AUTONOMOUS PROPELLER VACUUM FOR CLEANING SWIMMING POOLS

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of pool maintenance devices and the like, in particular submersible vacuum cleaners and robotic cleaners, and relates more particularly to an autonomous propeller vacuum cleaner, having a reduced size suitable for shallow pools. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] To properly maintain swimming pools and remove debris that accumulates at their bottoms, several types of battery-powered propeller-driven vacuums equipped with a filter bag are available. Such vacuums, known as self-contained vacuums, are described, for example, in documents US5768734 (Dietrich) and US2016273238 (Heffernan). Others, developed by the present inventors, are described in documents FR3080879 (Kokido) and EP3832053 (Kokido). Document US2020 / 061502A shows a submersible vacuum for cleaning swimming pools that includes the features of the preamble to claim 1.

[0003] Depending on the model, the battery is either integrated into the vacuum cleaner, in which case it is intended to be immersed in the pool water, or separate from the vacuum cleaner and placed outside the pool, connected to it by electrical cables.

[0004] These vacuum cleaners also differ from each other by the position of the propeller relative to the suction duct.

[0005] Generally, the motor and propeller are positioned entirely inside the suction duct. This requires a propeller diameter larger than that of the motor block to ensure efficient bypass suction, and in fine significant dimensions of the suction duct receiving the propeller.

[0006] US patent US10094130 (Water Tech) presents a solution in which the motor is mounted outside the suction duct, and the large-diameter impeller is positioned across the duct outlet to prevent leaves from accumulating beneath it during suction. However, the fact that the impeller is partially outside the suction duct results in reduced suction efficiency due to the lack of channeling of the vortex created in the filter bag outside the duct.

[0007] The accumulation of leaves and other large debris under the propeller can be avoided by other, more effective, alternative solutions. For example, document EP3832053 (Kokido) proposes a solution in which a central deflector is placed between the engine and the propeller to prevent large debris from accumulating under the propeller by directing it towards the periphery of the suction duct.

[0008] The accumulation of large debris under the propeller certainly remains a major problem, especially when it comes to small vacuum cleaners, but less critical than the risks associated with electrical cables in contact with water in known solutions, despite the sealing of the connections because the cables are not completely insulated from water. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art described above and proposes a design that reduces the diameter of the suction duct and eliminates the risks associated with a lack of sealing in the connection between the motor and the battery.

[0010] To this end, the present invention relates to a submersible vacuum cleaner for cleaning artificial basins such as swimming pools, comprising a suction head connected to a suction duct opening into a filter element, a motor coupled to a propeller located inside the suction duct and whose rotation produces suction, and a battery powering the motor, which may be in the form of disposable accumulators, in which the motor and the battery are placed in a sealed compartment, itself placed for the most part inside the filter element.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the sealed compartment is fixed to a support which keeps it suspended above the suction duct.

[0012] More specifically, the support includes a lid, closing the watertight compartment and receiving a battery charging connector, and at least one arm extending from the lid to the suction duct to be attached there, being kept away from the watertight compartment so as not to obstruct the passage of the largest debris.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the vacuum cleaner further comprises a central deflector placed between the propeller and the sealed compartment to prevent the accumulation of large debris at this location.

[0014] The filter element may include a flexible bag or a pleated cartridge. In advantageous embodiments, the vacuum cleaner has a length of between 10 and 40 cm and its suction duct has a diameter of between 40 and 200 mm.

[0015] The fundamental concepts of the invention having been set out above in their most elementary form, other details and characteristics will become clearer from the reading of the description which follows and with regard to the attached drawings, giving by way of non-limiting example an embodiment of an autonomous propeller vacuum cleaner conforming to the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] The figures are provided for illustrative purposes only to aid understanding of the invention without limiting its scope. The various elements may be represented schematically and are not necessarily to the same scale. Throughout the figures, identical or equivalent elements are identified by the same numerical reference.

[0017] This is illustrated as follows: Figure 1 : a front view of a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: a side view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 3 : a rear view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 4 : a top view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 5 : a view from underneath the vacuum cleaner; Figure 6a : a cross-section of the vacuum cleaner according to plan A - A of the figure 1 ; Figure 6b : a cross-section of the vacuum cleaner according to plan B - B of the figure 2 ; Figure 7 : an exploded view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 8 : a front perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 : a rear perspective view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 10 : a front view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 11 : a side view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 12 : a rear view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 13 : a top view of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 14 : a view from underneath the vacuum cleaner; Figure 15 : a cross-section of the vacuum cleaner; Figure 16 : an exploded view of the vacuum cleaner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS

[0018] It should be noted that certain technical elements well known to those skilled in the art are described here to avoid any insufficiency or ambiguity in the understanding of the present invention.

[0019] The embodiment described below refers to a self-propelled vacuum cleaner primarily intended for cleaning swimming pools. This non-limiting example is given for a better understanding of the invention and does not preclude the use of the vacuum cleaner in other shallow basins such as jacuzzis, immersion muscle recovery pools (cryotherapy), fountains, etc.

[0020] In this description, the term "vacuum cleaner" refers to a submersible vacuum cleaner for cleaning the bottoms of pools, and the expression "autonomous vacuum cleaner" refers to a vacuum cleaner whose power supply is provided by a battery.

[0021] THE figures 1 to 3represent, according to different views, a vacuum cleaner 100 comprising a suction head 10 connected to a suction duct 20, a sealed compartment 30 containing a motor 31 and a battery 32, a support 40 fixed to the suction duct 20 and holding the sealed compartment 30 suspended above said duct, an electrical switch 50 rotatably mounted on the support 40, a filter bag 60 partially and schematically represented on the figure 1 , and a sleeve 70 articulated on the conduit 20 and intended to receive a removable gripping handle of the vacuum cleaner 100.

[0022] The 100 vacuum cleaner thus features a compact design extending along a longitudinal axis, in which the motor and battery, as well as their electrical connections, are placed in a sealed compartment, itself placed, totally or partially, inside the filter bag.

[0023] The watertight compartment 30, according to the illustrated example, has a substantially cylindrical shape and dimensions adapted to receive the motor 31 and the battery 32.

[0024] THE figures 6a and 6b represent a possible arrangement of the sealed compartment 30 inside the vacuum cleaner 100 as well as the arrangement of the motor 31 and the battery 32 inside said compartment.

[0025] The motor 31 is located in the lower part of the sealed compartment 31, with a shaft 311 oriented downwards to allow coupling with a propeller 81 positioned inside the suction duct 20. The motor 31 is fitted into the bottom of the sealed compartment 30, which has a hole to allow the shaft 311 to pass through in a sealed manner. The shaft 311 thus extends outside the sealed compartment 30 for a sufficient length to allow coupling with the propeller 81.

[0026] In the illustrated example, the propeller 81 is positioned rather low relative to an outlet 21 of the suction duct 20, slightly in the middle of said duct. However, it is preferable for the propeller 82 to be flush with an upper edge 21 of the suction duct 20, corresponding to its outlet opening into the filter bag 60, while remaining entirely within said duct. This allows for easier evacuation of these debris towards the filter bag 60 and thus prevents the accumulation of large debris in the narrow gap between the sealed compartment 30 and the internal walls of the suction duct 20, unlike the configuration of the figures 6a and 6b in which said compartment is partially placed inside said conduit.

[0027] However, the configuration of figures 6a and 6b remains acceptable insofar as a major part of the sealed compartment 30 is located outside the suction duct 20.

[0028] The battery 32, as illustrated, is positioned in the upper part of the waterproof compartment 30 and connected to the motor 31 by electrical cables (not shown). The cables are thus entirely contained within the waterproof compartment 30 and, consequently, isolated from the pool water during operation of the vacuum cleaner 100, for added safety.

[0029] The battery 32 is rechargeable and has a suitable connector located on a cover 41 of the support 40, on which the switch 50 is mounted. This cover 41 may also contain other electronic components necessary for the operation of the switch 50, the battery 32, and the motor 31.

[0030] According to the illustrated example, the battery 32 is directly attached to the cover 41 of the support 40, said cover closing the watertight compartment 30 by connection at the level of a watertight fixing flange to totally isolate from water the motor 31, the battery 32 as well as other electronic elements of the vacuum cleaner.

[0031] Thus, the sealed compartment 30 closed by the cover 41 of the support 40 defines a volume isolated from the water and suspended above the suction duct 20 and inside the filter bag 60, without hindering the suction of debris.

[0032] This suspension of the sealed compartment 30 is ensured by the support 40 which for this purpose includes two spread arms 42 extending to the suction duct 20, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner.

[0033] In addition, each arm 42 is moved away from the watertight compartment 30 so as to leave a space 45 so as not to hinder the suction of debris, especially the largest debris, towards the filter bag 60.

[0034] This particular design of the support 40 allows for maximum free passage of debris from the suction duct 20 to the filter bag 60, while ensuring sufficient mechanical strength in view of the stresses that the vacuum cleaner in operation is intended to undergo.

[0035] To further clear the debris path, the support 40 can, in an alternative design, have only one arm. However, given a favorable advantage-to-disadvantage ratio, the two-arm design remains preferable.

[0036] The support 40 can be fixed to the suction duct 20 by any suitable means.

[0037] There figure 7This exploded view of the vacuum cleaner 100 illustrates the arrangement of its various components, particularly the attachment of the support 40 to the suction duct 20 by means of an annular base 43 of said support, which rests on the flat annular edge 21 of said duct. Plates 91 are provided to clamp the annular edge 21 against the larger diameter annular base 43 at the lower ends of the arms 42.

[0038] Of course, the operation of the rest of the vacuum cleaner 100 is well known, particularly with regard to the suction head 10 which, as a cleaning interface designed to come into contact with surfaces where debris has accumulated, can be equipped with any suitable component to facilitate the cleaning operation, such as brushes and squeegees, as well as any means of movement such as wheels or casters. Furthermore, the suction head can have different shapes (circular, triangular, etc.) and include one or more suction nozzles.

[0039] THE Figures 4 and 5allow us to clearly visualize the shape of the suction head 10 according to the illustrated example, it has a rectangular shape at the front, substantially rounded at the tops, and a trapezoid at the rear, so that the inclined sides of the trapezoid allow a convergent arrangement of two brushes 11 to bring debris towards a suction mouth 12 when the vacuum cleaner moves forward.

[0040] In this same example, the suction head 10 rests on three wheels 13 arranged in a triangle.

[0041] On the other hand, the sleeve 70 is articulated on the suction duct 20 around a transverse axis 72 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner 100.

[0042] Finally, thanks to this design, the 100 vacuum cleaner has a reduced size with a length between 10 and 40 cm, preferably around 30 cm, and a 20 suction tube with a variable diameter between 40 and 200 mm approximately.

[0043] It is clear from the present description that certain elements of the autonomous propeller vacuum cleaner can be modified, replaced or removed, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0044] THE figures 8 to 16 represent for example a 100' vacuum cleaner according to another embodiment of the invention, in which certain secondary elements are modified, in particular the overall shape of the vacuum cleaner.

Claims

1. A submersible vacuum cleaner (100, 100') for cleaning artificial pools such as swimming pools, comprising a suction head (10) connected to a suction duct (20) opening into a filter element (60), a motor (31) coupled to an impeller (81), which is located inside the suction duct and the rotation of which produces a suction, and a battery (32) powering the motor, characterized in that the motor (31) and the battery (32) are placed in the same watertight compartment (30), which is in turn placed mostly inside the filter element (60).

2. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the watertight compartment (30) is fastened to a support (40), which holds it suspended above the suction duct (20).

3. The vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the support (40) comprises a cover (41), closing the watertight compartment (30) and receiving a connector for recharging the battery (32), and at least one arm (42) extending from said cover up to the suction duct (20) in order to be fastened thereto, while being spaced apart from the watertight compartment.

4. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery (32) is in the form of disposable accumulators.

5. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter element (60) comprises a soft pouch or a pleated cartridge.

6. The vacuum cleaner according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a length of between 10 and 40 cm and in that its suction duct (20) has a diameter of between 40 and 200 mm.