Pool cleaners

Abstract

A pool cleaner has a float and close proximity counterweight that together improve the applied torque to steer the pool cleaner, a body 13 has slots 33 diametrically opposed on the body 13 and these receive tangs 66 and 67 which depend from a circular body 68 . The body 68 carries a circular guide-way 69 with a guide 70 travelling between opposite ends of the guide-way. Afloat 26 is connected to the guide by two pivot arms 71 and 72 which have openings at their ends so that they slide into position and are retained in place by snap in retainers 73 and 74 . The guide 70 has a circular shoulder 75 and at opposite ends of the guide has projections 76 and 77 such that the rail 78 of the guide-way is retained between the surface 75 and the inner surfaces 78 and 79 of the projections 76 and 77 with the rail against the surface 80 . A corresponding structure is on the opposite side of the guide and this retains the rail 81 so that the guide slides around a circular path defined by the rails 78 and 81 . The guide 70 includes internal bores 82 and 83 at opposite ends and these are blind bores with an internal rib 84 so that stubs projecting from retainers 73 and 74 may snap fit into the bores 82 and 83 to retain the arms 71 and 72 in place and permit the pivoting action of the float 26 as illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

1 . In a self propelled pool cleaner of the pulsating flow type having a generally flat skirt, a hollow body having a lower aft end and an upper fore end, an inlet near the aft end of the body, the inlet being bounded by the skirt, an outlet near the fore end of the body and connectable to a hose, the body housing a valve and flow passage communicating between the inlet and outlet, the body having an upper side and a lower side and having its aft end coupled to the skirt and the body being inclined to the skirt, a float assembly, the float assembly having a float suspended from the upper side of the body, a float mounting mechanism positioned on the upper side of the body, the mounting mechanism permitting fore and aft movement of the float assembly as well as side to side movement of the float assembly, a counterweight opposite the float an improvement comprising:
 the mounting mechanism has a transversely extending guideway constraining the side to side movement of the float along the guideway independently of the fore and aft float movement;   the float being moveable sideways relative to the counterweight;   bilateral float stops limiting sideways travel of the float;   such that when the skirt is travelling along a pool wall the float travels toward its zenith and an uppermost stop is engaged before the float reaches its zenith, the float applying an upward moment to the body whereafter the float moves aft turning the pool cleaner down the wall.   
     
     
         2 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float is mounted with a first pivot mounting and the first pivot mounting is itself mounted with a guide moveable in a guide-way. 
     
     
         3 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float is mounted with a first pivot mounting and the first pivot mounting is itself mounted with a guide moveable in a guide-way, the guide-way being circular and extending around the body opposite the counter weight. 
     
     
         4 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the pool cleaner has a generally horizontal skirt and a body inclined to the vertical coupled to the skirt, a deflector wheel in a plane substantially at right angles to the body and having an upper portion of the deflector wheel blocking movement of the float. 
     
     
         5 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the pool cleaner has an inner tube with an inner tube support for a pool cleaner employing inner and outer tubes held within a two part main outer body, the inner tube having a diaphragm mounted in line with the inner tube forming an inner tube and diaphragm assembly, the outer tube forming a pressure chamber around the diaphragm, the inner tube support comprising a diaphragm holder surrounding the inner tube and holding the inner tube in axial alignment, the tube support having flow though passage means communicating with the pressure chamber, the support comprising a wall projecting across from an inner wall of the main body to the inner tube to hold the inner tube in fixed spaced relation to the inner wall of the main body, the flow though passage means comprises circumferentially spaced openings, the wall projecting across has an inner ring which fits into a circular channel in a collar in the diaphragm and the body is separable into two axially extending housing parts joined together at or adjacent the diaphragm holder. 
     
     
         6 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float mounting mechanism is axially adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float mounting mechanism includes a C-shaped clip on guideway and the body has axially spaced latches so that the body can clip into the float mounting mechanism with a hand insertable clip action. 
     
     
         8 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the body is made from two housing parts oval in cross-section where they join so that they separate when twisted. 
     
     
         9 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float is a pivoting float and the mounting mechanism has a transversely extending fore and aft float movement pivot axis, the fore and aft float movement pivot axis being moveable side to side as the float travels side to side. 
     
     
         10 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the counterweight is formed integrally with the body and is located just in front of the inlet. 
     
     
         11 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float is a pivoting float and the mounting mechanism has a transversely extending fore and aft float movement pivot axis, the fore and aft float movement pivot axis being moveable side to side as the float travels side to side, the float being suspended on a transverse pivot pin having a length about as wide as the body adjacent to the pivot pin. 
     
     
         12 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float is mounted with a first pivot mounting and the first pivot mounting is itself mounted with a guide moveable in a guide-way, the pool cleaner has a generally horizontal skirt and a body inclined to the vertical coupled to the skirt, a deflector wheel in a plane substantially at right angles to the body and having an upper portion of the deflector wheel blocking movement of the float. 
     
     
         13 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float is mounted with a first pivot mounting and the first pivot mounting is itself mounted with a guide moveable in a guide-way, the pool cleaner has a generally horizontal skirt and a body inclined to the vertical coupled to the skirt, a deflector wheel in a plane substantially at right angles to the body and having an upper portion of the deflector wheel blocking movement of the float and the float mounting mechanism is axially adjustable. 
     
     
         14 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the float is a pivoting float and the mounting mechanism has a transversely extending fore and aft float movement pivot axis, the fore and aft float movement pivot axis being moveable side to side as the float travels side to side, the float being suspended on a transverse pivot pin having a length about as wide as the body adjacent to the pivot pin, the pool cleaner has a generally horizontal skirt and a body inclined to the vertical coupled to the skirt, a deflector wheel in a plane substantially at right angles to the body and having an upper portion of the deflector wheel blocking movement of the float. 
     
     
         15 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the counterweight is formed integrally with the body and is located just in front of the inlet the float is a pivoting float and the mounting mechanism has a transversely extending fore and aft float movement pivot axis, the fore and aft float movement pivot axis being moveable side to side as the float travels side to side, the float being suspended on a transverse pivot pin having a length about as wide as the body adjacent to the pivot pin 
     
     
         16 . In a self propelled pool cleaner of the pulsating flow type having a generally flat skirt, a hollow body having a lower aft end and an upper fore end, an inlet near the aft end of the body, the inlet being bounded by the skirt, an outlet near the fore end of the body and connectable to a hose, the body housing a valve and flow passage communicating between the inlet and outlet, the body having an upper side and a lower side and having its aft end coupled to the skirt and the body being inclined to the skirt, a pivoting float assembly, the float assembly having a float suspended from the upper side of the body, a float mounting mechanism positioned on the upper side of the body, the mounting mechanism permitting fore and aft movement of the float assembly as well as side to side movement of the float assembly, a counterweight mounted opposite the float mounting mechanism an improvement comprising:
 the hollow body has a central axis;   the counterweight is located adjacent to the inlet opposite the mounting mechanism;   the mounting mechanism is located adjacent the inlet and being directly above the counterweight in opposed relation;   the mounting mechanism having bilateral float stops limiting sideways travel of the float such that when the skirt is travelling along a pool wall the float travels toward its zenith and the uppermost stop is engaged before the float reaches its zenith, as the cleaner begins to travel horizontally the body is urged to rotate about its central axis by the counterweight applying a downward rotational force on one side of the central axis while the float applies an upward rotational force on the opposite side of the central axis, the upward rotational force being applied to the body in the vicinity of the counterweight.   
     
     
         17 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the float is mounted with a first pivot mounting and the first pivot mounting is itself mounted with a guide moveable in a guide-way. 
     
     
         18 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the float is mounted with a first pivot mounting and the first pivot mounting is itself mounted with a guide moveable in a guide-way, the guide-way being circular extending around the body opposite the counter weight. 
     
     
         19 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the pool cleaner has a generally horizontal skirt and a body inclined to the vertical coupled to the skirt, a deflector wheel in a plane substantially at right angles to the body and having an upper portion of the deflector wheel blocking movement of the float. 
     
     
         20 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the pool cleaner has an inner tube with an inner tube support for a pool cleaner employing inner and outer tubes held within a two part main outer body, the inner tube having a diaphragm mounted in line with the inner tube forming an inner tube and diaphragm assembly, the outer tube forming a pressure chamber around the diaphragm, the inner tube support comprising a diaphragm holder surrounding the inner tube and holding the inner tube in axial alignment, the tube support having flow though passage means communicating with the pressure chamber, the support comprising a wall projecting across from an inner wall of the main body to the inner tube to hold the inner tube in fixed spaced relation to the inner wall of the main body, the flow though passage means comprises circumferentially spaced openings, the wall projecting across has an inner ring which fits into a circular channel in a collar in the diaphragm and the body is separable into two axially extending housing parts joined together at or adjacent the diaphragm holder. 
     
     
         21 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the float mounting mechanism is axially adjustable. 
     
     
         22 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the float mounting mechanism includes a C-shaped clip on guideway and the body has axially spaced latches so that the body can clip into the float mounting mechanism with a hand insertable clip action. 
     
     
         23 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the body is made from two housing parts oval in cross-section where they join so that they separate when twisted. 
     
     
         24 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the float is a pivoting float and the mounting mechanism has a transversely extending fore and aft float movement pivot axis, the fore and aft float movement pivot axis being moveable side to side as the float travels side to side. 
     
     
         25 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the mounting mechanism has a transversely extending guideway constraining the side to side movement of the float along the guideway independently of the fore and aft float movement. 
     
     
         26 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the counterweight is formed integrally with the body and is located just in front of the inlet. 
     
     
         27 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the mounting mechanism has a transversely extending guideway constraining the side to side movement of the float along the guideway independently of the fore and aft float, the counterweight is formed integrally with the body and is located just in front of the inlet. 
     
     
         28 . In a self propelled pool cleaner according to  claim 16  wherein the float is mounted with a first pivot mounting and the first pivot mounting is itself mounted with a guide moveable in a guide-way, the guide-way being circular extending around the body opposite the counter weight, the pool cleaner has a generally horizontal skirt and a body inclined to the vertical coupled to the skirt, a deflector wheel in a plane substantially at right angles to the body and having an upper portion of the deflector wheel blocking movement of the float. 
     
     
         29 . A self propelled pool cleaner of the pulsating flow type having a generally flat skirt, a hollow body having a lower aft end and an upper fore end, an inlet near the aft end of the body and connectable to a hose, the inlet being bounded by the skirt, an outlet near the fore end of the body, the body housing a valve and flow passage communicating between the inlet and outlet, the body having an upper side and a lower side and having its aft end coupled to the skirt and the body being inclined to the skirt, a pivoting float assembly, the float assembly having a float suspended from the upper side of the body, a counterweight opposite the float, a float mounting mechanism positioned on the upper side of the body, the mounting mechanism including means for permitting fore and aft pivoting movement of the float assembly as well as side to side movement of the float assembly relative to the opposing counterweight, the mounting mechanism having a transversely extending fore and aft float movement pivot axis, the fore and aft float movement pivot axis being moveable side to side as the float travels side to side, means for limiting sideways travel of the float, the counterweight and the float mounting mechanism being just in front of the inlet.