Pool or tank cleaning vehicle with a powered brush

Abstract

A pool cleaning vehicle is described comprising a body mounted on wheels such that it can roll over a surface. The body carries a water inlet port and a water outlet port with the inlet port being located on the bottom of the body. It also has a filter mechanism interposed between the inlet and outlet ports. An electric motor mounted is on the body between the two sides of the body with a shaft extending out of it with a propeller mounted on the shaft. The motor is mounted such that the propeller expels water out of the outlet port. A roller brush extends between the same two sides of the body generally transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle and the roller brush is rotated by the electric motor via a linkage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pool cleaning vehicle comprising:
 a body mounted on wheels such that it can roll over a surface, the body carrying a water inlet port and a water outlet port with the inlet port being located on the bottom of the body and a filter mechanism interposed between the inlet and outlet port;   an electric motor mounted on the body between the two sides of the body with a shaft extending from the motor with a propeller mounted on the shaft, the motor mounted such that the propeller expels water out of the outlet port;   a roller brush extending between the same two sides of the body generally transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle, the roller brush being rotated by the electric motor via a linkage.   
     
     
         2 . A pool cleaning vehicle comprising:
 a body mounted on wheels such that it can roll over a surface, the body carrying water inlet and outlet ports, with the inlet ports being located on the bottom of the body, the outlet ports directing water flow in two opposing directions and a filter mechanism interposed between the inlet and outlet ports;   an electric motor mounted on the body between the two sides of the body operatively rotating a propeller, the motor mounted such that the propeller expels water out of one of the outlet ports;   a roller brush extending between the same two sides of the body generally transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle, the roller brush being rotated by the electric motor via a linkage.   
     
     
         3 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the wheels is independent of the rotation of the roller brush. 
     
     
         4 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the roller brush is driven by the motor which does not drive the wheels. 
     
     
         5 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the roller brush comprises a cylindrical shaft carrying a plurality of scrapping members and being rotationally affixed to the body such that these scrapping members contact the surface over which the vehicle rolls on its wheels. 
     
     
         6 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a roller brush is provided proximate each end of the vehicle, the roller brushes being is transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle and extending between the two sides of the body which are parallel to the direction of travel. 
     
     
         7 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein only one roller brush is driven at a time. 
     
     
         8 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein both roller brushes are driven to rotate in a common direction. 
     
     
         9 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage between the electric motor and the roller brush is a gear train with a clutch or one or more drive belts arranged such that, if the rotation of the roller brush is inhibited, slippage occurs which allows the motor to continue rotating. 
     
     
         10 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the wheels are mounted to the body via axles proximate to either end of the body in the direction of travel and the motor is mounted along the midline of the body in the direction of travel approximately half way between and just above the axles. 
     
     
         11 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the filter mechanism extends in a generally vertical direction. 
     
     
         12 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein a filter assembly is provided on either side of the motor. 
     
     
         13 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein a hollow shaft is provided on each of the sides of the vehicle parallel to the direction of travel and two side arms of a telescoping handle are slidably contained in the two shafts, are joined at their ends which project out of the shafts by a crosspiece and either carry a locking mechanism which interacts with these shafts or interact with a mechanism mounted one or both of these shafts to prevent the side arms from fully withdrawing from these shafts. 
     
     
         14 . A pool cleaning vehicle with a roller brush comprising:
 a body mounted on wheels such that it can roll over a surface, the body carrying water inlet and outlet ports with the inlet ports being located on the bottom of the body and the outlet ports directing water flow in one of two opposite directions;   an electric motor mounted on the body about midway between and parallel to two sides of the body parallel to the direction of travel with a first shaft extending out of either end with a propeller mounted on either end of this shaft, the motor mounted such that the propellers expel water out of one or the other of the outlet ports depending on the direction of rotation of the shaft;   a gear box mounted on the first shaft between a propeller and the electric motor, the gear box translating the rotation of the shaft by some angle;   a first pulley attached to a second shaft which extends from the gear box and rotates in the directions that water is expelled from the outlet ports;   a system of pulleys and drive belts which transmits the rotation of this first pulley to the roller brush such that this second shaft can continue to rotate when the rotation of the roller brush is obstructed;   this roller brush extends between the same two sides of the body generally transverse to the direction of travel, carryies a plurality of scrapping members and is rotationally affixed at its ends to the body such that these scrapping members contact the surface over which the vehicle rolls on its wheels.   
     
     
         15 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 14  wherein a first belt connects this first pulley to a second pulley mounted on the end of a third shaft which is perpendicular to the directions in which water is expelled from the outlet ports and the second pulley is midway between the same two sides of the body;
 the third shaft extends to one of these sides, is rotationally affixed to the body and carries a third pulley; 
 a second belt connects this third pulley to a fourth pulley mounted on the end of a fourth shaft such that this second belt drives the rotation of the roller brush. 
 
     
     
         16 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the roller brush is mounted adjacent to one of the end of the body such that as the vehicle moves over the surface on its wheels, it is at the leading or trailing edge of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the fourth shaft is not attached to the roller brush;
 the roller brush has an axle on which it rotates which protrudes longitudinally out of each end of its body; and 
 the second belt interacts frictionally with a protruding end of this axle to drive rotation of the roller brush. 
 
     
     
         18 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 14  wherein the body carries two inlet ports on its bottom with each port being on the opposite side of the midline of the body parallel to electric motor from the other;
 a filter which is parallel to this midline is interposed between each inlet port and the outlet ports; 
 a hollow shaft between each filter and a side of the body which is parallel to this midline; and 
 two side arms of a telescoping handle which are slidably contained in the two shafts and which are joined at their ends which project out of the shafts by a crosspiece and carry a locking mechanism which interacts with these shafts or a mechanism mounted on these shafts to prevent the side arms from fully withdrawing from these shafts. 
 
     
     
         19 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 18  wherein the locking mechanisms of the shafts is adequate to jointly support the weight of the vehicle in open air such that the vehicle can be suspended in open air by the crosspiece of the telescoping handle. 
     
     
         20 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 18  wherein the telescoping handle projects out of the same end of the vehicle as carries the roller brush. 
     
     
         21 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 14  wherein two of the wheels on which the vehicle rolls are each mounted on an opposite side of the vehicle from the other such that the roller brush lies between them with its long axis running between these two opposite sides. 
     
     
         22 . The pool cleaning vehicle of  claim 14  wherein each wheel and the end of the roller brush adjacent to that wheel are rotationally affixed to a common bracket which is in turn affixed to the body of the vehicle.