Pool cleaning robot and associated filter system

Abstract

A filter device comprising a main filter device, wherein the main filter device has a first filter element and a first water inlet, characterized in that the first water inlet is located in the lower part of the main filter device; a secondary filter device is also arranged in the lower part of the main filter device; the secondary filter device has a second water inlet and a second water outlet; A second filter element is arranged between the second water inlet and the second water outlet; A second flap is arranged on the second water inlet, which serves to open and close the second water inlet.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present utility model relates to the technical field of cleaning robotics and specifically to a pool cleaning robot and an associated filter device. State of the art

[0002] With existing pool cleaning robots, the dustbin often becomes clogged after prolonged use. Once the filter screen is blocked, the water cannot be effectively filtered and cleaned. Furthermore, the water in the dustbin cannot flow smoothly into the drain chamber. This means that the drain pump in the drain chamber does not have enough water available to pump the water out effectively. Consequently, the function of the drain pump is impaired. Without a certain amount of fluid to be drawn in by the cleaning robot, which helps it adhere to the pool wall, the cleaning robot cannot climb onto the pool wall or maintain its cleaning position there.

[0003] Therefore, the present utility model is proposed, which relates to a pool cleaning robot and an associated filter device, in order to solve the problems listed in the preceding prior art. Content of the utility model

[0004] The purpose of the present utility model is to provide a pool cleaning robot and an associated filter device to solve the problems listed in the preceding prior art.

[0005] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present utility model provides the following two technical solutions. A filter device comprises a main filter device, the main filter device having a first filter element and a first water inlet. The first water inlet is located in the lower part of the main filter device. A secondary filter device is also arranged in the lower part of the main filter device. The secondary filter device comprises a second water inlet and a second water outlet. A second filter element is arranged between the second water inlet and the second water outlet. A second flap is arranged at the second water inlet, which serves to open and close the second water inlet.Preferably, the second flap is configured to open the second water inlet when the filter device is inclined at a predetermined angle, and to close the second water inlet when the main filter device is not inclined or the angle of inclination does not reach the predetermined angle. Preferably, the predetermined angle is 25°–90°.

[0006] Preferably, the secondary filter device has a rotary connection, with one end of the second flap rotatably connected to the rotary connection via a pivot axis. The second flap has a weight, which causes it to rotate under the influence of the weight when the filter device is tilted by the predetermined angle, thereby opening the second water inlet. Conversely, if the main filter device is not tilted or if its angle of inclination does not reach the predetermined angle, it rotates under the influence of the weight and thereby closes the second water inlet.

[0007] Preferably, the degree of opening of the second water inlet through the second flap gradually increases with increasing inclination angle of the filter device. Preferably, the second flap fully opens the second water inlet when the filter device reaches the predetermined inclination angle.

[0008] Preferably, the area of ​​the second flap is larger than or equal to the area of ​​the second water inlet.

[0009] A pool cleaning robot comprises a robot body, wherein the robot body has the aforementioned filter device, a main flow channel and a bypass flow channel, wherein the main filter device further has a first water outlet and is located in the main flow channel; the secondary filter device further has a second water outlet and is located in the bypass flow channel.

[0010] Preferably, the pool cleaning robot also has a drain chamber which is fluidly connected to the main flow channel, the bypass flow channel, the first water drain and the second water drain.

[0011] Preferably, a suction device is arranged in the drain chamber so that when water flows out of the first drain and into the main flow channel, the suction action of the suction device draws water into the drain chamber, thereby diverting the water flowing into the drain chamber to the outside of the pool cleaning robot; when water flows out of the second drain and into the bypass flow channel, the suction device draws water into the drain chamber, thereby diverting the water flowing into the drain chamber to the outside of the pool cleaning robot.

[0012] Compared to the prior art, the present utility model has the following advantageous effects: 1. By arranging the secondary filter device, a normal water supply to the drain chamber and filtration of the water flowing into the drain chamber of the pool cleaning robot can be achieved via the secondary filter device in the event of blockages of the main filter device and similar situations; this avoids the problem of the pool cleaning robot being unable to clean the pool wall as a result of a blockage of the main filter device. 2. A second, automatically opening and closing flap is arranged at the second water inlet of the secondary filter device. When the robot is tilted at the specified angle, the second flap opens automatically, allowing water to flow through the second filter element; during normal operation or when not tilted, the second flap closes, thus preventing water branching and ensuring normal operation of the main filter device. This design enables the filter system to automatically switch the flow channel depending on the different operating conditions, thereby achieving intelligent filtration. 3. The pore size of the second filter element of the secondary filter device is greater than or equal to the pore size of the first filter element, so that coarse-grained impurities can be trapped and it is prevented that coarse-grained impurities pass through the secondary filter device into the discharge chamber and thus have an adverse effect on the suction device in the discharge chamber. 4. The second flap achieves automatic opening and closing through a heavy-duty, pivoting structure, eliminating the need for additional drive mechanisms. The simple design and reliable response reduce the failure rate and make it suitable for complex underwater environments. Description of the attached drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic structural view of a pool cleaning robot of the present utility model; Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic structural view of a filter device of the present utility model; Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic structural view of a main filter device of the present utility model; Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the structure of a secondary filter device of the present utility model; Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic structural view of a filter unit of the present utility model. Labels in the figures:

[0013] 10-Running mechanism; 20-Filter unit; 30-Robot body; 40-Filter device; 50-Main filter device; 60-Secondary filter device; 51-Main body of main filter device; 52-Cap cover; 53-First water inlet; 54-First water outlet; 55-First filter element; 61-Second water inlet; 62-Second water outlet; 63-Second filter element; 64-Second flap; 65-Heavy body; 66-Rotating joint; 21-Drain chamber; 22-Suction device; 24-Main flow channel; 23-Bypass flow channel. Examples of implementation

[0014] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model are described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings of those embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments represent only a subset of the embodiments of this utility model and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments that a person skilled in the art in the field could achieve without inventive activity fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0015] In the description of this utility model, the terms "center," "longitudinal," "transverse," "length," "width," "thickness," "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "above," "below," "inside," "outside," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," etc., are to be understood as indicating an orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. These terms serve only to simplify and clarify the description of this utility model and do not indicate or imply that the specified device or component must have a specific orientation, be designed, or operate in a specific orientation.Since the disclosed embodiments of the present utility model can be arranged in different directions, these directional terms serve only for clarification and are not to be understood as restrictive. For example, "top" and "bottom" are not necessarily limited to a direction opposite to or corresponding with the direction of gravity. Furthermore, the features designated as "first" and "second" may expressly or implicitly include one or more such features. It should be noted in the description of the present utility model that the terms "assembly," "connection," and "connection" are to be understood in a broad sense unless expressly stated otherwise.For example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or a one-piece connection; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a connection within two components. A person skilled in the art in the field can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the present utility model depending on the specific circumstances. In order to avoid obscuring the present utility model with unnecessary details, the drawings only show the structures and / or process steps closely related to the solution concept of the present utility model, while other details that are of little relevance to the present utility model are omitted.

[0016] Additionally, it should be noted that the terms "include," "contain," or any other variant thereof are intended to be non-exclusive, so that a process, procedure, article, or device comprising a number of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed or elements inherent to the respective process, procedure, article, or device. As in the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the present embodiment provides a pool cleaning robot comprising: a walking mechanism 10, a filter unit 20, and a robot body 30; the walking mechanism 10 is typically a chain-type walking mechanism in which the chain is driven by a drive motor and can propel the pool cleaning robot forward; the filter unit 20 can filter the water flowing into the pool cleaning robot to remove impurities from the pool and clean the water. Through the interaction of the walking mechanism 10 and the filter unit 20, the pool cleaning robot can clean all areas of the pool.

[0017] The filter unit 20 comprises a filter device 40, the filter device 40 comprising a main filter device 50 and a secondary filter device 60; the filter device 40 is detachably attached to the robot body 30, the main filter device 50 comprises a main body 51 of the main filter device and a cap cover 52, the cap cover 52 being rotatably and openably attached to the main body 51 of the main filter device. A handle 521 is arranged on the cap cover 52, the handle 521 enabling the user to conveniently grasp and lift the filter device 40. When the contaminants in the main filter device 50 need to be removed, the user can pull the filter device 40 out of the robot body 30, open the cap cover 52, tip the contaminants out of the main filter device 50, close the cap cover 52, and reinsert the filter device 40 into the robot body 30.

[0018] The main filter device 50 further comprises a first water inlet 53, a first water outlet 54 and a first filter element 55, wherein the first filter element 55 is correspondingly assigned to the first water outlet 54; the first water inlet 53 is arranged in the lower region of the main filter device 50, the first water outlet 54 and the first filter element 55 are arranged on at least one side wall of the main filter device, preferably the first water outlet 54 and the first filter element 55 are arranged on each of the four side walls of the main filter device, preferably the first water outlet 54 and the first filter element 55 can also be arranged in the lower region of the main filter device;When water flows into the main filter device 50 through the first water inlet 53 and is filtered through the first filter element 55, the impurities remain inside the main filter device 50, and the purified water leaves the main filter device 50 through the first water outlet 54.

[0019] The first filter element 55 can be a single-layer filter screen or a double-layer filter screen; if the first filter element 55 is a single-layer filter screen, this single-layer filter screen is located at the first water outlet 54, and the water filtered through the single-layer filter screen flows directly out through the first water outlet 54.

[0020] If the first filter element 55 is a double-layer filter screen, the second filter element is located at the first water outlet 54, the first filter element is arranged between the second filter element and the first water inlet 53, the first filter element being able to perform fine filtration and the second filter element being able to perform coarse filtration, i.e. the pore size of the first filter element is smaller than the pore size of the second filter element, the first filter element can filter the majority of the impurities, and the second filter element can filter coarser impurities.

[0021] The secondary filter device 60 is detachably mounted in the lower section of the main filter device 50 and near the first water inlet 53, which facilitates separate cleaning or replacement after disassembly. (See the sectional view of the secondary filter device 60 in...) Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the secondary filter device 60 comprises a second water inlet 61, a second water outlet 62, a second filter element 63, and a second flap 64. The second filter element 63 is arranged on the side wall of the secondary filter device 60, and the second flap 64 is rotatably mounted on the second water inlet 61 and serves to open and close the second water inlet 61. Preferably, as shown in Figure 4, the second filter element 63 is arranged on the side wall of the secondary filter device 60. Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the second flap 64 is located on the rear side of the second water inlet 61 in the direction of water inlet, i.e., the inflowing water of the secondary filter device 60 first flows through the second filter element 63 and then past the second flap 64, or the second flap 64 can be located on the front side of the second water inlet 61 in the direction of water inlet, i.e., the inflowing water of the secondary filter device 60 first flows past the second flap 64 and then through the second filter element 63. Preferably, the second flap 64 can be arranged at any position on the water inlet side or the water outlet side of the second filter element 63, as long as the opening or closing of the second filter element 63 can be achieved thereby.Preferably, the area of ​​the second flap 64 is larger than or equal to the area of ​​the second water inlet 61, thereby enabling a tighter closure of the second water inlet 61.

[0022] Since the secondary filter device 60 typically operates when the main filter device 50 is clogged or the pool wall is being cleaned, the second filter element 63 has a larger pore size relative to the pore size of the first filter element 55 and only needs to be able to filter out coarser impurities. Similar to the filter system of the main filter device 50, water flows into the secondary filter device 60 through the second water inlet 61 and is filtered by the second filter element 63, with the impurities being retained on the outside of the second filter element and the cleaned water leaving the secondary filter device 60 through the second water outlet 62.

[0023] The second filter element 63 can be a single-layer filter screen or a double-layer filter screen; if the second filter element 63 is a single-layer filter screen, this single-layer filter screen is located at the second water outlet 62, and the water filtered through the single-layer filter screen flows directly out through the second water outlet 62.

[0024] If the second filter element 63 is a double-layered filter screen, the second filter element is located at the second water outlet 62, the first filter element is arranged between the second filter element and the second water inlet 61, the first filter element being able to perform fine filtration and the second filter element coarse filtration, the first filter element being able to filter the majority of the impurities, and the second filter element being able to filter coarser impurities.

[0025] The second flap 64 closes the second water inlet 61 as long as the filter device 40 is not inclined or the angle of inclination does not reach the predetermined angle, in order to prevent water from flowing into the secondary filter device 60; if the angle of inclination of the filter device 40 reaches or exceeds the predetermined angle, the second flap 64 opens the second water inlet 61, allowing water to flow into the secondary filter device 60. The angle of inclination represents the angle between the filter device 40 and the horizontal plane.

[0026] Preferably, the preset angle is 25°–90°, and preferably a preset angle of 30° is particularly advantageous. If the inclination angle of the filter device 40 is 30° or more, it can be assumed that the pool cleaning robot to which the filter device 40 is applied is in a wall-climbing state.

[0027] Preferably, the second flap 64 begins to open the second water inlet 61 as soon as the inclination angle of the filter device 40 reaches the predetermined angle, and the degree of opening of the second water inlet 61 gradually increases with the increase in the inclination angle. When the inclination angle reaches the maximum value of 90°, the second flap 64 fully opens the second water inlet 61.

[0028] Preferably, the second flap 64 can fully open the second water inlet 61 as soon as the inclination angle of the filter device 40 reaches the specified angle.

[0029] The secondary filter device 60 has a rotary connection 66, wherein one end of the second flap 64 is rotatably connected to the rotary connection 66 via a pivot axis, thereby enabling the opening and closing of the second water inlet 61.

[0030] The second flap 64 has a heavy body 65, and under the action of the heavy body 65 the second flap 64 realizes the aforementioned effect of opening and closing the second water inlet 61 when the filter device 40 is inclined by the specified angle.

[0031] Preferably, the weight of the heavy body 65 is adjustable. Setting the predetermined angle can be achieved by adjusting the weight of the heavy body 65. It is known to those skilled in the art that the weight adjustment can be carried out with or without removing the heavy body 65. In the case of removal, it can be achieved, for example, by removing the heavy body 65 and then attaching a heavy body 65 with a different weight; in the case without removal, it can be achieved, for example, by directly attaching an additional weight component to the heavy body or removing an existing weight component from the heavy body.

[0032] Preferably, the position of the heavy body 65 is adjustable. Setting the predetermined angle can be achieved by adjusting the position of the heavy body 65. It is known to those skilled in the art that the position adjustment can be carried out with or without removing the heavy body 65. If it is not removed, it can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the position of the heavy body 65 on the second flap 64 by sliding or similar means; if it is removed, it can be achieved, for example, by removing the heavy body 65 and then reattaching it at a different position on the second flap.

[0033] Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic structural view of the filter unit according to the embodiment of the present utility model. As shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 5, the filter unit 20 further comprises a drain chamber 21, a main flow channel 24, and a bypass flow channel 23. A suction device 22 is arranged in the drain chamber 21, which serves to draw water from the pool cleaning robot and to discharge the water from the drain chamber 21. The drain chamber 21 is in fluid communication with the main flow channel 24 and the bypass flow channel 23 on one side and with the water outlet of the pool cleaning robot on the other. Preferably, the suction device 22 comprises a motor and an impeller structure.

[0034] The first water outlet 54 of the main filter device 50 is located in the main flow channel 24, so that water flowing out through the first water outlet 54 flows directly into the main flow channel 24. Due to the suction action of the suction device 22, the water entering the main flow channel 24 flows into the drain chamber 21, thereby conveying the water flowing into the drain chamber 21 to the outside of the pool cleaning robot.

[0035] The second water outlet 62 of the secondary filter device 60 is located in the bypass flow channel 23, so that water flowing out through the second water outlet 62 flows directly into the bypass flow channel 23. Due to the suction action of the suction device 22, the water entering the bypass flow channel 23 flows into the drain chamber 21, thereby conveying the water flowing into the drain chamber 21 to the outside of the pool cleaning robot.

[0036] Contents not described in detail in this description are part of the state of the art, which is known to those skilled in the field.

[0037] Although the embodiments of the present utility model have been shown and described, it is understandable to a person skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present utility model. The scope of protection of the present utility model is defined by the attached claims and their equivalents.

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