Steering system for pool cleaners

Abstract

A pool cleaner assembly includes a pool cleaner body supported for motion over an underwater pool surface, the pool cleaner body defining a water source connection and a suction opening on a lower surface thereof through which debris is removed from the underwater pool surface. The assembly further includes a steering device having a first steering device end configured for connection to a water hose and a second steering device end connected to the water source connection of the pool cleaner body, the steering device being operable to generate relative rotational motion between the first and second steering device ends.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steering device for a pool cleaner, the steering device comprising:
 a steering device body having first and second rotatably connected steering device ends;   a driving unit configured to convert water flow through the steering device body to rotational motion; and   a program gear assembly driven by the driving unit and generating relative rotational motion between the first and second steering device ends.   
     
     
         2 . The steering device of  claim 1 , wherein the program gear is configured to automatically alternate the relative rotational motion between the first and second steering device ends between a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction counter to the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         3 . The steering device of  claim 2 , wherein the program gear assembly includes:
 a program gear having a plurality of inwardly oriented teeth and plurality of outwardly oriented teeth;   an output gear assembly including at least one output gear, the output gear assembly arranged adjacent to the program gear such that during a first portion of program gear rotation, the output gear assembly is driven by the inwardly oriented teeth in the first rotational direction, and during a second portion of program gear rotation, the output gear assembly is driven by the outwardly oriented teeth in the second rotational direction.   
     
     
         4 . The steering device of  claim 3 , wherein the inwardly oriented teeth extend inwardly from an outer periphery of the program gear, and that the outwardly oriented teeth extend outwardly from an inner periphery of the program gear, the at least one output gear being arranged between the outer and inner peripheries so as to engage the inwardly oriented teeth during the first portion of program gear rotation, and engage the outwardly oriented teeth during the second portion of the program gear rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The steering device of  claim 3 , further comprising a steering gear fixedly coupled to one of the first and second steering device ends and engaged with the output gear assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The steering device of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one output gear is a compound gear including first and second axially separated sets of teeth, the first set of teeth engaging the program gear, the second set of teeth engaging the steering gear. 
     
     
         7 . The pool cleaner assembly of  claim 3 , during a third portion of program gear rotation, the output gear assembly is not driven by either inwardly oriented teeth or the outwardly oriented teeth. 
     
     
         8 . The pool cleaner assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second steering device ends are freely rotatable relative to one another during the third portion of program gear rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The pool cleaner assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the program gear assembly is configured such that rotational speeds in the first and second rotational speeds are different. 
     
     
         10 . The steering device of  claim 1 , wherein a timing assembly is arranged between the driving unit and the program gear assembly, the timing device being configured to convert a first rotational speed of the driving unit to a second rotational speed of the program gear assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The steering device of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the first and second steering device ends is configured to be connected directly to a water source connection of the pool cleaner. 
     
     
         12 . A method of steering a pool cleaner, the method comprising:
 connecting a steering device between a water hose and a water source connection of the pool cleaner;   initiating water flow through the steering device, water hose and pool cleaner; and   using the water flow through the steering device to generate relative rotational motion between first and second steering device ends connected to the water hose and the water source connection of the pool cleaner, respectively.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the water flow moves from the pool cleaner to the water source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the water flow moves from the water source to the pool cleaner. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein using the water flow through the steering device to generate relative rotational motion between first and second steering device ends includes:
 generating rotational motion via a driving unit located in a path of the water flow through the steering device; and   converting the generated rotational motion to the relative rotational motion between first and second steering device ends via a program gear assembly engaging the driving unit.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein converting the generated rotational motion to the relative rotational motion between first and second steering device ends includes automatically alternating the relative rotational motion between a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction counter to the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein automatically alternating the relative rotational motion between a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction counter to the first rotational direction also includes changing setting different rotational speeds in the first and second rotational directions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein connecting a steering device between a water hose and a water source connection of the pool cleaner includes directly connecting one of the first and second steering device ends to the water source connection of the pool cleaner.