Suction-type pool cleaner

Abstract

A suction-type swimming pool cleaner having an elongate body formed by a suction head and an elongate, tubular structure extending from the suction head, the orientation of the body being at least partially controlled by arms carrying a float and a connection bracket connecting the arms in a releasable manner to the body, to allow the float to be connected to the body at any selected one of a number of different positions along the body length, the head includes a valve chamber having a wedge-shaped hammer oscillating in the chamber responsive to suction flow through the head, the hammer seating against shoulders in the chamber, the shoulders being partially rebated and partially sloped to ensure that they are flushed clean of any particulate matter which could interfere with proper hammer seating.

1 . A suction-type pool cleaner comprising:
 an elongated body, and   a float structure including a float, arms carrying the float and means for connecting the arms releasably to the body at a selected one of a plurality of different positions along the length of the body.   
   
   
       2 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the connecting means is configured to allow the float structure to pivot relative to the body both about a lateral axis transverse to the body and about the longitudinal axis of the body. 
   
   
       3 . A pool cleaner to  claim 2  wherein the connecting means comprises:
 a bracket which is shaped to make releasable, clipping engagement with the body at any one of the plurality of positions along the length of the body and which carries laterally projecting pivot shafts;   the float structure comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms formed with elongated slots through which the shafts extend; and   the float being supported between the arms at a position remote from the slots and the slots being oversize with respect to the shafts to allow the float structure to pivot and tilt relative to the bracket and hence relative to the body.   
   
   
       4 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 3  wherein the arms are of adjustable length. 
   
   
       5 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaner comprises:
 a valve chamber having an inlet and an outlet and a hammer arranged to oscillate in the chamber under the effects of suction flow through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet, and   the chamber having side walls each formed with spaced apart shoulders against which side edge surfaces of the hammer seat during oscillation of the hammer, at least portions of the shoulders sloping at an acute angle relative to the side walls of the suction chamber.   
   
   
       6 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 5  wherein each shoulder includes a first portion oriented at right angles to the relevant side wall and a second portion which extends from the first portion at an acute angle relative to the side wall. 
   
   
       7 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaner comprises a valve chamber of tapering shape having an inlet and an outlet and a wedge-shaped hammer arranged to oscillate in the chamber under the effects of suction flow through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet, the chamber having side walls each formed with spaced apart shoulders against which side edge surfaces of the hammer sent during oscillation of the hammer, wherein the shoulders converge in a downstream direction towards a relatively narrow end of the chamber in which a relatively narrow end of the hammer is located, the shoulders being rebated at positions towards the narrow end of the chamber end so as to define flushing channels through which particulate matter can be flushed from the chamber of the suction flow. 
   
   
       8 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaner has a suction head and an elongated body extending in a downstream direction from the head, a balancing weight and means for attaching the balancing weight releasably to the elongated body at a selected one of a plurality of different positions along the length of the body. 
   
   
       9 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 8  wherein the attaching means is a bracket for carrying the weight and which can be clipped selectively to the body at any selected one of the different positions. 
   
   
       10 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 9  wherein the weight is encapsulated in a sheath carried by the bracket. 
   
   
       11 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaner includes:
 at an operatively downstream end of the elongated body, a swivel arrangement by means for attachment of the cleaner when in use to a flexible suction hose, and   the swivel arrangement includes a first flanged member engageable with the end of the body, a second flanged member engagable with the hose, a swivel ring located between the flanges of the first and second members and means for holding the assembly of members and swivel ring together such that the flanges of the members can slide rotationally on the ring.   
   
   
       12 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 11  wherein the swivel ring has opposite surfaces formed with recesses therein. 
   
   
       13 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 11  wherein the means for holding the assembly of member and swivel ring together is a union nut engageable with a threaded end of the elongated body. 
   
   
       14 . A suction-type pool cleaner comprising:
 a valve chamber in the body having an inlet and an outlet and a hammer arranged to oscillate in the chamber under the effects of suction flow through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet, and   the chamber having side walls each formed with spaced apart shoulders against which side edge surfaces of the hammer seat during oscillation of the hammer, at least portions of the shoulders sloping at an acute angle relative to the side walls of the suction chamber.   
   
   
       15 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 14  wherein each shoulder includes:
 a first portion oriented at right angles to the relevant side wall, and   a second portion which extends from the first portion at an acute angle relative to the sides wall.   
   
   
       16 . A suction-type pool cleaner comprising:
 a valve chamber of tapering shape in the body having an inlet and an outlet and a wedge-shaped hammer arranged to oscillate in the chamber under the effects of suction flow through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet,   the chamber having side walls each formed with spaced apart shoulders against which side edge surfaces of the hammer seat during oscillation of the hammer;   the shoulders converging in a downstream direction towards a relatively narrow end of the chamber in which a relatively narrow end of the hammer is located, and   the shoulders being rebated at positions towards the narrow end of the chamber end so as to define flushing channels through which particulate matter can be flushed from the chamber of the suction flow.   
   
   
       17 . A suction-type cleaner comprising:
 an elongated body formed by a suction head,   an elongated tubular structure extending from the suction head,   a balancing weight, and   means for attaching the balancing weight releasably to the tubular structure at a selected one of a plurality of different positions along the length of the structure.   
   
   
       18 . A pool cleaner to  claim 1  wherein the connecting means comprises:
 a bracket which is shaped to make releasable, clipping engagement with the body at any one of the plurality of positions along the length of the body and which carries laterally projecting pivot shafts;   the float structure comprises a pair of laterally spaced arms formed with elongated slots through which the shafts extend; and   the float being supported between the arms at a position remote from the slots and the slots being oversize with respect to the shafts to allow the float structure to pivot and tilt relative to the bracket and hence relative to the body.   
   
   
       19 . A pool cleaner according to  claim 12  wherein the means for holding the assembly of member and swivel ring together is a union nut engageable with a threaded end of the elongated body.