Suction-type cleaning device for submerged surfaces

Abstract

An improved suction-type cleaning device for cleaning submerged surfaces has a turbine rotatably mounted within a turbine chamber for moving the device. The device also includes an inlet nozzle and an outlet port, which are in communication with the turbine chamber and allow fluid and debris to flow along a fluid flow path therebetween, through the turbine chamber, which rotates the turbine. Baffles are arranged within the turbine chamber and cooperate with endplates of the turbine to restrict the flow of fluid through the fluid flow path. Additionally, the turbine includes a body with vanes, each having tips, and the endplates are sized and shaped such that their peripheral edges extend beyond the tips. The outlet end of the inlet nozzle is positioned proximate to the tips of the vanes and between the peripheral edges of the endplates, without interfering with the rotation of the turbine, thereby directing the flow of fluid more directly to the turbine. The outlet end of the inlet nozzle has a notched portion and an unnotched portion and is positioned proximate to the tips of the vanes such that the tips move past the unnotched portion first, whereby the turbine rotates more efficiently.

I claim:  
     
         1 . In a suction-type cleaning device for cleaning submerged surfaces including a housing having a fluid inlet nozzle, a fluid outlet port, and a turbine chamber within said housing, said fluid inlet nozzle and said fluid outlet port each being in communication with said turbine chamber such that a fluid flow pathway is created for the flow of fluid through said turbine chamber from said fluid inlet nozzle to said fluid outlet port; and a turbine having a first endplate and a second endplate, each with a peripheral arcuate edge, and a body with a plurality of vanes and being mounted between said first and second endplates, each of said vanes having a tip, and said turbine being positioned within said turbine chamber such that the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway impacts said plurality of vanes thereby causing said turbine to rotate; the improvement comprising: 
 at least one baffle positioned within said turbine chamber proximate to said turbine, said at least one baffle being sized and shaped so as to restrict the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway and direct it toward said vanes of said turbine, whereby a majority of the flow of fluid is utilized to rotate said turbine.    
     
     
         2 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles.  
     
     
         3 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 2 , wherein each of said baffles includes a free arcuate edge which complements at least a portion of said peripheral edge of a corresponding one of said first and second endplates of said turbine, said plurality of baffles cooperating with said first and second endplates to restrict the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway and direct it toward said vanes of said turbine.  
     
     
         4 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet nozzle includes an outlet end having a notched portion and an unnotched portion, and said inlet nozzle is positioned such that, when said turbine is rotating, each of said tips of said vanes moves past said notched potion of said outlet end prior to moving past said unnotched portion of said outlet end, whereby more efficient rotation of said turbine is achieved.  
     
     
         5  The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles and each of said baffles includes a free arcuate edge which complements at least a portion of said peripheral edge of a corresponding one of said first and second endplates of said turbine, said plurality of baffles cooperating with said first and second endplates to restrict the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway and direct it toward said vanes of said turbine.  
     
     
         6 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second endplates is sized and shaped such that said peripheral arcuate edge thereof extends beyond said tips of said vanes, and said fluid inlet nozzle includes an outlet end which is positioned proximate to said tips of said vanes of said turbine and between said peripheral edges of said first and second endplates.  
     
     
         7 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles and each of said baffles includes a free arcuate edge which complements at least a portion of said peripheral edge of a corresponding one of said first and second endplates of said turbine, said plurality of baffles cooperating with said first and second endplates to restrict the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway and direct it toward said vanes of said turbine.  
     
     
         8 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein said outlet end of said inlet nozzle includes a notched portion and an unnotched portion, and said inlet nozzle is positioned such that, when said turbine is rotating, each of said tips of said vanes moves past said notched potion of said outlet end prior to moving past said unnotched portion of said outlet end, whereby more efficient rotation of said turbine is achieved.  
     
     
         9 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles and each of said baffles includes a free arcuate edge which complements at least a portion of said peripheral edge of a corresponding one of said first and second endplates of said turbine, said plurality of baffles cooperating with said first and second endplates to restrict the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway and direct it toward said vanes of said turbine.  
     
     
         10 . In a suction-type cleaning device for cleaning submerged surfaces including a housing having a fluid inlet nozzle, a fluid outlet port, and a turbine chamber within said housing, said fluid inlet nozzle and said fluid outlet port each being in communication with said turbine chamber such that a fluid flow pathway is created for the flow of fluid through said turbine chamber from said fluid inlet nozzle to said fluid outlet port; and a turbine having a first endplate and a second endplate, each with a peripheral arcuate edge, and a body with a plurality of vanes mounted between said first and second endplates, each of said vanes having a tip, and said turbine being positioned within said turbine chamber such that the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway impacts said plurality of vanes thereby causing said turbine to rotate; the improvement wherein: 
 each of said first and second endplates is sized and shaped such that said peripheral arcuate edge thereof extends beyond said tips of said vanes.    
     
     
         11 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 10 , wherein said fluid inlet nozzle includes an outlet end which is positioned proximate to said tips of said vanes of said turbine and between said peripheral edges of said first and second endplates without interfering with rotation of said turbine.  
     
     
         12 . In an inlet nozzle for a suction-type cleaning device for cleaning submerged surfaces, said cleaning device including a turbine chamber and a turbine rotatably mounted therein, said turbine including a body with a plurality of vanes each having a tip and said inlet nozzle being in communication with said turbine chamber and being positioned such that an outlet end thereof is proximate to the tips of the vanes, the improvement wherein: 
 said outlet end of said inlet nozzle includes a notched portion and an unnotched portion, and    said inlet nozzle is positioned such that, when said turbine is rotating, each of said tips of said vanes moves past said notched portion of said outlet end prior to moving past said unnotched portion of said outlet end, whereby more efficient rotation of said turbine is achieved.    
     
     
         13 . In a suction-type cleaning device for cleaning submerged surfaces including a housing having a fluid inlet nozzle, a fluid outlet port, and a turbine chamber within said housing, said fluid inlet nozzle and said fluid outlet port each being in communication with said turbine chamber such that a fluid flow pathway is created for the flow of fluid through said turbine chamber from said fluid inlet nozzle to said fluid outlet port; and a turbine having a first endplate and a second endplate, each with a peripheral arcuate edge, and a body with a plurality of vanes mounted between said first and second endplates, each of said vanes having a tip, and said turbine being positioned within said turbine chamber such that the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway impacts said plurality of vanes thereby causing said turbine to rotate; the improvement comprising: 
 a least one baffle positioned within said turbine chamber proximate to said turbine, said at least one baffle being sized and shaped so as to restrict the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway and direct it toward said vanes of said turbine, whereby a majority of the flow of fluid is utilized to rotate said turbine,    each of said first and second endplates being sized and shaped such that said peripheral arcuate edge thereof extends beyond said tips of said vanes,    said outlet end of said inlet nozzle including a notched portion and an unnotched portion, and    said inlet nozzle being positioned such that, when said turbine is rotating, each of said tips of said vanes moves past said notched potion of said outlet end prior to moving past said unnotched portion of said outlet end, whereby more efficient rotation of said turbine is achieved.    
     
     
         14 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 13 , wherein said fluid inlet nozzle includes an outlet end which is positioned proximate to said tips of said vanes of said turbine and between said peripheral edges of said first and second endplates.  
     
     
         15 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles.  
     
     
         16 . The improved suction-type cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein each of said baffles includes a free arcuate edge which complements at least a portion of said peripheral edge of a corresponding one of said first and second endplates of said turbine, said plurality of baffles cooperating with said first and second endplates to restrict the flow of fluid along said fluid flow pathway and direct it toward said vanes of said turbine.