Pool cleaning device with improved bottom topography

Abstract

The pool cleaning device of the invention has a housing bottom with an elliptically-beveled suction hole inlet and optional topographical features that facilitate smooth flow of water to and into the suction hole so as to improve capture of tree leaves and other debris. The optional topographical features include a sloped bottom along the leading edge to minimize the possibility of debris catching on the outer edge of the housing bottom, a bottom suction cavity with or without partitions designed to direct debris toward the elliptically-beveled suction hole inlet, and a fender that partially wraps around a cylindrical rotary brush along the leading edge of the housing.

1 . A pool cleaning device for removing dirt and debris from a submerged surface of a pool, comprising:
 a housing having a centrally-located suction hole with an elliptically-beveled inlet on the bottom of the housing and a tubular outlet on the top of the housing for connecting the suction hole to a suction means;   a means of moving the pool cleaning device along the submerged surface of the pool; and   a means of maintaining a substantially constant bottom gap between the bottom of the housing and the submerged surface of the pool as the pool cleaning device is moved along the submerged surface of the pool,   whereby tree leaves and other debris are more effectively captured as the pool cleaning device, connected to a suction means, is moved along the submerged surface of the pool.   
     
     
         2 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing bottom has a sloped edge along at least one side of the housing to provide a graded spacing between the housing bottom and the submerged surface of the pool on the leading edge of the pool cleaning device to minimize the possibility of debris catching on the outer edge of the housing bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a bottom suction cavity. 
     
     
         4 . A pool cleaning device for removing dirt and debris from a submerged surface of a pool, comprising:
 a rectangular housing having two short and two long housing sides, a housing bottom with a housing bottom planar area and a centrally-located suction hole having an elliptically-beveled inlet, and a housing top with a pole attachment fitting and a tubular outlet for connecting the suction hole to a suction means via a hose; and   at least four transport wheels rotatably attached to said rectangular housing via transport wheel axles so as to enable the pool cleaning device to be rolled along the submerged surface of the pool with the long housing sides perpendicular to the direction of motion and the width of the bottom gap between the housing bottom and submerged surface of the pool remaining substantially constant,   whereby tree leaves and other debris are effectively captured as the pool cleaning device, connected to a suction means, is rolled back and forth over the swimming pool bottom by an operator pulling and pushing on a pole attached to the pole attachment fitting.   
     
     
         5 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 4 , wherein two of said transport wheels are attached to each of the opposite housing short sides. 
     
     
         6 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least two and preferably four support wheels located on the housing bottom around the periphery of the suction hole so as to maintain the spacing between the housing bottom and the submerged surface of the pool around the suction hole substantially uniform and constant at the predetermined value.   
     
     
         7 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 4 , wherein the housing bottom has sloped edges along each of the long housing sides to provide a graded spacing between the housing bottom and the submerged surface of the pool on the leading edge of the pool cleaning device to minimize the possibility of debris catching on the outer edge of the housing bottom. 
     
     
         8 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a bottom suction cavity having a top surface. 
     
     
         9 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 8 , wherein the top surface of the suction cavity comprises inclined areas on either side of suction hole that extend to the housing bottom planar area. 
     
     
         10 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 8 , wherein the bottom suction cavity comprises one or more partitions to direct the flow of water and debris toward the elliptically-beveled suction hole inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 two cylindrical rotary brushes each having a brush axle rotatably attached at both ends to said rectangular housing so as to be parallel with the transport wheel axles and adjacent to one of the opposing long housing sides such that the bristles of said cylindrical rotary brushes contact the swimming pool bottom; and   at least two rotary drive mechanisms whereby rotation of said transport wheels, produced by rolling the pool cleaning device along the submerged surface of the pool, causes at least one of said cylindrical brushes to rotate about its brush axle in the same rotational direction as said transport wheels,   whereby tree leaves and other debris are more effectively captured due to a downward sweeping action produced by rotation of the cylindrical rotary brush on the leading edge as the pool cleaning device, connected to a suction means, is rolled back and forth over the submerged surface of the pool by an operator pulling and pushing on a pole attached to the pole attachment fitting.   
     
     
         12 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 two curved fenders each attached to said rectangular housing along one of the housing long sides so as to partially wrap around the top of one of said cylindrical rotary brushes and increase water flow through the bottom portion of the brush so as to enhance capture of tree leaves and other debris.   
     
     
         13 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a sufficient amount of weight, attached to said housing, to press said transport wheels against the swimming pool bottom with sufficient force to produce adequately fast rotation of said cylindrical rotary brushes.   
     
     
         14 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein said rotary drive mechanisms are geared such that said cylindrical brushes rotate at a rotational rate that is greater than the rotational rate of said transport wheels. 
     
     
         15 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein said rotary drive mechanisms include a ratchet connection such that rotation of the transport wheels causes the cylindrical brush on the leading edge of the pool cleaning device to rotate but does not cause the cylindrical brush on the trailing edge of the pool cleaning device to rotate. 
     
     
         16 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein the brush axles and the housing are flexible so that the housing bottom tends to conform to curvature of the swimming pool bottom. 
     
     
         17 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the brush axles is supported at one or more intermediate locations between the ends of the brush axle by one or more brush axle supports fastened to said rectangular housing. 
     
     
         18 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least two cantilevered cross-beams perpendicular to the long sides of said rectangular housing,   wherein the axles of said transport wheels and said cylindrical rotary brushes are rotatably connected to the ends of said cantilevered cross-beams.   
     
     
         19 . The pool cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein each of the brush axles comprises two or more individual brush axle segments so as to increase the flexibility of said rectangular housing so that the housing bottom can better conform to curvature of the swimming pool bottom. 
     
     
         20 . A pool cleaning device for removing dirt and debris from a submerged surface of a pool, comprising:
 a rectangular housing having a housing bottom with a centrally-located suction hole with an elliptically-beveled inlet, and a housing top with a tubular outlet for connecting the suction hole to a suction means;   at least four transport wheels rotatably attached to said rectangular housing so as to enable the pool cleaning device to be moved along the submerged surface of the pool with the width of the bottom gap between the housing bottom and submerged surface of the pool remaining substantially constant;   at least one cylindrical rotary brush whose bristles contact the submerged surface of the pool; and   at least one electrical motor that drives rotation of at least one of the transport wheels, at least one of the rotary brushes, or both.