An improved pool cleaner is provided of the type for submerged random travel generally along the floor and sidewalls of a swimming pool to dislodge and collect debris. The pool cleaner comprises an hydraulically contoured housing consisting of a limited number of shell shaped housing portions designed for rapid assembly about an integrated drive assembly having a water-powered drive train encased within the housing and rotatable wheels outside the housing for supporting and driving the pool cleaner. Water under pressure is supplied through a water supply mast detachably mounted on the housing for flow into a pressure manifold from which individual water flows are coupled through appropriately sized nozzles to drive a water turbine of the drive train and through a plurality of jet pump orifices opening generally upwardly about the inner diameter of an open central suction mast through which debris is drawn upwardly into a collection bag. In addition, water from the pressure manifold may be directed through a rearwardly open thrust jet positioned for improved cleaner stability and a rearwardly open sweep hose jet coupled to a flexible sweep hose. A back up valve assembly is mounted within the housing and includes an hydraulic timer responsive to a small bleed flow from the supply mast to periodically divert the pressurized water inflow to a back up jet oriented to drive the cleaner rearwardly and/or upwardly for a short time interval thereby preventing entrapment of the cleaner in a confined region of the pool such as a corner.
A device for automatically cleaning the bottom and walls of a swimming-pool includes a suction/discharge body (11) having an orifice or suction opening (12) and a discharge orifice (13), an ejector comprising a driving nozzle (14) and a venturi diffuser (15) and a moveable device (17) for collecting debris. The ejector is disposed inside the body (11) and the nozzle (14) is able to be connected to a discharge opening (5) of the swimming-pool via a conduit with one portion being formed by an accordion wall flexible pipe (10). The device further comprises a propulsion device which creates between the discharge opening (5) and the nozzle (14) a transient and repeated escapement of the pressurized water of the conduit externally so as to create a movement of the device by repeated elastic expansion/constriction of the flexible pipe (10).
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a water driven cleaning apparatus for aquatic bodies such as swimming pools which travels in any desired direction on the bottom of a swimming pool and has controls connected thereto which are operable by a person located adjacent to the pool. The water powered apparatus for cleaning aquatic bodies includes a rigid frame, a bin connected to the rigid frame for collecting and holding debris removed from the aquatic body, wheels connected to the rigid frame for supporting and moving the apparatus along the bottom of the aquatic body, a motor for driving the drive wheels, the motor being driven by water under pressure, and a suction tube connected to the rigid frame for inducting water from the aquatic body into the bin to remove debris from the water.
A pool cleaner is provided constructed of a body having freely moving wheels positioned thereon to contact the bottom surface of a pool, a large diverter wheel in front designed to contact the edge of a pool during operation, diverting the pool cleaner right or left, a water flow mechanism to hold the pool cleaner against the surface of a pool while picking up debris therefrom and a propulsion mechanism which utilizes water pressure to propel the pool cleaner forward and periodically backward to extricate it from tight quarters.
A suction head useful with a self-propelled submersible pool cleaner having an elevation limiter formed as an inverted, generally U-shaped pipe or bulging body connected to the suction head and being dimensioned and disposed such that when an outward extremity of the limiter breaks a surface of water as the suction head climbs a submerged pool wall, gravitational force diminishes any forward impetus of the suction head.
An apparatus for cleaning tubs filled with a liquid, wherein a suction device which can be moved by a drive communicating with a delivery pipe is arranged on a base of the tub. The drive is operated by a pressurized fluid and drives a water wheel which is non-positively coupled to a displacement device contacting the base of the tub. A filter unit is connected to a suction pipe of the suction device. The suction device has a guide system for to and from movements and a two-way valve is actuated by limit switches for alternative opening of a passage for reversing movement of the water wheel. The apparatus can be used in a washer chamber of an aeration plant.
