

une motorisation actionnable sur commande pour l'entraînement des roues (2) ;

au moins une batterie pour alimenter électriquement ladite motorisation et les turbines (3, 4) ;

une unité électronique de contrôle pour actionner les roues (2) et déterminer le déplacement du nettoyeur le long du plan de marche (F), et pour activer les turbines (3, 4) afin que ces dernières exercent une poussée à même de maintenir le corps (1) en contact avec le plan (F),

ledit nettoyeur étant caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend au moins une deuxième turbine (3, 4) actionnable sur commande pour l'activation de celle-ci entre ladite bouche d'aspiration (5) et

ladite bouche de sortie (19) ; et en ce que lesdites turbines (3, 4) sont disposées le long d'un axe longitudinal (a) de marche du corps (1),

à l'arrière dudit corps (1), et sont actionnables séparément sur commande pour faire varier la poussée correspondante par rapport au plan (F) afin de permettre au nettoyeur de se déplacer à la fois le long d'un plan horizontal et sur une paroi verticale.

2. Nettoyeur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que des capteurs de position (20) sont prévus pour détecter la position horizontale/verticale du nettoyeur.

3. Nettoyeur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que des capteurs (18) sont prévus pour détecter la présence de la surface de l'eau.

4. Nettoyeur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant une prise pour la recharge électrique de l'alimentation.

5. Nettoyeur selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ladite prise d'alimentation est de type inductif et/ou capacitif.

6. Nettoyeur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre une paire de pales (16), latéralement au corps (1), qui sont actionnables séparément sur commande pour permettre le mouvement dans une direction donnée au niveau de la surface de l'eau et l'élimination des éventuelles saletés en surface.

7. Nettoyeur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ladite unité électronique de contrôle est programmable selon des cycles de travail prédéfinis.

8. Nettoyeur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins l'une desdites turbines (3, 4) est disposée avec ses pales au niveau de la partie inférieure du dispositif de nettoyage afin d'obtenir une hauteur plus appropriée du point d'aspiration.

9. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de bassins de natation selon une des revendications de 1 à 8 et comprenant en outre une base (10) pour le retour automatique du nettoyeur, ladite base présentant un logement (11) pour contenir le corps (1) et qui est ouvert d'un côté pour l'entrée dudit corps (1) dans ledit logement (11).

10. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, comprenant des moyens destinés à maintenir ladite base (10) au niveau de la surface de l'eau.

11. Dispositif selon la revendication 9 ou 10, caractérisé en ce que ladite base (10) est munie d'une alimentation externe de type inductif et/ou capacitif.

Drawing