Swimming pool vacuum apparatus

Abstract

A vacuum apparatus ( 20 ) includes an intermediate chamber ( 30 ) interposed between inlet and outlet sections ( 28, 32 ). A fluid supply pipe ( 46 ) resides inside the intermediate chamber ( 30 ) and supplies fluid ( 62 ) under pressure toward the outlet section ( 32 ). An inner diameter ( 96 ) the outlet section ( 32 ) is smaller than an inner diameter ( 94 ) of the intermediate chamber ( 30 ). The introduction of the high pressure fluid ( 62 ) and the inner diameter of the outlet section ( 32 ) relative to the inner diameter of the intermediate chamber ( 30 ) creates a partial vacuum to induce a flow of water ( 98 ) and contaminants ( 22 ) from a submerged surface ( 24 ) of a reservoir ( 26 ) through the vacuum apparatus ( 20 ). The water ( 98 ) and contaminants ( 22 ) are subsequently discharged from the reservoir ( 26 ) through a discharge hose ( 44 ) coupled to the outlet section ( 32 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vacuum apparatus for removing contaminants from a submerged surface of a reservoir comprising: 
 an inlet section having a first inlet end and a second inlet end;    an intermediate chamber having a first chamber end and a second chamber end, said first chamber end being in fluid communication with said second inlet end, and said intermediate chamber exhibiting a first inner diameter;    an outlet section having a first outlet end in fluid communication with said second chamber end, said outlet section exhibiting a second inner diameter that is less than said first inner diameter; and    a fluid supply pipe residing inside said intermediate chamber and having a fluid port directed toward said outlet section, said fluid supply pipe supplying fresh fluid under pressure from said fluid port toward said outlet section to induce a flow of fluid and said contaminants from said reservoir into said first inlet end of said inlet section and through said intermediate chamber and said outlet section.    
     
     
         2 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inlet section exhibits a third inner diameter, said third inner diameter being approximately equivalent to said first inner diameter of said intermediate chamber.  
     
     
         3 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inlet section exhibits a third inner diameter, said third inner diameter being less than said first inner diameter of said intermediate chamber.  
     
     
         4 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an extension member formed at said first inlet end and oriented transverse to said inlet section.  
     
     
         5 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a flexible rubber member coupled to a rear edge of said inlet section at said first inlet end.  
     
     
         6 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a pile material at said first inlet end of said inlet section.  
     
     
         7 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said pile material is removably coupled to said inlet section at said first inlet end.  
     
     
         8 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inlet section is formed from a flexible plastic, and said inlet section flexes to accommodate non-uniformities in said surface.  
     
     
         9 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said second inner diameter of said outlet section is in a range of twenty-five to fifty percent smaller than said first inner diameter.  
     
     
         10 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said outlet section has a second outlet end, and said apparatus further comprises a discharge hose coupled to said second outlet end for discharging said fluid and said contaminants from said reservoir.  
     
     
         11 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluid supply pipe residing inside said intermediate chamber is approximately axially aligned with said intermediate chamber.  
     
     
         12 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluid supply pipe is radially positioned toward a center of said intermediate chamber.  
     
     
         13 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluid port of said fluid supply pipe is located proximate said second chamber end of said intermediate chamber.  
     
     
         14 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluid supply pipe comprises: 
 an interior portion located inside of said intermediate chamber, said fluid port being located at a first end of said interior portion;  
 an exterior portion located outside of said intermediate chamber having a second end; and  
 a coupling located at said second end for connection to a fluid supply hose for supplying said fresh fluid to said fluid supply pipe.  
 
     
     
         15 . A vacuum apparatus for removing contaminants from a submerged surface of a reservoir comprising: 
 an inlet section having a first inlet end and a second inlet end;    an extension member formed at said first inlet end and oriented transverse to said inlet section;    a flexible rubber member coupled along a rear edge of said extension member;    a pile material coupled to said flexible rubber member;    an intermediate chamber having a first chamber end and a second chamber end, said first chamber end being in fluid communication with said second inlet end, and said intermediate chamber exhibiting a first inner diameter;    an outlet section having a first outlet end in fluid communication with said second chamber end, said outlet section exhibiting a second inner diameter that is less than said first inner diameter; and    a fluid supply pipe residing inside said intermediate chamber and having a fluid port directed toward said outlet section, said fluid supply pipe supplying fresh fluid under pressure from said fluid port toward said outlet section to induce a flow of fluid and said contaminants from said reservoir into said first inlet end of said inlet section and through said intermediate chamber and said outlet section.    
     
     
         16 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said inlet section is formed from a flexible plastic, and said inlet section flexes to accommodate non-uniformities in said surface.  
     
     
         17 . A vacuum apparatus for removing contaminants from a submerged surface of a reservoir comprising: 
 an inlet section having a first inlet end and a second inlet end, said inlet section exhibiting a first inner diameter;    an intermediate chamber having a first chamber end and a second chamber end, said first chamber end being coupled to said second inlet end, and said intermediate chamber exhibiting a second inner diameter;    an outlet section having a first outlet end and a second outlet end, said first outlet end being in fluid communication with said second chamber end, and said outlet section exhibiting a third inner diameter, said first and third inner diameters being less than said second inner diameter;    a fluid supply pipe residing inside said intermediate chamber and having a fluid port directed toward said outlet section, said fluid supply pipe being radially positioned toward a center of said intermediate chamber, and said fluid supply pipe supplying fresh fluid under pressure from said fluid port toward said outlet section to induce a flow of fluid and said contaminants from said reservoir into said first inlet end of said inlet section and through said intermediate chamber and said outlet section; and    a discharge hose coupled to said second outlet end for discharging said fluid and said contaminants from said reservoir.    
     
     
         18 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said fluid supply pipe comprises: 
 an interior portion located inside of said intermediate chamber, said fluid port being located at a first end of said interior portion;  
 an exterior portion located outside of said intermediate chamber and having a second end; and  
 a coupling located at said second end for connection to a fluid supply hose for supplying said fresh fluid to said fluid supply pipe.  
 
     
     
         19 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said fluid supply pipe is approximately axially aligned with said intermediate chamber.  
     
     
         20 . A vacuum apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said fluid port of said fluid supply pipe is located proximate said second chamber end of said intermediate chamber.