Guide device for an automatic device for cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid

Abstract

An automatic device for cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid, includes a body able to move in a substantially linear manner along the immersed surface and a cylindrical sleeve connected to the body including an inlet and an outlet through which the liquid is ejected when the cleaning device is operating. The device further includes: a) a first orifice on one of the lateral faces of the sleeve; and b) elements for selectively covering the first orifice so as: i) to cover the first orifice when the body is moving in a substantially linear manner along the immersed surface; and ii) not to cover the first orifice when the body is immobilized and can no longer move in a substantially linear manner along the immersed surface.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An automatic device for cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid, including a body able to move in a substantially linear manner along the immersed surface and a sleeve connected to said body including an inlet and an outlet through which the liquid is ejected when said cleaning device is operating, the device further including:
 a) a first orifice on one of the lateral faces of said sleeve; and   b) means for selectively covering said first orifice so as:
 i) to cover said first orifice when the body is moving in a substantially linear manner along the immersed surface; and 
 ii) not to cover said first orifice when the body is immobilized and can no longer move in a substantially linear manner along the immersed surface. 
   
     
     
         25 . A cleaning device according to  claim 24 , wherein the means for selectively covering said first orifice include:
 c) a resistance plate adapted to pivot relative to said sleeve; and   d) a cover connected to said resistance plate and adapted to cover or uncover said first orifice according to the pivoting of the resistance plate.   
     
     
         26 . An automatic device for cleaning an immersed surface including:
 i) a body including a liquid inlet and a first liquid outlet;   ii) a sleeve of cylindrical section connected to said body and including a second liquid outlet via which the liquid is ejected along a path substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve;   iii) a first orifice on one of the lateral faces of the sleeve through which the liquid is ejected along a path substantially perpendicular to said sleeve; and   iv) a resistance plate adapted to pivot relative to the sleeve and including means for selectively covering said first orifice.   
     
     
         27 . A cleaning device according to  claim 25 , wherein the means for selectively covering said first orifice further include a float that enables the resistance plate to pivot relative to the sleeve. 
     
     
         28 . A cleaning device according to  claim 25 , wherein the resistance plate has the shape of an arc having a concave side that faces away from the outlet of the sleeve. 
     
     
         29 . A cleaning device according to  claim 27 , wherein the means for selectively covering said first orifice are connected to the sleeve by a shaft, said shaft and the outlet of the sleeve being situated on opposite sides of the center of buoyancy of the float. 
     
     
         30 . A cleaning device according to  claim 27 , wherein the float adjoins the resistance plate on the outside of the arc and is disposed above said cover. 
     
     
         31 . A cleaning device according to  claim 24 , including a first wall inside the sleeve adapted to direct liquid flowing through said sleeve towards said first orifice. 
     
     
         32 . A cleaning device according to  claim 24 , including a second orifice on a lateral face of the sleeve opposite that including the first orifice, the second orifice being smaller than the first orifice. 
     
     
         33 . A cleaning device according to  claim 32 , including a second wall inside the sleeve adapted to direct liquid flowing through said sleeve towards said second orifice. 
     
     
         34 . A cleaning device according to  claim 24 , wherein the body includes a water inlet adapted to receive a liquid containing debris and filter means for separating the debris from the liquid and retaining only the debris. 
     
     
         35 . A cleaning device according to  claim 24  adapted to be connected to a pump, wherein the body further includes an exhaust passage through which the liquid is ejected when said cleaning system is operating. 
     
     
         36 . A cleaning device according to  claim 34 , wherein said means for selectively covering said first orifice are at the outlet of said exhaust passage. 
     
     
         37 . An automatic cleaning device according to  claim 24 , further including a connector part adapted to turn relative to the body about a vertical axis, the sleeve being fastened to said connector part so that it is able to rotate freely about a vertical axis and relative to the vacuum cleaner body. 
     
     
         38 . An automatic cleaning device for cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid, including a body and a sleeve connected to said body and via which the liquid is ejected when said cleaning device is operating, said cleaning device including:
 i) a liquid inlet adapted to receive and to contain the liquid, such as swimming pool water, containing debris;   ii) means at least partially inside the body for separating the debris from the liquid and retaining said debris separated from the liquid;   iii) a first orifice on one of the lateral faces of the sleeve; and   iv) means for selectively covering said first orifice.   
     
     
         39 . Method of cleaning immersed surfaces of a swimming pool, which comprises moving the cleaning device according to  claim 24  over the immersed surfaces. 
     
     
         40 . A guide device for an automatic system for cleaning immersed surfaces adapted to be moved by a water jet, including a cylindrical sleeve adapted to have the water jet pass through it and having on one of its lateral faces a hole, a pivot system including a resistance plate, a float, and a cover, the resistance plate being adapted to cause the pivot system to pivot in a first direction so that the cover covers said hole, and the float being adapted to cause the pivot system to pivot in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the cover frees said hole and the liquid leaving via said hole drives rotation of the sleeve. 
     
     
         41 . A guide device according to  claim 40 , wherein the resistance plate has the shape of an arc having a concave side that faces away from an outlet of the sleeve. 
     
     
         42 . A guide device according to  claim 41 , wherein the pivot system is connected to the cylindrical sleeve by a shaft, said shaft being on the opposite side of the center of buoyancy of the float to the outlet of the sleeve. 
     
     
         43 . A guide device according to  claim 42 , wherein the float adjoins the resistance plate on the side outside the arc and is above said cover. 
     
     
         44 . A guide device according to  claim 39 , including a wall inside the sleeve adapted to direct the liquid passing through said sleeve towards said first hole. 
     
     
         45 . An automatic cleaning device for cleaning a surface immersed in a liquid, adapted to be connected to a pump and including a body including an exhaust passage via which the liquid is ejected when said cleaning system is operating, wherein said cleaning device includes a guide device according to  claim 39  disposed at the outlet of said exhaust passage. 
     
     
         46 . An automatic cleaning device according to  claim 45 , further including a connector part adapted to turn relative to the body about a vertical axis, said guide device being fastened to said connector part so that the cylindrical sleeve is able to rotate freely about the vertical axis relative to the body of the vacuum cleaner.