Positive pressure automatic swimming pool cleaning system

Abstract

A method and apparatus responsive to a positive pressure water source ( 10 ) for cleaning the interior surface of a pool containment wall ( 3 ) and the upper surface ( 7 ) of a water pool ( 1 ) contained therein. The apparatus includes an essentially unitary cleaner body ( 6 ) and a level control subsystem ( 124, 138 ) for selectively moving the body ( 6 ) to a position either proximate to the surface ( 7 ) of the water pool for water surface cleaning or proximate to the interior surface ( 8 ) of the containment wall for wall surface cleaning. The cleaner body can have a weight/buoyancy characteristic to cause it to normally rest either ( 1 ) proximate to the pool bottom adjacent to the wall surface (i.e., heavier-than-water) or ( 2 ) proximate to the water surface (i.e. lighter-than-water).

What is claimed:  
     
       1. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning the interior surface of a containment wall and the upper surface of a water pool contained therein, said apparatus comprising: 
       a body configured for immersion in said water pool;  
       means for supplying a positive pressure water flow to said body from said source;  
       a level control subsystem responsive to said water flow for producing a vertical force to selectively place said body either (1) in a first mode proximate to said water surface or (2) in a second mode proximate to said wall surface below said water surface;  
       at least one pool water inlet in said body; and  
       a propulsion control subsystem responsive to said water flow for selectively moving said body either (1) along a path adjacent to said water supply for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said water surface or (2) along a path adjacent to said wall surface for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said wall surface.  
       said propulsion control subsystem including a controller for selectively causing said body to move either in a forward direction or in a second direction different from said forward direction;  
       said controller including (1) a periodic control device for alternately defining first and second conditions and (2) a motion responsive control device for defining a first condition when the rate of forward motion of said body is greater than a certain threshold and a second condition when the rate of forward motion of said body is less than a certain threshold; and wherein  
       said controller causes said body to move in said second direction when said periodic control device and said motion responsive control device both define said second condition.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said body has a weight/buoyancy characteristic biased to cause said body to normally rest proximate to said interior wall surface; and wherein 
       said level control subsystem selectively defines an active state for producing a vertical force component for lifting said body to proximate to said water surface.  
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said level control subsystem in said active state discharges a water outflow from said body in a direction to produce a vertically upward force on said body to lift said body to said water surface. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said level control subsystem in said active state produces a water flow to modify said weight/buoyancy characteristic to lift said body to said water surface. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said body has a weight/buoyancy characteristic biased to cause said body to normally rest proximate to said water surface; and wherein 
       said level control subsystem selectively defines an active state for producing a vertical force component for holding said body proximate to said wall surface.  
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  further including: 
       means for removing debris from pool water collected through said inlet.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said means for removing debris includes a water permeable debris container for retaining debris removed from water received through water inlet. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said pool water inlet comprises a wall surface inlet port; and 
       means for creating a suction adjacent to said inlet port when said body is proximate to said wall surface for drawing in pool water from proximate to said wall surface.  
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said body defines a discharge port communicating with said wall surface inlet port; and 
       a debris container mounted adjacent to said discharge port for passing water and retaining debris discharged from said discharge port.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said debris container comprises a bag formed of mesh material and having an open mouth removably mounted adjacent to said discharge port. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said pool water inlet comprises a water surface inlet port for passing pool surface water when said body is proximate to said water surface; and 
       a debris container carried by said body for collecting debris borne by said surface water passed through said water surface inlet port.  
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein 
       said body defines a front portion and a rear portion spaced in a longitudinal direction; and further including  
       a water discharge device carried by said body and responsive to said direction controller second state for discharging a water outflow in a direction having a component oriented substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.  
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said water discharge device comprising a jet pump. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a pressure indicator carried by said body for visually indicating the magnitude of positive pressure supplied thereto. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1  further including an in-line filter carried by said body for filtering said positive pressure water supplied from said source. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning a water pool contained by a containment wall having an interior surface, said apparatus comprising: 
       a body configured for immersion in and movement through said water pool;  
       a controller for selectively causing said body to move either in a forward direction or in a second direction different from said forward direction;  
       said controller including (1) a periodic control device for alternately defining first and second conditions and (2) a motion responsive control device for defining a first condition when the rate of forward motion of said body is greater than a certain threshold and a second condition when the rate of forward motion of said body is less than a certain threshold; and wherein  
       said controller causes said body to move in said second direction when said periodic control device and said motion responsive control device both define said second condition.  
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16  further including a turbine for driving said periodic control device; and 
       a water source for driving said turbine.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said motion responsive control device includes a paddle mounted for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position; and wherein 
       said paddle is mounted on said body so that forward motion of said body through said water pool at a rate greater than said certain threshold maintains said paddle in said first position.  
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 16  further including: 
       a level controller for selectively moving said body to either the surface of said water pool or to said wall surface.  
     
     
       20. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning the interior surface of a containment wall and the upper surface of a water pool contained therein, said apparatus comprising: 
       a body configured for immersion in said water pool, said body defining a front portion and a rear portion;  
       means for supplying a positive pressure water flow to said body from said source;  
       a pitch control subsystem responsive to said water flow to selectively orient said body either (1) front up/rear down or (2) front down/rear up;  
       at least one pool water inlet in said body; and  
       a propulsion control subsystem responsive to said waterflow for propelling said body in a forward direction to (1) said water surface when said body is oriented front up/rear down for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said water surface or (2) said wall surface when said body is oriented front down/rear up for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said wall surface.  
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said pitch control subsystem includes a mechanism for selectively shifting weight between said front and rear positions. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said pitch control subsystem includes a mechanism for selective shifting buoyancy between said front and rear positions. 
     
     
       23. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning the interior surface of a containment wall and the upper surface of a water pool contained therein, said apparatus comprising: 
       a body configured for immersion in said water pool;  
       means for supplying a positive pressure water flow to said body from said source;  
       a level control subsystem responsive to said water flow for producing a vertical force to selectively place said body either (1) in a first mode proximate to said water surface or (2) in a second mode proximate to said wall surface below said water surface;  
       at least one pool water inlet in said body;  
       a propulsion control subsystem responsive to said water flow for selectively moving said body either (1) along a path adjacent to said water surface for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said water surface or (2) along a path adjacent to said wall surface for collecting pool water through said inlet from adjacent to said wall surface;  
       a debris container carried by said body for collecting debris borne by pool water passed through said inlet, said debris container formed of water permeable material and having an entrance opening; and  
       at least one sheet mounted in said container for passing debris borne by water flowing into said container in a first direction and for blocking debris outflow from said container.  
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein said container is formed of flexible mesh material; and wherein 
       said at least one sheet is comprised of first and second sheets of flexible mesh material each defining a sheet edge; and wherein  
       said first and second sheets are mounted into said container with said respective sheet edges proximate to one another such that water flowing into said container acts to separate said edges to enable debris to flow into said bag and water flowing in an opposite direction acts to close said edges to retain debris in said container.  
     
     
       25. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning a water pool, said apparatus comprising: 
       a body configured for immersion in said water pool;  
       means for supplying a positive pressure water flow to said body from said source;  
       at least one pool water inlet in said body;  
       a debris container carried by said body for collecting debris borne by pool water passed through said inlet, said debris container formed of water permeable material and having an entrance opening; and  
       at least one sheet mounted in said container for passing debris borne by water flowing into said container in a first direction and for blocking debris outflow from said container.  
     
     
       26. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning a water pool, said apparatus comprising: 
       a body configured for immersion in said water pool;  
       means for supplying a positive pressure water flow to said body from said source; and  
       a pressure indicator carried by said body for visually indicating the magnitude of positive pressure supplied to said body.  
     
     
       27. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning a water-pool, said apparatus comprising: 
       a body configured for immersion in said water pool;  
       said body defining a water supply inlet adapted for coupling to said water source for receiving a positive pressure water flow therefrom;  
       a propulsion subsystem carried by said body and coupled to said water supply inlet for receiving a positive pressure water flow therefrom for propelling said body through said water pool; and  
       an in-line filter carried by said body interposed between said water supply inlet and said propulsion subsystem for filtering said positive pressure water flow to said propulsion subsystem.  
     
     
       28. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning a water pool, said apparatus comprising: 
       
         a body configured for immersion in said water pool;  
       
       
         said body defining a water supply inlet adapted for coupling to said water source for receiving a positive pressure water flow therefrom;  
       
       
         a valve assembly carried by said body including a valve actuator mounted for reciprocal linear movement between a first position for directing at least a portion of said water flow along a first path to produce a thrust acting to move said body in a forward direction and a second position for directing at least a portion of said water flow along a second path to produce a thrust acting to move said body in a second direction different from said forward direction; and  
       
       
         a controller driven by said positive pressure water flow for alternately defining first and second states, said controller configured to apply water pressure to said valve actuator to place said actuator in said first position when said first state is defined and said second position when said second state is defined.  
       
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 28  further including: 
       
         a plurality of wheels carried by said body each having a traction surface for engaging a wall surface to be cleaned, said wheels including at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel and wherein said front wheel traction surface has a lower coefficient of friction than said rear wheel traction surface.  
       
     
     
       30. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning a water pool, said apparatus comprising: 
       
         a body configured for immersion in said water pool;  
       
       
         said body defining a water supply inlet adapted for coupling to said water source for receiving a positive pressure water flow therefrom;  
       
       
         a plurality of traction wheels carried by said body for engaging a wall surface to be cleaned, said wheels including at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel and wherein said wheels collectively define a contact plane tangential to said wheels;  
       
       
         said body including a deck having a substantially planar upper surface rearwardly inclined relative to said wheel contact plane;  
       
       
         a cross member defining a rearwardly inclined hydrodynamic surface supported above and spaced from said deck upper surface; and  
       
       
         a propulsion subsystem carried by said body responsive to said water flow for propelling said body in a forward direction whereby said deck and cross member surfaces moving through said water pool produce a force acting to hold said traction wheels against said wall surface to be cleaned.  
       
     
     
       31. Apparatus configured to be driven by a positive pressure water source for cleaning a water pool, said apparatus comprising: 
       
         a body configured for immersion in said water pool;  
       
       
         said body defining a water supply inlet adapted for coupling to said water source for receiving a positive pressure water flow therefrom;  
       
       
         a plurality of rotatable traction wheels carried by said body for engaging a wall surface to be cleaned, said wheels including at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel and wherein said wheels collectively define a contact plane tangential to said wheels;  
       
       
         said body including a deck having a substantially planar upper surface rearwardly inclined relative to said wheel contact plane;  
       
       
         a propulsion subsystem carried by said body responsive to said water flow for propelling said body in a forward direction whereby said deck upper surface moving through said water pool produces a force acting to hold said traction wheels against said wall surface to be cleaned;  
       
       
         said body defining a vacuum inlet opening located proximate to said wheel contact plane and a rearwardly inclined passageway extending from said vacuum inlet opening to a vacuum discharge opening in said deck upper surface; and  
       
       
         a vacuum jet pump nozzle mounted within said passageway proximate to said vacuum inlet opening oriented to discharge a high velocity water stream upwardly and rearwardly through said passageway to create a suction at said vacuum inlet opening for drawing water and debris from adjacent to said wall surface to be cleaned and produce a force acting to hold said traction wheels against said wall surface.  
       
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 31  further including a water permeable debris container for collecting water and debris discharged from said vacuum discharge opening.